PLEASE RESPOND !Explain your Lap Band/AGB Experience
(deactivated member)
on 4/5/11 7:50 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 4/5/11 7:50 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
(deactivated member) has deleted this message.
(deactivated member)
on 4/5/11 8:00 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 4/5/11 8:00 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
I'm waiting for open enrollment so I can switch ins and hopefully revise to the sleeve. I need to lose IMO another 50 lbs, and I don't think any of the malabsorbitive surgeries will be the answer.
Are you currently on your Band journey? No
Have you reached your "sweet spot"? NEVER
How long have you been banded? 26 MONTHS
How much have you lost? WITH THE BAND, 40LBS
Can you eat a variety of healthy foods? COULD NOT EAT THE HEALTHY FOODS LIKE, MEAT, SOME VEGGIES AND FRUIT
Have you gone through fills & unfills never finding a happy medium? NEVER COULD GET PROPER RESTRICTION, EITHER I COULD EAT A LOT OR ONE BITE.
Do you PB? YES, I DID
Keep your Band tight? MY 4 CC BAND WAS FILLED TO OVER 5 CC'S AND IT WAS ALWAYS UNPREDICTABLE NO MATTER WHAT THE FILL LEVEL WAS.
Have acid reflux? HAD HORRIBLE REFLUX
Night cough? NO
Has your Band slipped? THERE WAS A SLIGHT SLIP
Have you had a dilation - specify stomach or esophagus? NO
Do you have pain? YES, MY THROAT WAS RAW, I HAD A STEADY PAIN RIGHT BETWEEN MY BREASTS AND MY PORT HURT A LOT OF THE TIME.
Have you had your Band removed? If so any damage to any other organs? YES, NO PERMANENT DAMAGE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WASTE MUCH TIME ONCE WE REALIZED IT WASN'T WORKING RIGHT.
Have you revised - to what surgery? VSG
Any other experience you'd like to tell us about? I HAD A HIATAL HERNIA WHICH INTERFERED WITH THE WORKING OF THE BAND. NOT SURE IF THE BAND CAUSED IT OR IF IT WAS THERE BEFORE BANDING.
Would you recommend the Band? I CAN NOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY THINGS GO WRONG WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE. THE FACT THAT IT MAY WORK FOR SOME IS IRRELEVANT BECAUSE IT IS JUST TOO FULL OF IF ANDS AND BUTS AND EXTREMELY HARD TO GET IT TO WORK FOR MOST MORTALS.
Have you reached your "sweet spot"? NEVER
How long have you been banded? 26 MONTHS
How much have you lost? WITH THE BAND, 40LBS
Can you eat a variety of healthy foods? COULD NOT EAT THE HEALTHY FOODS LIKE, MEAT, SOME VEGGIES AND FRUIT
Have you gone through fills & unfills never finding a happy medium? NEVER COULD GET PROPER RESTRICTION, EITHER I COULD EAT A LOT OR ONE BITE.
Do you PB? YES, I DID
Keep your Band tight? MY 4 CC BAND WAS FILLED TO OVER 5 CC'S AND IT WAS ALWAYS UNPREDICTABLE NO MATTER WHAT THE FILL LEVEL WAS.
Have acid reflux? HAD HORRIBLE REFLUX
Night cough? NO
Has your Band slipped? THERE WAS A SLIGHT SLIP
Have you had a dilation - specify stomach or esophagus? NO
Do you have pain? YES, MY THROAT WAS RAW, I HAD A STEADY PAIN RIGHT BETWEEN MY BREASTS AND MY PORT HURT A LOT OF THE TIME.
Have you had your Band removed? If so any damage to any other organs? YES, NO PERMANENT DAMAGE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WASTE MUCH TIME ONCE WE REALIZED IT WASN'T WORKING RIGHT.
Have you revised - to what surgery? VSG
Any other experience you'd like to tell us about? I HAD A HIATAL HERNIA WHICH INTERFERED WITH THE WORKING OF THE BAND. NOT SURE IF THE BAND CAUSED IT OR IF IT WAS THERE BEFORE BANDING.
