Is my band too tight?

[Deleted Account 2 28]

Hi. I'm Terri from TX!!!

I got my band 2/13 of this year (made for a sucky Valentine's day lol). I went through True Results here in Dallas, and so far it's felt very much like a "herd them through, get them banded" kind of thing. I didn't really receive any support from them, just a packet telling me the dos and don't.

I should explain that I'm not exactly new to the weight loss surgery game. I had gastric bypass in 2005 and lost about 100 pounds. But after gaining 45 pounds within the past two years, I saw an ad for this place and am now the proud monthly payment plan payer of a band. I'm really hoping that this helps me lose, but at this point I don't know.

My surgery weight was 208. When I went in for my first fill, they couldn't do it. My incisions took forever to heal, so we waited an additional two weeks. So that was about three weeks ago. They said my band was filled with 4 ccs at surgery time, but honestly I felt no restriction after surgery whatsoever. At all. I lost no weight during this period whatsoever.

They gave me an additional 1.5 cc fill three weeks ago. I took a sip of Water, everything seemed fine, and I went on my merry way. Since then, all I really want to eat is chips, Soup and things that crumble or that are soft. chicken and even fish are really hard to get down, and I just end up pukefesting it. But part of me thinks that's just me not chewing enough, which is a huge complaint.

People talk about the sweet spot as far as banding goes. What's that like? I'm hungry all the time. I eat Soup now most meals and even though I know crackers and chips aren't good - I feel so freaking hungry now, just like before the fill, but with more discomfort. I eat a lot of fresh seafood since that goes down fine, but anything like grilled chicken (I haven't had beef at all) just comes back up or feels stuck. Really - everything except soup feels sort of stuck and it just basically always feels like a have a ball stuck in my throat. I make weird gurgling sounds just sitting at my desk. I am pretty sure it's too tight, right?

We went to Louisiana this weekend. While I can't eat much at one time now, we got comped one of those casino buffets. I had steamed broccoli...up it came. I chewed the heck out of that thing and up it came. I had some fresh steamed crab. That went down ok. I had some soup. That was ok. I tried to have some lettuce and tomatos with some vinigrette....up it came. I think I'm the only person on the planet that left the buffet more hungry then when they came in. My packet says if I throw up not to eat again for 24 hours. How the heck do you do that? After I throw up I feel like I never even ate!

Sorry to whine. I'm just new to this thing, and the fear of failing yet again just sucks. I go in today for another visit, and I know they are going to probably take some out, so I'm just concerned I'm going to be hungry forever.

Any thoughts? Besides the thought that I'm a complete motard that's doing this all wrong?

ps....I've been working out (we have a gym at work and I do a class for 40 min each day, plus a bunch of stairs everywhere) and in the past two weeks I've lost about ten pounds. I was at 208 last visit and I weighed last week and was at 196. I'm going to say 10 to be safe.

[Rojasanoll 920]

You have to check and discuss this with your doctor. Get his advice, first. Congratulations on your weight loss.

[Khrisw 9]

Yikes... I have no advice as I am pre op at this point. I am in Dallas and going through true results as well. The Richardson location. I am worried

[Deleted Account 2 28]

You could have a totally different experience from me Khris.I'm doing the Richardson location too. They are pretty friendly at least. I am a cash patient, so maybe insurance patients that have to go through the waiting period are different. I just got very little instruction other than "don't eat a lot at one time and chew" and got handed a packet. But thankfully there are wonderful support groups and I'm around if you want to talk too before or after surgery!

No worries. I'm learning everyone has totally different experiences with darn near everything:)

[Khrisw 9]

I am a cash pay as well. The process has been rough, but not true results fault. I had to go through a cardiologist to get clearance... It was a nightmare. Now I am waiting for scheduling... Just nervous

[MCE 31]

Hi Terri! I am at TR in Houston. If I were you, I would call and tell them you are not being able to keep food down and get an appointment ASAP. Have they done a barium swallow x-ray when you had your fills? Print out this trail or write down every one of your questions. If the NP or PA that you see doesn't answer your questions, you need to speak up. I was afraid to "tell the truth" about having thrown up a couple of times for fear that they wouldn't give me a fill. But, I did and I know why -- I ate white bread. Anyway, I got a fill and I feel like I am getting closer to green (even though I only have 2.6cc in my 10cc band). Here are a couple of things I have learned in the last week -- solid food -- not Soup -- makes me stay full MUCH longer. I am only 8 weeks post op, but I have almost lost 30 pounds (20 since surgery day). Talk to the NP/PA. Some foods you just won't be able to tolerate. Until last week, I couldn't tolerate raw carrots, but that seems better (I may be better at chewing...). Hope this helps! Most important is call and get them to get you in. The NP told me any time I was having symptoms such as you describe during the week to call and get them to fit you in.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Most of us take months of being banded to be able to understand the difference between hunger and cravings/head hunger. Some patients never realize it. Sometimes the food demons in our minds override our sensibilities and we think we're hungry when we're not. It's difficult to give up our security blankets and I know, it took me 10 months to finally be able to tell the diff.

It also can take months or even years to re-train ourselves to eat much smaller bites and chew. And I really mean much smaller and I really mean chew, chew, chew. If done properly, the small amount of food taken in the mouth will become mush just like Soup or crackers. IF, eaten like a true bandster.

