hokiemama

This post is a couple of years old, but if the document is still available, please send to jenavasmom@gmail.com Thanks!

I have had my band for 5 years and although I didn't get down to my goal weight, I had been around 158-165 for a year (my goal was 140). My band became irritated and tight and I started having a lot of difficulty getting any food down. I was miserable and ended up getting all of my Fluid out, so that my esophagus could heal. That was only a couple of months ago. I am now up to 199!!! It is my fault of course. Once my fluid was out, I was pretty much binging daily. I really am shocked at how much I have gained so FAST though. I finally got 5 ccs of fluid put back in last month. However, I was used to having a lot more than that (8-9 ccs) and the 5 feels like nothing. I went back in yesterday and 1 cc was added. Now that the holidays are over, I have started back with exercise, counting calories, and drinking Water. I am so discouraged though. I was within 20 lbs of my goal weight but now I am 60 lbs away!! I am mad at myself. I know exactly how it happened and how to lose it again, it just SUCKS that I let myself gain the weight back that I said I never would. Good luck to all of those who are starting over again, for the first, second, or tenth time!

Well, although this thread started several months ago, it seems like there are plenty of people who are still in the same boat. I am one of them. I have had my band for 5 years and although I didn't get down to my goal weight, I had been around 158-165 for a year (my goal was 140). My band became irritated and tight and I started having a lot of difficulty getting any food down. I was miserable and ended up getting all of my Fluid out, so that my esophagus could heal. I am now up to 199!!! It is my fault of course. Once my fluid was out, I was pretty much binging daily. I really am shocked at how much I have gained so quickly. I finally got 5 ccs of fluid put back in last month. However, I was used to having a lot more than that (8-9 ccs) and the 5 feels like nothing. I go in again tomorrow for a check up. I hope to get more fluid put in. Now that the holidays are over, I have started back with exercise, counting calories, and drinking Water. I am so discouraged though. I was within 20 lbs of my goal weight but now I am 60 lbs away!! I am mad at myself. I know exactly how it happened and how to lose it again, it just SUCKS that I let myself gain the weight back that I said I never would. Good luck to all of those who are starting over again, for the first, second, or tenth time!

Okay, so it's been almost 5 years since my lapband surgery. I haven't been on this forum in probably a year. I had been doing pretty well with slow loss but no gain. The last 6 months have been a struggle. I have gained 15 lbs. in the last few months. I can eat a 6 inch subway sub WITH BACON with no problem (an probably more if I wanted to). I have 9 cc in my 10 cc band. I had a fill about 2 months ago because I was over eating and felt like I no longer had restriction. It helped but only for a couple of weeks? I do not eat slow or chew my food as much as I should. I can't chug liquids, but I still feel like something is going on. I remember when 4 bites of food would fill me up. Now, I am back to my pre-surgery portions. I should have the will power to eat less, but obviously I don't and I have relied on the band. I'm not exercising, which is my laziness and I know what I need to do there. I am getting to the maximum level that I can with my band. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm getting frustrated and do not want to gain anymore weight! Help!

Well, I ended up in the ER yesterday. I couldn't get any fluids down and decided I shouldn't wait. They removed the Fluid from my band. They said I needed to wait 4-6 weeks, then come back and they will look at it under X-ray to see how things look before determining if I can start getting fluid back in.... Fortunately, it gave me instant relief. AND I had NO reflux last night while sleeping. I didn't realize how miserable I was and I was just trying to deal with it. Now, I feel so much better! I have never been so happy to chug water! I will have to be careful over the next couple of months not to binge and gain weight. Thank you for your support!

Thank you @mountaingal. I went to college at VT and grew up about an hour from there. I'm trying to hold off on an appointment a little longer but I couldn't even get coffee down this morning, so if this continues, I will have to go.

This is interesting to me. I have had my band 5 years and have just started having some problems that I haven't had before. I have done okay, although I haven't reached my goal. I gained 15 lbs. in the last 6 months. I had very little restriction in the last several months. For example, I could eat a 6 inch subway sub, in the same amount of time as others that I was with. I called my surgeon and he said I needed to go behavior modification groups. I didn't go. All of the sudden in the last few weeks, my band has gotten very tight. I am waking up with horrible reflux. I am throwing up food if I have more than a couple of bites or if I eat too fast. I had only gotten something stuck 3-4 times in 5 years, but now it has happened daily. Maybe from that irritation, I am now finding it difficult to drink. I waited two hours after eating a small amount of chicken last night, but the Water wouldn't stay down. It took me over an hour to get down a Protein shake today. Part of me is glad that I am not able to eat much at all now, but the fact that liquids are causing reflux and coming up is concerning. I probably need to make an appointment soon.

