In need of some advice

 I've had the realize band for 21/2 years now with NO succes at weight loss at all.  I've been thinking of switching to gastric bypass but am ver y afraid of all the possible complications tha I have heard of.  Plus if I get the bypass I will have to pay cash which around here's $30,000.  If I have a cpmplication I doubt I'll be able to pay for it.

Has anyone here had no success with tha band? Have you been ale to turn it around and finally lose weight?  Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated

Thank you, Susan

Give us some history ony our band journey.  What kind of fills have you had, what kind of problems?  Level of restriction?  Eating habits, etc...

Theresa

I agree with Theresa, more information would be great. Do you have any restriction? What are you eating? Are you excercising?

I had the same last April. I have lost very little.  I have gotten very down and the 40 lbs I lost I gained 1/2 back.  I am trying to give myself a boost of motivation to just start over and re focus.  I definitely don't want to have the bypass nor do I have the money to pay for another surgery.

I think we can do it!  Please keep in touch.  I think the hardest thing for me was the results are sooo much slower than friends of mine that had the sleeve or bypass.  It was/ is very frustrating.  Maybe slow and steady wins the race :)

- s

 I have had the LapBand for about the same amount of time - since July 2009.  Not much success here either.  The only real success I had was on the protein shakes for the month of healing.   I am afraid  of RNY, but I was even thinking of trying to get past the fear, but doubt I can.  One downfall is I have not exercised. So, I have joined the gym, again, beginning of the year.  I have exercised 4-5 nights a week for 4 weeks now and still have lost nothing yet.  I feel this is my last chance, if I can't lose with exercise, I guess I will give up and resolve to being 'pleasingly plump'!

 My Dr. is even at a loss.  His only suggestion was to try drinking a protein shake again for 2 of my meals, which I haven't tried yet.   I have a non working thyroid, but take synthroid.  And, I blame menopause for the recent 20 lb gain.  I don't know what the answer is. My calorie intake is 800- 1200 a day.  I think I have my metabolism really messed up.

 I haven't really given you any answers or suggestions, but wanted to let you know you are not alone.

Colleen

Colleene if you are on FB join the failed band group!

Susan I paid cash for my band in Nov. '09 and after 17 fills I never got restriction. It has been a COMPLETE waste of time and money! That is why I started the failed band group on Facebook. The link is below, please join!

Susan, Have you considered the Sleeve instead of RNY?  It's not as drastic and it would cost less - I wouldn't ever get RNY but I would get the Sleeve if I had to revise to anything other WLS.

Speaking of the LapBand, do you have a supportive doctor or his staff who can sit down with you and your nutritional plan and see if there is something missing?  Have you had restriction ever?  Do you eat your protein each meal?  Lots of questions.

I can't even relate.  I've had the band only 3.5 months and I'm losing weight like crazy.  I've only had two fills.  I'm down 32 lbs.

I don't see how its possible to not lose weight unless there is a physical issue with the band.  The restriction alone should cause you to eat less, which in theory, means less calories, which usually results in weight loss. 

If that band is OK and in tact, the exception  would be if one is eating high calorie sweets or foods that don't get deterred by the band.  In that case, your cramming in the calories and not feeling the restriction.  For example, I could easily eat several cookies.  They break down and go down so easily--I just choose not to.

For me, at the end of the day, its about restriction; and because of my significant weight loss, I've started exercising, and that causes more weigt loss.

I think alot of folks get the band and don't realize they have to change their lifestyles and diet--I'm not suggesting that about you Susan, but I have wondered that about others.

Thanks for all the replies everyone..I do have restriction, I've had many fills. I think my band holds 11 cc's and I'm at 9.75.  The Dr who originally did my surgery however his son aquired a serious illness and he retired from medicine in order to stay home with his son full time. So I had to switch dr's. So far I've had one of those xray swallowing tests and they tell me that everything looks good, no slippage, no overfilling, no leaking and my pouch looks "unremakable".  My problem is this. There is never a "perfect fil" for me. Either it feels too tight and I can't get anything but slider foods down (hello weight gain) or else it's too loose and my portions are too big. I admit that I have had problems giving up sweets. I grew up depressed and food was my comfort, it's so hard to break that habbit. I am in counseling for that right now and she is also a nutritionist so she is helping me with that as well.

As for those of you that would never get RNY can you tell me why? I've heard horror stories but I've also heard success stories.

Oh as for exercising I have chronic pain because of a disorder in my feet and ankles and can't walk for stand without pain so walking around the block or a tread mill is out of the question. I also may have to get an operation to fuse my ankles bones so they don't move side to side in order to correct this problem. I know it is made worse by my weight so that is one reason I am so desperate to lose.

Any other advice/comments are reallly appreciated. Thanks so much,
SUsan