Happy Stories of Success???

 It usually is but can vary based on availability of the venue hosting it.

Love that pic Bette!

I feel I am a sucess. Started 258 highest got down to 165 had a few problems with allergies that caused band to tighten. Had a complete unfill for a few months and gained 20 pounds, I have started to refill and have lost 6 of the 20 so far, am I happy? YES would I do it again? YES.

Banded 34 month ago -- went from 284 pounds to about 155 (working to lose 5 more).

I gave up most sweet foods in preparation for my surgery -- because I cannot eat those foods moderately.  It is much easier for me to not have any, than to constantly fight the cravings, cavings, binges, guilt, anxiety, etc.

I use OA to help me with my trigger foods and help focus me on a daily basis
I use Weigh****chers for weekly scale accountability-- and because I have come to love my group, and they love and support me

I walk (started to add some running a few months ago, but just had a tummy tuck, so back to walking) alot -- not very fast -- typically 3 1/2 miles an hour -- but I walk about 10 hours a week with 2 or 3 long ones in there.

I lost 130 pounds in about 18 months -- 15 - 20 pounds a month at first, and then slower, but just constant weight loss the whole time.
Seriously, I either had a loss or a maintain EVERY week execpt for 1 for 18 months of weighing in at Weigh****chers.

I saw my surgeon at 1 week post op, then 4 weeks (first fill), then every 3 weeks for a while -- getting tiny fills after the first big one.
Then, I basically saw him every time I lost 15 pounds or so --- I dropped a size in clothes and I needed a little more fill.

I always made a new appointment before I left his office ---- if I had to cancel, I would -- but I always had an appointment in mind.

I weighed/measured my food -- and ate it in tiny bites, off of small plates and with small utensils.
I told myself that 'there is more food later' -- and I put it away --- I made myself wait at least 20 minutes before I was allowed to have more -- and by that time, I was always distracted and did not need to go back for more.

Even now, at maintenance, if I eat protein first, I can be satisfied on 700 - 800 calories a day, but I eat more to keep my metabolism up there (especially given my exercise level).

I know that they day could come when I have band problems, and need to have it removed.
So, I live a life-style that I hope will allow me to maintain my weight loss without a subsequent surgery -- but I am saving my pennies just in case.  (Seriously, I saved for 2 rounds of plastic surgery and now I am replienishing my weight loss fund in case I am ever in the market for a VSG).

Thank you all for your amazing stories!  It was just what I needed.  I have done research about WLS for the last 4 years and feel like the band was the option I wanted.  My husband is a radiologist so he's seen pretty much all of the complications that come from any WLS.  I feel I made an educated choice and am so far happy with it.  Congratulations to all of you!  You look fantastic!

Sarah

 Banded 03/09/09.

Was 385 at consult/seminar.  383 day of surgery.

This morning I was 161.  I've been as low as 154, but that was immediately after finishing a "biggest loser bootcamp" at my gym.  I probably needed another small fill at that time, but that didn't occur to me.. so a tad of regain happened.  It will come off again.  :)

The most I exercised for the first 7 months after banding was walking.  Every day I walked a little further.  The walking and healthier eating (and smaller portions of course) allowed me to lose 100lbs in those 7 months.

After that, I joined a gym.. mainly cuz we had a week of rain and I didn't want to walk in the rain and no malls in my little town.  I just used the treadmill at the gym..and gradually worked my way into taking the classes that they offer.

I've had no major complications.  Had one small overfill about a year or so ago, was having trouble eating solid foods.  Unfill of what was previously added.. waited 2 or 3 months, then added it back and no further problems.

My band doctor doesn't require it, but I get an UGI done yearly to check band placement, esophageal status, size of pouch, etc.  I also ask that the radiologist or tech put some barium on a saltine to evaluate how food moves through the band.. as food acts differently than liquid.  Thinking of next time to take a little bit of a hamburger patty ... a barium burger?  hehe.. something with more substance than a saltine anyhow as saltines dissolve so fast.

 Here's another success story for you . . .

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4516552/Almost-7-years-post- Lap-Band-surgery/

Hi Sarah. I was banded last July and am 8 months post op. I have had no complications. My doctor/nurses do small and slow fills so I only got into the green zone 2 months ago. I have always been following low carb rules, so I was slowly losing, but it has definately picked up now. I have lost 47 lbs and feel like a new person!  I am exercising 5-7 days a week and enjoying it (NEVER thought I would say that). I am in week 5 of Couch to 5K and looking forward to doing my first 5k in June. I am SOOO happy I made the decision to get the LapBand and wouldn't change a thing. Good luck!!