Would you recommend the Band? I CAN NOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY THINGS GO WRONG WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE. THE FACT THAT IT MAY WORK FOR SOME IS IRRELEVANT BECAUSE IT IS JUST TOO FULL OF IF ANDS AND BUTS AND EXTREMELY HARD TO GET IT TO WORK FOR MOST MORTALS.
Phyllis
"Me agreeing with you doesn't preclude you from being a deviant."
I am currently still on my band journey
Sweet spot? I keep my band a tad on the looser side by choice. I think a lot of time it's head hunger I experience not physical hunger. I don't rely on a "sweet spot" I rely on myself.
I have been banded close to 2 years.. 2 years in March 2011
I have lost 106 pounds but then I gained some weight back because I lost my dad over the holidays .. he was in the hosptial for a bit so it was a lot of rushing around and not taking care of myself and turning to cheetos to cope oh yeah and chocolate covered cookies. BUT I'm currently back on track hitting the gym 4 days week and make great food choices. I hope to have these 15 extra pounds off SOON!
Yes, I can eat all proteins, veggies and fruits.. and some grains.. very little and it depends.
I have only had 1 small unfil.. because I don't have as much fat around my stomach I can only get fills of .2 cc at a time.. I'm very senstitive to fills
I have PB'ed.. several times.. mostly when I eat something I shouldn't or I eat too fast and not pay attention.
I do NOT keep my band tight..
No reflux, no heartburn unless I eat super spicy foods which I'm known to do on the occasion hey I'm Mexican!! No Band SLIP no problems at all associated with the band... no pain
I haven't had my band removed and hopefully NEVER will because I really need my Tool
I'm very happy with my progress .. I want to lose another 30-40 pounds but even if I didn't lose 1 more pound I'm still a success. I went from a very tight size 26 pants to 16 .. I have been heavy my entire life I weight over 175 pounds in JR. High School.. I look better at 34 than I did at 24!! I want to be healthy not skinny.. my goal was NEVER 125 or 150 my goal was moderate of 170-180 tho I would still be considered overweight I will be healthier than I was at 313 pounds. I will have more muscle mass and less body fat. My weight loss wasn't solely vanity.. I want to be able to hike without having to take so many breaks.. and I can do that now.
Do I recommend the band .. depends.. I ask people to take a close personal look at themselves because most of us face it have food addictions. With the band we have free will you can still eat chips, cookies, crackers, sweets etc.. I let everyone know WHO ASKS ME that the band is hard work you need to put forward the effort to be successful..
Sweet spot? I keep my band a tad on the looser side by choice. I think a lot of time it's head hunger I experience not physical hunger. I don't rely on a "sweet spot" I rely on myself.
I have been banded close to 2 years.. 2 years in March 2011
I have lost 106 pounds but then I gained some weight back because I lost my dad over the holidays .. he was in the hosptial for a bit so it was a lot of rushing around and not taking care of myself and turning to cheetos to cope oh yeah and chocolate covered cookies. BUT I'm currently back on track hitting the gym 4 days week and make great food choices. I hope to have these 15 extra pounds off SOON!
Yes, I can eat all proteins, veggies and fruits.. and some grains.. very little and it depends.
I have only had 1 small unfil.. because I don't have as much fat around my stomach I can only get fills of .2 cc at a time.. I'm very senstitive to fills
I have PB'ed.. several times.. mostly when I eat something I shouldn't or I eat too fast and not pay attention.
I do NOT keep my band tight..
No reflux, no heartburn unless I eat super spicy foods which I'm known to do on the occasion hey I'm Mexican!! No Band SLIP no problems at all associated with the band... no pain
I haven't had my band removed and hopefully NEVER will because I really need my Tool
I'm very happy with my progress .. I want to lose another 30-40 pounds but even if I didn't lose 1 more pound I'm still a success. I went from a very tight size 26 pants to 16 .. I have been heavy my entire life I weight over 175 pounds in JR. High School.. I look better at 34 than I did at 24!! I want to be healthy not skinny.. my goal was NEVER 125 or 150 my goal was moderate of 170-180 tho I would still be considered overweight I will be healthier than I was at 313 pounds. I will have more muscle mass and less body fat. My weight loss wasn't solely vanity.. I want to be able to hike without having to take so many breaks.. and I can do that now.
