Almost 56 years old and yes I am real - Thanks Naomi for reposting from last week

I love my lapband. More than 6 1/2  years of success with my lapband. I was a selfpay, but free refills and doctor visits for life for self pay. I started following Naomi's advice almost 7 years ago and she has been a total encouragement, even during her difficult times. There was also a nurse from Oregon (can't remember her name) from years ago who also gave great advice. And then there's Jean. I totally loved her book!!!

One unfill due to auto accident, 5 fills between 2005 and 2007, no fill because I've been at my sweet spot since November 2007. I hope to keep my laptband for life. I had a great surgeon, and learned from other people's situations through almost 7 years of lurking.

Yes, I am real. Here is my pre-surgery photo for September 2005.


10 months later at goal weight (80 pounds lost in less than 10 months - never had a gain, never stalled for more than 1 week, followed mostly all the lapband rules)



1 year later - September 2006



Here are some photos taken by my husband on 3/12/2012. Below goal with 85 pounds lost and maintained,




When I get the energy, I'll update the rest of my profile. But just wanted to let everyone know I am not a "cartoon" and yes, I am very real. No plastic surgery (although that would probably take an addition 5-10 pounds off) and the only exercise I do is daily walking. No special diets - just eat what I want in moderation. I keep my band loose and don't abuse it (too often). I still allow myself the ocassional junk food (but the band keeps me from overdoing it), but keeping track of my daily weight makes sure I don't get off track.
 
I've always struggled with my weight, and the lapband is more than just a tool - it has done most of the work for me because I am rarely hungry. I know, not everyone is the same, but this is my story and I want to encourage others out there that there ARE successful long-term bandsters who don't bother to post for the reasons I am sorry I ever bothered to sign up a few days ago and post.. But for people considering the band, you need to hear the GOOD (from old timers) and the bad, and then carefully consider your decision.  And, should mine ever fail (highly unlikely), I've learned so much for the non-band/anti-band people that I will be ready to revise (since my insurance doesn't have a once in a lifetime policy). It's all good for me. But this is MY journey.  And I would appreciate other members of a weight loss SUPPORT website to give me the courtesy to share MY story without calling me a liar and saying something is "fishy".

Again, Jean, Naomi, Bette, and countless others have helped me along the way, without even knowing it. And even Maria and Diana (and others whose names don't come to mind right now) have been tremendous sources of information. But as I said in my first post, I have kept an open mind. I just wish with all my heart that everyone could treat everyone else with respect.  We are all in this together.

Bottom line: I love my lapband. I love my body (yes, even at almost 56). I have not had plastic surgery. But I am very proud of my success since I struggled for YEARS with being so overweight. With the lapband, it felt like it was literally falling off overnight with absolutely no effort on my part. I didn't regain any appetite at all until well after a  year. Maintaining is slightly harder, but worth it.

 Bravo to you! Thank you so much for stopping in to share your success.  You look absolutely radiant in your photos!

Jo, as you can see in my post below, I encourage everyone to keep going and to never give up. I do appreciate your post, and you are very sweet in your comments about my photos. I was going to wait until tomorrow to have my husband take them, but I was so hurt (I know I shouldn't be so sensitive) by people calling me a liar, etc. etc. that I stayed up to get the photos taken and posted to prove I am real. Seems bizzare to have to prove I am real.

Anyway, thanks again for your encouraging comments. They are greatly appreciated!

Totally awesome. I'm back on the journey and was banded aug 2005. You are inspiring. Thanks so much!

Thanks Cathy for your kind words. I would love to see this board get back to kindness and support for everyone, regardless of their experience and regardless of their surgery.  We don't need to be divided or attacked. But good for you for being back on track. I've had many obstacles, especially this past year - but if I can do it, you can too! Being over 50 makes it so much harder, but I have tried to keep a positive attitude in my life, even when there's not much to be positive about. But the one thing I CAN feel good about is finally conquering my weight and keeping it off. I never thought it would happen. But it is NEVER too late with the lapband to turn things around.

So, be encouraged. When I first went for the lapband, I looked at the cost (17K) and thought oh gee, I am too old to be this vain at my age. But I was prediabetic and gaining weight every year. And then I realized that I will be as old in 5 years with or without the surgery, so I may as well bite the bullet and get the surgery.  I guess my weight loss is one of the bright spots in my life and I get so discouraged to hear people bashing people in particular. It was difficult to read that I am not real, there's something fishy about my post, I am in lapband la la land. These people don't know me.  I may post a little differently than others, but that's because my life is NOT like others. I force myself to write through the pain, but it also reminds me to be gentle and not hurt anyone needlessly.

So with that said, KNOW that you CAN do it. We can all start over with fills or get a little kick in the butt to get back on track. As they say, the beauty of the band. Please let me know how you are doing. Just take it one day at a time. When I mess up (and I do), I tell myself I can get back on track. Sometimes I still crave junk food when I am feeling sorry for my life (or lack thereof), so I will give myself at most 2 days of indulging, and then get back on track. And when I do mess up, I treat myself kindly. I do not bash myself and tell myself what a failure I am for blowing it. I forgive myself - literally - and then move on to do better. One day at a time.

