IllinoisLoser

I was like you and I had to go in to get some fill out. I have been ok for about a month but I can eat anything I want now, I am going back in on Monday for a fill, The doc said my band is at 2.6, it was at 3 it only holds up to 4cc. So I have to try maybe 2.7 because at 3 I could not even drink water until late afternoon, I did loose but I will tell you that you can hurt yourseld, slippage, erosion, and so on. Find a place you can live with, I too want to loose more and not play around but I too want to be able to live healthy. Good luck will let you know more later.

Yeah lots of people have problems the insurance part of this. I wish it would help pay for the skin removal but mine does not. I am lucky it helped with the band though. Good luck

Good morning Carol and everyone else. I am just like you Carol, I am at 220 now and I need to loose a lot more weight but this past weekend I found myself eating like the old me instead of the new me. I have lost 120 but it has taken me some time. I need to have a fill but my doc wants me to wait for awhile because I was to tight for 5 months. Now he wants me to eat like a normal person should eat and not like I did before. I have lots of changes in my life too, I am 50 but I think I look better now than I did 10 years ago. So I know I have a lot in life to look forward too. I want to do this with at least another 50-70 pounds off. I have lots of skin so I do not know if I can get that much more off. I would love to though. You guys are all great, I find when I read your postings that there is a little bit of you all in me. Wow that is real!

Hello and Good morning All is wet in the state of Illinois. We got a lot of IKE they say almost 7 inches of rain in less than two days. But it has finally stopped. I too have lots of problems with the up and down of weight. I got some fill out as I told you before in the post and now it is alowing me to eat lots and lots. I am trying to not do that. I have to for now but I wanted to let you know I am here and we can not stop no matter the age. 55 is not that old still lots of living to do girl. Write to ya soon

I like my bike also, I have one from a bike store though it is new but it is over two years old. You know what that means it sat for two years in the garage now this past summer I have been riding it and I do like it. I have not the last few weeks but for awhile everyday I was on it. I am finding excuses but now things are slowing down vacation over kids back in school and so on. So I will ride my bike tonight if only for a few miles. Mine does have a bigger seat, I am a bigger person I choose not to call it a fatty seat, my fatty part is my belly and it rides well on my things. Anway I love reading some of these forums and hope to make friends. I have been on this band wagon by my self for a few years and know that I need the support and help of others. Thanks ladies

I was banded also in 2006 have had a few fills now I think I need another, I would love to keep in touch it sounds like we have the same story. I have lost over 100 pounds but still need to loose more as in my post says. I am stumped I have the older 4 cc band, I have had it for a couple of years, long story but I am still learning about the band. I got a fill in Feb of this year up to 3cc I lived with the pb and not being able to eat out and all of that. I have lost a lot of weight but still have more to loose. After reading on this site I have learned that I was to tight and it is dangerous to be to tight. So I went back to doc and he let it out to 2.6, now I am able to eat what I want most of the time, to much in fact. I can eat white bread and I can even eat Breakfast. I do not want to gain weight I still have 70 pounds I would love to loose. I am thinking of going back for a fill, it has been about 3 weeks since he let out .4cc. I think with this band the numbers are very different than with the newer bands. Does anyone know anything about this older band. I do feel restriction when it comes to eating meats but nothing when it comes to eating pie, I know I know I should not eat that but I am being honest here. Fill or no fill that is the question I am askin here

I am stumped I have the older 4 cc band, I have had it for a couple of years, long story but I am still learning about the band. I got a fill in Feb of this year up to 3cc I lived with the pb and not being able to eat out and all of that. I have lost a lot of weight but still have more to loose. After reading on this site I have learned that I was to tight and it is dangerous to be to tight. So I went back to doc and he let it out to 2.6, now I am able to eat what I want most of the time, to much in fact. I can eat white bread and I can even eat breakfast. I do not want to gain weight I still have 70 pounds I would love to loose. I am thinking of going back for a fill, it has been about 3 weeks since he let out .4cc. I think with this band the numbers are very different than with the newer bands. Does anyone know anything about this older band. I do feel restriction when it comes to eating meats but nothing when it comes to eating pie, I know I know I should not eat that but I am being honest here. Fill or no fill that is the question I am askin here?:rolleyes2:

Hey Illinois people, I am here in good old Decatur, home of the great smell of soybeans, we call that the smell of money. Dr.R from clinton did my surgery, I have a 4 cc band, I think it is an older one. I have had my band for a couple of years still have 70 pounds I would love to loose but I have lost over 100. I still do not know what my sweet spot is, I did have cc and had to get .4 taken out last month, could not eat solids, now I can eat almost any thing I want, I do feel some restriction but I can eat white bread, I used to not be able to eat at lunch now I can eat a whole WW dinner and a tomato, for dinner I can eat ok all soft foods no restriction but when I eat meat or fiber foods I do get some restriction, so I tell you fill or no fill that is the question Have a great day