Do I recommend the band .. depends.. I ask people to take a close personal look at themselves because most of us face it have food addictions. With the band we have free will you can still eat chips, cookies, crackers, sweets etc.. I let everyone know WHO ASKS ME that the band is hard work you need to put forward the effort to be successful..
Thanks for the post, Leila! 
Are you currently on your Band journey?
-Yes, but in maintenance phase.
Have you reached your "sweet spot"?
-Yes, although I think that term is a little misleading because some people seem to be chasing something that may not exist. There are definitely people that have issues with good, consistent restriction. But yes, I am at a point where I can eat everything in moderation -including bread, pasta, rice, etc- without feeling uncomfortable or getting sick.
How long have you been banded?
-My 2 year anniversary is coming up next month!
How much have you lost?
-Roughly 120 pounds. My highest weight pre-band was 291 and my lowest weight post-band has been 163.
Can you eat a variety of healthy foods?
-Yes! There really isn't anything I can't tolerate, with the exception of really dry meat. There are things I just don't eat much anymore (bread, chips, french fries, pastries, etc. you get the picture) as it's kind of pointless to fill my pouch real estate up with a few bites of carby goodness... but yes, I could still eat them.
Have you gone through fills & unfills never finding a happy medium?
-Absolutely NEVER. I have had 4 fills in 2 years and no unfills. My 10mL band is currently at 8.1mLs and my last fill was in October of 2009. I've thankfully never been tight enough where I've needed an unfill. Although I do feel some increased restriction in extremely stressful situations or one or two days right before my period, but not enough that I can't swallow or drink or eat.
Do you PB?
-I have, but it's not a common issue by any means. All incidences have been as a result of me 1) eating too fast or 2) not chewing enough
Keep your Band tight?
-No. I can tolerate bread, pasta, rice, and carbonated beverages. As it's not really worth my time, I (usually) consume these items in extreme moderation.
Have acid reflux?
-Never.
Night cough?
-Never.
Has your Band slipped?
-Nope! UGI confirmed great placement and pouch size.
Have you had a dilation - specify stomach or esophagus?
-Nope!
Do you have pain?
-Thankfully, no!
Have you had your Band removed? If so any damage to any other organs?
-No!
Have you revised - to what surgery?
-No. Although if I did, I probably would revise to VSG as my insurance will cover it completely if my band happens to fail. A band doesn't have an expiration date per se, but I mean come on. It's a hunk of plastic inside the quasi-caustic environment of the body. It's not such a stretch to believe that there could be an issue down the line with one of its components. (Mostly, these complications aren't life threatening- they sure can be- but it's usually things like port re-stitching and tubing replacements that are the big ones.)
Any other experience you'd like to tell us about?
-My band has worked exactly as I expected it to. No more, no less. I definitely had expectations, and I'm glad I wasn't unreasonable with what I could attain with this beast. I researched my ass off and came to the conclusion that I'd give this one a go and it's working very well thus far.
The only "problem" that I've had (and I put it in quotes because while some would think it's a problem, I guess I don't think it's that bad?) is that my port is a bit tilted and should be re-sutured. It's still very accessible, but the tilting issue gives me a way or reason to switch to a lower profile port. I don't have issues with mine sticking out really far, but it'd be nice to have a lower profile one. My insurance will cover it 100% if/when I choose to have it done.
Also, I want to point out that my insurance covered my whole procedure at 100%. The only thing I've been responsible for is the office visits (whi*****lude fills)- and my copay is $10.
My band literally took $180 out of my pocket. Not too shabby!!
Would you recommend the Band?
-Yes, with some caveats:
1) If you're self pay, know the risks involved and make sure you know how much fills cost and have the resources in case something does go wrong. The band is costly because yes, it requires a lot of maintenance to be effective.
