LAP-BAND^®-Does it really work???????

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I have had my LAP-BAND^® for one and one half years now and it really doesn't work for me unless I have so much restriction I have to puke and can't get any food down. I was down to my ideal weight until I was so sick and tired of puking and needed a juicy steak and mash potatoes! Well I am up 10 pounds with less restriction and the doctor keeps saying, "eat right and eat the right things and you can't live on liquids alone"! I have come to the realization that this thing is nothing more than a temporary fix like all the rest! My BMI is 24 so they won't do any other surgeries on me. I am not really sure what to do? If I could do what the doctor's tell me I wouldn't have had a weight problem all my life. anyone out there with the same feelings as me?
:help:

I have had the LAP-BAND^® about the same time as you and you seem to have at least lost the weight. You have to remember you got to your goal. I have not been able to get to my goal yet due to a year of lots of health mishaps like not being able to walk without pain for 5 months, pain in my shoulder began as soon as the pain in my legs and feet got better, repeated episodes of sinusitus with asthma and one time extremely severe that I was put not only on antibiotics again but put on prednisone, being sent to the hospital via ambulance due to a severe reaction to an antibiotic in April, and now I have to go into the hospital for a D&C after being on wonderful bloating progesterone. On top of it all, I gained 18lbs in February when on the prednisone in 2 1/2 weeks and didn't start losing it until now. Yes, obstacles I have had but I will not give up. I do admit that I did get down for a bit with all these things happening to me but I am not a quitter and I do know that the band works when you use all the tools. Unfortunately, I was not able to exercise for most of this year and it effected me greatly but some things are out of your hands. However, I have the power to make the right choices when it comes to eating. I am very good at maintaining my weight when I don't exercise. I am starting to do a bit more now and have seen some weight drop again. I also have trouble eating most things and maybe part of the reason I don't lose as much is that maybe I eat too little. I have to write down my food to see where the problem really lies. Another question I do have for you is what type of a band did you have placed in you? I had the largest band put in me and have 6cc of saline in it. My other friends that have the smaller band seem to do better weight loss wise than me. Does anybody know if there is a correlation with weight loss and the size of your band? Just curious. A good thing for me recently is that I am not taking 3 advil everyday like I was. Now maybe I take it once a week.Much better on my stomach too! What was I saying ? lol...I know I can go on and on but bottom line what I am trying to say to you is that you should talk to your doctor about how you are feeling. Also, remember that the band won't help emotional eating that part has to come from you and if you can't do it on your own it would be beneficial for you to see a behavioral eating specialist. I was thinking of seeing one after I have my surgery. I think it would be helpful or even going back to meetings at OA (just like AA but pertains to overeating and not alcohol). Let me know what you plan on doing. I wish you the best of luck and hope you feel better. Also, congratulations on reaching your goal. I know with the right guidance you will maintain your weight loss for a long long time!:)

"TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!"

LAP-BAND^® operation: 12/21/05
Highest weight: 340lbs /Clothes Size then: 28/30
Current Weight 263lbs /Clothes Size Now: 22 -pants >>18/20 - shirts
Goal: To get under 200lbs and then I'll take it from there:)

My understanding is that the band is only a tool. You still have to follow a diet. It sounds like you are at a weight that is *healthy* so if that was your goal...health...you have indeed reached it. Congratulations!!

Continue eating healthy and exercise. Definitely less restriction if you are having problems eating.

__________________
Rhonda
Bandito'd 6/18/07-Dr. Ariel Ortiz
10.0cc VG band
I love my band!

Willbethin (actually, you ARE thin)--

The band isn't what is not working. It is a fact of every bariatric patient's life is that at some point, we HAVE to face the truth that it is OUR behavior that makes us fat. The band has clearly helped you eat less and lose weight. But NO surgery can magically relieve us of our compulsion to overeat, or permanently remove the desire to eat more than we need. That's just the truth.

The hardest thing is to give up the idea that we will ever be normal. I know I struggle with that every single day, but I struggle with it MUCH MORE without my band. With the band at least I had a fighting chance of dealing with the mental issues while NOT stuffing my face. Without the band, food seems like an answer even though I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it's not.

That's all the band can do for us. It's a lot, but sometimes it doesn't seem like enough. At those times, we have to look elsewhere for answers.

__________________


~~ Alexandra
banded 8/20/03 -- Dr. Abkin, Morristown NJ
band removed 4/9/07 due to slippage REbanded 8/13/07

340 highest / 210-ish lowest / 255-ish now / 200? maybe?
5'10" -- size 28/30 then, 16/18 now, heading downward once again

Amen to the band being a tool - still have cravings though not nearly as bad as I thought they were going to be - I definately don't miss pop or caffiene - first few weeks I wanted a steak too - and since then I've had a bite or two (small bites and chew chew chew) no problems - enough to tame the beast. But at least I've lost enough weight so far that I've got some energy to get up off my duff and hit the treadmill after work or go for a bike ride with my missus and my nephew which is really one of the biggest reasons I did it in the first place.

__________________

I have been going thru post all morning reading other peoples experiences with the band and trying to decide if the band works. From everything that I have read I have decided that I cant just expect the band to work, but that I have to make it work. It is not the bands fault if I eat more than I should. It is not the bands fault if I make bad food choices. As has been stated thousands of times before, the band is a tool and the rest is up to you. I was just recently banded and so far have been doing good. I know the day is going to come when I slip and when the scale refuses to move. But I also know that during these times it is going to be up to me to make the right decision to get back on track and to just keep working thru the plateau until my body gives up and decides that shes serious about this this time. So many times before I have given up and made up excuses like maybe Im just meant to be fat. It has been this thought process that has gotten me to the point where I needed to have surgery in the first place. Now that I have had surgery there is noway Im going to fail at this.

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254/243/175/150


Surgery 5/30/07
Dr. James P. Viglianco
Barix Clinic Groveport, Ohio

Violeteyes, you seem like you are very serious about what you are doing. I just know that you will do great with your journey to lose weight. I only hope that I can get into that mindset if I ever get to that point!

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Surgery Date : July 20th, 2007!!!! :bounce: