Kat225

How much can you eat when you're at your sweet spot? Be specific...approx. how many bites of food and what kind of food. Like if it's Soup...is it a cup or half cup or if it's meat...is it the size of a deck of cards or smaller? If it's a meal...what does it consist of and how much? I'm just having some problems and I'm trying to figure out if I'm eating too much or something.

I hate this stupid band! It was the worst decision I ever made. I should have gotten the bypass! Either I can eat everything or I can eat nothing!!!!!!!!!!! Lose....gain.......lose....gain!!!!!! I'm in so much pain right now after throwing up because I must have taken too big of a bite of something. Don't know if I have a slip or not! Sick all the time and still over weight!

yeah I lost but I gain 30lbs back now....and I only lost from being sick all the time. I might as well just be bulimic! Had my surgery in Mexico so now all I have is a dr. to fills...no one to help me with problems or issues etc!

Wow! I feel like your telling my story! I am def a food addict!!! Love food! Obsessed with food! Wish I could afford to see a therapist that specialized in this area of addiction, because it is very different! I was band just a month before you and have now lost about 50lbs. I was down about 75-80lbs but I recently put weight back on. I was so tired of being too tight and sick one day and then could eat anything I wanted the next! So I got some unfilled and could eat a lot...pounds came back quick! I'm convinced that there is no sweet spot for me. Can't figure this thing out to save my life! My band has a mind of it's own and I'm so tired of this struggle! Went back last month for a fill since my weight went up like 30lbs! Now it'sback to the same thing! Can't eat for 3 days and I will be starving then I pig out the 4th day because my body will be starving! My metabolism is probably so jacked up...I'll never lose this weight!

NO! I had some stupid resident that doesn't know what she is doing. She gave me Maalox and a protontic and told me to follow up with a GI specialist. I've had issues with being stuck before and having some pain and swelling after, but never pain like this or for this long! Since the episode, I've only been drinking Water and just a few hours ago, I started taking small spoons of runny pudding. I had my surgery in Mexico so I don't have my surgeon here. I have a Dr. that does my fills but she is not a bariatric Dr. She is 1hr and a half away. They told me to go to my family Dr. so I'm headed there by 2:30 today. I'm also experiencing pain in my shoulders like I did after surgery. The pain is very sharp at times and gets worse when I move around. I have to keep moving positions to get comfortable.

How did your band slip? How did you know? A few days ago I got stuck really bad and threw up repeatedly. Ever since I've been in severe pain. Worried that I may have slipped. Went ER and they did nothing for me....

Over the last week or two my band became much tighter than usual. As a result I was PBing a lot more! Like in the past after my stomach gets irritated from being tight and PBs, I usually get pain and can only drink water and pudding. This time it's different. I have been really sore and can barely keep down water. I can't sleep because when I lay down I have more pain and that's when even water comes back up. Usually if I get irritated it goes away within 12-24 hours but this in going on 48-72 hours. I'm really getting worried that I have slipped. Any opinions or feedback on this would be great! I called my doc yesterday and they can't get me in til Monday but I am calling in a few minutes when they open to beg for an emergency appt. today. I am so uncomfortable and tired because I can't lay down to sleep. I have to sleep sitting up so I wake up every half an hour...feel like getting this thing removed all together sometimes but don't want gain weight. I have about 30lbs until my goal and I'm getting married in May. Don't know what to do!

Is there anyone out there who's band restriction fluxuates all the time throughout the month? Example: Monday I can eat a lot and eat almost anything (rice, bread, Pasta, etc) but then Tuesday I can slam shut and only eat soft or easily broken down foods...then Wednesday I may only be able to drink liquids. Just can't figure this thing out even after all these years. Fill then unfill...PBs all the time then pigout a day later???? Can anyone relate?

I live in York but i had my surgery in Mexico so it's hard to find a US surgeon who will see you...I have to go Fredrick, MD to get fills and care. Not a huge deal because I like my doctor. She was banded herself in Mexico and understands the process and struggles. If you're interested in her info, let me know. It's about an hour and 15 min away from York.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! I was beginning to think I was some rare case. My doctor told me that the band responds to hormone changes and that's why right before and during my period I can barely eat anything and then by the end, I can eat like a pig! It's just really hard to keep my control after starving for days on end. So like when I can eat...I EAT! I'm also on BC pill and that is a hormone...was curious if that had anything to do with it. It's just making it really hard to take my last 30lbs off because I will lose 5-6lbs but then I put it right back on beccause I pigout after starving. Ughhh! If I had self control I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place! Guess I gotta just deal with it and try really hard to control myself on the days I can eat a lot! Thanks for everyone's feedback!

