Gus-Gus

I had this problem for months. he finally unfilled me about 1 cc for several months. I got an upper GI (I'm at my 2 year mark) confirmed everything is okay and then is slowly filling me again. My weight loss has stopped, but there has been no gain, and I am okay with that for now. One of the things I have learned is that there is some swelling when you are throwing up and I read a suggestion once that maybe liquid Motrin to help the swelling? I haven't had any issues recently but I have it on hand just in case I do. Good luck, I remember how frustrating it is to keep getting filled and unfilled.

Oh sweetie, hang in there. Your not losing yet because your not eating yet. Once you have restriction, you will eat each meal, feel full and not snack in between meals. You'll then have more energy with less weight, exercise more and that helps weight loss. You'll get there. You are going through what we call "bandster hell" but it doesn't last. So keep your chin up. It does get better.

my doctor actually told me at my support group Christmas party that I could have diet pepsi again. He said I had to drink it very slow so as not to have the carbon hit be full blast. And to tell the truth, it has resolved my ongoing problems with constipation. I do find that I don't drink it as often as I used to but an occasional diet pepsi has worked out really well. What I love is Light Hawaiian Punch. It comes in a can and can be found in the soda section but it is non-carbonated and is only 10 calories per can. I drink it in a glass with crushed ice and it's like having a slushie and replaces my craving for a soda. Give it a try.

I agree with the suggestions to have your iron checked. I have been fighting anemia for some time now as my doctor says my iron levels are very low. My doctor tells me I won't really know how tired I am right now until I get my iron levels up and feel the difference. I am taking two iron supplements a day but it's only been three days so far. But again, we need to all remember to take our vitamins as well as iron and extra calcium.

I have had the same problems and I am 18 months out and of course not filled enough right now. Do the clear liquids and then start over. I find that if I regularly take a Prilosec everyday I have fewer problems. I have heard since my last unfill that I will try next time around that liquid Motrin when you have swelling as well. I haven't tried it yet but since Motrin is an anti-inflammatory it makes sense. Instead of coffee first think, try hot tea first and then drink your coffee later in the AM. When I first have my fill I rarely eat anything solid until lunch time.

In addition to your multi-vitamins are you taking extra iron supplements? After surgery we sometimes end up being anemic. My regular physician said I am anemic which is why I am tired and pale. He has me taking two supplements tablets a day to get my iron levels up.

You are going to have varying restriction all the time. Alot has to do with Water retention etc. I have been filled and unfilled several times now and it has been a roller coaster of a ride. Be careful of "slider" foods. Soft foods that go down easy. You will have your best restriction with solid Proteins. As for getting hungry every 3-4 hours. I still do whether my band is too loose or too tight. I usually drink some tea between meals to tide me over. try a small snack in between meals like a 40 calorie bag of sliced apples or a small handfull of almonds, a Protein shake. It's all about making wise choices now, but you still have to have a quality of life too. Believe me, I've been unfilled several times and you do not want to have too much fill. It is very painful and miserable. I'd rather count calories.

I am not a breakfast person but if I don't eat I am ready to gnaw my arm off by lunch (band or no band) I generally have a packet of Instant cream of wheat (I make it from scratch on non-work days) a little bit of half and half and a packet of equal. I make it a little thick. I also add a 100 caloie pack of almonds for some extra protein or a couple of slices of cheese. That usually keeps me content until lunch time.

I am 18 months out and my band is a little too loose right now. (I see my doc in Feb) I keep count and range from 1200 to 1400 calories a day. When I am too loose, I write everything down. When I have good restriction then I just self police. From what I've read, to maintain our wieght we need 2000 calories a day. Most research advises that you not go below 1200 calories (but that's for non-surgery people I'm sure). But they all say that anything between 1200 and 1500 calories a day will show a steady weight loss. With our surgery, we are probably good with anything between 900 and 1500 a day. Mix it up. Your band is gonna tell you what you can handle. There will be days it won't allow you more than 900 and days when it will.

I'm with Juliansmom, I have tried several different journals and I like the Dietminder one the best. On-line I use Sparkpeople, but only to look up calories. I don't use my journal all the time. Only when my band loosens up or I hit a plateau or I feel like my eating is getting out of control. I use it for a while to "re-focus" and then I go back to just self policing. It helps to take a break from it now and again. Because remember, this is for life. There are going to be times you are strong and can do this without journaling and there are going to be times you need to keep track of every bite that goes in your mouth. I am 18 months out from surgery and 30 pounds to go. My band is a little too loose and the Holidays kinda did me in, but I am journaling right now and staying focused until my next doctor appointment the beginning of February. Stay strong, you'll figure out what works for you.

I haven't logged in for some time now, but still here. Like Deb, I keep fluctuating between 179 and 182. I've had several fills and unfills and his a plateau. I get full at mealtimes, but still hungry two to three hours later and that's with a prescription for an appetite supperession. but still better than I was a year ago. So I am a not complaining.

PRILOSEC, every day. Just make it part of your new routine. I have been filled and unfilled three times now. If I had started the prilosec the first time, probably could have gone without the unfills and not wasted several months of stress. If you still have problems with the Prilosec then it may be that you are too tight, but try it first. Stay away from acidy foods as well. Good luck.

Awesome, In no time at all the smaller size is going to fit you perfect.