Good Morning What a lovely day in good old Central Illinois, I am near Clinton IL. I have an old band that goes up to 4cc. On Monday afternoon I went back to Dr. R and had them take out some fill. I have been over filled for a long time. They took it down to 2.6, it was at 3cc. They were concerned I was not getting enough good food and all the problems that come along with to tight of a band. The problem is when I got the fill in Feb I was at 2.7 and needed some fill, they took it 3 I then really noticed what people were saying they could not eat in the morning; they could not eat meat, bread and so on. I loved losing the weight but the band seemed to get tighter instead of loser the more weight I lost. I got on these boards and it scared me that my band might slip or cause erosion. So I went back and had the doc take some out. Now, I am not throwing up at every meal, now I can eat, now I can drink but now I am hungry and now I can eat anything I want. I am at 2.6 so now I need to get a fill again. I think my spot must be between 2.7 and 2.9 because 3 is to much and 2.6 is to low. I have had this band since 2006 but did not really have fill until 2007 and did not start to really work with this band until late 2007. Now I know that it is a tool and not a magic belt it is something I have to go in and get maintained more than once every other year. Maybe that should be a new thread how often do we get our bands maintained? Anyway thanks ILLINOIS girls and keep in touch.

Thanks so much, my brother in law works for Disney so we will go to the parks at least once while we are there. I told you or at least I think I told you I had some fill taken out of my band. It was at 3cc and I could not eat solid foods for awhile she then took it down to 2.6 now I can eat lots even in the mornings which I could not even drink water very well until around noon. So I am too lose, my band is the older kind and 4cc is the most it goes up too. So I scheduled to go back for a small fill on Sept 11 maybe to 2.7 or 2.8. I want some restriction but not to tight that I cannot eat. I do not like being hungry all the time and I can see that I am starting to be hungry a lot already and this has only been unfilled since monday afternnoon. Today is Thursday morning. Yikes

Hey Rachel I am from Illinois but I am going to visit your fine city soon. I have had the band for a while like two years. I have lost 120 pounds but with the band comes problems too. Like to tight or not and should I get a fill or not. You have to work the band it is not a solution that you do not have to work. I will tell you that I know nothing about Mexico so make sure you know. Good luck and it is a great tool.

Hi from central Illinois, today is a great day, glad to meet you all ILLINOISN:w00t:

I know you guys wrote this months ago but I am in the same situation. I was over filled for months. I did loose weight but it was not fun. I went to weddings and if I could put food down my throat it would come back up very quickly, the only foods that would stay down was cream soups, mashed potatoes and ice cream. Oh and candy bars not very nutrious but anyway my band is older I think I got it in 06 but not sure I guess I should remember better, lots has happened. Have not really known how to work it until recently, now I had 3 cc in my band and the doctor let out to 2.5 now I can eat lots in the evenings and I can even drink and eat in the mornings. Which before I could barely drink a cup of coffee in the mornings. So I am going to have to be really careful not to gain but I do not want to hurt me or my band either. So I will try and eat only the good stuff, I will probably go back for a very small fill soon, I do not think I should be able to eat 3 slices of buttered toast, 2 eggs, 5 pc of bacon, a whole tomato, lettuce, and then ice cream for dessert. That is what I had last night. That was most of my calories for the whole day, I did exercise for almost two hours also yesterday so yes I had more than enough calories but I have not really eaten in almost 5 months just soft smooth clear foods. I craved a blt and some eggs and toast. So thanks for the information and being there.

Thanks so much. New on my front I told you I had my band let out from 3cc to 2.5cc well last night for dinner I had 3 slices of toast, 2 eggs and 4 slices of lean bacon, some tomato and lettuce. I could not believe it all went down. I did chew well. I have been craving toast and overeasy eggs. I could not even eat eggs before. So, I think that it is to lose now. Maybe 2.7 or 2.8 is what I need but for now I am going to let it stay for awhile. It felt great being able to eat and not throwing it all up. I want to eat salad, I want to eat an apple, I want to eat a banana, this is food I should be able to eat a little of and I want the vitamins that go along with good food but I do not want to gain any weight back or overeat. Yesterday I also walked for well over an hour, after work I went on a 45 minute bike ride. This I could not do 120 pounds ago. I still have 60 to 70 pounds I would like to lose but lots of it is skin and it will not go away. So for now my band is lose I hope I am not lose with my eating. Have a great day

Nancy my heart breaks for you. With the death of your dad I think that you have more stress on you than you could handle at the time. Please know that you are in my prayers. I have had my band for over two years and I did not have all positive stuff either. I have lost my brother and sister and a good friend in the last year. All were fairly young. I think losing them takes a lot of strength away from taking care of ourselves but when we do take care of ourself we have more strength to give to others. So that is what I have chosen to do, and in the long run I have helped my other family members more. You have to take care of yourself and know that none of your decisions had any part of what happened to your dad, know that God is not punishing you, you will learn from your experience and then you will be helping the rest of us. Yesterday I had 3 cc in my band and could not eat or drink much until late evenings and then if I tried to eat any meats I would throw up. I could not eat fruit either only soft foods, now with .5 taken out I can eat almost anything, I have had the band for over 2 years, I am still learning, I did not go back and get fills like I should have before, in the last year I am working it, I still have lots of weight to go about 60 pounds, (if I can) anyway I want you to know that I am thinking of you and praying for you, good luck and please let us know what happens with you and your band. God Bless

