looking to here from long term banders

Hi all,

It's me again with the questions about band surgery. I'm still deciding on getting the surgery, but I feel a lot what's stopping me is my fears of unknown. I understand even when I post questions and you answer at the end of the day every body's body is different and what one person experienced whether it be good or bad the other may not. I would like insight on how people are doing with the band after a year and so on.

I'm looking for the ones who've had the band for years and how they feel now since their surgery. Is it a regret? Is it the best thing that happened to ya? Any medical problems occured that may not have been there? Any medical problems that were there that aren't now because of the weight loss ? In other the words the pros's and con's to the surgery and how the body is responding to the band years later. If there are any people out there who had this for type if WLS and it's been years ago please give me your insight.
 
I know there are a few like Tom, and Bette B (hi Bette-smile-love ya), but if there are anymore please let me know. I've been checking on you-tube as well (a lot of good info on there if anyone is researching like me). 
thepose

You may want to check the revision, VSG, DS and RNY forums (there are more 5+ year bandsters on those forums than here). My story is on my blog if you would like to read it.

Good luck with your research.

Thanks Lynn for replying and I will check out the different forums and your bog as well.


thepose2003

Yeh, everyone is sure different.  I can tell you after almost 6 years, it has been nothing but a success for me.  I have had no problems from day one.  No pain, no swelling, etc.  I lost the weight slowly, and it has stayed off.  You know there a quite a few of us veteran bandsters on this forum who have also done great.  There are also some who have had very bad experiences.  I don't know what to tell you.  No surgery is better or worse than the other.  Also your body won't tell you which one is best.  With each surgery there is an adjustment period.  You also have to follow the rules.  What I liked about the band for me is the opening (stoma) where the food goes through is restricted and can be adjusted.  Once you get good restriction you don't need any more fills. No other surgery has this feature.  The band has also taken away my hunger.  With some of the other surgeries the stoma does enlarge and this can sometimes cause weight gain.  This is just my opinion.  I never take my band for granted.  i am always aware as with any surgery problems can occur at any time.   Just do your research, read all of the forums.  Eventually you will feel right about which surgery best fits you.  Good luck. 

Thanks for the encouragement and for getting back to my post. If you don't mind me asking what did you start out at weight wise. What advice could you offer a newbie who was just banded. I know people's body are different but success is a formula that kinda can fit more than one person. I want to succeed and I want this weight off of me. My doc said quit smoking so I'm working on that too. He only had to tell me once about that and he explained to me why. if you have any help about that please pass it on. I'm gonna ask the site for help to help me get there as well. Thanks again evil twin.  the pose

Hi, I don't post much but lurk pretty often. I had my surgery in Sept.06. I was pre-diabetic, had high blood pressure, horrible joint pain to the point I could barely get around. I wore a size 26/28 and weighed about 385 lbs. I lost over 100 lbs the first year, and now hang in there in the 170's. No more high blood pressure, no joint pain, and no diabetes. I am not the perfect bandster. If I get the urge for something sweet, (which I don't often!!) I don't deprive myself of it. I don't exercise every single day. I do weigh myself every day, and if the scale creeps up a lb or 2 I buckle down and get rid of it before it gets out of hand. Overall, my eating habits changed greatly. I now love veggies, and honestly make better choices now because I want to most days. My life has changed 100% for the better since I got banded. Not only has my health improved, I got out of a stale marriage, and am very happy with someone new. I have not had a fill in close to 2 years, and feel like I am right where I need to be. I really am not losing anymore, but that is fine too. I have never had a problem at all with my band. Sure, it let's me know who's boss if I make poor choices...but that is what I got it for. I LOVE my band!  Glenda

I'm glad you was lurking today, I needed to hear your story, I have a huge smile on my face. I weigh 368 and I would love to be at 170. Hell I would love to be 100 pounds lighter. Thank you so much for this post. Have you had any complications? Does the band agree with your body on the inside? I don't know  if you noticed but I'm trying to lure you back to posting on the boards. There's a lot of people out there who could benefit from your words.

thepose

Hi Thepose,
No, I haven't had any kind of problems with my band so far. It does have to remind me to slow down sometimes, and also when I take that extra bite sometimes when I know better...but I want it to do that. I rarely PB, and when I do it is my own fault. I have not had any heartburn at all. It gave me my life back, and I won't ever bash the band. For the first couple of years I was much more disciplined than I am now. Then I realized I did not want to go the rest of my life and never have anything sweet to eat, so now I give in to the urge every now and then. I might have that dip of ice cream or that Girl Scout cookie, but 95% of the time I do what comes naturally to me now--protein first, a little bit of veggies and maybe a bite of fruit if I can make it that far. A typical meal for me now is probably 1/2 cup of food--maybe a few bites of meat, a few bites of a vegetable. I do not drink when I eat, but I do get my water in by the end of the day. I guess I am one of the lucky ones, because even if I do get the urge for something sweet a tiny bit is all I want. Maybe it is because I worked so hard to get this weight off that I don't want to risk going out of control again. My only regret is that I did not get banded sooner. Another thing I cannot stress enough is to make sure you respect your doctor, and are willing to listen to everything he says. I had the very best. My doctor is wonderful with aftercare, and he wants to see us succeed. I only see him yearly now, unless I need to see him more often. I owe a large part of my success to my doctor. There are doctors out there that don'****ch their patients as closely after the surgery, and I think those patients don't have the benefit that I did.  As usually happens, once we get to a healthy life style and start living like we haven't been able to do before we tend to visit the OH board less and less, and I am guilty. I was never a big poster, but I learned a lot back in the early days from people like Bette just by being a lurker. Good luck to you, and if ever I can answer any questions for you, inbox me anytime. God bless.

Thanks again GSW for all your help with these replies. You're right about following through with your doctor's recommendations and orders. I agree most doctors after the surgery don't keep in touch as they should. I will make sure my the doctor I pick is more hands on and follows throughout with me as required.


thepose

I was banded 3 years ago. Lost 100 lbs, had a port leak, checked out mentally for awhile, re-gained 60 lbs, had my port replaced a month ago, re-lost 17 pounds.

I am happy right now. Last year, not so much. I have done A LOT of head work the last few months that I should have done prior to banding. This time I know I will lose it all... and keep it off.

Am I nervous about another band malfunction? Yes. But I will deal with that IF and when it happens. You can read all about my ups and downs if you want on my blog.

Good luck with your decision.