How Much Damage Does Being In The Red Zone Cause?

[Puppypaws57 137]

I think I might be slightly overfilled. I have a 10cc band and the Dr. put in 2cc's during the surgery.

The nutrionist thought I might be overfilled. When I look at the red zone handout, it is true that the band stops me and I feel uncomfortable and swallowing is very unpredictable and difficult.

I won't see another Dr. for a while. Mine left and the interim dr., has his own practice and isn't making it too easy to see him.

This is my second band. The Doc didn't connect a tube first time around. Now he put in another, smaller band, and I live in fear that something will happen. This time around the band is so awesome.

So my question is: If I am in the red zone and I have to wait so long to the new Dr., am I damaging my band. If it is true that the band loosens after a while, should I just leave well enough alone? I'm not losing too much weight, which is also an indicator of a too tight band.

[Jachut 487]

It increases the risk of erosion but Ive never seen that actually quantified in anything Ive read. This is only my opinion, not medical advice but I would think constantly vomiting and having the pouch full would be more of a risk with regard to slippage. If you are not able to see a doc for a while I would be very careful to not fill the pouch too much - eat little and often, do everything ypu can not to get stuck and vomit and be very aware of of overeating slider foods, our bodies tend to drive us to get the energy in anyway we can and you end up living on chocolate and icecream. If you can avoid that and lose wight your band may even loosen up enough.

[B-52 7,113]

2 cc's put in at surgery. Anything added since then? How long ago was your surgery and how long ago was your last fill?

[Puppypaws57 137]

For Banded Down Under - I'm not vomiting at all. Just have the two symptoms I stated. So does that make a difference in your answer?

B-52. Like your name. My dad was a B-52 pilot. I had my surgery on December 13. I haven't had a fill, and sure don't need one now. I've only seen a Dr. once since my surgery and he said I was healing fine. That's it!

[Jim1967 3,569]

Adding a fill at the time of surgery? Isn't that a little unusual? I always thought you have the band put on and once you get through a healing process for a few weeks or a month then they do a fill this way any swelling would have subsided.

[Puppypaws57 137]

Hi. I don't know if it is unusual or not. BUT, it must be because I didn't experience that horrible hunger other bandsters call "bandster's hell" because they haven't received their first fill and are sooooo hungry.

[jayeedee 7]

Did you previous band have any Fluid in it? I also had a small fill in mine post surgery. I am not having any stuck episodes (I'm on mushy and soft food that can be mushed with a fork right now). But as I transition from the full liquids to the thicker food, I'm finding I am having to learn my stop point as well as the right pace to eat. If I eat too quickly it is hard to swallow and I feel something similar to short of breath but not quite. I think the red zone is only when you can't keep stuff down and when you are having trouble with liquids.

Maybe try to eat slower and chew a bit more and see if that helps?

Adding a fill at the time of surgery? Isn't that a little unusual? I always thought you have the band put on and once you get through a healing process for a few weeks or a month then they do a fill this way any swelling would have subsided.

My doc adds fills at the time of surgery to "prime the band" (his term not mine). It also seems to help with bandster hell, and I am eternally grateful for that.

[Puppypaws57 137]

Jayeedee - My band stops me from eating, I eat very, very little and then my band says "no more!".

I don't have a chance to learn where my stop point is because the band stops me. Gee - I'm encouraged that maybe I'm not in the red zone. Thanks!

Keep those comments coming, everyone!

[54Shirley 105]

I was told that if your to tight for a long period of time "I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG.... " that it can cause the band to erode.

[Humming Bird 275]

Jayeedee - My band stops me from eating, I eat very, very little and then my band says "no more!".

I don't have a chance to learn where my stop point is because the band stops me. Gee - I'm encouraged that maybe I'm not in the red zone. Thanks!

Keep those comments coming, everyone!

You sound like green zone to me.

[Puppypaws57 137]

YEAH! If this is green zone, I'm stoked. I just worry so much about my band this time around.

[Jim1967 3,569]

My doc adds fills at the time of surgery to "prime the band" (his term not mine). It also seems to help with bandster hell, and I am eternally grateful for that.

Thanks for mentioning this because I am still Pre-Op and this is an excellent question that I didn't think to ask my Surgeon. For some reason I didn't think they did fills at the time of surgery but if I can avoid 'bandster hell' that would be great.

[Humming Bird 275]

My surgeon put in 2.7cc during my surgery and I reached the green zone at fill number 2. I too did not go through much bandster hell.

[sandybraman 18]

My doctor put in 2cc during my surgery and I go in for my first fill tomorrow. I think I need maybe only 1 cc to put me in the "green zone"; I'm eating about 8 oz per meal, but I'm getting hungry after 2-3 hours. I haven't had anything get stuck, although I did find out that I can't eat bread (it felt like a brick was in my stomach), and I know what happens if I eat too much (very uncomfortable).

I'd do this again in a heartbeat. For the first time in my life, I'm in control of my weight - it's not in control of me.

[54Shirley 105]

DITTO !