My 4 years of Lapband mistakes!!!
Actually it will be four years on March 1st. In the first 18 months of being banded I lost 86 pounds and I have to say it was pretty much a breeze. I really don't remember what caused me to start fighting the band but my eating habits got worst and I really tried to force down some big time food, now by force down food I mean binging and purging. I now decide to get a little fluid out of my band and the Dr. does an overkill and takes out more than half my fill. Now its go time for me and I eat pretty much anything with little slow down. I quickly gain 30 pounds back in the matter of 2 months.
I go back to get a fill and it works to stop my weight gain so I maintained my weight but my eating is still very bad. Fifteen months ago I was in the hospital with bleeding of the esophagus and lost 3 units of blood. So now it back to the lap band Dr. for a complete unfill and my eating gets worse. Anything that I can get down fast I eat and I figure with no fluid in the band I can eat pretty much anything. Here I sit today at 275 lbs with a surgery weight of 306lbs.
Last month I decided to go to a new Dr. who orders a upper GI and it turns out that everything is fine with the band. No slip, no hiatal hernia and guess what even a litter restriction. The one thing he tells me to do SLOW DOWN, go back the the band rules. This was last Friday and since then I have lost 4 lbs and no acid reflux from overeating and stuffing the pouch. You talk about fighting a weight loss surgery all the way... I can writhe a book on it. From now on I will be attending lap band support classes, slowing down on eating, working with the band and not against it, and visiting here for even more support. I think I have been through it all with this band a lot of things I did not write because nobody wants to read a book on the forum. I don't want to scare away anyone researching the band but just with any other weight loss surgery if you fight it and don't work with it, you will pay the price. I have this wonderful tool inside me that works when used right. I will be around to help others with my experience and trials of the Lap band just as others were when I researched it four years ago.
Wayne
I go back to get a fill and it works to stop my weight gain so I maintained my weight but my eating is still very bad. Fifteen months ago I was in the hospital with bleeding of the esophagus and lost 3 units of blood. So now it back to the lap band Dr. for a complete unfill and my eating gets worse. Anything that I can get down fast I eat and I figure with no fluid in the band I can eat pretty much anything. Here I sit today at 275 lbs with a surgery weight of 306lbs.
Last month I decided to go to a new Dr. who orders a upper GI and it turns out that everything is fine with the band. No slip, no hiatal hernia and guess what even a litter restriction. The one thing he tells me to do SLOW DOWN, go back the the band rules. This was last Friday and since then I have lost 4 lbs and no acid reflux from overeating and stuffing the pouch. You talk about fighting a weight loss surgery all the way... I can writhe a book on it. From now on I will be attending lap band support classes, slowing down on eating, working with the band and not against it, and visiting here for even more support. I think I have been through it all with this band a lot of things I did not write because nobody wants to read a book on the forum. I don't want to scare away anyone researching the band but just with any other weight loss surgery if you fight it and don't work with it, you will pay the price. I have this wonderful tool inside me that works when used right. I will be around to help others with my experience and trials of the Lap band just as others were when I researched it four years ago.
Wayne
The wonderful thing about you Wayne, is that you are getting back on track. You aren't making excused, finding fault in the band or your doctor... you are looking forward and making changes. That says A TON about your character and your future success! Way to go - what you posted is wonderful for pre-ops and even more amazing for struggling post-ops. It shows that with a change of attitude, you can do anything. Thank you Wayne!
kaytiebugs
on 2/10/09 1:51 am - Flowery Branch, GA
on 2/10/09 1:51 am - Flowery Branch, GA
Congrats on deciding to get back on track and best of luck to you!!! I find that visiting the forums daily helps me keep my goals in focus.
VSG on 01/23/13 with
Thank you Wayne for taking the time to share your experience. Some of us must go through painful lessons to finally understand the weight-loss connection (Lord knows, I have learned a lot of painful lessons!). I am confident that you will be successful the second time around. Also, I think that this is beauty of the band....it is a tool which is adjustable as we learn and grow.
Pilates Princess
Pilates Princess
HW - 287 (12/2007); GW - 165; CW - 164....proudly wearing a size 8!On my journey from LapBand to VSG.....LapBand on 12/19/07, LapBand removal on 8/8/12 and sleeve on1/23/13! Consider joining me at Band2Sleeve!( http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/Band2Sleeve/) Friend me on MyFitnessPal too! I'm gorditabonita74.
Wayne,
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I really appreciate your honesty. And it sounds like you now have the attitude needed for success.
One of the great things about the band is that you can always start over.
Good luck!
Jean
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I really appreciate your honesty. And it sounds like you now have the attitude needed for success.
One of the great things about the band is that you can always start over.
Good luck!
Jean
Jean McMillan c.2009-2013 - Always a bandster at heart
author of Bandwagon (TM), Strategies for Success with the Adjustable Gastric Band & Bandwagon Cookery. Bandwagon for Kindle now available on Amazon. Read my blog at: jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com