Please help (long) :(

[Bruce Peter 39]

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since i last posted here si please forgive me, but I need some guidance advice.

I had a 4cc band implanted in 2006. I wasn't vastly overweight , only 270 lbs, but I couldn't control my eating and diets were not working for me so I self funded the surgery. Since then it's been a constant struggle for me. Initially I lost about 30 lbs at a gradual fill of around 1.2, but I eventually plateaued . It was very difficult for me. I couldn't eat hardly anything without throwing up. food would get stuck which caused a great deal of discomfort and I always felt hungry. I was eating mainly Soups. Then I took a trip into higher altitude and all hell broke loose. I couldn't eat anything at all, not even fluids.

My doctor told me that was normal and to see him prior to the next trip up... He also told me that most people fill to around 2.5-3.5. I can't tolerate more than 1.2 as I said. The last fill i had brought me to 1.5 (sea level). I did that on a Thursday, by Monday I was dehydrated because I couldn't get anything down, not even fluids. I went to him and had him remove all the saline. That was last spring. I've never gone back.

Even now, with a .2cc fill I still get "stuck" unless I drink Water with my food, and of course, the weight is going back on.

Has anyone else experience this? Can anyone offer any advice?

Thank you in advance.

Buddy

[JennaJ221 2]

Hiii. I'm almost filled to the max in a 5 cc band..I'm at 4.45..but haven't really been losing..not gaining either. I'm actually goin to the doc friday to see if I can get a lil more for a top off since I haven't had any adjustments since 2009. Maybe some leaked out or doc said when weight is loss u may need to get adjustments. So anyway..everyones different. Maybe chew more thoroughly so avoid stuck situations. Or I would ask for a flouro..where they can see what ur band looks like, maybe its slipped a lil hence not bein able to keep anything down..I heard that's a symptom. I would def go back tho and demand them to figure this out. Bc its not adding up that u can't keep anything down but ur also not losing. Good luck!

[Bruce Peter 39]

I'm ok now as far as throwing up at least. I'm at .2CC,s now but if I dare go up I'll have those problems along with major reflux

[ElfiePoo 109]

Bruce,

How much are you eating at a meal and how long after a meal can you go without being hungry?

.

[Bruce Peter 39]

Bruce,

How much are you eating at a meal and how long after a meal can you go without being hungry?

.

Now or when I was filled at 1.2?

[CheckYes 46]

Could it be a band placement issue? Has anyone checked to see if your band had slipped? I really feel for you not being able to keep anything down. I really hope it improves for you.

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since i last posted here si please forgive me, but I need some guidance advice.

I had a 4cc band implanted in 2006. I wasn't vastly overweight , only 270 lbs, but I couldn't control my eating and diets were not working for me so I self funded the surgery. Since then it's been a constant struggle for me. Initially I lost about 30 lbs at a gradual fill of around 1.2, but I eventually plateaued . It was very difficult for me. I couldn't eat hardly anything without throwing up. food would get stuck which caused a great deal of discomfort and I always felt hungry. I was eating mainly Soups. Then I took a trip into higher altitude and all hell broke loose. I couldn't eat anything at all, not even fluids.

My doctor told me that was normal and to see him prior to the next trip up... He also told me that most people fill to around 2.5-3.5. I can't tolerate more than 1.2 as I said. The last fill i had brought me to 1.5 (sea level). I did that on a Thursday, by Monday I was dehydrated because I couldn't get anything down, not even fluids. I went to him and had him remove all the saline. That was last spring. I've never gone back.

Even now, with a .2cc fill I still get "stuck" unless I drink Water with my food, and of course, the weight is going back on.

Has anyone else experience this? Can anyone offer any advice?

Thank you in advance.

Buddy

[kattx457 0]

I was just banded 12/03/10 and sometimes wonder as I have never experienced the reflux and am hungry. I initially lost 18lbs and then gained 6 back. It is stressful to me because I am told to eat just 1/2 a cup per meal and then told I can have 1000 cals a day. I feel lost because I cannot seem to get any straight answers from the doctor and staff and at times feel famished. My current fill is 3.0 cc's is this normal for some people? Need answers if anyone can help!!!

[ElfiePoo 109]

Now or when I was filled at 1.2?

Either or both.

.

[ElfiePoo 109]

I was just banded 12/03/10 and sometimes wonder as I have never experienced the reflux and am hungry. I initially lost 18lbs and then gained 6 back. It is stressful to me because I am told to eat just 1/2 a cup per meal and then told I can have 1000 cals a day. I feel lost because I cannot seem to get any straight answers from the doctor and staff and at times feel famished. My current fill is 3.0 cc's is this normal for some people? Need answers if anyone can help!!!

Kat,

My .02...I've never understood this only eating 1/2 cup at a meal. That's about what a toddler eats. My doctor told me about 1200 calories per day - 3 oz of Protein, 1/2 c. vegies and 1/4 c. starch at a meal, although I tend to eat starch only with my evening meal. Breakfast right now is a Protein Drink because I'm so tight in the morning, but I was eating 2 eggs and 2 sl of bacon. If you're a Cereal person, a serving of some type of Cereal with 2% milk.

.

[Cleo's Mom 257]

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since i last posted here si please forgive me, but I need some guidance advice.

I had a 4cc band implanted in 2006. I wasn't vastly overweight , only 270 lbs, but I couldn't control my eating and diets were not working for me so I self funded the surgery. Since then it's been a constant struggle for me. Initially I lost about 30 lbs at a gradual fill of around 1.2, but I eventually plateaued . It was very difficult for me. I couldn't eat hardly anything without throwing up. food would get stuck which caused a great deal of discomfort and I always felt hungry. I was eating mainly Soups. Then I took a trip into higher altitude and all hell broke loose. I couldn't eat anything at all, not even fluids.