You're still in the bandster 101 phase of your journey. Eat small, chew big. Hang in there.

tmf

[dee257 1,516]

Im wondering if you are taking to big of a bite....that always makes me feel stuck...I have learned....but it took a lot of dumb bites...LOL

[Deleted Account 2 28]

Oh I'm sure I'm taking way too much of a bite at one time too. I get so hungry I dive in like the old me would and it takes a minute, food gets stuck and then I go "Uh oh". I find it really hard to chew for one minute. I have my little timer that I put on my desk and I try to watch it but for some reason at about twenty or maybe thirty seconds it's like it's hard wired into me to swallow. Anyone else do that? I'm trying to be more mindful. I'm finding eating now is really exhausting if you do it properly. In the old days, you just ate. Now you have to watch not just what you eat - it's more about HOW you eat it. Lots of chewing. Lots of waiting. Lots of thinking about what you are doing.

I only say my band is tight because even when I do chew properly (which is nearly as often as I need to, mostly because I just eat Soup most of the time) everything still gets stuck. I tried to eat a small bite of grilled chicken and that got stuck. Nothing of any real Protein goes down and most everything that's not super soft hurts to eat. I feel like there is a pain at the bottom of my throat when I try to do that and I can feel the food just getting stuck. Worst feeling ever. Sometimes it'll go down eventually but it's just so uncomfortable, and I thought that when you got a good fill, you weren't supposed to feel that way - you are supposed to feel satisfied, not uncomfortable. I think.

Thanks for all the great advice so far peoples. I really need it:)

[ItsBritneyB 39]

I hope you find a solution soon. I don't know how having gastric bypass before would change things. I too ate a lot of Soups because they were easy and pain free. I think Soup is one of the main reasons I didn't lose weight at first. I could eat a gallon of soup. The band does not help with restriction of liquids. Good luck.

Follow my lap band blog www.biscuitsandexcuses.blogspot.com

[Erica313 15]

It sounds like you are too tight. I didn't think I was too tight, but got stuck and blocked and had to have half of my Fluid removed. While I was there, they asked me which foods I was having trouble with and was afraid of. They said that we should be able to eat things like meat, etc. without much issue. Get a little fluid out and you'll feel so much better! Good luck!

[Deleted Account 2 28]

Thanks all. I went in and they took out .5cc (which by the way - those fills HURTTTTT I end up having to go under an xray machine after five minutes of being poked at with a huge needle and it doesn't feel good. My stomach still hurts this morning from all the trauma of yesterday trying to find my port!) and I felt an immediate different. I'm at 5cc now instead of 5.5, and it's way looser. I was also told no more Soup lol - I should be eating chicken and even steak without problem if they are small pieces and I chew. I had chicken last night (I'm also dehydrated from all the throwing up stuff) and it went down fine. I'm just concerned because all I know really is that restriction I've had for a while now and I don't feel any restriction now. I was so hungry last night too. It was weird. The moment they took out that little bit of Fluid (hard to believe .5 makes that much difference) I immediately FELT it. I felt hungry though. Like I hadn't eaten in years. I had some grilled chicken and a side salad and felt like a complete pig for eating so much. I ate a cup of diced up chicken on the salad! That's a lot!

So I'm practicing today chewing better and making good choices (or at least better ones). I'm also trying really hard not to drink as I eat, which is a huge thing for me. I've always had a drink with my meal and just wash food down that way. So I'm trying to wait at least five minutes or so after I take a bite to drink anything.

As the guy reminded me yesterday that unfilled me, if I don't feel restriction, I shouldn't worry. I come back in three weeks and we can always put a little more in until I start feeling it. I don't think I'm at my sweet spot yet. But I feel like I'm pretty close. This morning I'm having McDonald's fruit oatmeal (I ate half a cup and was pretty full) and I'm having a side salad from there with balsamic and a package of tuna on top for lunch. Tonight we are going out for our anniversary to Pappa Bros steakhouse, so I might try some steak, but I'm a little gunshy on that.

I really appreciate everyone on here. It's nice to be able to have people to talk to about this stuff!

[2muchfun 8,927]

You might want to rethink the steakhouse trip? Most all doctors will require you be on liquids for 24 hours and purees for the next 24 hours. Eating a steak so soon after an adjustment could be difficult? Even unfills can cause some swelling in the band area.

tmf

[Deleted Account 2 28]

See I said the same thing but the True Results people said because I had an unfill and because I couldn't keep things down before and have been on Soup FOREVER that they wanted me to do only one meal after liquid and then start eating things like beef and chicken. They said if they would have put Fluid in, it would be different.

I doubt very seriously I eat steak. I've had no beef in forever and I'm actually pretty much a pescaterian. Is that even how you spell that? Whatever. I pretty much only eat fish. I had gastric in 2005 and since then I don't do really any meat.

But you are right - no steak. I'm not going to chance it regardless of what they said. I'm going to go about it more slowly. Thanks for the concern:)

[hockeywife91 106]

See I said the same thing but the True Results people said because I had an unfill and because I couldn't keep things down before and have been on Soup FOREVER that they wanted me to do only one meal after liquid and then start eating things like beef and chicken. They said if they would have put Fluid in, it would be different.

I doubt very seriously I eat steak. I've had no beef in forever and I'm actually pretty much a pescaterian. Is that even how you spell that? Whatever. I pretty much only eat fish. I had gastric in 2005 and since then I don't do really any meat.

But you are right - no steak. I'm not going to chance it regardless of what they said. I'm going to go about it more slowly. Thanks for the concern:)

How are you feeling today? My band is also too tight and I'm going in tomorrow for my first unfill. Were you able to eat solid foods without a problem yesterday? I haven't been able to hold anything down for a week, other than liquids. I'm looking forward to eating something of substance!