Total Failure

[Justaprettyface 45]

I had my band June 4 th - lost 36 - band was to tight at 11cc - was vomiting too often and in Nov they emptied my band. I gained back 12 lbs, and at the beginning of Dec had a new fill - 9 cc this time. I'm still not able to control my portions or food, always hungry - so stressed and once again a failure. I'm suppose to go for a fill this week, but I believe the snow storm has other plans for me.

I'm really just ranting here. I know come Monday I can go for my fill. I do know what I need to do, but I have no will power. Sad but true. #fail

[terrydumont46 1,954]

okay take a deep breath. i have never heard of a doctor doing such drastic fills. i had surgery about the same time as you and i have had 6 fills altogether and am just at 7cc now in a 14cc band. going slower allows you to get used to the band with each fill. there is something wrong here. either you need to unfill to stop the vomiting or check and see exactly how much fill you do have. the band isn't there to make you eat healthy or to stop eating its a tool to help you not be so hungry so you won't overeat. but what we put in our mouths is up to us. but you may also need a counseler to talk things over with. we all have food issues and if it wasn't for my psychiatrist that i talk to and who gives me pointers and ideas on how to cope i don't know where i would be. perhaps you need one to figure out your triggers and why you can't control your eating. you have already taken the first step and that is taking control of your life by having wls. now you need to work with your band to finish the battle you have taken on. i wish you lots of luck and a slimmer happy healthy 2014.

[gowalking 10,790]

okay take a deep breath. i have never heard of a doctor doing such drastic fills. i had surgery about the same time as you and i have had 6 fills altogether and am just at 7cc now in a 14cc band. going slower allows you to get used to the band with each fill. there is something wrong here. either you need to unfill to stop the vomiting or check and see exactly how much fill you do have. the band isn't there to make you eat healthy or to stop eating its a tool to help you not be so hungry so you won't overeat. but what we put in our mouths is up to us. but you may also need a counseler to talk things over with. we all have food issues and if it wasn't for my psychiatrist that i talk to and who gives me pointers and ideas on how to cope i don't know where i would be. perhaps you need one to figure out your triggers and why you can't control your eating. you have already taken the first step and that is taking control of your life by having wls. now you need to work with your band to finish the battle you have taken on. i wish you lots of luck and a slimmer happy healthy 2014.

What a great post Terry and this is why I don't want to hear ever again how folks on this site are not supportive. Your response is exactly why we have this forum and why I stay. Your advice to this poster was spot on and I couldn't have said it better.

[kll724 3,055]

I agree Terry, that is a really drastic fill. Yes, you might need to talk with a nutritionist,too. I am currently at 5 cc in a 10 cc band. That is all I can or ever have been able to tolerate and still eat. Reread what Terry has said, it is very thoughtfully written. I hope that you take her advice. There does seem to be something wrong with your band if you can tolerate it that tight and still eat "everything"! Best wishes, Karen..aka..kll724

[mrsto 2,925]

okay take a deep breath. i have never heard of a doctor doing such drastic fills. i had surgery about the same time as you and i have had 6 fills altogether and am just at 7cc now in a 14cc band. going slower allows you to get used to the band with each fill. there is something wrong here. either you need to unfill to stop the vomiting or check and see exactly how much fill you do have. the band isn't there to make you eat healthy or to stop eating its a tool to help you not be so hungry so you won't overeat. but what we put in our mouths is up to us. but you may also need a counseler to talk things over with. we all have food issues and if it wasn't for my psychiatrist that i talk to and who gives me pointers and ideas on how to cope i don't know where i would be. perhaps you need one to figure out your triggers and why you can't control your eating. you have already taken the first step and that is taking control of your life by having wls. now you need to work with your band to finish the battle you have taken on. i wish you lots of luck and a slimmer happy healthy 2014.

Well said, Terry.

[PJ Geeser 108]

I know first hand....as I just had the same thing...that some drs, when you have a complete unfill for some reason and when they start the refill process again...they are very aggressive. they wont fill you to the point you were for obvious reasons as you were too tight perhaps but will come with in 1 to 2 ccs so it dont take so lone to get you back to where you need to be. With that said...when being "empty" for 3 to 4 weeks and then (in my case) putting back 9 ccs in all in one shot...that IS a shock to your system. You swell alot from the drastic difference and I could "feel" it being put back in as she did it. Was very sore inside for 6 days and was very difficult to eat much but you adjust. About day seven...I could definitely tell I need to go for more but havent done it yet...just has been too difficult to make the 2 hour trip during the holidays for a fill but am calling first thing tmr to schedule a fill....cant wait. I want to get back to "feeling" not hungry....LOVED it when I got there and want to get back to that stage asap.

I think it sounds like you may need another fill but be patient getting there.....once you start getting some help from your band it makes the whole process easier. Be patient..you will get there. Just try making the best food choices you can in the mean time and eventually it will pay off when you and the band start working together..

