Six years ago....
( Sorry, for some reaon will not let me break up last paragraph)
Well actually, not quite - five years and eleven months but I don't come here any more so as I just thought of posting this, I will do it now in case I forget.
5 years and 11 months ago. I wore size 26 clothes, was lethargic, food obsessed and unhealthy. For 4 1/2 years now, I have been size 10 (8 in some clothes, 12 in other styles), active, fit and outgoing. I am in my 60s and more active and adventurous than I have been for thirty years.
Has it been easy? No, I have worked hard, as I knew I would have to. Have I had any problems? Yes, a leak a couple of years ago which needed a repair. Has banded life been what I expected and hoped? Yes! Do I eat like a normal, slim person! Yes! Exactly the same as my slim friends! If you met me, you would not know from my eating patterns that I am banded.
I am not naive, I no longer believe that my band will necessarily be with me for life. But it is a simple fact that for reasons I cannot attempt to explain, the experience of almost all the long term bandsters I know in real life has been positive. I am aware that this is at odds with the experience of some who post on here. In the UK, in addition to the licensing body ( like your FDA), all procedures are vetted by NICE ( the National Institute for Clinical Excellence). In order for any surgery to be carried out by our national health service, at taxpayers' expense so free to the patient, it has to be proven to be both clinically effective and cost effective. NICE still recommends the band as being both of these things. I believe that In Australia, gastric banding is still over 90% of all wls. I have no idea why the US experience seems so different.
The stats for my doc are still the same as 6 years ago and the same as my local National Health Service Hospital. Under 2% erosion, under 3% slips, re-op rates (from removal, repositioning down to less major like leaks, ports etc.) about 15%.
I return to the UK to tomorrow after 5 weeks backpacking in Malaysia. I have climbed mountains, trekked through and camped in rainforests. I have eaten bizarre foods and foods I recognise. I have eaten all types of food including fried foods and sweets. In the main towns I even had Starbucks Frappuccino with cream! There is a scale in the hotel where we are staying tonight ready to fly home. I am one pound lighter than when I left the UK. My band has enabled me to exceed my wildest dreams. It is not so for everyone but in my experience, it helps a lot more people than you would think from this board. If I lost mine tomorrow, I would be devastated but so very grateful for what it has already done for me Kate
Well actually, not quite - five years and eleven months but I don't come here any more so as I just thought of posting this, I will do it now in case I forget.
5 years and 11 months ago. I wore size 26 clothes, was lethargic, food obsessed and unhealthy. For 4 1/2 years now, I have been size 10 (8 in some clothes, 12 in other styles), active, fit and outgoing. I am in my 60s and more active and adventurous than I have been for thirty years.
Has it been easy? No, I have worked hard, as I knew I would have to. Have I had any problems? Yes, a leak a couple of years ago which needed a repair. Has banded life been what I expected and hoped? Yes! Do I eat like a normal, slim person! Yes! Exactly the same as my slim friends! If you met me, you would not know from my eating patterns that I am banded.
I am not naive, I no longer believe that my band will necessarily be with me for life. But it is a simple fact that for reasons I cannot attempt to explain, the experience of almost all the long term bandsters I know in real life has been positive. I am aware that this is at odds with the experience of some who post on here. In the UK, in addition to the licensing body ( like your FDA), all procedures are vetted by NICE ( the National Institute for Clinical Excellence). In order for any surgery to be carried out by our national health service, at taxpayers' expense so free to the patient, it has to be proven to be both clinically effective and cost effective. NICE still recommends the band as being both of these things. I believe that In Australia, gastric banding is still over 90% of all wls. I have no idea why the US experience seems so different.
The stats for my doc are still the same as 6 years ago and the same as my local National Health Service Hospital. Under 2% erosion, under 3% slips, re-op rates (from removal, repositioning down to less major like leaks, ports etc.) about 15%.
I return to the UK to tomorrow after 5 weeks backpacking in Malaysia. I have climbed mountains, trekked through and camped in rainforests. I have eaten bizarre foods and foods I recognise. I have eaten all types of food including fried foods and sweets. In the main towns I even had Starbucks Frappuccino with cream! There is a scale in the hotel where we are staying tonight ready to fly home. I am one pound lighter than when I left the UK. My band has enabled me to exceed my wildest dreams. It is not so for everyone but in my experience, it helps a lot more people than you would think from this board. If I lost mine tomorrow, I would be devastated but so very grateful for what it has already done for me Kate
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
Thank you for sharing your experiance. I am three weeks out and am just learning this new way of life. I congratulate you on all you have accomplished. I hope to be in your shoes next year....welllll, I don't think I will be as adventerous as trying bizarre foods:-), I'm way too squeamish heehee.
Thank you again and have a great plane ride home.
Thank you again and have a great plane ride home.
Soup containing hens' feet was one I found hard! But I drank the soup, just didn't chew the feet! Really anxious not to offend the local people by looking horrified by their foods!
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
On April 17, 2012 at 12:59 AM Pacific Time, kate P wrote:
Soup containing hens' feet was one I found hard! But I drank the soup, just didn't chew the feet! Really anxious not to offend the local people by looking horrified by their foods!Oh Kate, you and I are so different. You drank the soup. I would have been like "You people eat this ****!". Lol.
Maria, guess hens' feet are a lot healthier than a Big Mac! But then i have only once in my life braved one of those! But I admit I was glad I didn't have to chew the foot! I would have one if absolutely necessary to avoid offending but really did not want to!
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
Oh, and Maria, thanks for not adding any snarky comments about my success! So far only one person has joined in to tell me I am a total anomaly and shouldn't be posting to tell of my success in case it encourages others.
Thank you for being adult and taking this thread in the spririt in which it was intended, to celebrate my own success not to promise success to others.
Kate
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
On April 18, 2012 at 6:14 PM Pacific Time, kate P wrote:
Oh, and Maria, thanks for not adding any snarky comments about my success! So far only one person has joined in to tell me I am a total anomaly and shouldn't be posting to tell of my success in case it encourages others.
Thank you for being adult and taking this thread in the spririt in which it was intended, to celebrate my own success not to promise success to others.
Kate
I take a vacation from snar****asionally. ;-)
Congrats!
Believe me, it was a fabulous trip! Not game reserves with lines of tourist minibuses but real wild animals in their real, natural, unfenced rainforest! We saw so much, esp when we were on a small boat, just DH, me, our guide and animals! The wildlife on the river bank wasn't threatened by us as we were on the water. We came within ten feet of elephant, 20 feet of orang utans, lots of different monkeys.
Slept out in the forest, no camp site! Just our tent, a stream for washing, a hile for the toilet! But also in some very nice hotels!
Slept out in the forest, no camp site! Just our tent, a stream for washing, a hile for the toilet! But also in some very nice hotels!
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
oh wow that would be a dream trip for me. I love to watch animals (huge animal lover). The closest I have ever gotten to a wild animal was going through Disney's Animal Kingdom Park lol.
That is one trip that you will never forget. I hope you got lots of pictures .
Was it even scary at all sleeping out in tent where anything can get to you ? Especially snakes lol That would scare me the most lol.
That is one trip that you will never forget. I hope you got lots of pictures .
Was it even scary at all sleeping out in tent where anything can get to you ? Especially snakes lol That would scare me the most lol.
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