regrets

sometimes........i wish i had went ahead and had gastric bypass instead of the lapband.....its soooooooooo slow and im not doing very well but i guess part of that is b/c my band is not at the right adjustment yet.........sometimes i wanna throw my hands up and be like forget it but then again i dont want too........i know anything is possible if I just keep working at it.........8  months out and im still only down about 40ish lbs.........but ill keep working at it.....and PRAYIng......... hope everyone is doing well...........big HUGS!!!!!

Heather, please don't be hard on yourself.  Everyone looses at a different pace, whether it is by band or RNY, or even the DS.  Your tool that your surgeon gave you is YOURS to work with. You can do it, whether you think you can or not, but you just have to find your "sweet spot" that other bandsters talk about.  It will take time.  Don't feel bad, sometimes I wish I had the band instead, because now with the very drastic and fast loss, I have more excess skin that I would really like to have.  It is all good tho, because I am working with it every day, and no matter what it takes, I am a whole lot healthier and happier now that I have had wls.  Take it easy on yourself, and way to go on the 40+ loss!!! Keep up the AWESOME work on it too! You will get there just fine!  We are all right there with you!!!

Heather...I hear ya...loud and clear! I have some of the same second thoughts and I swear that somedays I had also rethought my choice, but I was able to start talking to alot of the girls in the Kentucky group and boy have I learned so much more! I also have a manual for bandsters that someone from the Lap Band board put out. If you would like a copy of it...let me know and I will mail it to ya! It is so helpful to me and also my family. I spent yesterday with a group from the Indiana board and learned alot more about the RNY! I think they are awesome ladies and made the choice they needed to for them. I do not look at my band as a weight loss solution anymore..I look at it as a tool to help me lose weight and that I have to be more careful with my choices and habits.  This was a hard thing to have to admit to myself and will be an even harder thing to do. I want the weight off...but I am the only person who can get it off! I have had my whole life to get this heavy and am not going to lose it in a matter of months. I have a long way to go...cheack out my weight now and my goal and you will see!  I bought an outfit yesterday and thought it would be a bit tight, but by the fall (when it is cool enough to wear it...) it should fit perfect! Guess what...it fits now and a little loose at that! What a great feeling it was!  I am wearing one of the three tops I got for myself and that fits too...and looks pretty good I might add! If you want to pm me...feel free! I am always looking for people to share with and hear their stories! Keep up the good work...40 pounds is great! You  just have to see the positive in this! Are you going to be at the clothing exchange? I am coming and would love to talk more with you if you would like!

Believe me, I get all kinds of RNY-envy, especially when I go to support group and hear how quickly they lose weght!  But you had reasons for choosing lap-band, and those reasons are still valid.  Make sure you talk with your surgeon, if you're not feeling good restriction.  Meet with the nutritionist as well.  Make sure you're not over-indulging in high fat foods or eating too many "soft" foods (milkshakes, mashed potatoes, other band-easy stuff).  Keep on exercising.  I've been at a weight plateau for a month now, so I know how frustrating it can be, but I also know I could be better about my food choices ... so it's in my hands to get back on track.  You can make this work for you, don't give up! 

THANKS you all for your support.........IT makes me feel so much better knowing others struggle in the same areas.........I am hoping to attend the clothing exchange but im not 100 percent sure yet.......HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I remember my first year out... well.. not even my first year out. I remember the envy of not having the weight off that I wanted off. Sometimes I felt like a failure. I talked to Dr Clark and his asst. Julie and I asked for an aggressive fill because I was tired of constantly feeling ravenously hungry all the time. So I got it under the condition that if anything went wrong... throwing up... ANYTHING.... I was to get back in the office ASAP. Well.... nothing went wrong in the begining except the weight was flying off me. To me it was a relief that I didn't feel hungry, FINALLY! Then about three months down the road I started having pressure in my throat. Dr Clark sent me to have a scope. Turns out I had esophageal dilation from being to restricted. So my choice was a small unfill... or sit/stand upright for at least two hours after every meal. I chose the later.. but a lot of times it sucked because I'd come home from work, eat, and want to go to bed but couldn't. Today I went for another fill since my chemo and radiation has ended. Not because I wanted to loose weight but I absolutely can NOT stand to be hungry all the time. It plays such a mind game on me. Julie asked me if I wanted to be as tight as I was previously before my unfill... remembering that dilation... I said NO WAY, hahaha. Don't have any regrets... if you are having problems with the weight falling off or still feeling overly hungry then talk to Dr Clark or Julie. That's what they are they for and you know they'll listen and help you through this. There is also all of us here. Reach out and touch someone on the board you feel you can connect too. I wish I was able to come to the clothing exchange in order to talk to some you banders. I'm almost 3 years out and I have so much to share with you all. Hang In There! Jodi

HEy Heater,.. I know I'm not a bander. But I would listen to these ladies. Research I did even showed banders to lose as much weight as RNY patients, but that it just takes a little longer. You're going to get to your goal,.. just keep on chugging along!

Hi Heather, Hang in there.  You chose the band for a reason.  I understand it takes a little trial and error to get the fill just right for you.  You've lost 40ish lbs you hadn't lost before your band.  You can do it.  Hang in there.  Believe me there are frustrations with a RNY as well as any of the other choices.  So keep your chin up and keep going. Carol