1 Yr. Bandiversary Update

Thanks so much Melly! I am just devistated! :-(

And I fully understand the losing the will to eat right! As I have approached the yr. bandiversary with no restriction it just gets harder and harder for me knowing that I have to do it on my own since I get no help from the band! I have not done well at all this last month eating.

So I have to ask u..............if u knew initially what u know now..................would u do a different WLS???

I would have definitely chosen a different surgery if I could turn back the hands of time.  When I had my surgery in March to fix my band I asked my surgeon about rivising to RNY.  (he wasn't doing sleeves at the time).  He said that I was no longer MO and wouldn't qualify.  Forward 7 months and I would qualify now!  ARGH! 

I know that the band DOES work for some, and I am happy for them.  It has worked for me in the past, but I didn't have a high quality of life at the time.  Acid reflux, etc.  I  think I am luckily experiencing now what a band should do for you (only 2.5 years later)  I am going to work it the best that I can.  For you, I don't blame you one bit for being upset.  It's very true that the band doesn't work for every single person!

I hope you find a way to get the revision you need - don't feel bad - the band fails more often than its is successful (at least that is what the manufacturers web site says, Oh and all of the people that are getting revisions).

Ignore the crazy old "band does no wrong" crew - they had one to many sips of the kool aid. 

Good luck!

Thanks Lynn! And I do ignore "it's NOT the band! It MUST b u!" ppl for the most part. Sometimes u just gotta comment though. But then I knew someone who felt their income might b compromised by my post would no doubt attack me on this thread! Kind of sad how some ppl think the band forum is just for ppl that agree with them! Lol.

I believe the forum is to do just that inform each other on the ups and downs help each other through the tough days and suggest anything you think will help ther others with. Did you get all the info from your dr. no you did because they should have told you some people take 2 or 3 years to loss what they want  others loss fast.

It may take 2-3 years to lose all of the exess weight you are going to lose but not to get restriction. You should have restriction from your band by at least 6 months (unless your doc is stringing you along for extra fill appointments).

The fact is that the band is not a good tool and only works about 30% of the time.

Maria,

I am really sorry you are not happy with you band.  It must be very frustrating.  And, you have as much right to post here as anyone else.  I do have a question, and please know this is a sincere question - there is no hidden agenda behind it.  I know people have problems with the band and often through no fault of there own.  The band is just a very fickle piece of plastic.  I am just curious when you say you have no restriction, and yet you have problems eating certain foods and sometimes do get stuck.  It would seem to me that if you had no restriction, you could eat like you don't even have a band.  So do you mean you have just not reached the green zone after 13 fills?  I'm just trying to understand.  
 
I am closing in on my two year bandiversary and I've only lost about 75 lbs - and most of it during the first year.  I've only lost about 20 lbs this year.  But for me, it is totally my fault - I've let way too many things back into my diet and have not been exercising regularly.  I mean, tonight I've eaten four cookies!  Way bad.  I've been doing alot of stress eating lately.  I need to get my head back into the game.  But my story is different than yours.  I have great restriction - I just let too many sliders through.  It took me close to a year to get decent restriction, but I think the sweet spot is a myth.  Either that or it's such a small window it's easy to miss.  I don't consider myself at my sweet spot because I can eat 4-6 oz. of dense protein and be hungry two hours later.  I am not like any of those folks who eat and not get hungry for over 4 hours.  I yearn for that, but it's never going to happen.  If I were any tighter, I think I'd be too tight.  I don't want to risk that.  Again, the band is such a fickle thing.  We are all so different. 

Anyway, I would appreciate clarification so that I can better understand what you mean.  I wish you luck and if you really want a revision, I hope you find a way to have one.  I feel very lucky that my surgery and all follow up is covered by insurance.  Take care.

cat

Thanks Cat,

N by no restriction I am referring to no "sweet spot"/"green zone". Just like someone else might post on here that they finally have restriction ("sweet spot"/"green zone").

Marie, I love tough love so here's something I'd say to my girlfriends:
I noticed you said dense protein gets stuck but no big deal... this would not be considered NO restriction.  If it can stop "some" meat, there is "some" reduction of the pathway... I've never had meat stuck when I've been eating so you have more restriction than I do...
BUT not having the surgery yet and appreciating the banter between those who have... I think looking from the outside in, these other banders may see this as more of a... well, I don't want to say it but... more psychological... that getting food stuck doesn't curb the behavior in the way that "it's no big deal". 
I would like to see you get past the problem and look for a solution to your dilema... kind of like standing outside of a car with a blown engine and kicking the tire. At some point you know that you've got to go for help. I understand wasting money,  lost time, etc... but exercise still works, low carb still works... maybe you can start with counseling and do what people do who haven't been lucky enough to at least try WLS.  Get out of the anger zone, it causes stress which causes cortizol which causes weight gain.  
I know it feels good to complain and get it off our chest, but for your own health I would like to help you find an answer.  Sooo, Banders who can help her find an answer?

My thought:  Have all the fluid removed and start over with the beginning part of the diet... clear liquids, etc?

Cameo by no restriction I am referring to the "sweet spot". Doesn't seem to exist in my case.............and the same holds true for a lot of others I have spoken with!

When I say that food sometimes gets stuck but it is no big deal, what I am referring to is that I am not too tight.

~I would like to see you get past the problem and look for a solution to your dilema~

So would I! The solution though is a revision! 13 fills..........no restriction..........REVISION TIME! I see too many ppl on this forum waste their time with the band when it's not working for them. It DOESN'T work for everyone!

~but exercise still works, low carb still works~

Of course it does! How do u think I have lost almost 60 lbs. with no restriction?!?!?! I exercise (not as much as I should though, I am the first to admit my faults!), I do low carb..............low fat.............high protein..............no drinking with meals.................I HAVE DONE MY PART!