And a few words on why I keep posting

Simple: because there need to be more positive voices of the band experience. It's not statistically possible for me to be the ONLY one on the planet who 

a) was successful with my band

b) has maintained a large weight loss with the band

c) still loves my band, still knows I made the right choice for ME and would still choose it

No, the band isn't perfect. But again - no surgery is. No surgery is right for EVERYONE, and there never will be a procedure that IS perfect for everyone. Five or ten years from now, there will be new surgeries that are "gold standards" or, perhaps, even a "cure" for obesity. We can only hope.

You're not. I will try to post more too. I used to post here every day but it got very hard work

I have been told that I am lying when I post the following. I'm not! But people have to decide what they want to believe.   I know, in real life not online, just over 40 bandsters. They range from a few months post-op to nine years post-op. - so the newer ones don't really count for this purpose! But of this group (now 42 people to be exact and including myself),  1 is 9 years out, 5 are well over 6 years out, and about 10 are over three years out. A few (can't remember everyone's dates) are over two years out.  

Of this group, the over two years out, so about 20,  the majority have lost all the weight they wanted to or enough to be happy with where they are. Just 2 people are really unhappy with their loss but they haven't given up. Of this group, the 20, two bands have been removed. One was for reasons totally unconnected with the band, the other lady openly admits she abused her band. She deliberately kept it so tight eating was difficult, ate out socially a lot and made herself PB, a sort of bulimia. Did herself a lot of harm!  

My (private) doc and my local National Health Service Trust for this area have the same stats, under 3% slips, under 5% removals and under 1% erosion.

Oh! And one more thing, to the people who think that I (and other pro-band people) are being paid by the Band manufacturers:

That is my FAVORITE piece of band bull****! If that were the case, I wouldn't be sitting here every month trying to figure out where the money will come from to keep the lights on, how to pay to keep the water flowing and how to pay my mortgage.

Yup, me too!!  Me too!!    People like you, Kate P. Jean M., Lisa O - have been very helpful. I'm 5 years post and doing great.  I've had one small unfill 3 years ago due to heartburn, got an unfill and never had a problem since.  I hope this momentum maintains and I don't encounter any problems.  I enjoy Jean M's "What are we eating" post's bc they often give me food ideas to try.

Edited to correct typo.

 

Thanks Bette for posting !
I am 5 years out, and was very active here the first 2 years. I moved on to the lapband graduates forum , as some of the newbies were giving out poor advice. So when I politely corrected them I was chastised by them, them being the "newbies". So I left.

I came back here originally because I had gained 10 pounds and felt I needed to be accountable . i also saw it was so painfully slow on this board ( as many banders tired of the drama) and I saw Jean trying to field soooo many questions.

And since being back I lost 5 pounds! Now i ONLY have 5 more to get back to my goal weight!

I tend to re post the "8 signs of emotional eating". Nothing I wrote, but something I recieved from my support group meeting.
And feel strongly about. As it pertains to anyone and everyone struggling with weight.

I also LOVE to cheer people on and let them know they can do this! I love exercise so I like posting for exercise commitments.

My surgeons office there is a good support system and those of us with Bands, have done good. Barely any complications that are serious. Slimming and stucks are not complications, but learning curves, unless you are doing this on a daily basis. I had a slip, but partially due to me relying upon my Band to do MY work. Now I prefer to keep a looser band. Yes there are waves of patients from his office that no longer come back to meetings, they are doing fine and have decided to move on, others don't come back because they have gained weight. I come back because it helps to keep me honest and accountable. That's why I am still hanging around here as well,
Prek3

Bette,

I have read your posts off and on over the last few years and thank you for posting! The band is not for everyone just like bypass is not for everyone! I didnt want my guts changed so the band was for me. Has it been hard at times yes. Have I have a few issues yes but who hasnt with any weight loss surgery!

Thanks for this post Bette, newbies need to know there are still vets around willing to help

Yep I can attest to the fact that Bette isn't getting paid by anyone!!! Love ya gal!

 

That being said, I'm not above being paid off . . . 

Add me to your list, Bette!!