ruby309

And...to those of you who shared your thoughts and ideas constructively or told me about your weight loss wins and struggles. Thank you. I sincerely appreciate your input.

I am a 10 year lap band patient. I don't know what is wrong with me. I have learned hiw to "out-eat" my band, and my eating is so out of control. For the first 8 years or so, I kept my band super tight, where I could only eat a few bites or I'd vomit. That was 50 lbs ago. As long, as I couldn't eat, I could have a few bites of ANYTHING. But, then, I developed problems. Dialated esophagus, surgical hernia at my lap band site, reflux and pain. They took 1/2 the fluid out of my band, and here I am...50 lbs. FATTER. I feel like a giant failure.

I began this thread and today I received a reply on my topic. I re-read everything that was written over the past year. I would like to thank all of you that responded with comments and suggestions that either encouraged or sympathized with my weight loss history. But, for those that felt the need to shame me for my failures, I feel the need to respond. I don't need to be ridiculed or chastised by you for my failure. I do that enough to myself. Now, if you have something pertinent to add, that might give me a new mindset or a tip that has worked in making you progress. Please feel free to share. But, shaming me for my inability to win at lap band will be met with a "shut the H**L up!"

Thanks for the info. I want to get back to the point of satiety. I want to be satisfied with small portions, and healthy foods. Since my fluid was removed, I crave sugar and carbohydrates. I don't know if the cravings are mental or physical, but I'd like to end that cycle. Thanks fir talking with me. Thanks for the info. I want to get back to the point of satiety. I want to be satisfied with small portions, and healthy foods. Since my fluid was removed, I crave sugar and carbohydrates. I don't know if the cravings are mental or physical, but I'd like to end that cycle. Thanks for talking with me.

I take some of the blame. I knew I was really tight, but the feel of being able to fit into very small sizes had my head in the clouds. Additionally, the Dr. Office had a new nurse/practitioner. She didn't have a CLUE what she was doing. (Stuck herself while filling me, I had to have an HIV test. She missed my port another time, and "filled" my ? . She got so frazzled during my next fill (cuz she couldn't find my port, again) she left the room with me standing in the xray lab with the syringe hanging out of my gut! Not a surprise that she was GONE at my unfill. I asked about her-no answer. I think she was part of the problem. But, patients should be warned about dilatation from being too tight. Just because the scale says you're on the right track doesn't mean all is well!

I feel your frustration. I was banded in 2005. Lost down to 145 lbs. I was estatic.Then, last year I started having trouble. Reflux, vomiting, chest pain. My doc sent me for EGD and found that I had dilatation of the esophagus from being too tight with band fluid. I was dumbfounded. Never heard of anything like that, or that it could happen! I was just thrilled being thin and not being able to pig out. So. he removed all of the fluid from my band and told me to restrict calories and carbs in my diet until the dilatation ceased. Even went so far as to say he might have to remove my band altogether. in six months I have regained 45 lbs. they have recently began refiling me. I have an appt 4/7. I am so disgusted with myself. When my band was "working" I could eat anything and not gain. I could have one cup of food and be satisfied. now i think about food constantly. I am amazed that you can regain so quickly. i know i should go on a diet, but that is what made me get banded in the first place! I couldn;t stay on a diet. i am at a loss. my life is in turmoil, because my self esteem lies in my appearance. Sadly, so. i feel like a failure.

I had cervical spine surgery in June. Didn't have the fluid taken out before surgery as recommended cuz Ive had my band since 2005 and have had lots of surgeries without doing that, and guess I thought I was smarter than everyone. About a month after, I started having serious reflux. Like vomiting in my sleep reflux. the spinal doc thought they had irritated my esophagus/vocal chords during spinal surgery. NO. Turns out (I found out 6 mos. later when I was having EGD to see what had happened to my esophagus!) that I had developed DILATATION due to being banded too tight! They said my band re-adjusted itself during anesthesia, causing me to store food in a pouch I created in my esophagus! they took ALL of the fluid out of my band, and I gained 30 lbs in 6 months without it! %(^&*$(!!!!! I finally got the okay to begin refilling 2 mos ago. After the first partial fill, I still gained a few more LBS. but after a .2 fill four wks ago, I lost 6 lbs and got another .2 fill. Feels good again, but I just ate 3 lo-carb crackers with one piece of swiss and 6 pepperonis, and I am uncomfortably full with heartburn. so, of course I am obsessing. I wonder why I can't control myself like a normal person. I find myself constantly thinking about food and diet.