Beyond Frustrated and irritated

[hope2 35]

I have posted about this before and it was suggested I go for an unfill which I did. I have done this cycle 4 times now and we are talking about .5 cc. I get a fill and then it becomes so tight that I cannot eat any solids without getting stuck and sliming. I go in they take out .5. I get to where I can et anything and am hungry all the time so when I see the Doctor he suggests a small fill and here we go again. I literally slime on my coffee in the morning, then I can get some coffee down so I think I can try to eat something I try yogurt and boom..stuck!! I am so frustrated. I then struggle with that for most the day and end up eating a spoonful of something (which I am using a baby spoon) at a time. I then suck on ice cubes the rest of the day so I don't get dehydrated. This last time the very patient and nice lady that gives me the fills and unfill said "don't let me see you come back in next week for an unfill. I know she was just kidding around but it makes me fill like I should not go back in. It has been 3 weeks. I keep thinking because I can keep liquids down for the most part and food gets stuck that it must mean I am doing something wrong. I chew until the food just is almost liquid when I swallow. Any advice???? Please. I know it sounds like I am whining and you know what, I am. I am so tired of this. I love what my band has done for me but when will I get over this type of struggle?

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

It seems to me repeating the same .5cc fill and unfill is a bit useless. You know it's too tight in but not enough when it's out, so why bother repeatedly adding and removing the same .5cc?

Why not try a smaller fill or removal? Like .3cc? Heck I've had fills as small as .1cc.

[hope2 35]

You are so right but she says she is taking out the smallest possible. I am afraid now if I go in she will take out more. Last time I gained one pound but still it was very frightening to me to gain. I am o confused.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

You are so right but she says she is taking out the smallest possible. I am afraid now if I go in she will take out more. Last time I gained one pound but still it was very frightening to me to gain. I am o confused.

.5cc is not the smallest possible. .1cc is the smallest possible.

You simply cannot just leave your band too tight or you're risking a slip. You have to take control of the situation, tell her (don't ask, tell her) that .5cc is not the smallest amount and you want a smaller amount removed. Don't let this even be a negotiation with her. If she refuses? Demand to see the surgeon himself.

This is your health at stake- take control of it and don't accept anything less than the good care you deserve.

Best wishes.

[hope2 35]

Missy thank you for the response. I know you are right I am just so scared she will get frustrated with me and take out more. I will call tomorrow. Thank you.

[hope2 35]

So sorry for the lines. Not sure why it did that! LOL

[Sharpie 3,306]

Missy is absolutley right.. it's your health.. I had a fill of .2 the first time.. so .5 is not the smallest amount... You or your insurance paid for the surgery and after care.. and you should be the boss... I think you are too tight . You must be able to eat and drink without sliming.. a slip is not what you want.. I hope you resolve your issue and move on to a healthier , happier you...

[HotButterFly 981]

That very patient and nice lady that gives you the fills isn't too smart, though. I don't blame YOU, as you're not a bariatrics specialist and you're learning as you go. But SHE should know better than to have you back & forth making your already difficult journey harder than it should be. You CAN'T keep allowing this to happen. Just imagine if something goes wrong- GOD FORBID!! Sooooo, when you go back in try to speak to the surgeon or request that the surgeon do the fill.

[NaNa 878]

I have posted about this before and it was suggested I go for an unfill which I did. I have done this cycle 4 times now and we are talking about .5 cc. I get a fill and then it becomes so tight that I cannot eat any solids without getting stuck and sliming. I go in they take out .5. I get to where I can et anything and am hungry all the time so when I see the Doctor he suggests a small fill and here we go again. I literally slime on my coffee in the morning, then I can get some coffee down so I think I can try to eat something I try yogurt and boom..stuck!! I am so frustrated. I then struggle with that for most the day and end up eating a spoonful of something (which I am using a baby spoon) at a time. I then suck on ice cubes the rest of the day so I don't get dehydrated. This last time the very patient and nice lady that gives me the fills and unfill said "don't let me see you come back in next week for an unfill. I know she was just kidding around but it makes me fill like I should not go back in. It has been 3 weeks. I keep thinking because I can keep liquids down for the most part and food gets stuck that it must mean I am doing something wrong. I chew until the food just is almost liquid when I swallow. Any advice???? Please. I know it sounds like I am whining and you know what, I am. I am so tired of this. I love what my band has done for me but when will I get over this type of struggle?

Missy is correct, you are creating a vicious cycle and possibly damaging your band.

First you should WAIT, 4 weeks between fills, sometimes it takes 2-3 weeks before an adjustment settles in and you really feel it.

I recently got a fill about 3 weeks ago and it just KICKED IN yesterday and now I am really feeling it, if I had gone in before waiting 4 weeks between fills, I would ended up too tight and created a cycle of unfilling and reflling.

Also once you have some restriction, and wanting to find the sweet spot, you have to carefully ease up on restriction by only adding from 0.1 to 0.2cc, .5cc is TOO BIG A FILL when you are near the green zone.

[forwardmomentum 3]

My wife has had the same problems as the one you are having. She suggests maybe an upper G.I. to make sure your band has not 'prolapsed'. I have the band as well, and we both feel your struggle. This is a long and hard struggle if not a flatout fight for your life. There are certain things I HAD to cut from my daily rituals too, coffee-sugar-spicy food-beer, actually anything carbonated. Just a suggestion: cut out those things and let your stomach heal itself and slowly introduce more solid foods to re-introduce your body to the change its been through. It sounds like you are inflamed and should be taking prevacid or Prilosec to counter the acid being created, and go easy on the high acid foods, such as tomatoes or peppers, etc. I hope you read this and it helps. We feel for you and hope things turn around. Neither of us are doctors, but we both have years of experience and are closely connected to many with similar situations (some happy endings, some not) God be with you and bless you

[hope2 35]

Thank you all. It is always comforting to know you have such a huge support team. I will take all of your advice. I will call the doc today and see what he says.

[mrsto 2,925]

The last time I went for a fill I asked for .25cc. The nurse who does them told me that those small fills are nothing more than me (and others) thinking a tiny bit more is going to make them lose faster. She always seems to try & talk me out of a little bump, but always ends her spiel with...."but I'll do it if you really want it". I told her, yes, I really want it. That last .25cc put me right into the green zone. And it's total BS when they tell you that .1cc isn't anything, or that they cannot do it. It ALL depends how close you are to green. That tiny little bump can make all the difference.

Speaking of which, I'm getting ready to go in and ask for another .1cc, but this time I'm prepared for the "talking to". This is a woman who is thin as a rail, and probably never had an extra pound on her. But in her defense, she bases her comments on how much weight I've dropped since the last visit, and that she/they want us to exercise control with the band, instead of looking for more restriction to the point of forcing us not to be able to eat. And I have to remind myself that she's not just responding to my request, she's responding to all the things she hears from the numerous LB patients coming through.

So - my suggestion is, as stated above by other posters..... Stick to you guns, and YOU make the decision that is best for you

Good luck.......

[hope2 35]

I called and talked with my Doctor this morning and explained exactly what I was going through. He had me go in right away and get a slight unfill. He stated that I was too tight that even when I am at my tightest, such as in the morning, I should never slime on coffee. If fluids are difficult to get down it is time to get in to see him. He told me that I waited far too long to come in. Now I know, thank you Missy and everyone for encouraging me to go in. The did take out .3. I felt better right away. I went back to the office and was able to get an entire cup of Tomato Soup down, something I had not been able to do for a couple of weeks.

[HotButterFly 981]

I'm so glad you were able to speak to your surgeon and get this fixed!! Yeyyyy for being out own advocates.