Oops. Forgot 7th anniversary.

Just over 7 years. All fine! Not as slim as I was 4 years ago but my US size 10 skirts etc still fit. At 5' 4" and aged 62, I am happy with that. Spent this morning playing football on the beach with my grandson and able to run around as much as he did!

Aware that my band may not be for life but it is interesting that at my last three visits to the clinic (went for annual XRay, not sure if needed small defill or not; so told to go back in 6 weeks to check. Did so, still not certain so doc said to try another 6 weeks - so three visits in three months), on each visit, while in the waiting room met other bandsters. Total from the three visits of 9 people. Newest was 4 years out, longest banded was 8 years out. All happy and either slim or slim enough to feel good!

By the way, at the third visit, decided to take out 0.1 cc. The very mild occasional night time heartburn has  gone. Do realise that people who have to pay for check ups, Xrays etc may not feel able to get this level of aftercare. Very grateful to the British National Health Servce!

Kate

Six weeks.

Sorry, too obscure for me! 

Do you mean six weeks is too long to have heartburn? It certainly would be if it were major, but it was so mild I didn't even take OTC meds.  And only two or three nights a week. I accept heartburn means there is reflux but it was so minor I had no awareness of it. I actually solved my problem by making sure I actually ate something 'easy" mid evening. Turns out my stomach was just too empty and so the acid had nothing to work on.

Or do you mean going to the doc three times with six week gaps means problems are starting? They may be, I have never denied that! But at the moment everything is good and my doc and I are just playing it safe.

Or was this some obscure way of saying, I am glad things have worked out for you? No, probably not!

HA!  No, I didn't mean any of that but thanks for clarifying.  I didn't realize you were having so many problems. So sorry about that. Reflux is never a good thing, just because it doesn't feel major doesn't mean it isn't doing harm to your esophagus.

Good luck, Kate.

Kudos on your 7 years of success.  Sounds like YOU are very PROACTIVE which is great regardless of the surgery!!

Ms Shell

Congrats !!

I think one of the reasons Europeans tend to do better is that they can get the fills and unfills they need for little or no charge. Unlike here where ins. decides that won't cover or insurance changes and they just leave us out to dry. Anyway congrats on your success!

Sad to say, but I think Hislady has a point. It seems like a lot of American bandsters hesitate to go back to their surgeon for adjustments because of the cost of doing that, not just the surgeon's fee but the time taken off work and the cost of travel. Of course, some hesitate to go back for adjustments because they think that the tighter the band, the better the weight loss, which is (in my opinion) wrong-headed thinking.

I think you are right, Hislady, for some of us! If we are lucky enough to get wls on the NHS it is free life time care. But the NHS is slow to take on ANY wls. Getting better but needs to improve! So unless you are one of the lucky ones, it is total self pay as we don't have the sort of insurance schemes you have in the US. Some people do get health insurance as an extra with their jobs but that never covers wls, even if medically necessary. It only offers the support of quicker access to health care for non-urgent things. 

I'm so glad you're doing well, Kate, and isn't it funny - and wonderful - that a surgery that was the center of your life some 7 years ago has now receded into the background because you're so busy playing football with your grandson and traveling the world!