I am a major planner like you and I have tried various meal plans, websites, etc. I got a great journal at Borders (or Barnes) called DietMinder. I plan out my day as well. My regular day is Cream of wheat with one packet of equal and a splash of 1/2 and 1/2 and coffee. (I'm pretty tight in the AM and so I eat soft) or yogurt and cereal (Kashi toasted o's or granola) lunch is 3-ozs of meat, 2-ozs of cheese and either a piece of fruit, some raw veggies or a sugar free chocolate pudding for dessert. 4:30 PM snack-Protein shake (you'll need to experiment to find what kind you like) Dinner: 3 oz's meat, usually 1/4 cup of some type of Beans and a dab of whatever else my hubby cooked, potatoes rice etc. I stay up late so in the evening if I get hungry, I'll have sugar free popsicles or Jello, or maybe some string cheese or a piece of fruit. You'll find with your band there will be days you can eat this way (and then some, so be careful) and there will be days you won't get through half this food. Each day is different and you adjust accordingly. Drink lots of Water, I haven't reached my sweet spot yet and still get hungry between meals and I find that a very sweet tea (with equal) helps between meals. Good luck and congrats on starting your journey.

Your calorie count is very low. I have been keeping my calories anywhere from 1000 to 1200 and on some days I am able to get up to 1400 calories and some days like you, I am lucky to get in 300. My nutritionist told me 1000 is a good mark and go up or down 200 either way to shake things up a bit. On your low days, you want to really up those Protein shakes to keep you protein count up to at least 60 grams a day. Good luck to you and congrats on what you've already accomplished.

If your able to eat small meals and keep liquids down then your probably not over filled but your stomache is recuperating from your incident with the mexican food, Go back to mushies and liquids for a little bit and give your stomache a little rest. I have been overfilled a couple of times now and experienced extreme vomiting and voiced my concerns about slippage with the doctor, He said that even though you do have to be very careful and follow directions, slippages are very rare. One incident probably won't do much damage. Just remember to eat very very slow and chew, chew, chew.

Hi girls, Well I had to go back for an un-fill (a third time) but this time we figured it out. The last time I went in for an un-fill I was down to 6.2 cc's and I was getting hungry. So the PA took me back up to 7 cc's and I was doing great this time around until last Friday, suddenly I was tight and couldn't keep anything down, throwing up etc. well I was throwing up yellow and clear slimy stuff. As is turns out it was acid reflux-severe. So I started Prilosec. I went in yesterday and he took a little out. I'm now at 6.6 cc's (not 7 anymore but not as low as 6.2 either) and he said Prilosec in AM and PM for a week and then every night there after. OMG is was so horrible. From Thursday to Monday I lost 13 pounds. I am able to eat and drink again and I'll put some of that back on but it's okay. I am getting restriction at meal times but hungry every 3 to 3.5 hours, but you know what? I'm just gonna have a small snack. I need to live my life and I have been to full too many times to worry about it so much.

I have recently been having this problem and I let it go and it got completely out of hand and I am currently miserable. It could be you are developing some acid reflux. You may want to start trying Pepcid AC in the mornings and maybe start a daily dose of Prilosec. I have started this but it takes a few days to kick in so I am still miserable. Good luck.

Here's another great website as well. I've used several of her recipes. The italian bean salad is the absolute best. theworldaccordingtoeggface

Hi girls, Just an update, I went in for a fill yesterday. Im back up to 7cc's in 10cc band. I am still on liquids, can do mushies tomorrow at lunch. I won't know if this time around will go well till I start solids (on Sunday) but I am determined to go easy and make it work this time. So wish me luck. Deb, you stated chicken was a problem. You cook it in the crockpot yet? My hubby does most of the cooking (whom I kidding, he does it all) and he puts boneless thighs or drumsticks in the crockpot, dumps a jar of salsa on top and cooks it on low all day. It comes out very soft and moist. Talk at you later,

Okay, I haven't set a final goal yet, but let me tell you a little story........I have always been heavy (220 in Jr. High). when I was first married (225 on Wedding day), my hubby and I would go to Yosemite every summer. I wanted to go horseback riding but they have a 200 pound weight limit. So everytime I went on a diet, the goal was to get down to horseback riding wieght. Of couse, 20 years of marriage and ballooning up to 265, that wasn't going to happen. I am now in Onederland and my hubby, son and I are going on a camping trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park this summer. My hubby came in and said "good news honey,I checked and Zion has horseback riding and you meet the weight limit now. Only one problem.......now I don't meet the weight limit" My son and I got a great kick out of that one. My son said he'd go riding with me and dad can stay at camp and keep the fire going for our return.

Hang in there. I have 5.8 cc's in a 10 cc band and still haven't reached my sweet spot. I go in tomorrow for another one and hope this is the one. Weight loss isn't as much as I'd like it to be, but it's not going up either, so I take each day as it comes. Baby steps.

I was banded back in September and have yet to feel the perfect restriction and have had to get unfills etc. The doc says we keep overshooting or undershooting my sweet spot. Long story short, I too often find myself looking for food. I find that in between fills, I have to count calories. Also, drinking plenty of Water between meals, keeps me full longer. It sounds like your may not be filled enough. You should only be getting hungry about every 4 hours (for some it's longer) as for the salmon, you probably ate too fast. Main thing that helped me is don't get on the scale every day. That will drive you insane. Pick one day a week and the time of day. For me it's Saturday, first thing in the morning. Measure your success by that loss or gain. You will go up and down many timest throughout the week but won't know it if your only weighing once a week. Good luck, I go in tomorrow for a fill and hope this is the one.

This was way too funny. I think most people (myself included) worry way too much about the day to day and forget to look at our overall success. So you had a bad day. It happens........start fresh tomorrow. As my doctor told me recently, if there was something seriously wrong with your band, you'd know it and wouldn't be on here asking for advice.

I've lost 70 pounds so far and on one of my "down" days, my husband said, hey you've lost the equivalent of a kindergartener. It made me laugh and feel better immediately.