My doctor told me that was normal and to see him prior to the next trip up... He also told me that most people fill to around 2.5-3.5. I can't tolerate more than 1.2 as I said. The last fill i had brought me to 1.5 (sea level). I did that on a Thursday, by Monday I was dehydrated because I couldn't get anything down, not even fluids. I went to him and had him remove all the saline. That was last spring. I've never gone back.

Even now, with a .2cc fill I still get "stuck" unless I drink Water with my food, and of course, the weight is going back on.

Has anyone else experience this? Can anyone offer any advice?

Thank you in advance.

Buddy

I, like you, have an older 4cc band. Some on here have had a lot of success with this size band, but it requires someone skilled in doing very small fills in increments - like .1. Many doctors aren't skilled in this and overfill (like my idiot former doctor did) causing a host of problems.

Also, like you, I am totally unfilled due to a major stuck episode requiring a trip to the ER and overnight stay. And that's where I am. I am relying totally on willpower. But I was hungry when I was filled to 3cc's and unfilled both. It hasn't changed. I never experienced that lack of hunger or satiety that successful bandsters get.

You need to be totally evaluated. Start with an upper GI and if that shows that things are normal then request and endoscopy. These two tests should show is there is a problem with the band. Then go from there.

But as I have posted over and over again on these boards, the band does not work for everyone as it is promoted.

Good luck.

[Bruce Peter 39]

Either or both.

.

Now I can eat what and how much I want as long as I drink Water. Last night I did get stuck and threw up eating wings. When I was filled I could eat a fair amount once the band cooperated, which wasn't often. Like the poster above, I still felt hungry though.

[ElfiePoo 109]

Now I can eat what and how much I want as long as I drink Water. Last night I did get stuck and threw up eating wings. When I was filled I could eat a fair amount once the band cooperated, which wasn't often. Like the poster above, I still felt hungry though.

I'm at my sweet spot and I can *choose* to eat as much as I want of anything I want and I don't have to drink Water to do it. That's not really a good test of whether the band is working. The band works by putting pressure on the vagus nerves which tell the stomach to quit producing ghrelin, the hunger hormone. We still have normal hunger, but when we eat, the additional pressure of our food on that band area (and the vagus nerves) shuts off the ghrelin. It could be that by drinking while eating, your food is sliding through your pouch faster than it can apply that extra pressure. Just one possibility.

Also, I've noticed that there are an awful lot of people both here and on other forums who say the band doesn't help with their hunger and they have one thing in common...a 4cc band. My understanding is that you can go from not enough to too much very quickly. I'm not sure how 'much' they put in at each fill, but could you possibly have not been over filled at 1.2 but were rather dealing with swelling from the fill and then continued swelling from getting stuck?

I think there are people on here who complain the band doesn't rid them of their hunger. For some, that may be true. For some, they just don't know what hunger is. Nobody but that person really knows which they are, so I'm making no judgments, but before you give up on the band, I'd try doing the following...and you may have already, but then again I don't know so I'm just putting it out there.

First, stop drinking with your meals and don't drink for 30 minutes after. Allow your band and food to have time to put pressure on those vagus nerves. Then eat a reasonable meal - 3 oz Protein, 1/2 cup vegies, 1/4 cup starch - and pay attention to how you feel. You should be able to go 4 hours after a meal. If you get hungry, go get a fill and with such a small band, I'd only let them go up in small increments .1-.2cc at a time. My understanding, from listening to others with a 4cc band is that when they go up faster than that, they have problems. Then give it time for the band to kick in. I don't have any reaction from fills for 2 weeks and then wham...tighter band. Just a few thoughts since you asked for it.

Several months ago I was on the verge of getting a revision to a vertical sleeve because I thought my band wasn't working even though I had reached the point of being overfilled and unable to eat without getting stuck and/or sliming. After a complete unfill in preparation for this surgery, I discovered a number of things that made me rethink my hand and how it operated and what I had to do to make it work...and that's the only real advice I can give anyone...don't quit trying to make it work even if it means to go back to square one with absolutely no fill and then start the climb back up. At some point, you'll make the decision as to whether the band is working for you...but I wouldn't give up without a fight.

.

[lodwick01 1]

Sorry to hear about the problems. I had the same sypmtoms and later found my band was prolapsed. I ended up having my band removed.

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since i last posted here si please forgive me, but I need some guidance advice.

I had a 4cc band implanted in 2006. I wasn't vastly overweight , only 270 lbs, but I couldn't control my eating and diets were not working for me so I self funded the surgery. Since then it's been a constant struggle for me. Initially I lost about 30 lbs at a gradual fill of around 1.2, but I eventually plateaued . It was very difficult for me. I couldn't eat hardly anything without throwing up. food would get stuck which caused a great deal of discomfort and I always felt hungry. I was eating mainly Soups. Then I took a trip into higher altitude and all hell broke loose. I couldn't eat anything at all, not even fluids.

My doctor told me that was normal and to see him prior to the next trip up... He also told me that most people fill to around 2.5-3.5. I can't tolerate more than 1.2 as I said. The last fill i had brought me to 1.5 (sea level). I did that on a Thursday, by Monday I was dehydrated because I couldn't get anything down, not even fluids. I went to him and had him remove all the saline. That was last spring. I've never gone back.

Even now, with a .2cc fill I still get "stuck" unless I drink Water with my food, and of course, the weight is going back on.

Has anyone else experience this? Can anyone offer any advice?

Thank you in advance.

Buddy