Never give up. Never.

OMG!....You truly followed me, we were banded around the exact same time, you have been truly watching me through my trials and tribulations on this board this entire time, I consider you an angel and you look beautiful and so healthy, thin and shapely and you should love your body and lap band because it has truly worked for you.

Many ole timers and successful lap banders have been run off, this board use to have the most activity..... the nurse that you are speaking about is Sandy R, she helped ME personally when I went through my scariest moment after my pouch expanded when I got filled too tight accidentally and traveled, she helped save my band and I was able to move forward with no permanent damage, she and Nancy D, I know you have to remember her, if it was not for those two women I would not have my lap band today. They knew more about the band than most lap band surgeons, because some of their surgeons were lap band pioneers and because it was new in the US at the time, we were all learning how to live with it, they educated me and I kept that knowledge of how to use my band without getting into trouble.

Many of the band bashers DON'T want others to be educated about the lap band and they don't want others to really know that there are ways to successfully lose weight and keep your band adjusted tightly safely, BUT you must know how to do it and respond to any immediate adverse symptoms.


Some people now call the lap band forum the "pit" where only people that are in trouble with their bands hang out and now a stepping stone for the revision board...some doctors office told me this a few years ago, telling me don't hang out there, only go there to ask questions, but....so many "good" people use to post here and this is where I got my "groove" back.

I started this journey after a recent divorce in 2005, I was alone in a new area near Washington DC and my family was in Atlanta, so I really did not have many friends in the area, I found many many friends here and as I lost weight I also found many online enemies, which is really a shame. I was excited and motivated and I had a plan in place when I got my band, I was determine to lose weight, I started in size 26 and I still walked every single morning rain, cold, or shine, I got my hour walk in and got my fills, I never really followed a diet, but I ate healthy most of the time and I lost about 10 pound per months especially after each fill adjustment, some were not enough and some were too tight, but all in all, I seen my surgeon every 6 weeks at least for the first 2 years post op. I worked HARD for my weight loss, and I was humble, I was so excited to lose weight, I cheered others on, I made lots of friends on this board over the years, I was newly divorced after 12 years and I was getting back on the dating scene, I tried to make this board exciting and interesting and I "shared" my dating journeys from "Match.com", I did not have many friends in the area so I took photos of my weight loss myself weekly in my bathroom mirror and shared my progress....and can you believe some people took my innocent unprofessional "bathroom" pictures and started to flame me...and started calling me "Nablome"...and attacking me personally and some even as far as investing my credentials since I am software engineer the band bashing had gotten dangerous and went too far, I am happy Obesity Help changed their TOS.....any time I would share my pictures it would cause an uproar on this board, although I never made it to a normal BMI....I was just happy that my hard work paid off.....it is really really sad how other obese people are nasty and abusive to each other.....I made a mistake and started fighting back with them...I am pretty strong and usually would ignore the flames and the taunts, but when I fight back...I am called very rude and a mean spirited person...which is the totally opposite of me....I am a very helpful and caring person and you as you put it, you have followed me through the years and KNOW me very well and know what I have contributed to this board and as you put it....I have EARNED MY STRIPS.

I got my band the "right" way just like you did, my surgeon was part of a center of excellence and I had a very "high standard" 4cc 10ml lap band and I was banded in a upscale hospital on a floor dedicated only to bariactric patients. Although I loved my first surgeon, he honestly had trouble filling me right after I'd lost so much weight, I am not sure if I developed a hernia that interfered with my band, but at one point I was going back and forth of being too tight or too loose and that is when I decided to let me old surgeon go....and find a new lap band surgeon that specialized in the lap band and is only dedicated to lap band patients and I was able to get excellent restriction after changing surgeons.

I did my homework, I researched my surgeon I KNEW ALL OPTIONS available to me, I went to about 8 seminars and learned about ALL surgical weight loss options, Dr Elariny (who many call the master of the DS) near Washington, DC, told me personally about the DS, Sleeve, RNY, and Lap Band, and YES the Sleeve was being performed back in 2005 but still in its infancy. I could have choose ANY of them, my insurance would have paid 100 percent for ANY of them. I reviewed all of the pros and cons, and side effects, I chose the lap band because I felt it fitted my lifestyle and the safest option for ME.

I again LDW, you look radiant and I wish you would post more to let newbies know that the band works for MANY people, and MANY successful lap banders don't hang out here, this board makes it seem like there are not many lap banders, but there are thousands of lap bander out there, the band is still the second most perform weight loss surgery in the US second to the bypass and most lap banders are not sick and need support or suffering from severe vitamin issues years out or in and out of the hospital and need these boards, they are out living their lives.

Now...I just pop in and contribute when I have time...

Edited to add: I am so sorry to hear about your illness, I am wishing you many more succesful and uneventul years with your band.

