PKP1492

Just hit my 1-year anniversary. Overall it's been a very good year. I feel and look much better--down about 65 pounds and just about to hit "onederland." I haven't established any kind of exercise routine which I think is key to long-term health and sustained weight loss. And I truly have all my old food issues--the head hunger thing is a bear. However, the band keeps me in check and gives me hope that I can continue to work to a heathly weight and a much healthier relationship with food. I have very much appreciated this forum and being able to share in other's experiences.

I had similar symptons and it turned out I had a dialated pouch (diagnosed with fluoroscope). I went on soft foods for about a week and the issues went away.

If you continually overstretch your pouch (by overeating, eating too fast, taking bites that are too big etcetc), you can cause your pouch to dilate or stretch out. [From my Drs handout]

Hi All....I've seen pouch dilation discussed some but it never seems to quite jibe with my symptoms. I was diagnosed yesterday with it but am still nervous that I really have a slipped band. Anyway, about a week and a half ago I suddenly felt very restricted and had a hard time even getting liquids down. I also started having severe reflux at night. I had to go out of town so I didn't get in for a barium swallow and fluroscope until yesterday. The image is quite shocking....you see a very large round shape above the band. In retrospect I now know I was eating past the band but I had been losing weight and was throwing up a little but not that often. They unfilled the band by 50% and put me on liquids for 3 days followed by soft foods for 3 day. I think the reflux may be gone but I have pretty severe heartburn after I drink a Slim Fast shake for example. The other references to pouch dilation I've seen seem to indicate a sudden lack of restriction which is opposite to what I've expereinced. Anybody else out there with a pouch dilation? How long did it take for you to recover? How have you changed your eating habits so it doesn't occur again? Would appreciate any words of wisdom (which by the way I find frequently on these boards).

Totally agree with the dilation as a wake-up call. I feel like I need to be (and will be) much more attention to the signals I get. I got the lap band because I didn't like the "damage" of a gastric bypass but if I don't manage it correctly I can easily cause damage by not letting the lap band do its job. Thanks for your insights.

Thanks BetsyJane. How long after your dilation did it take until you felt back to "normal"?

First off...Justine717 you have made awesome progress!! I'd appreciate any tips. I was banded Feb 8 and just had my 1st fill Monday (apr 2). Although I feel like I've been eating significantly less since my surgery, I have only lost 5 pounds. And, after my first fill I feel some restriction but not a lot and seem to be able to eat any type of food. I've seen postings where bandsters will say it took a couple fills to get it right but it's been almost 2 months since my surgery and I thought I'd have lost a lot more weight by now. Started at 265 Op weight: 255 Current: 250

I know what you mean. Banded on 2/8. Have lost 18lbs from post-op to today. Having a heck of a time being satisfied with "mushies". And, if I eat slowly and chew well, it does seem that I could eat anything. Plus I still have my preoccupation with food. Appreciate the forum if only to vent.