Lost restriction all of a sudden after all these months. Thought I was at my sweet spot but where did it go? Did this ever happen to anyone else? Did my band break/leak? Have an appointment Wednesday to see my fill doctor...

I was thinking the same thing because I haven't had a fill or unfill in a long time now (probably 8-9 months). It's just because I lost restriction so suddenly that it worries me. I hope and pray it's not a leak!. Can't wait to get to the doctor to find out! I am eating everything under the sun now!

I'm not sure I know what being stuck is... Usually when something won't go down, it comes back up for me. Isn't this PBing? Not sure I know what the difference is between PB and being stuck. Anyone have a better understanding?

Tell your doctor! Insurance shouldn't have to know, it's the doc's call if he wants to do the surgery with your situation.

I started to add Protein to make coffee in the morning...

Ok I have a number of problems going on. The biggest issue is throwing up. I've been throwing up lately. It seems most days I am too tight to eat anything but liquids, especially before the evening hours. But here is the catch...other days, I can eat a lot! It makes no sense! If I was just too tight and needed an unfill, why can I eat a full meal other times? This causes the problem because I never know when my band will allow me to eat and when it won't! This results in me throwing up! When I do eat or attempt to eat, I always follow the band rules of small bites slowly without drinking. I know a lot of women have problems at certain times of the month beause of hormones and stuff but I am averaging only about 2 out 7 days being able to eat without problems. Drinking hot coffee sometimes helps loosen me up but not always. On the days I can eat, I find myself pigging out because I'm so happy to have food and I'm starving!Then after I've thrown up, I have some pain and irritation. I've had 2 slight unfills already and my doc doesn't seem to understand what the problem is. Do you think I've slipped? Someone else told me I may be intolerent to the band. What should I do? Should I try a more aggressive unfill and go from there? Maybe I try to eat too much when I eat and that's why I throw up? How much should I be able to eat with good restriction? I usually can only eat about 2-3 small bites before I feel it get tight in my chest on the days I have a problem. I can eat a normal sized meal on my good days (pork chop, veggie, starch). I don't think eating 2-3 bites of Soup or other soft food is normal...is it? I'm exactly one year from surgery today...I should be celebrating, not scared and starving. Please help!

I hope you get everything worked out....

I'm so glad you are doing well with the new band! I on the other hand am not very happy. My band still plays tricks on me from time to time. It's been a lot looser than before, but it still has a mind of it's own. It's either I can eat a lot or I can eat very, very little because I will bring it back up. I'm pretty miserable today so that's why I'm so negative. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time...

Thank You!!!!

I have a 9cc band. It's the Realize J&J band. Even though they are 9ccs, it can hold more. Extra saline can be in the tubing is what my doc explained. Honestly though, I had an unfill Friday because of my problem and it has helped me sooooo much. I can eat now in the evenings everyday since. No more guessing games! My doc wasn't that concerned when I told her about me throwing up either. She only wanted to take out .25ccs and I told her to take more so I got .5 out. It is what I needed or I was really going to hurt myself!

I was actually just talking to someone on here who was having the same problem. She was intolerant to the band and had it removed. I was having issues where I was throwing up alot but then other days I could eat. I was advised to get an unfill. I had one Friday and it helped sooooo much. What did your doc say? Is he or she gonna take a look? It doesn't sound good.

I don't know why you felt compelled to write this but as for me and my house we worship the LORD!

Yes. Mornings were always a problem for me. So based on Fri-Mon. it seems like I am exactly how you described. I can't eat in the morning and can get down very, very little at lunch but by 5pm, I can eat a satisfying dinner. At least that was my pattern all weekend. I just need to not try and push it over lunch. It's like I want to eat just a little more than my band allows and that gets me in trouble. But I think I can live with being able to take it easy all day and then have a satisfying dinner. As long as it is consistent and predictable now, I can handle it. I hope this throwing up crap is over! Thank you for the support. Where would we be without this site!