Naomi, yes, I followed you through your ups and downs and dating scenarios. I have never found you to be hateful or mean-spirited, but as a sister software-developer, you know we are different from the normal population  

Anyway, I totally agree that few old timers come here to post, because look at me - I waited almost 7 years after reading so many terrible posts about how anyone who has a lapband is stupid, is going to fail, is going to have problems, will need to revise, etc. It just isn't true. No one should make any type of generalization about any type of WLS except to say they all have their risks. I worked very hard in my first post to be fair and balanced while at the same time sharing MY experience and not judging anyone else.

But yes, I have cringed, especially these last few years as the board got uglier and uglier, at how people talk about you.  That's why I wanted to say what an inspiration you have been. And still are. And it is NOT about getting to a normal BMI, because if we look at BMI's, well, look at the picture of me in that dress with shorter hair. At that weight, I was considered overweight based on BMI charts. But I am large boned. As are you. And what WLS is all about, for me, is to feel healthy, feel good about yourself, and keep using the tool. Fills AND unfills are a  great thing.  They need to be used wisely, as you have always advocated. And it doesn't matter if you need 1 fill or 50 fills to get through your journey. You are neither superior for needing less or inferior for needing more. Everyone is different.

Unfortunately at the time, both my husband and I were self employed and insurance didn't cover anything regarding WLS. Now we have normal coverage through his job that allows WLS even if it is a revision.  I doubt I will ever need a revision but who knows what will be available if that time ever comes?

Anyway, my initial post was because I was tired of "everyone" making it seem like there are not any "old timers" who are successful with the band. Or if they claim to be, they must be lying (like me? I think not - that's why I posted the photos). And I have really hated how some of the band haters have flamed Jean - who wrote a great book (I enjoyed reading it) and through no fault of her own needs to revise. Jean will continue to be a success at anything she does because she has that fighting spirit and a great sense of humor. And I can't wait for her to write a book about her current and upcoming journey.

No one should feel fear of sharing THEIR journey.  I think the new TOS, while they make things a little less dramatic (ha!), don't go far enough. I was posting for the FIRST time and because I didn't take the time to create a thorough profile with photos and start making a lot of posts (I just joined on the 8th!) I had to be "fishy" or a "liar". Why? Because I am a success when some people try so hard to say there ARE no lapband long term successes?  It was very hurtful, even though I have a pretty tough shell, it still hurt.

Bottom line - Naomi, you have inspired me, and I imagine there a lot more people just like me whom you have inspired, but who have felt intimidated by this board to sign up and tell you so.

 LDW, I hope you can understand me, I have been driven to be extremely rude to people here -- just to get them to back off of me. If someone is sending you PMs about me....you should know better and read through the hype, you are a software engineer and too smart for that like me, you've followed me for almost 7 years and you know the REAL ME.....and it's obvious who the trouble makers are here.

Some of the band bashers don't want anyone here that publicly admits they like their bands I am THEIR target, I am outspoken and *gasp* my skin color is a bit darker, so I should just keep my mouth shut and behave like ______ I  guess that fill in the blank should but a guess. They can't seem to differentiate between ranting about THEIR OWN lap band experience and saying that everyone is doomed who have a band...how can we come here and post and keep on track our weight loss when everything is SO NEGATIVE?

Melly is getting a revision to the Sleeve, I've supported her for many years and she has supported me as well, she is one of the sweetest honest people here, her band did not work out for her, she TRIED and has had two lap bands....it's obvious that her surgeon installed her band wrong, her slippage was not her fault, like many others, she is not bashing me and the band or is bitter, she is moving on and I truly wish her the best and hope that her Sleeve works better than her band did, these are the type of people that I respect and should remain on this forum, although the band did not work for her, she is not going to rain on the parade of those who STILL have a lap band intact that wants to post here........these type of people have my up-most respect and I will continue to support her in her Sleeve journey as well.

I wished you would have come out of lurk dom long time ago and I am very happy you are here, hopefully we can focus this forum back on lap band support and not about bashing surgeries...we are all here for support of losing weight and fighting obesity regardless of which route we take.

 I am always happy to see another success come out of the shadows! GOOD JOB (and I ADORE those pants you are wearing in the 4th pic!)

Bette, you have made me laugh so many times. I love your humor! And your success has also inspired me.  Life can be very difficult, and I have read about your challenges with just life in general. And yet you never give up. Never. You deserve the best life has to offer, because you are an amazing person!!! 

Your advice is always right, and you take a tremendous amount of time to encourage others. So, thank you for all the encouragement you have given me just through reading your posts over the years. I hope more lurkers will come out of the shadows (yeah, 7 years is a LONG time to lurk). I debated it for years. There were posts I really wanted to respond to but I said no, I don't want to be flamed - not worth the effort.
 
I just wish we could all get to a place to support each other, regardless of their decision.  And I especially think people with a bad lapband experience SHOULD tell their story. We all need to read those experiences, regardless if we are old timers, newbies, or just at the research stage. But I just humbly think that it should be told as THEIR story, and not as some prediction of what MY story will be.

Hey, thanks for the comment on the pants.  I love them! I ordered them online years ago hoping for the day when they would finally fit. Hard to find high-waisted jeans anymore. Seems like everything is hip-huggers. Cool for when I was young, not so good at my age.