@@catfish 87 Thank you for your support! That sounds a lot like what I am experiencing. The surgeon who placed my lapband did all fills under Flouroscopy, but he retired and the new doctor does not. So I haven't had the fluoroscopy in 2 years. Behavior Modification group may help me to try to make better choices, but obviously I had surgery because I was an over eater and made bad choices. The band was keeping my portions under control and now it isn't. The nutritionist said I shouldn't rely on the band to control my portions, I should do that. Well, then what's the purpose of the band??? I may look for another doctor because I do not want to gain any more weight. I was less than 20 lbs. from my goal and now I am almost 35 lbs. away from it. I'm going the wrong way... Thanks again for the post. It is helpful to hear what others have gone through.

Well, I just called to schedule an appointment with my doctor and was told that I need to go to the behavior modification groups first and then see how it goes. I know that my head isn't in the mind set that it once was, but I also do not feel like I am getting the help from the band like I used to. But, I agreed to go to the group and see what happens. I know I have to put more effort into it so that I do not gain any more weight. It is just frustrating to feel this way. MissyMH- It sounds like you could use a fill. Just getting stuck on bread and steak is NOT restriction. I had real restriction in the past. That was when I would get full after a few bites of food and not get hungry in between meals... I would probably still get stuck on steak. I also can't take big pills. But that is just the band being there. It isn't doing what it used to do.

I have the loose skin. I think it is because I do very little exercise. My arms and that inside of my thighs are the worst. I hate it. I suggest doing weights and cardio as you continue to lose. That minimizes the hanging skin...

Thank you both. I will make an appointment with my doctor. He has only taken the saline out one time (ever) to check for leaks. I don't even feel like I have a band most of the time.

I would say at least drink protein shakes. You need to get protein and vitamins for energy and weight loss. Drink water also. I would avoid fruit juice. Empty calories, sugar, and the acid could be irritating your tummy. In my opinion, not having an appetite is a good thing. In my experience, if something is stuck and won't go through, I know within minutes. It hurts until it goes through or comes up. The longest I've had something stuck just hurting, not going up or down is maybe 30-45 minutes. Maybe you have swelling and don't feel hungry. Definately keep your doctor appointment and be honest about what you ate, how much, and how you feel. Again, this is my experience and everyone is different. But do drink protein shakes at least.

Walk, walk, and walk more. This is what my doctor and bariatric coordinator told me. It not only helps with circulation, it helps move all of the gas out, helps to get the fluid moving, helps prevent blood clots, and speeds up healing. Even if you don't feel like it, walk. Even if it's for five-ten minutes then sit for an hour and walk another five-ten minutes. Walk every hour. This was very helpful for me. I am lazy and whiney and when the doctor said this, it made me get myself up to do it. I'm very glad that I did. Of course, any shortness of breath, call the doctor. Always be on safe side if in doubt. But, 2muchfun is right, your body has been through a lot. My doctor had me watch a vidoe of the procedure first. It really is invasive and I was surprised at how much pain I had the first week. But just drink plenty of fluids. Walk. Focus on healing right now. Call the doctor when unsure. There is a lot of good information on here. BUT, do not believe everything you read on the internet.... LOL

For me, the container that I drink out of makes a difference. It may sound silly, but if I drink a regular bottle of water, I tend to drink less. When I put water in a thermas or big cup with a bigger opening, I drink way more. I can't explain why. Maybe taking bigger drinks with a bigger opening. I also put sliced apples and cinnamon sticks in my water. This gives it just a hint of flavor and is "supposed" to help with metabolism and weight loss. I like it, so why not. I don't count ounces, but just like the others, you can tell because you pee constantly (which is annoying) but it makes the pounds come off a little faster! Good luck

