Congratulations!  It's been a few years since I've posted here, too.  Like you, I'm getting my band out later this month (the 23rd).

I am in a group on FaceBook where several people have had bands removed recently.  I think for the most part everyone feels better almost immediately (assuming really bad damage wasn't done by the band) and recovery time seems faster than it was for the initial surgery.

My surgeon told me it'd take about 2 hours (I guess that includes prep, anesthesia, removal) and he hasn't seen any surgical complications in his band removal cases.  He has done at least 5 in the last 3 months, probably more since I've talked to him.

Hopefully getting these things removed will help--just to be rid of (or at least lessen) the left shoulder pain alone would make my quality of life so much better!  I haven't had any fluid in mine since May of 2011 when I got gastritis from taking an antibiotic.  

Sending you best wishes on your band removal--I'm sure you will be ready to travel by the end of May if you're just removing and not revising at the same time.

I always ate all foods, some needed more care than others. But the key is definitely start with dense protein. 

The mental struggle is even harder than the physical one. All obese people know that! 

It sounds as if you have never really got into band eating. You say you ate sliders and "needed a break" which implies your band was much, much too tight. It should never physically stop us eating. All it shouid ever do is slow us down.  Here's a reminder as to how it works which may help you get your head back in the right place. 

Well-chewed food passes through a well-adjusted band in under a minute. It shouid not remain above the band. If you have read anywhere that it shouid do so, this is out-dated information which was taught back in around 2006/2008. Food as it moves down the oesophagus doex so partly by gravity and partly by the movement of the oesophageal walls. Because the entrance to our stomach is narrowed, food which woukd otherwise require one push of the oesophagus may now require three. This does not put strain on the oesophagus as long as the food  IS well-chewed. 

The brain is aware of the numbers of movements and so thinks we have eaten more than we have. This is ALL the band does, makes us eat slowly (which is known to improve loss) and dims hunger. We can always eat more.

however well-chewed, dense proteins retain more texture than sliders which become virtually liquid. The former therefore work to dim hunger, the latter don't.

Being a driver is going to make it essential you plan. You need to know places to stop if you eat out, foods to pack if you take them with you. Having had so much out, you probably don't have much band help at the moment. But if you were so tight before, certainly don't  have the full amount replaced. 

After you have eaten, keep busy! Don't have a bag of food beside you as you drive.

sorry, there is a LOT of will power needed and a lot of planning. 

Hello my name is Lacey I was banded June 24, 2014! I started at 243 and am at 208 today. I had 9cc in band and Monday I had 4 taken out. For the last three months I have plateaued due to stupidity I keep eating sliders which is carbs carbs carbs. I wanted a break so I had 4cc removed. I now understand the mental part of this journey and I feel like an utter failure. I can't stick to diet I feel like all my will power is at 0 and I don't know y. I wanted to get sleeve but I couldnt take the time off for work because I work in oilfield in south Texas as a truck driver and well we don't get much x off. Anyone who can help me get my life on track I would love to hear your story if u had a similar problem. Any advice I would like please please help me fight this battle!

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE FOR TODAY......Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. - Anonymous