Dumpling

Thanks for the advice Jack, your experience and willingness to share it is very helpful. Dave

Hi Jack, I am having trouble getting my band sized right. Last week I was so tight that I could not get anything down, after jsut a .5 cc de-fill I can eat almost anything as long as I chew well. Did you ever go through this? I plan to have a 1/4 cc put back in but I am not sure it will help. What is it like when you have the band right, do you PB at all? I am having trouble knowing when I should stop eating. Any suggestions? Thanks Dave

Well hello Silentfades, you are not alone, many of us started at the same point of desperation that you say you are at now and many have turned their life around with the use of the band. It is not easy but once you have it adjusted and you learn how to eat (slowly and chewing) then you will not be abole to over eat, period. This is the key for me, I can no longer binge. If I do try to eat too much or eat to quickly then I PB or vomit. It is not the same as a normal vomit because it has not made it down to all of the acids at the bottom of the stomach. It is more like spitting up, it kind of just flows out. There is a whole section on PB's on the board somewhere, have a read. I was self funded and had my surgery done in Toronto at The Lap Band Clinic (TLBC) for $16,000 Canadian. This also gives you unlimited follow up and fills (nice not to have to pay for each visit). Be patient with the adjustments, some people never even need a fill, others like myself have had 5 fills and I am only now starting to lose weight as a result of the band. This could be a problem for you if you have it done in another city or country. I considered it for almost two years before I was banded in April of this year. The cost is so high and I have would have to self fund. Then I read an article on it and the author said, "use some of the money you have put away for retirement, the chances are very good that as a morbidly obese person you will never get to use that money if you do not lose weight". This rang true for me, the decision was made. I guess the best senerio for you would to be able to get the surgery done inexpensively elsewhere but get fills and other help locally. Ask you local clinic what it would cost for follow up fills etc. Just a thought. Good luck Silentfades, it is you life to save, no one can do it for you.

Hi guys, so here is where I am at. Is this normal? April 5th - Banded May 25th - Firts Fill June 8th - Second Fill June 20th - third Fill - good restriction for 2 days July 4th - forth fill - good restriction for 4 days After the forth fill I felt good restriction for 4 or 5 days. I am restricted in the morning and can overeat at dinner. I am losing a little wieght, PBing some when I overeat or do not chew well. I have lost about 2 pounds a week since the third fill. Is this normal? I plan on going for another fill, am I crazy? I basically do not want to be able to eat at all or very very little. Dave

Hey Zinthar, my wife was the same way, she said the whole band thing was just taking the easy way out but I went ahead anyway. Now all I have to do is lose the weight and keep it off or she will nag me the rest of my life. I look at this as additional motivation Good luck with whatever you decide, just be warned that it may take some time to actually get the band work (I am three month and counting). Cheers

Thanks Jonathan for the reply. So if you are not feeling much restriction how did you lose 75 lbs? I am at the same weight now as my pre-op weight. I go tomorrow for my forth fill. I have my fingers crossed. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks

Hi BigJake, I know how you are feeling and I am sorry to say but i am 12 weeks post surgery and still no weight loss as a result of the band working. I have put on all the weight I lost as part of surgery (as you said I don't diet well, that is why I need the band). I have had three fills and still can eat as much as I want. Can someone tell me if this is normal? Six weeks after surgery; First fill, 5 CC, I brought the water back up so they took out 1 CC and I went home. within 48 hours I was able to eat whatever I wanted but did have to chew more. I would alo BP if I did not chew well enough. Two Weeks later; Second fill, 2 CC, within three days I was able to eat whatever i wanted but again had to slow down even more and chew even more. Still BPing whenever I ate too fast or did not chew well. Two Weeks later; Third fill, 1.5 CC, I thought thos one would work, I could feel the restriction and even struggled to get the water down before I left the offfice. It was tight, I could hardly eat anything. i had acid reflux the first night (I had no idea what that was until I read it here). I thought it was great, then I noticed my portions were growing, especially in the aftrennon. In the morning it was tight and restrictive and by evening it had loosened up. i am now over eating again. I have a fill booked for next week, I am hoping this is the one that does it. Is this normal? It is very frustrating, I want to get on with it! Thanks Dumpling