Post Date: 3/29/12 2:57 pm
Excuse me but I am not trashing other WLS.I had the discussion with my surgeon because I was considering other WLS.

While you  may not be trashing it, you certainly are giving a lot of false info.

I am reporting what he told me & I believe that people need to know the full truth.

I 100% believe that people need to know the truth! That is why I come on here and post about the band complications.......PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS!!!

The first band was wonderful until a trip to Europe expanded a bubble & moved my band. Yes I am getting fed up with my band but I have not given up. The last fill seems to have brought me to full restriction. Do you think you own this public forum?

Of course I don't think I own it! That's just stupid. It's a public forum and I am part of this public. I am also a bandster, therefore I post on the band forum. Why is that a problem with you?

Who are you say who can & can't post here.?

Never have I said that! Again.......remember the term: PUBLIC FORUM!

I would never think of telling you not to post on here. We have differing opinions. No big deal. We will never find anyone that agrees with us on everything. We are all individuals. You have just as much right as I have to post on this forum. It's not just for people that think like I do, it's not just for people that think like you do. WE make the forum. All of us, with our differing opinions.

I was shocked when I checked this forum & saw how many people were trashing the band

Why wouldn't we trash the band if it hasn't worked for us, or has caused us physical damage. The band is NOT what it was advertised to be. If you go to a veteran's forum you will see people trashing Agent Orange. It damaged a lot of people. It even killed some. Why would these vets want to go on the forum and be Agent Orange cheerleaders? They speak from their experiences. We (the ones with failed bands) speak from our experiences.

& even advertising via links for other surgeries.

I'm not sure what advertising links you're referring to? But if you want to put a link up for the Lap-Band or the Realize Band............go right ahead.

I really wondered if some people were ringers here to recruit for certain doctors. I consider making a complaint to OH, but realized investigating this would be impossible.

No. It wouldn't be impossible. They have done it in the past. There are members on OH that are ringers. There used to be several on the Mexico forum I noticed. Go tattle to OH all you want. If they find them to be ringers........they will be removed. But those that just speak up and recommend their Dr. will not. Pre-ops want recomendations. They want to know what experiences some members have had with some Drs. It's good to research. But I really don't see a ringer problem here. Perhaps you have read some post that I have not though.


 The Lap-band forum used to be a great place for support & information re the lap-band.

Not exactly true. It was a great place for support for those with a new band, or for bandsters that haven't started having the complications yet. Those of us with failed bands did not receive support. It's just been in the last yr. that those with failed bands have been able to post on the band forum without being attacked (as much, lol).

Once people switch to other WLS, they should switch forums.

Well if you are referring to "Gerta Goober" she hasn't switched to another WLS. And btw.......why do you not think that those that  have revised to a more effective WLS don't have the right to post here???

As for your comments about my father's surgeries- he had 50% of his stomach remove TWICE. His stomach stretched after each surgery. His surgeries were many years ago, so one can not compare to today's surgical practice. I have to concede that the sleeve surgery removes 60% or more of the stomach. That may make a difference in the stomach's ability to stretch.   I googled studies on the long term efficacy of the sleeve & a dietitian wrote "The stomach remaining after your sleeve gastronomy will gradually stretch and permit larger meals. So you can stretch out your new smaller stomach and create more space that's always there to fill."

But that is what the stomach is SUPPOSE to do after VSG. It is meant to stretch out some! If it didn't............the VSG'ers would keep losing weight instead of having their weight loss stop so they can go into maintance mode. So your pointing out that the stomach stretches (which sounds as though you are infering that this is a bad thing) is kind of irrelevent, since that is what it is designed to do. That is why they make it the size they do, to provide adequate restriction when it does stretch out.

  I could.t find longitudinal  studies on the VSG, but I can rebut you comment nor support mine, but I passed on what my doctor told me in good faith & were intended to be supportive to Lap-banders.  He was not referring to the stomach stretching but to the body adjusting to the sleeve or RNY after 18 months, thus becoming ineffective.

Yes the body adjusts to the VSG. It is meant to. And by the body adjusting to RNY after 18 months.........I assume that you are referring to when malabsorption ends? That is well know that malabsorption of calories is temporary with the RNY. That doesn't necessarily mean it's "ineffetive" as you stated. It is to prevent the body from continuing to lose weight at the rate that it did initially. The restriction from the pouch though remains.

That is at least my understanding of those bariatric procedures. If anyone has a differing understanding of this please feel free to share.

 Why don't you try www.lapbandtalk.com or wwwband2gether.net, there are many successful long term banders there, you won't find many here, I think they should renamed this the lap band complaint forum....by the way I am still happy with my band going on 7 years.