Anyone have the Lap Band?

Hello all from sunny Florida!!

I am 39 years old, currently at 217lbs.  I have about 60lbs to go to reach my goal weight, and I am banded.

Just wondering if anyone else on this site has "help" with their weight loss like I do.

Hi from hot & sunny Dubai!

I am 35 yrs old and 5 ft 4 in currently weighing in at 155lbs. I have had the lap band for 5 yrs. My starting weight was 265lbs.

I originally lost 40lbs immediately after my surgery, then I had one fill of about 1/2 cc. I didn't change my lifestyle at all letting the band do all the work. I went in for a second fill and discovered that my port had flipped and I needed to have surgery to turn it over and have a fill. I chose not to have the surgery and try to lose the weight with the amount of fluid in my band at that time.

Two years later I basically maintanted the 40lb loss. Then I fell pregnant with my second child and went back up to 255lbs. 8 months after giving birth I made a decision that had changed my life for good. 

Joined a gym & hired a personal trainer, and joined a weight loss support group similar to weight watchers. 2 1/2 yrs later here I am 110 lbs lighter.

Yes I attribute some of my success to the band, but mostly it's been me changing to a healthy lifestyle permittantly.

Have you had good success with your band? How long have you had it?

Welcome to CC+!  Although I don't know how many members have been banded, I do know that you are not alone.  Might take a while for them to come out and play, however.

Regardless of whether you used extra help, or not -- everyone is welcome and you will be able to use the tools and member support to help you continue your way down to your goal weight.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask

Coach_k
Volunteer Moderator

Hi from NW Indiana

I had the band August 2nd, 2007.  I had begun the process after hitting 318 pounds and by the time I started the Pre-op Diet I was at 311.  I am now at 220, gone from a size 48+ pants to 36, 2XL to L, and was within 12 months of going on insulin to now being off all diabetic medication with normal blood sugars and cholesterol.

There's a few others with bariatric surgeries on these board, as well a a few who think we took "the easy way out"  but fortunately they are in the vast minority.

Use the tools, add friends, write in the journal

hannoyah,

WOW, long way away from me!!

I have been banded since 2004.  I just had a revision (new one put on) this past January.  With my first one, I lost 122lbs.  But because it slipped, I ended up gaining 50 back.

So did you have yours taken out or just had all the fill taken out? Never heard of anyone not "using" their band anymore. 

Marc,

CONGRATS on your weight loss...awesome job.  Glad that there are other bandsters that are using this tool.  This is def a great site and I have been rather anal on keeping up with everything.

I never have in the past when I lost the 122lbs, but since my revision, I thought I'd give this a try.  I'm addicted now.

Keep me posted on your journey!

Connieh1968,

Thanks, and congrats on all the weight you have lost I know it's not the easy way out.

I still have the band with my original fill of about 1/2 cc and I notice that when I'm retaining water (which is about twice a month) my band tightens up on me. And fortunately for me it reminds me that I need to listen to my body and SLOW DOWN when I'm eating. CHEW CHEW CHEW and consiously eat my food, no watching t.v., reading, etc. while eating.

I love my band and I plan too keep it as long as I can. Did your surgeon tell you that you could keep yours for life?

Cause my Doctor said I should have it removed after 5yrs and my brother's surgeon said he could keep it for ever. So I guess as long as it's not causing problems I don't see why I would have too have it removed.

I still have another 10-15 lbs to go.... actually I want my size 6 pants to fit loosely on me. That's really my motivation not the number on the scale. I try to be realistic. I've come so far and changed so much that now even a 5 lb loss makes a huge difference in the way I look. And this is all new territory for me and I'm not sure sometimes who that person looking back at me in the mirror is.

I live in Florida as well.

4 years ago I had a gastric bypass. Im 22 years old now and the day I went into surgery I was 375 at age 18. I got down to 220 with the bypass alone. After 4 years I realized that I was able to eat almost the way I used to before the surgery just in smaller amounts so I ended up gained 30 pounds back. When I started on CC I had gotten back up to 254. When I went through the surgery the doctors told me that the surgery was really just a weight loss tool and was only suppose to help me lose 1/3 of my body weight. The rest was up to me. Now here I am 4 years later siting at 237 as of last tuesday trying to lose the last 50 to 70 pounds that I want to to be happy.

I completely understand where youre coming from. I know that I would not have been able to lose any weight without the surgery. I had been on diets since I was 10.

I congratulate you all on your weight loss. You are all doing amazingly. Im glad to see that I am not alone here. There is never a day that I regret going through with my surgery. If I hadnt then I would not be where Im at today. You guys are doing great and keep me posted on your success.

-Jen

Congrats to you to Jen.

I love my band....and I love food!! LOL

I am in Port Richey, what about you?

Yes, my band is in me for life!!  Unless for other health reasons I have to take it out.  But I am hoping I don't.

I never knew that they only had that time of a span.  So every 5-10 years I will have to go thru and get mine replaced? I will have to ask the DR about it when I go back.

No I don't but I know of someone who has.

Im in Gainesville.

Generally, once they're in, they're in for life.