Need Some Advice!!

[Al_Winter 1]

Okay, so my one year anniversary on my band was on August 8th, I was doing so good for about the first 6-7 months and now I am doing horrible! I have gained about 13lbs back but I don't think I need a fill because in the mornings I can barely get down my hot tea without it getting stuck. I can never eat until 8pm or later and then I just indulge because i don't know the next time I will be able to eat. My last fill was in June and I am still gaining. I don't get it?! Also, when I eat I usually try to lay down on my side because sitting up to eat is so uncomfortable and I can't get more than a bite unless I eat ice cream before my meal and sometimes the ice cream gets stuck. Can someone please help!! Thanks

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Sounds like you have what we call "soft calorie syndrome." It happens when your band is too tight and you end up favoring soft, often high-calorie foods (like ice cream) that provide little or no satiety rather than the solid, healthy food that provides satiety and gives your body the fuel it needs.

If you can hardly even drink tea in the morning, I really think you need a slight unfill. I'd make an appt. to talk to your surgeon about this soon so the two of you can come up with an action plan and nip the weight gain in the bud.

[Al_Winter 1]

Sounds like you have what we call "soft calorie syndrome." It happens when your band is too tight and you end up favoring soft' date=' often high-calorie foods (like ice cream) that provide little or no satiety rather than the solid, healthy food that provides satiety and gives your body the fuel it needs.

If you can hardly even drink tea in the morning, I really think you need a slight unfill. I'd make an appt. to talk to your surgeon about this soon so the two of you can come up with an action plan and nip the weight gain in the bud.[/quote']

I agree!! But it's so weird because after I am able to actually get the ice cream down its like I can eat anything I want and however much I want! But that's the only time I am able to eat is after I eat the ice cream.

[TKW 501]

I would say you are too tight.

You are eating slider foods that are way more fattening (ice cream) to be able to get food down.

1 cup of icecream has 300 calories in it. And really if I ate ice cream I know I'd eat 2 cups especially if I was telling myself... 'Well, I haven't eaten all day so I can have Ice Cream"

Personally, I don't think a "tight band" is the way to do this whole thing but that is my personal opinion. I can eat anything, I just eat small quantities of it. I know there are many successful banders that are "very tight". But unless you are very controlled... you are sabotaging yourself with "slider foods" like ice cream.

Do you keep track of your calories?

Best of Luck to you.

[2muchfun 8,927]

The ice cream may be aiding to relieve excessive swelling due to a very tight band. Cold reduces inflammation. You may be self medicating the obstruction with the cold foods. I agree, small unfill and then start to follow the rules again.

tmf

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I agree!! But it's so weird because after I am able to actually get the ice cream down its like I can eat anything I want and however much I want! But that's the only time I am able to eat is after I eat the ice cream.

I agree that your band sounds too tight.

Something else to point out: The band isn't supposed to stop you from eating anything. It isn't even supposed to make you feel full. If you are expecting the band to do either of these things, that's likely how you ended up too tight begin with.

The only thing the band is supposed to do is help you to feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Being satisfied simply means not physically hungry and it has nothing to do with a feeling of being 'full'.

Also be sure to stick to a cup or less of food per meal. Just because you can physically eat more doesn't more you should and the band isn't meant to physically stop you from eating anything.

Best wishes to you.

[Al_Winter 1]

I never thought of that! I thought I wasn't too tight because after eating the ice cream I was able to eat whatever I wanted, but the coldness reducing the inflammation sure does make sense now! Also, I have been having sharp pains around my port area could that be a cause from the tightness?

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I never thought of that! I thought I wasn't too tight because after eating the ice cream I was able to eat whatever I wanted, but the coldness reducing the inflammation sure does make sense now! Also, I have been having sharp pains around my port area could that be a cause from the tightness?

No, I wouldn't attribute pain in your port area to the tightness of your band. I don't see how the pressure of your band against your stomach could be transmitted to the abdominal muscles surrounding your port. Not impossible, but extremely unlikely.

Pain at the port site is usually related to healing of, or stresses on, that area. The Lap-Band port is sutured into the fascia that surround the abdominal muscles, and it's very hard to do any body movement without using those muscles. In the nearly 5 years I was banded, I occasionally had discomfort at my port site as a result of bending, moving, twisting, reaching, bumping up against the kitchen counter, etc. etc.

However....if your port area is reddened, swollen, or hot to touch, those are signs of infection that need immediate medical attention.

Try to baby your port area for now. You can try putting ice packs on it to calm down the pains there.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I agree!! But it's so weird because after I am able to actually get the ice cream down its like I can eat anything I want and however much I want! But that's the only time I am able to eat is after I eat the ice cream.

I strongly recommend that you drink some iced Water before you start to eat. It's a MUCH lower calorie approach to produce the same effect.

[SusieSunshine 68]

Would the ice cream still be cold after travelling down the esophagus?

[Justme9786 50]

I agree with other posters. Too tight. Even the slightest unfill can make a world of a difference. Even like .1-.2ccs only.

If you can't drink hot tea in the morning you're too tight. I can drink a bottle of Water I'm the morning, then my coffee, then my Breakfast. And I have pretty decent restriction.

Once you're a little more lose, you can eat healthy foods other that soft unhealthy foods.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Would the ice cream still be cold after travelling down the esophagus?

I gues it depends on how long it lingers in your mouth? But it must be colder than coffee, or cooked food.

tmf