Giving this one more shot.

Hi all.........I had my Lap Band Surgery back in Oct of 2008. I really felt like I was prepared to do everything that I needed to do in order to make it work for me. I swore that I would never drink with my meals. I swore that I would not drink anything too soon after my meals. I swore to a lot of things that I didn't stick to at all. I went for follow ups with my surgeon for fills and unfills and would lose a pound here or there but nothing significant. I would always tell him (and myself) that I was doing everything by the book but I really wasn't. I ended up just giving up on the whole thing and haven't been back to the Dr in three years for any type of Lap Band follow up. Even though I am morbidly obese I never had any of the health issues related to being obese. That was then but now things have changed. I now have high blood pressure, heart palpitations, enlarged heart, borderline diabetic, not as mobile as I used to be.....etc. I have basically been told by my cardiologist to either get this weight off or start planning an early funeral. So I've decided that I am giving this Lap Band another shot. I am prepared to do whatever it takes and I am going to stick by the "Lap Band" rules. Not only because I want to lose the weight but also because now it is not a choice. I have an appointment with the surgeon that did my surgery tomorrow and I am so nervous that I can hardly stand it. I'm worried that he is going to think I am a lost cause and wonder why the heck I am even there. Anyone else out there that has a similar story?

 
If you feel he believes you are a lost cause, dump him.  It really is that simple.  YOU are the consumer, he is merely the doc.  Don't ever forget that.

Lots of people! This is one of those "no, it isn';t going to be easy" moments, but you already seem to have a good idea of what you are doing to sabotage yourself. Please be honest with your surgeon about how things have gone for you (he likely suspects you've been doing these things anyway). Ask to meet with the nutritionist. Request a "check-up" (upper gi) if you haven't had one in a while to be sure everything looks good before you proceed with getting fills. Commit to it. If you do the things you know you need to do and still don't lose any weight, then you might have to consider revision to a different surgery type, ut it's worth trying to make this one work for you first.

It's NEVER EVER to late to get back on track with your lap band...that's the beauty of it...it;s NOT like the the bypass or sleeve --once the window of opportunity is over -- your tool will not be as effective years out ......but as long as you have a functioning lap band it is sitting waiting on YOU to follow rules and stick to them.

If your surgeon gives you a hard time, REPLACE HIM...never go to a surgical practice that will not support you even if you've never lost a pound or regained weight...obesity is a disease, some people are able to get on track immediately whereas some others it takes awhile before they are able to "get it"...NOW YOU SAY you are ready and eager and able to follow the rules by eating your proteins, drinking your water, and take one step at a time, and start walking slowly each day for about 30 minutes and build you...YOU CAN DO THIS!

Good luck

 
What leads you to believe the sleeve has a window of opportunity?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, i know!  You made it up again!

I came out of surgery 4 years ago with perfect restriction.  You didn't.  You are the biggest basher of every other surgery type than bands.  It leads us to believe that you don't really have a band anymore.  You revised.  Oh wait!  You didn't!!!!!!!!!!!!  You regained 40#!  Never mind me, I just stick to the facts.  Not fantasy.

 how dare ANYONE consider you a lost cause.  That ****** me off. 

I lost about 70 pounds after LB sugery and then had to go up to 80mg of prednisone.  I gained 25 back and couldn't lose it for the life of me.  I am now down to 5mg of pred and I have recommited myself to getting healthier.  I've lost 25 pounds in a little over 2 months.  Here's what I'm doing (now, I just came back from a cruise, so I'm decarbing yet again lol)

1.  I keep my band a little on the loose side since I have tremendous inflammation due to a disease I have.

2.  I went cold turkey and cut out all bad carbs and even some ok carbs.  I only eat lean meats, cheeses, green veggies and a fruit here and there (either an apple, strawberries--low carb fruits).  I go to protein shakes when I'm craving sweets which is often.  I have been trying to get in 100g of protein a day.

3.  I keep nothing in the house that will tempt me to eat poorly.  I'm a food addict and I cannot have bad carbs near me or I eat them.  It's that simple.

4.  I allowed myself to eat when I needed to mentally the first week of decarbing to help me get over that withdrawal hump.  In fact, I'm doing it again since I ate some sweets on a cruise.  I didn't go nuts, and my bad helped me portion control, but I have to detox from carbs again.

5.  I can't exercise like most people, but I try to walk or do some stretch band muscle work every day.  

6.  the most important thing I've changed is my mindset.  I am worth living longer.  I have a lot to offer and being at 300 pounds isn't going to help me one bit.

You can do it!  Set your mind to it and with the help of your band you can get back on track

The one thing I've really noticed after having been banded is that every meal is an opportunity to "start over."  Before being banded, if I didn't do EVERYTHING perfectly at one meal, or if I fell off the wagon and snacked, it would send me into a spiral of poor food choices.  Not so any more.  Now if I eat too much, or not the right thing, or drink after I eat at one meal...I don't feel like I've "runied the day", or the week, or whatever amount of time.  I get right back on that horse at the next meal. 

I'm not perfect 100% of the time.  But the band has helped me regain control very quickly after a not perfect moment.  I think if you go into it with that frame of mind, your band can help.  It truly isn't all or nothing...most of the time is pretty darn good.

Good luck!

 You can do this!  If your band is at proper restriction, then you will have a tool to help, but beating bad, old habits is a difficult thing.  You might want to go to a support group like OA or even Weigh****chers to help you get back in the right frame of mind.  Good luck!

Thank you to everyone that replied and gave advice. I went to see my surgeon today and was so nervous that my blood pressure was off the chain. Well not that bad but it was higher than it normally is. I laid it all out on the line and told him that I failed the band...it didn't fail me. I told him that I was ready to do what I needed to do to make this work for me. He didn't make me feel bad about myself at all and told me that he was my biggest supporter. He basically said that he is going to treat me like I am a beginner with the band. He gave me sample menus to use as a guideline and wants me to start going to the support meetings again. He didn't do anything to the band today because he wants me to stop all of the bad habits like drinking when I eat and go back in three weeks for an adjustment. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I have a second chance at making this work. I will probably become a regular around here again so I will welcome any and all support and advice.

Thanks!
Tina