No more band... I miss it!

I am reaching out for some help. After over two years with the band, I develop a horrible problem with my stomach (thought the band had slipped but it was actually erosion) and had to have emergency surgery in December to remove my band. It was a horrible surgery/recoving but now I am doing great. I have not gained any weight but suffering with some depression. I am very happy that I have not gained any weight, BUT... I never made it to goal, I have 50 lbs to go and just cannot seem to do it or get anywhere close to doing it.

Besides listening to me complain does anyone have any suggestions for me? Is it possible to lose this weight? We all know there is not much faith in will power, which is why I needed/wanted the band, for the extra push.

Tell me I will not be 200 forever. Can I reach my goal? (It is a rhetorical question of course) but would love your input.

Congrats on not regaining!  I don't think I could do that.

If you want to lose the rest you could do a revision.  You won't want to get a band again, if you erode once the changes are quite high that you'll erode again and besides, the band isn't really proving to be the best tool anyway.

Since you clearly do well with restriction alone have you considered a sleeve?  I am band to sleeve and for those of us that are okay with restriction alone this is a fantastic alternative.

hello, due to my complications with the band my doctor had to remove several cc's of saline. My apptetie has increase. And i have to remove it also. I understand your pain and fear. I wish you all the best

Congrats on not gaining any of the weight back!  Thats awsome.   I've been banded since 4/4/08 and have lost a total of 50lbs.  I need 20 more to reach my goal of 125.  Not sure when I will get there.  I have enjoyed being 145 for a good six months now.  I use the band as a tool as I still follow weigh****chers.  My doctor was pretty blunt about the band and told me that if I am thinking its going to stop me from eating forget it.  The doctor told me that many of his patients still do weigh****chers but they can actually follow the plan because they are satisfied with their food intake.  I was too embarrassed to tell the doctor that I was a weigh****chers drop out 7 times over.  But I can follow weigh****chers now and not feel as hungry as before the lap.

I am encouraging you to consider weigh****chers.  It really does help! 

If you don't mind, how did you know the band eroded?  I am worried that there is something wrong with my band.  I haven't seen my doctor in 10 months and will be going this week.  I've had a little pinching pain around my port and hope nothing is wrong. 

Best of luck!!!!