Doriam, Was reading through the board and just want to wish you continued success. I clicked with you right away as I want the lapband and found out yesterday I cant have it because Medicaire wont pay for it. I have to go the other route. So I am having my doubts that I will do it. I guess if I pay outright for it I could have it but cant really afford that. Keep up the good work. Colette

I have changed my mind once again and decided not to have my Lap Band removed. Sorry if my changing my mind so often has confused anybody. My weight is going down all the time.

Hi Darla, I am 8 months out and down 124 pounds. I hit goal last weekend. I am very fortunate and lucky. No complications, no pain, no discomfort, no side-effects, no dumping, not even loose skin. The best decision of my life. It has given me my life back. However, I know that is not always the case. For me, I would do it over in a heartbeat. Best wishes to you on your decision.

That's the crux of the problem with the RNY - although it is touted as having a mild malabsorptive component, it basically works by restrictyion - you have a little pouch that won't hold much, so you starve yourself thin...BUT - it requires discipline. The pouch is not like a stomach, which has a valve (pylorus) hold the contents in place while they are churned and pre-digested. It has a hole - an open hole. What goes in piles up and is eventually moved down through gravity. How can you defeat it? Eat larger and larger quantities, stretching your pouch (which will eventually happen anyway, the hope is that you will have "re-learned" how to eat by then - many people do. Some don't change their eating habits and put it all back on. Also, if you drink with your meal, you can wash the food down through the hole in your pouch. OR - they eat high-calorie/high/sugar liquids - which go straight through the pouch opening into the bowel. Unless you dump, you can just keep pouring it down. There are lots of ways to "out-eat" the RNY. The sad thing is, it's one more reason to feel like a failure....and eventually, you will have to face all the eating issues that got you big - or you'll stay big or get big again. The RNY only works if YOU work it. \ That's why I choset he DS. I could never diet. I want a normal stomach. I want to eat normal food. I don't mind taking supplements, but I wanted to lose ALL my weight and not regain. Mike

I am a 44 year old male. I lost my goal of 134 lbs. in my first 8 months. I had some issues with monstrous foul gas/diarrhea - I assumed they were part of the price I had to pay...but, now I am on a daily dose of flagyl and that problem has been relieved (thank the Lord, it really was bad). I have maintained my weight for 2 1/2 months now (172 - 174) - but I eat ALL the time. I am always hungry - I live like one of those people you know who have a really fast metabolism, eat all the time, go, go, go, never put on a pound. That's the new me. I run on a regular basis, have energy to burn, make love like I did when I was 20 ...hope that's not too much information, but I honestly had no idea what an impact my weight had been having on me in that area - the wife is till adjusting ;) I am really happy, eat pretty much everything, went from 46-48 pants to 30's & 31's. From 3X shirts to mediums. My feet don't hurt. God has blessed me. I wish the same for you. Mike