Omadison

I got my band in October 2007. Lost 40 pounds in 6 months, and then it all stopped. Couldn't get a good fill. Tight enough to diminish hunger, and too many things got stuck. Loose enough to eat comfortably (the bandster way - small well chewed bites), and I didn't have the dimmed appetite. I stayed away from the clinic for a year, gained back all 40 pounds. Recently went back 3 months ago, and still just cannot get it right. I don't want to quit, but can't see continuing to put the time and energy into something that is obviously not working for me.

You should probably also stay with liquids until you can get back in. Anything that might get stuck in there will just cause more irritation and swelling.

I do understand what you are saying, and I also understand what your doctor was trying to say, although he wasn't doing a very good job of explaining it to you. My doctor didn't used to tell people what amount of fill they had, because they were always comparing their amount of fill to someone elses. It doesn't matter what someone else has, as everyone is different. A few people are able to lose all their weight with no fill at all. That isn't me though, and not you either. I DO think you need to know what size band you have. As far as moving, it's easy for the new doctor to see what amount of fill you have by removing it all. I hadn't been into the clinic for over a year, and since the band is somewhat osmotic (sp?), Fluid tends to go out over time, so he took it all out to see what I had left after a year. I now know how much fill I have, how much new fill is going in. I guess Doc has changed about telling people. I don't really care how much I have in there, only that whatever it is, that it's working. I've spent the last 3 months trying to get it right, and I hope it's good now for awhile. Yes, I hate the lectures too, and sorry your doc was seeming to not be listening. I hope you can get it worked out. I will say that in the beginning I wanted to lose weight so bad, that I wanted my band really tight. Really tight didn't work. I really think I would have done better if I'd gone slower about getting fills, and may not have ended up 3.5 years later having gained all it back. I could have had it all lost after 2 years, had only lost one pound week. That said, a few days ago I was wanting to quit. I got some good encouragement here to stick with it and not give up yet. I've been too tight for the last month and just had some fluid removed yesterday. In 3 months of the "restart" I've only lost 15 pounds, but better lost than gained. I have had 7 adjustments in the last 12 weeks trying to get the right fill level, and I hope I have it now. Good luck to you. I hope you can get a good level soon.

I got my very small unfill this morning. Doc thinks this could be my sweet spot after he really listened to what I was saying, and took out a tiny bit of Fluid. I had a small snack that did not hurt going down :thumbup: and am greatly encouraged that I can move forward from here. Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

Yes, my band has been checked for proper placement, and there are no leaks. My problem right now is that I'm too tight. Too tight doesn't work well, just as too loose doesn't either. I am going in today, and will ask for a tiny unfill. I got this lapband because the "sales pitch" from every clinic and doctor 4 years ago, was that dieting would now be over. Well, that wasn't quite true, was it? The first 6 months was great because I had no carb cravings, and I could eat my bandster meal comfortably. The honeymoon ended, and it was back to battling and obsessing and dieting. I will be the first to admit I was not eating right during that year off. The year wasn't just "blown off" because I was tired of it. There were some family and economic issues playing a part. I have decided this morning to give it some more time. Too much of my life has been spent consumed with weight issues. I think if I could get to a good fill level (the "sweet spot" as they say) I could eat my small meal comfortably, have dimmed appetite for 3-5 hours, and stop constantly thinking about diet, food, and all the issues that come with a weight problem. Catherine, thanks for the encouragement to stick with it awhile longer. You look great!

I had my second fill today. The first one a month ago was very conservative, and I didn't feel much different, no after fill symptoms. Today I am happy to feel restriction after a month of fighting hunger. I have a headache and a shoulder ache. Are those some normal symptoms? I know that diaphragms can get cranky when your stomach is messed with, and cause shoulder pain from the nerve pathway. How about the headache? Just a coincidence?