Suggestions??? Anyone???

[abbylamb 1]

So here's the story in a nutshell....

Had surgery, lost 50 pounds. Got pregnant, needed complete unfill. Gained 70 pounds. Got a couple fills afterwards. Well, I think I'm a little too tight now. I have trouble with meals, getting stuck most days. But I really don't want to get anything taken out if I can avoid it. So-if I were to go on a liquid diet (like my pre-surgery diet) for a couple weeks, and lost some weight, would that loosen up my band so that I don't have to have any saline removed? How much do you think I'd have to lose for that to work?

[Humming Bird 275]

I guess it depends on what types of foods you are getting stuck on and if you are able to stay healthy with the types of food you can tolerate without getting stuck. During my big weightloss phase I kept my band pretty tight. I used chili as my guide. If I could eat chili, I did not consider my band too tight. Also watch for night coughing and night reflux. If you have those, you should not stay that tight. I understand your thinking about the band loosening up with some weightloss. I know mine did, but who knows how much fat you have between your band and stomach.

[vlp1968 83]

Are you afraid you'll be hungry if you have some Fluid taken out? The doc. can just take a small amount out and it could make all the difference in the world. That happened to me several times. I was in a really good place after a small unfill. I think you want to be able to eat healthy meals, protien, veggie et... You may want to stick to liquids until you can get in to see the doc. Getting stuck is not good. Also as already suggested, if you are having acid reflux you deffinately should get a bit taken out. Let us know what you decide to do and good luck.

[insanejane 9]

how will a person ever get to the green zone if they always have to have some taken out I am experiencing a uncomfortable stick when i eat also on soft foods but i am going to deal with it because every time i have a little taken out i want to eat a cow and my will power sucks thats why i got the band to help me with starving all the time if I have to feel a little discomfort to keep from feeling like i have to eat all the time then i will pay that price we will see how it goes i am going to eat slower than a turtle and see if that helps

[abbylamb 1]

Essentially, yes, I'm terrified that if I get Fluid taken out then I'll be ravenously hungry again and be able to eat anything in sight. Right now, if I eat verrrrrrrrrry slowly, I can eat soft meats, but it takes me over an hour to eat anything if I'm not drinking with the meal. (which I know I shouldn't be doing!). But no matter what I eat, if it's solid, I get stuck on it at least at first. I usually take a handful of papaya enzyme and it gets unstuck, but it's pretty much every meal. I do want to be able to eat good foods. And I know I'm not making good choices when ice cream goes down so well, but chicken doesn't. I'm not having any reflux really, so I guess that's good. But I guess that ultimately I'm just scared that taking anything out of my band will turn me into an even bigger failure than I already feel. Does that make sense?

[insanejane 9]

I also found if I eat and do other things I eat slower and it gives my last bite a chance to move down before another one comes in and that has helped me so far

[transforming jlaroux 78]

your stomach may also be inflamed and irritated from all the stuck episodes. It might be good to do liquids for a few days and then try solids again.

[insanejane 9]

Just left hospital got stuck and it wouldn't go anywhere so had to be unfilled again I am spoon bummed out cuz it's back to all will power for couple weeks

[Patriceaa 16]

Just be careful, because it wont necessarily loosen on its own. I just went through this... I had my last fill almost 8 months ago, and I always knew it was on the tighter side, but I didnt mind. Over those months, it never loosened up ~ it actually felt tighter in the last month (my dr said it could have been from my traveling on airplanes or from a cold I had... go figure!)... I was so tight that I was getting the acid reflux at night and honestly couldnt eat more than a bite of food at a time and in the past 3 weeks even drinking became difficult. It got to the point where I was having headaches every day and became dehydrated ~ but I had a major fear of having an unfill and going the opposite direction. Well I finally gave in, went to the Dr on Tues and had a small unfill ~ I still have restriction...but I can eat more than a bite and drink again. This whole thing is so individual and seems to be a science, but don't suffer or take any unneeded risks, you will still lose if you are doing what you need too ~ and u will still get your nutrition rather than getting them from pure liquids. Good luck!!