Hi. I have undergone my workup and the next step is scheduling the surgery once my insurance has approved everything. The bad thing is that i"ve gained 15 pounds since my workup started and they want me to lose it all before the surgery. They suggested the Atkins diet. Has anyone had the band, and what is your experience with it?

I have had a band for three years and love it. What questions do you have?

Well....I've heard that you get hungier with it than you do the RNY. I've heard that you can get reflux fairly easily. The surgeons seem to want to emphasize how you can cheat on it all the time, etc. So, what has been your overall experience? How much weight have you lost? When's the last time you had it adjusted?

You will be able to tell a great reduction in being hungry by the band making the stomach sense a feeling of being full. You can get reflux if you eat the wrong foods, too fast and too much but this is how a band works. The food will come back up when you do these things. My experience has been great and I am close to 100 lbs. lost and the best part is that in the 3 years no more gaining and losing. My last fill was almost 2 years ago because I reached the ideal fill level for me.

I just recently had the band surgery. I have not had my first saline fill yet but I have already lost 30 lbs and am off my insulin, my blood preasure medicine and all other medications except for the thyroid medicaion. I have been very pleased with it so far and I fill get my first band adjustment tommorow. I have not had any trouble with acid reflux or throwing up. I have followed the program and it has really been easy so far. I hope the results will continue. Please write me back when you have this done I am curious to see how it works for you, so far I have not talked to anyone who has gone this route.
What is RNY