I had chest pain about 2 years ago that turned out to be silent reflux and peptic ulcers

a course of Dexilant and subsequent Omeprazole has corrected the issues and the pain

Hi Ashley,

I can't see your picture ... But I am right behind you with my 4-year anniversary on June 5.

complication free, enjoying life with my band and my 120+pound weight loss

Good to see you here!

I can't ensure anyone a successful and complication-free experience.

I can give you 5 things I did that has contributed to my success and satisfaction with my band.

1.  I do not drink while I eat or for 30-60 minutes afterward

2.  I refrain from liquid calories.  After the first 14 days 

post op, I stopped using protein shakes and now the only liquid calories I have is the occasional glass of wine.

3.  I cut my food into pea-sized bites and eat carefully

4.  I exercise regularly at least 5 days a week

5.  I have a list of "things to do besides eat" and I use it to distract myself  between meals

I am so sorry that your banded experience has been so rough.

i honestly noticed a dimmed appetite from the first day.

i had no hunger. Right after surgery and then I just weighed and measured my food like I was told to do, and I was satisfied on very 

little food ..... Not full, but no longer hungry.

like you, I don't know if it is anatomy or surgical skill or what, I just know that my experience in 4 years banded is very different.

Theresa, well said.

I am almost 4 years post op, maintaining a 125 pound loss, enjoying health and fitness.

my doctor is not getting rich off of me ..... I see him at (free) support groups and once a year in his office for a face-to-face visit.

I have an occasional bout of user-error when I choose the wrong food or wrong quantity, but for the most part my band has worked exactly as originally described.

it dims my appetite and when I eat small bites of healthy food, it allows me to not think about food again for several hours.

i learned from this board that if I would 'control the quality, the band would control the quantity' 

I don't know why my band has worked so well for me when others have struggled and been in pain.  It could be luck, it could be surgical skill, it could be compliance, it could be genetics, it could be magic or a combination of the above.

i am grateful.  I don't recommend the band because I don't know if other people will be as fortunate as I have been, but I don't regret my choice either.

i have worked hard.  I made a plan and I put my head down and I worked u til the job was done and I was at my writ loss goal.

the band helped me reach that goal.  It could go south at any time, and I will deal with that, but for today, I am grateful.

Hey Tonya,

Of course I remember you -- and I am so sorry to read that you have had such a hard time with your band.

I sometimes feel guilty because my band is still working for me while so many others are struggling.

I hope that you are able to revise to a solution that will bring you health and happiness ---- my very best wishes go with you.

Kath

Still here, posting when I have time

I do my roll ups with Light string Cheese which is 50 calories per piece and thin sliced ham that is 10 calories per slice.

I use 1 piece of cheese and 3 pieces of meat with a thin layer of mustard to keep it all together for about 90calories per roll up

i eat 2 of those for lunch some days, microwaved for about 20 seconds 

I saw my surgeon every 3-4 weeks for the first 6 months and got fills when it seemed right. Like Kate said, about every 15 pounds.

i was losing about 5 pounds a week at first ..when that slowed down then I saw him every 6 weeks 

I always booked my next appointment before I left ..... Part of my journey to goal was my commitment to "show up" and see the doctor whether I needed a fill or not 

like probably had about 7 or 8 fills along the way to goal.

now I see my surgeon at least once a year

About 2 years after banding I started to have chest pain and thought it was heart related.

it turned out to be esophagitis and peptic ulcers.

i had an endoscopy to diagnose it and then was treated with Dexilant for about 6 weeks.

then I switched to Omeprazole  due to insurance issues with Dexilant.

i had a follow up endoscopy after 3 months and the ulcers were gone and my esophagus was healed.

i continue to take the Omeprazole but had had no other problems.

I made my decision and than says own with my husband and told him that I had decided to have Realize Band surgery.

i told him that I needed the boost that WLS would give me and I needed his support ... And some money.

i knew I had to be self pay and I did not have 12,500 in my personal account, so I was going to 'borrow' it from our joint account.

He told me that he was 100%behind me, that we would pay for it together ....... He is my biggest cheerleader!

Dev,

I am so sorry that you have to revise --- it sounds like you have a supportive surgeon and a good plan.

Best of luck to you!

Yes, I have a listof trigger foods that are absolutely off limits.

i made the list 4 years ago with the help of OA and over time I have added some foods, but not taken any off the list.

i do not eat cookies, cake, candy, ice cream, pie, donuts, etc.

i tried for years to eat these moderately to no avail.  When I eat them they control my thoughts and my behavior.

it is easier to have none than to try to have some.