My last fill was November 2012. I have 7 cc in 10 cc band. I still do not think i have ever reached my "sweet spot/green zone". I have always struggled with not chewing well enough and taking small bites. I still eat to fast and do not chew enough. I will feel the food almost instantly stop at my band, then if I sit up real straight, take as deep breath, and move around a little, I feel it pass through. Does that mean I need a fill? I do have problems getting things down in the mornings. Pills can get stuck sometimes. I do not throw up. I just hurts until a can wiggle enough to get it to pass. I instantly feel when it goes through the band. Do others have that feeling? I do have an appointment next week but I do not want to get too tight. My portions are back up to way over a cup of food. I ate almost a whole cheeseburger last night with the bun. I know a cheeseburger is bad. I'm trying to get myself back on track. I've had the band for over 2 years and still have 35-40 lbs. to lose. Any suggestions? Do others experience this?

@Silkcityflorida- just checking on you to see if you found a surgeon and to see how things are going?

Okay, well I don't feel full/satisfied in my chest anymore. I did for a long time. I would feel it right in the middle of my upper chest. If I got something stuck, it was in my chest. I thought THAT was normal. Now, I guess I feel the "normal" place that others feel. I'm glad to hear that where I feel it now is where others feel it. I was just curious since it changed, for some unknown reason.

When I first got my band and for almost 2 years after that, the feeling of "being full" was in my upper chest, just below my throat. I didn't like to feel it there, but assumed that is where it would be forever since getting banded. But, several months ago, I started feeling full below my chest, right at my diaphragm. Has this happened to others? Where do you feel the fullness? Most of my fills have been done under fluoroscopy and the doctor said it is still in position. So if my band didn't move, why did the feeling change? It just concerns me.

Great job! Well, the band gets loose when we lose weight and we need fills. So, if you gained some of your weight back, it has possibly gotten tighter. Since you have recently lost 5 lbs (awesome) it seems like you are on the right track now. Maybe losing a few more pounds will make it not as tight. (you said you aren't spitting as much, maybe because you lost a few). Bottom line is that you have to do what is best for you. Very proud of you for going back after 7 years. That's the great thing about the band. It is still there and will still work!

If you just had another fill 2 days ago, cucumber may not be a good choice. When I get a fill, my doctor requires that I do liquids for two days, then soft/mushy food for 2 days, and then slowly adding solids. If solids get stuck right away, he says go back to liquids for another day or two. Your stomach swells after a fill and will be tighter than it will be after a few days, when the swelling goes down. If you get something stuck and vomit, that is going to irritate your stomach and cause even more swelling. You will then get into a vicious cycle and probably need an unfill. I would think you should go back to liquids for a few days until your stomach/swelling can calm down. Then slowly add soft/mushy like yogurt and see how it feels.

I am satisfied with my decision so far to wait on the fill. Since I have started actually trying to stop eating when no longer hungry- instead of FULL, I am noticing that I am no longer hungry after a couple of bites. It is so much about how I think mentally than what I feel physically. I have never listened to my body. I have always eaten until really full, almost stuffed. That's why I've been overweight all of my life. Food has always been my comfort. Physically hungry or not. It's emotional hunger that the band cannot stop. If you eat even though you are not hungry or keep eating too much when you are no longer hungry, that isn't the band's fault. That's a behavior that I have to work harder to change. I finally decided that if I start to stretch, straighten, and move around because of some discomfort in my chest, THAT'S MY CLUE TO STOP. Duh. I've looked at it as maybe not being at the green zone or not chewing good enough. Either way, it's uncomfortable because my pouch is full. Even if that feeling passes after a few minutes, I need to stop when it first happens. If I can continue doing that, I will be much more successful because that happens within a few bites usually. The 5 day pouch test is two days of liquids and three days of proteins. There are lots of websites about it if you google it. It is helpful not only to shrink down the pouch but to get out of the cycle of cravings and eating junk. It can be very helpful, although I haven't made it all 5 days. LOL Slider foods are those foods that you really don't need to chew and they slide right through the band, allowing you to eat more. For example mashed potatoes, ice cream, pudding, etc. So, the good thing is that we can start over with the band. If we screwed up yesterday, do better today. This forum is packed full of success stories. And I have not seen any that were without stuggle or issues along the way. We had to have surgery because we have issues with food. It was nice to hope that the band would make all of that disappear and we would be different people because of it. But in reality, we still have to do a lot of work with our thoughts and behaviors. The band is a tool to help us with that, it won't do it alone.

