Well I do not want to have an impact on your decision either way if you decide or decide not to have the surgery.  My goal was only to give people warning signs to look out for once they do have the surgery so they do not go thru what my mother did.  Thanks again.

Please check my profile for detailed info on  the things she went thru before jumping to conclusions. Thanks.

Thanks for the reply. Right now I am keeping the band until it bothers me enough to have it taken out. I only feel some pain on my port side every now and then. Which I have always had. I plan to make an appt with my original doctor to see what my options are for removal by the insurance and paying for it myself. This is something they don't tell you at the seminars. And I waited three years before deciding to do this.  At first I felt really bad about the band not working out for me. But I realize I have to do what I can live with. And having reflux and voitming is something I can no longer live with. What works for one person will not work for another person. Weightloss is a journey. This is just one step in the journey to getting to my goal weight.  I will go to my first weigh****chers meeting wenesday evening. I am doing my best to have the right frame of mind. I no longer am looking for a fast 100 pound overnight loss. I can stick with a 1-2 pound loss and by next January I will be at least 50 pounds smaller. Then I can move on to getting a breast reduction and some lipo. I am not here to discourage anyone.I hope that we all find something that works for us to get at a healthy weight and maintain it.

I paid to have my band put in June 05, and paid to have it taken out December 07. I got sick of bringing up 'good' food - I even tried the Atkins diet but couldn't keep the protein down so that was a failed diet. I got reflux, made my diabetes worse and wasn't losing weight after the first 2 weeks. I didn't want surgery in the first place - everyone who has WLS wishes that they could lose weight themselves if they had 'one good attempt', but since I've been fat since the age of 8 logic tells me I need help - and WW isn't it! I can understand you wanting to be free of this - DS offered that hope, and so far its better than I had anticipated. RNY might be a possiblitily too, depends which would suit. The stomach I have now is smaller in capacity than anything I had with the band, but I live on protein all day and never get sick. I don't crave carbs, and I'm shrinking fast. I think all I'm trying to say is just because the band wasn't for you don't give up hope in the future if diets don't work. Sal

Sorry you are having it so rough. I was a multiple joiner (and loser) using WW but then would regain it when I wasn't going or wasn't weighing in. I knew how to cheat the WW program (like not eating on a weigh in day and then going out with a friend right after a meeting to eat). I am banded now as of March 17, 2008 and I am doing okay. I lost fast the first couple weeks but then things have slowed down some for me. I'm at a total of 30 lbs lost and I'm very happy with that. I am competitive so when I hear others have lost even more and faster, I think Oh boy, there must be something more I can do and then I kick myself and say, settle down, this is your life, your body and your food choices.  I did much better after a first fill but I'm not at what I hear friends refer to as a sweet spot of restriction. I get a 2nd fill on June 10th and am hoping to even get more restriction.  I started at 348 lbs and was given the AP-Large or 14cc band. My first fill was 4.5cc's. I am sorry if they placed the wrong size band at time of surgery -- I was told my surgeon would make the call at the time of surgery if I got the AP-Small 10cc or the AP-Large band based on how my stomach size was, etc.   That said, I hope you will hang in there and keep asking for encouragement from others who have a lapband. Have you tried the website www.lapbandtalk.com -- its all lapband patients, there are plenty of those on the website who rant and rave, they share ups and downs, so don't feel you have to be suzy sunshine all the time. Your friends who have been in the same boat will help pull you through. I met a group of local ladies via that web site and we now meet in person at a local mall and they are wonderful support -- more than I could have dreamed -- and I would encourage you to keep seeking support from those who have been there.   Best wishes.