well, the band is out....

Thurs a.m. had my band removed due to erosion. Very sad and scared.
I kept track of my calories the last few weeks and seem to be able to maintain on about 1500. Hopefully I can keep up with this without the band. Sometimes I feel great about my chances, other times not so much.
I'm just going to try really hard and if worse comes to worst, I'll have another surgery.

 GOOD LUCK SWEETIE!!!

 thanks so much!

Karen,

I'm sorry. I understand. I was very scared when my band came out too. Relieved, but scared of regaining.

I kept the weight off for a couple of years and then had to have several surgeries and was put on steroids. Then I regained. BUT you CAN do it. Be mindful, exercise as much as you can and keep telling yourself that you're worth the time and effort.

Good luck to you. I hope you heal up well and feel better.

Thank you for the positive words. Everyone makes it sound like it's just hopeless.
In my favor, I exercise tons, am able to maintain on about 1500 cal/day, and have completely changed the way i cook and eat. From what the doc tells me my band hasn't been working for a while anyway.
So are you thinking of revising?

It's not hopeless! It's hard, for sure, but there's always hope, right?! 

My doc, when he removed the band, told me, "You get fat again, we'll do the sleeve after you heal up." And I said, "Oh no, I'm not getting fat again! I went through way too much to do THAT." 
*sigh* Well, I really and truly did great for the first 2 1/2 years... worked out daily, watched what I ate (which was hard, since I was unable to eat solid foods with the band at all and after the band came out, I wanted nothing more than to eat everything!)   Like I said, the surgeries and the steroids did me in! And I was so mad about it... and then I kinda gave up, honestly. It felt like I was spending every minute worrying about weight. And it is tiresome.

I think that if you continue working out and eating well, you'll prove them all wrong about it being "hopeless."  Take some time to work through your grief about it. It is very disappointing and sometimes people who haven't had a WLS don't quite get just how devastating it can be when it fails you.

Honestly, I have too much damage to my diaphragm to revise to another surgery right now. But I FEEL so much better, physically, that I just kinda hold tough. If you're able to revise, you might want to research the VSG, if you haven't already. From what I hear, it offers good restriction, consistently, without the pain and troubles the band can cause.

Good luck, Karen. I hope it goes well for you.

 If I ever did get another surgery, I would want the sleeve. I've proven I don't need malapsorption or the troubles that go with it.
I am very angry about what happened with the band. It definitely did work for me, but going into it I didn't understand that it was a surgery that could be suddenly be taken away from me. 
I think I'm setting myself up with a good support network- therapist, personal trainer, etc.
 I'll be glad to eat some solid food, though, all this soft stuff seems like danger to me- too many cals and fat.
Thanks again for the support!  Hang tough. 

You should do fine hon. Looks like you have lost most of your weight already so now it will just be a matter of keeping up the exercise and watching your calories. I've had my band empty for several months now, I still have a little restriction, and have managed to stay within 5-10 lbs of where I was when it was emptied. Now I never lost much with my band so I don't have awhole lot to gain back, but I think you've made the changes needed to maintain your loss. If things do go south you are always welcome to come here and get help. We don't throw you out just because you don't have a band anymore!

thanks so much! You're very sweet- glad to hear you're doing well. 

Have confidence that you will do well.  I know that having an empty band and being without one is different.  However since my band has been emptied I feel no restriction and can usually keep my calories around 1671 where they want to me keep them.  On most occasions they are lower.  You have the mindset to succeed and therefore you will. 
Don't let your weight get away from you or get slack in your good eating habits.  Keep up the good habits that helped you achieve your weight loss.  Since your band hand not been working for a while, you were doing it anyway. 
Best wishes,
Z