Thank you for your feedback. I decided not to go for a fill this week. Although I ate a cheeseburger with no pain, I think I am just not listening to my band. When a pill gets stuck its in the mornings as that's when my band is the tightest. I am afriad if I get a fill that I will be too tight and resort to slider foods and that will be worse. I am going to do the 5 day pouch test and see how things feel. I started trying paying closer attention to stop eating when I am "no longer hungry" instead of full. That's the hardest thing for me when the food tastes good. After 2 years I should be passed that, but I am still struggling. If I do the pouch test and feel like I truly need a fill, I will get one. For now, I think it's behavioral!

I am right there with ya! I've been reading through posts to try to find some motivation somewhere. I see so many successful people and I want to get there. I don't even have a huge amount left to lose, but I have just not done what I am supposed to for at least 6 months. My last fill was in November 2012. I have 7 cc and I still do not think I have ever reached my "green" "sweet" spot. I have always had problems with the chewing and small bites. I still eat too fast and do not chew enough. I will feel the food almost instantly stop at my band, but if a sit up straight and just move around, I feel it pass through. Does that mean I need a fill? I do have problems getting much down in the mornings. Pills can get stuck. I do not throw up. It just hurts until I can wiggle enought to get it to pass. I instantly feel when it goes through the band. Do others have that feeling? I just don't want to get too tight. Anyway, I know that summer is right around the corner. For some reason, out of all of the posts that I read, YOURS gave me some motivation. Maybe I want to encourage you because I know all of the right things to tell you to do, and I know if you follow the "rules" it works. So, maybe in thinking about giving you advice, it made me think more about taking my own advice. I won't lie. I am somewhat of a lazy person (in my mind). I do have a full time job and two young kids and I do what I need to, but I have never been that energetic or active and I seem to enjoy sitting on my fat ass doing nothing. I am the queen of procrastination and then beating myself up about it. I have been really struggling in the last few weeks. saying to myself "tomorrow I am going to start fresh and get back on track". But before lunch time I'm already eating JUNK and then eating out for lunch. Eating dinner then snacking at night. Then beating myself up again. What's the deal? It makes no sense. It's a vicious cycle. Bottom line is that we have to have support. We both took the first step of making an appointment to see our doc for a fill. We both have now posted something here to get some support. Now I am setting the goal of getting my water all in today (I have only been getting like 16 oz). Tonight, I will go back to the gym, as much as I hate working out. .There are so many people on here that are successful. Lets go for it and start to feel proud of ourselves, instead of embarrassed and like failures.

Well, I have been gone for a while from here, but it's time to come back. I was banded a year ago in November and did not meet my one year goal. I am happy with the success I had, 50 lbs. lost in one year, but I could have done better. I was trying for 80, but the last several months were difficult and I "fell off" the wagon. I became very stressed at work and depressed at home. Two of my reasons for overeating. I have been doing all of the wrong things....not measuring, not getting in my water, not exercising, snacking at night, and drinking wine!!! So, yes I know exactly why I didn't reach my goal, I just stopped caring for a while I think. I have gotten fills, periodically, but more recently I wasn't physically hungry, it was "head hunger". So, my last fill was a few weeks ago. I have 7.9 ccs in my 10 cc band. It's very tight and I have good restriction. Now it's time to get back on track. I had gotten down to 181, but have gained 9-10 lbs. in the last 2 months. So I am now determined to get back to the basics and meet my goal of 150 by summer! I tend to beat myself up, like many of you do. But, I wonder if there are others out there who have had a similar experience. Have any of you bandsters done well for a while and then just stopped acting like you even had a band at all, gained some weight back, then gotten back on track? It's always helpful to hear that you're not the only one out there that has done this. Thank in advance for any support. :-)

Thank you! Well, I got my first "unfill" yesterday. He took about 2 cc out and put me on Nexium for 2 weeks to help with swelling and irritation due to all of my stuck episodes. I cannot believe how much better I felt instantly. I hadn't realized how uncomfortable I had been. I feel like I can even breath better now. I can get a small fill in 3 weeks but he wants to make sure everything calms down first. I am concerned that I will gain weight, but I will do my best to follow the rules closely.