Ok I feel like I should be able to help on this because I have been banded for over two years but..... I did not work my band until this last year. I was not having any restriction and I did not go back to the doctor, I thought why pay this money I think these people are crazy, I can eat what I want and I have no restrciton. So I tried to loose weight on my own again for the 55th time. Anyway I decided to go and get a fill and talk with the doc about May of 07, they did a fill and I started to feel some restriction, not a lot but some so I thought ok I can do this, I did lost some weight but I did not know I still was not being restriced, I got a fill in Feb of this year and wow it was probably to tight. I could sip a cup of coffee in the morn, a can of v8 for lunch and some mashed potatos or soup for supper, and then some ice cream for dessert. I was adding butter and cheese to stuff to try and make it go down and get me some calories, I could not even eat a banana. Finally yesterday I went back to doc and she took out .5 I am now at 2.5 fill. I do not know what that means but I know I can eat now. So I think she took to much out. I want to be able to eat but not much. So I guess this means I have to work at it some, but it is much healther than me not being able to eat at all. When you are so tight that you can only get liquids down most of the day you choose foods you should not have. You also do not have fun going out with family and friends to eat or weddings or vacations. You can not eat. You do not always have soups or mashed potatoes to choose from. You sometimes throw up before you get to the bathroom, this is too tight when this happens. Hope this helps

Hey There is no way your band is right if you can eat tuna in the morning. I am lucky to be able to drink v8 juice in the morning. I did go to the doctor yesterday and have some fill let out. My band had 3 cc in it, I do not know how much it holds. It is an old model she said. (thanks Doc) anyway she let out .5 so now it has 2.5, since Feb fill I have lost 50 pounds. I still have a long way to go I am at 219, was at 340. So I am telling you to work your band, call doc and tell them you can eat tuna in the morning, they know you should not be able to do that. I have had my band for two years, I have only been working with it this last year, before it was so loose and I did not understand that I had no restriction. So go for it girl, make it work for you.

Hello I am like you I got a fill in Feb 08 and I had so much trouble getting food down. In the morning I could sip a cup of coffee no cream, lunch a can of v8, dinner some soup or mashed potatoes, when I went out to eat with friends and family I never ordered because I could eat one bite of my husbands meal and be stuck. I would go throw up in the bathroom if I did eat much because of the pain. I went to the doctor finally yesterday and they said that I was to tight and this can cause problems, first of all you cannot live that way. I have lots of weight to still lose. I am at 219 I started at 340. Since Feb fill I had lost 50 pounds. I did not want to have any fill taken out I wanted to loose more weight, but, I was not getting any protien, I was eating candy fine, ice cream ok if it did not have nuts or anything in it. My band had been filled to 3 so she took it down to 2.5, I would have prefered her taking it down to 2.8 but she said so long without nutrion she wanted to make sure I was eating real food and not just pureed food. It is morning now and I am drinking v8 with no problem, last night I could eat, so I am a little concered that all the hunger will come back. I will not wait long to have a little fill put back in if this happens. I do like the feeling of not having pain when I eat something though. I am still learning and I have had this band for well over a year. I am learning how to work it. Do not let food get stuck that long, you can cause yourself problems. Just call the doctor and talk with them. Good luck:thumbup:

Thanks friend, I just called DOC and I am going to be looked at on Monday. I love losing and but I do not want to damage my body that is why I am going through all of this stuff for. I have lost my 43 year old sister to Obesity. I do not want to be like that. Thanks for your support.

:crying:I am one of those that wonder if my band has slipped. I have lots of restriction, in the mornings I drink coffee slowly, about 11 am I can drink a can of v8 juice. At lunch I have a 100 calorie snack pack, later in the day I have a small sugar free pudding. At dinner I have some liquid soup or mashed potatoes and gravy. I can eat tomatoes but not the skin. I have had my band for two years but did not take get fills for my first year (long story) I had my last fill in January or Feb of this year. I have not needed it again. I am still really tight. I have lost really well but I do get tired of eating soft stuff all the time. Meat make me throw up really bad. I love Chili and it makes me throw up to. So I blend it. I can drink very easy in the afternoon and evenings. I can eat ice cream ok if I do not have something prevousily stuck in there. Sometimes I go to bed and wake up with that burning in my chest and coughing and then I sit up for awhile and it goes away so I do not eat for a few hours before I go to bed. Any thoughts on this.

I would wait until I got home from vacation. I had a fill before my vacation and everytime we went out to eat I could not. People with us would say are you ok? I did not want everyone to know my business. I still think my band is to tight but I am losing really well so I just live with it. Have a great vacation.:wink2: