suzie g

It is so good to hear your story. I was banded Oct. 07 and was doing great until June when I finally went in for an unfill do to vomiting frequently and reflux. I got unfilled, gained about 8# and then got filled again. At that time the nurse prac. who does the fills kind of yelled at me for gaining! She said she filled me tighter than I was but now I am about 18# heavier!! I am eating between meals and not eating good. What happened to me? I was at goal of 175# which is good for my height of 5ft 10in. I am supposed to go back with a food diary and have not yet as I can't seem to write all my bad choices down. Every day I say it is going to be different. I want to lose 15# by December. I know what I have to do but have to keep reminding myself. I do get some fullness after I eat a healthy meal but then am hungry later. I have been exercising also. Should I try to stay at 1200 calories? I am afraid to call my nurse because I have failed. Lets encourage each other. Lets change our mindset. WE CAN DO IT!!

So I was vomiting daily and could not eat much so I finally went in for an unfill and .4cc were taken out. I think I have about 1.6cc in now. Now I can eat everything and have gained 10# last I knew and gained 1 dress size! How depressing! I feel so bloated and have lost control in a few weeks. I go in for a fill on Friday 7-24 and hope I do not get yelled as I felt so good at my previous weight of 175 and size 12. Just had to vent. How can a person go from being so good to being so bad! Weight will always be a problem. How are other long termers doing? Everyone at their goal? How many fills and unfills has everyone had? This is only my 4 fill/unfill so all in all have done well. I thought I was normal vomiting every day and not being able to eat many foods, but I guess that is not the case. Wish me luck!! Thanks,

Hi-how did your unfill go? Have you gained any weight? Can you control what you eat? I am hungry a lot! I am supposed to see the Nurse Prac. who did my fill and give her a food journal, which I have not even completed 1 day on it yet! I think I need more fill. kind of bummed because I did so well before and now feel like I failed my band! Are you feeling better after the antibiotics? Let me know how it is going for you. I think my metabolism is all screwed up!!

Congrats on the terrific weight loss. I was banded Oct. 2007 and lost 115#. I was pretty much at goal then had to get an unfill due to daily vomiting and not keeping anything down. I gained 14# in 4 weeks! Had a fill and I do not feel much restriction. I was told to only eat a 1/2 cup of food and that is not happening! The Nurse Prac. who does the fills wants me to keep a food journal and I have not been good! How do I get back on track. It was easier before when I could barely eat! Maybe I need another fill! I do not know what normal is anymore. What do you eat for your meals? I am exercising more and that does help. How can I be better? I feel like a failure already! Thanks for your advice! Suzanne G.

I also lost hair around the 6 month mark. Mark sure you are getting enough protein 40-60 grams a day as that was my problem. My hair has come back for the most part, just a little thinner in the temples. I also lost weight quickly. Banded Oct. 07 and hit 100# lost under 9 months. I am down 115# total and am happy where I am. Keep up the good work and the exercising helps the most!!!

I had a fill on Friday 0.5cc which was more than was taken out a month ago. I am getting back on track and am down 5# from Friday. I have to go back in a month and show a food journal-the ARNP I think was upset at me for gaining after my unfill!! I told her I had no restriction-that is why I had surgery. How are you doing with your unfill? Feeling better? So am exercising and getting some good food in the house again. Keep in touch. What do your meals consist of? And how much do you eat? I was told to eat 1/2 cup per meal? Not much. And I am 5 ft 10 inches tall. Take care. Suz

Hi, I have been banded since Oct 2007 and lost most of my weight quickly. I am down 115# and feel good but my band is tempermental. I pb all of the time lately and need to go for a partial unfill, i only have 2cc in my band now. i can't eat normal. Mainly I eat yogurt, mashed potatoes and ice cream. I might have 2 good days a month where I can get a "Normal" meal down such as fish/chicken/veggies. I know this is not normal and am afraid to gain weight. If I am anxious or upset at all forget about eating or drinking at all!!! When do you find that sweet spot? It is nice to know there are others like myself. I am going to call the doc this week and try to stay on fluids only and take my prevacid regularly to see if that helps. Thanks for listening.

Way to go. Keep up the good work. Thank goodness for the lap band and doctors who want to help us succeed.

I was down 118.5#, banded Oct. 07, then a couple weeks again had to have a total unfill due to possible swelling from regurging a piece of food previously. I had only 2.3 cc in my band at unfill time. Not sure of band size. Now have gained about 10#! Will get a fill Dec. 3. Doc wanted to let my band and throat rest a bit. The weight had come off very easy so I am hoping with my fill that I can get a little more weight off. I want to get to about 170# or so. I am tall and previously weighed 291.5#. I have no restriction and do not get full, my old eating habits came back, it is hard to change lifelong habits!

Maybe because your activity has slowed that might account for the weight gain. Make sure you get some exercise, how about walking? or just marching in place? I know you have to be careful with your arm. Make sure to get plent of water in. My wt loss slows when I do not drink much water. Get your protein, that is your priority and get your calories in as per suggested per your doctor. Not enough calories may have slowed your metabolism. It is hard to avoid the sweets but I know I did not want them around the house for quite a few months. I ate yogurt and cheese sticks and fiber rich water and jello. It is hard, but you can do it. I am 1 year out and have had a great loss of 110#, but now had to get an unfill do to something caught and not eating for a week! Now I have gained 8# and have no restriction and old eating habits are hard to forget. Obesity never really goes away. I will always have to be conscious of what I eat. Once your arm is healed you can step up the pace. It is a learning experience as we go along and the support along the way helps! I used the beneprotein for protein also which is reasonably priced. Protein drinks help, egg salad, tuna salad, etc... Maybe you are too tight? Just try things and see how they go. Good Luck!

Thanks for your encouragement! I am going to increase the exercise and find something healthy to fill me up. Good luck with your pregnancy!

So I had a piece of meat stuck, regurged it finally in a couple days, then was only able to keep small sips of liquid down. After a week of this and thinking the worst such as a slippage, I saw the doctor and he unfilled my band. The doctor thinks I probably had swelling and maybe since I lost so much weight (115#) that the loose skin came back through my band and was causing problems, so he wants my band to rest and calm things down and I will get a fill Dec.3. The problem now is I am gaining weight. About 10# so far and I am depressed. Yes, my old habits have come back, because all food goes down without a problem. Today I am going to keep track of calores and try not to snack and eat healthy. I know what I have to do but a lifetime of obesity does not go away. Any helpful hints? Anyone else experience this? I do not get a full feeling. Though I am drinking my water. I could not eat bread before so I refuse to go back eating bread as that would not be good. Thanks! My goal is to not be more than 5# heavier when i return for my band fill.:thumbup:

I too had hair loss at about 4 months. I was not getting enough protein. Use a good whey protein powder. I like beneprotein and mixed it with jello. Jello is also excellent for hair and nails. My nails were also badly ridged and brittle. The hair loss does resolve as you eat better. Take a multi vitamin and again do all you can to get your protein in. I also used nioxin shampoo which made my hair fuller and helped the psychological aspect. Good luck!:thumbup:

Hi! I was banded on Oct. 24 and the last couple of weeks I have not lost a lb. Finally I lost 1.5 # and am down a total of 32.5#. I am eating very little, maybe 500 calories/day. Am exercising though I could do more. It is hard for me to get in my liquids and am lucky to drink 8 cups/day. Now I am premenstrual and feel bloated and very hungry!!!!!!!! I get my first fill Dec. 12 and am worried it is not going to help. I really can't eat much regular food yet. Got chicken stuck yesterday, but it was dry. Very unpleasant! But we have to keep it up and the surgery should work. Keep in touch.

Yes. 2 weeks prior surgery I was on a liquid diet, juices, broth, jello, and popsicles. I was to get in 30 grams of protein also with powder or drinks. The special K protein water packets are great and mixed powder with jello. I was banded Oct. 24 and continue on clear liquids where I have to dilute juices and broth with 50% water. I can still have popsicles and jello. Looking forward to cottage cheese and mashed potatoes hopefully later this week.

I am getting banded Oct. 24 and am on the liquid diet since a week ago Friday. I am having reflux and it is making me very uncomfortable. Is anyone else having this problem? I am looking forward to learning much on this site and appreciate any advice.