So, am *I* a Lap Band success?

Absolutely!  Sushi, sake and The Strand Bookstore!

Id give you a high five if I could do that thru the computer!

I would say YES YES, YES you are a Lap Band SUCCESS STORY!!!!!!.
I am only 14 1/2 months out but I totally agree with what you wrote.  I know if I ate what ever I want and make the wrong food choices the band wouldn't have brought me this far.  
I'm so glad we are a free nation and can choose what we feel is the right surgery for us.     

Congrats to you on your success with the band Bette, it is HARD for everyone that is over the "honeymoon' of 3 years, everyone *I* know that had RNY has pretty much gained most of their weight back...so ALL surgeries are tools, we have to learn to eat right and excercise this will keep our weight off forever.

Bette, as usual you have hit the nail on the head. I feel very sorry for anyone who has complications that were totally out of their control, but I agree with you that even a partial weight loss is a success. I would have been bummed if despite all my best efforts I could not lose weight with my band, because having surgery, and paying for even a portion is a really big deal, but you know what? I was even prepared for that possibility. That I was able to lose all my excess weight was beyond all expectations. My surgeon commented that I had lost that weight faster than many of his other surgical patients. Darn, you mean a worthless band could help me do that? Yep! I worked hard, very hard, I considered my band as only a tool to help a bit, and to possible make long term maintenance a possibility instead of automatically regaining as soon as I quit using a rigid diet. It has out performed those expectations. Whether I succeed at working my tool to keep from regaining is up to me. If I deal with some of these head issues and quit arguing with my band I stand a really good chance of keeping the chronic disease of obesity in remission. That is success.

My band has given me a fighting chance but I have done the rest. Hell yes I am a success even on the days no one in their right mind would say that if they saw me. It has never been as bad as before, plain and simple. I had to have a 2cc unfill at the end of Dec. right after really out of control holidays, yet my worthless band is still helping me! Oh yeah, I'm a success and so is my band.

Sue

My dad was in the hospital and after visiting him I couldn't eat.. my band would be so tight and it didn't matter if I drank tea or coffee... food was a no go and because I was sad my dad was in the hospital I turned to Cheetos.. regular size not snack size you eat with chips for .99 cents but normal size bags!! I would go home after the hospital and sit and eat cheetos.. cheetos made me feel better .. this was all during the holidays so cookies were all around so I ate chocolate covered anything.. with another dose of Cheetos.. I lost my dad on Christmas Day.. and gained 15 pounds :( 

My mistake was realzing I could still do that.. I could still literally eat a bag of cheetos.. before I wouldn't allow myself to do that.. not a bag, open and sit.. and now that I did .. I realize how easy I can fall into old patterns... don't get me wrong I have eaten chips but not the bag in front of the tv. It hurts! Anyhow I picked myself and dusted myself off and I'm back at the gym and I don't see Cheetos in my near future. The band is not around my brain and I have to work that brain EVERY day.

Heck Bette, by Allergan's standards I'm a success too. I started needing to lose 180 lbs, and over 3 years out have kept off over 60 lbs and continue to s.l.o.w.l.y. lose.

Yes I'm disappointed that I haven't lost more or faster, but the one thing that truly sticks in my craw is that I imagined post op life I would spend less time thinking about food, and in my case it is quite the opposite. I find myself craving salads and chicken-those healthy things I cannot tolerate. And constantly gauging what I can and cannot eat on a daily basis as I have fluctuating restriction.

*i'm going to hijack this for a hot minute* Michelle...I didn't know you had a babe. Congratulations!

Thanks Tiff, but she's not mine, I'm just a super proud auntie.

Thank you for this post it helps us new bees allot  i am so happy to see the ones that have had trouble and still love there band post i am new and went for a fill today but they couldn't do it my port has turned  the Dr showed me on the screen how it decided to turn sideways so i go in in the morning to have it fixed