2) If you have significant health problems that are contributing or causing your obesity, or you have a high BMI, a hunk of plastic is probably not the right tool for the job. If you are like me however, and just need to lose weight and are OK with doing so at a slower pace because you have no health issues besides fatness, go for it.
Are you currently on your Band journey?
-Yes, but in maintenance phase.
Have you reached your "sweet spot"?
-Yes, although I think that term is a little misleading because some people seem to be chasing something that may not exist. There are definitely people that have issues with good, consistent restriction. But yes, I am at a point where I can eat everything in moderation -including bread, pasta, rice, etc- without feeling uncomfortable or getting sick.
How long have you been banded?
-My 2 year anniversary is coming up next month!
How much have you lost?
-Roughly 120 pounds. My highest weight pre-band was 291 and my lowest weight post-band has been 163.
Can you eat a variety of healthy foods?
-Yes! There really isn't anything I can't tolerate, with the exception of really dry meat. There are things I just don't eat much anymore (bread, chips, french fries, pastries, etc. you get the picture) as it's kind of pointless to fill my pouch real estate up with a few bites of carby goodness... but yes, I could still eat them.
Have you gone through fills & unfills never finding a happy medium?
-Absolutely NEVER. I have had 4 fills in 2 years and no unfills. My 10mL band is currently at 8.1mLs and my last fill was in October of 2009. I've thankfully never been tight enough where I've needed an unfill. Although I do feel some increased restriction in extremely stressful situations or one or two days right before my period, but not enough that I can't swallow or drink or eat.
Do you PB?
-I have, but it's not a common issue by any means. All incidences have been as a result of me 1) eating too fast or 2) not chewing enough
Keep your Band tight?
-No. I can tolerate bread, pasta, rice, and carbonated beverages. As it's not really worth my time, I (usually) consume these items in extreme moderation.
Have acid reflux?
-Never.
Night cough?
-Never.
Has your Band slipped?
-Nope! UGI confirmed great placement and pouch size.
Have you had a dilation - specify stomach or esophagus?
-Nope!
Do you have pain?
-Thankfully, no!
Have you had your Band removed? If so any damage to any other organs?
-No!
Have you revised - to what surgery?
-No. Although if I did, I probably would revise to VSG as my insurance will cover it completely if my band happens to fail. A band doesn't have an expiration date per se, but I mean come on. It's a hunk of plastic inside the quasi-caustic environment of the body. It's not such a stretch to believe that there could be an issue down the line with one of its components. (Mostly, these complications aren't life threatening- they sure can be- but it's usually things like port re-stitching and tubing replacements that are the big ones.)
Any other experience you'd like to tell us about?
-My band has worked exactly as I expected it to. No more, no less. I definitely had expectations, and I'm glad I wasn't unreasonable with what I could attain with this beast. I researched my ass off and came to the conclusion that I'd give this one a go and it's working very well thus far.
The only "problem" that I've had (and I put it in quotes because while some would think it's a problem, I guess I don't think it's that bad?) is that my port is a bit tilted and should be re-sutured. It's still very accessible, but the tilting issue gives me a way or reason to switch to a lower profile port. I don't have issues with mine sticking out really far, but it'd be nice to have a lower profile one. My insurance will cover it 100% if/when I choose to have it done.
Also, I want to point out that my insurance covered my whole procedure at 100%. The only thing I've been responsible for is the office visits (whi*****lude fills)- and my copay is $10.
My band literally took $180 out of my pocket. Not too shabby!!
Would you recommend the Band?
-Yes, with some caveats:
1) If you're self pay, know the risks involved and make sure you know how much fills cost and have the resources in case something does go wrong. The band is costly because yes, it requires a lot of maintenance to be effective.
2) If you have significant health problems that are contributing or causing your obesity, or you have a high BMI, a hunk of plastic is probably not the right tool for the job. If you are like me however, and just need to lose weight and are OK with doing so at a slower pace because you have no health issues besides fatness, go for it.
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