I too was "stuck" at 35 lb. loss for almost 6 months straight...eating healthy the whole time so I understand the frustration of not losing when doing all you can and following the rules. It took a full year of fills before I felt any help from my band what so ever which is usually uncommon as most will have help as a whole by the 3 to 6 month time frame.

I have lost very slow but made a definite difference when I finally got closer to the green zone. Once I get back to it now...I expect the scale to start moving again....slow is ok with me as long as it keep going in the right direction. I have a 40 lb goal for this next year and if I hit that will be ecstatic. ( that will put me at 100lb loss- god willing ) If I dont make it...Im ok with that too as I still am in a better place than i was over a year ago.

Dont give up...put you best foot forward and your heart into it...do it for yourself and your own health and you will succeed in your own time frame.

Good Luck to you and come back for help here anytime you need it...so many on here that understand and can give you insight on issues you are having

[jammiebp 20]

Hang in there. I had my band Sept 30th and lost 28lbs the first 6 weeks and 16 of that was in the first week! I had my first fill Nov 6th and was given 4cc. For two weeks I felt lime a complete failure. I had more restriction the first three weeks after surgery from the swelling. I called them in tears and said there was no reason to feel this way and they would do fills as often as needed to find my green spot. I have been every week since they would last about four days and it was like is never had lapband. This past Friday they put 9.4 cc in and I asked to go ahead and put 10cc in. I will say it is TIGHT, but it's working! If I take too big of a drink it comes back up or if I drink too soon it will. I'm drinking lots of Protein Shakes at the moment. I do not want to have any removed as I I can tell swelling is going down and I'm no longer uncomfortable. Im hoping I'll be a lucky one and it will last a couple months. Don't give up!! Some of us require larger fills and that's okay. Only we know what works with our body. It amazes me how 5 grapes fill me up now. I LOVE my band and you will too!!!

[Justaprettyface 45]

Thank you for the support. The doctor said each person is different with the way the fat sits. If you have a lot of belly fat, it presses more on the band as well as the organs, therefore requiring a smaller fill. However in my case, I do not have a lot of fat around my organs & belly - just a huge ass & thunder thighs . that is the reason why I need more drastic fills.

I was really in the dumps last night, reflecting back on the past crappy year and just having a pity party. Thanks for hearing me out. Support & venting is definitely key to success. Today started out on the right foot,

Always looking for tips on how to snack, and get down Protein drinks

Again, thank you...

[jammiebp 20]

I too am a part of the BBC (big butt club) . Seems like my stomach got bigger after my surgery. When they did my band I had a huge hiatal hernia. It was so large they took a pic to show me. It looked like they made a patch quilt when they repaired it. They said I was so swollen because they had to pull everything out of my chest area and put it back where it belonged. I hurt for months and didn't know why until a week before my surgery. I can tell it is going back down. For me it's been a long recovery. At first I had buyers remorse when my cousin did the sleeve three days after my banding and bounced right back. I see her dropping weight like crazy. Now that I've got a good fill and loosing again I know the band was the right choice for me.

[Jim1967 3,569]

Great post Terry.

Seems like your Doctor is very aggressive. That can be both good and bad. Sounds like he/she has you swinging from one extreme to another. I know everyone is different but I do believe baby steps in band adjustments is the real way to go. It has taken me a total of 6 months to find the green zone but not once was I ever too tight.

My fill stats

11cc Realize Band:

1st fill 5/29/12 5cc
2nd fill 6/12/12 1cc
3rd fill 7/02/12 1cc
4th fill 8/14/12 1cc
5th fill 9/4/12 1cc
6th fill 1/29/13 .5

Like Terry said the band will not make you choose the right foods to eat nor will it prevent you from over eating. You must recognize the signs of when enough is enough and then stop. Head hunger is a whole different animal. If you don't have head hunger in check then that alone can be quite problematic.

A great article in layman's terms on how best to eat with the band.

http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

Edited January 1, 2014 by Jim1967

[Justaprettyface 45]

Thank You for the link Jim1967.

Jammiebp, my sister just had the sleeve a few months ago too. I feel quite jealous but happy at the same time.

[hiddnstar 167]

I had my band June 4 th - lost 36 - band was to tight at 11cc - was vomiting too often and in Nov they emptied my band. I gained back 12 lbs, and at the beginning of Dec had a new fill - 9 cc this time. I'm still not able to control my portions or food, always hungry - so stressed and once again a failure. I'm suppose to go for a fill this week, but I believe the snow storm has other plans for me.

I'm really just ranting here. I know come Monday I can go for my fill. I do know what I need to do, but I have no will power. Sad but true. #fail

HI

I understand the need to rant sometimes!

I'm sorry the doctor emptied your band instead of just removing some -- but it's done and Im sure the doctor had their reasons (or perhaps that is their protocol to address the symptoms presented).

What I wanted to suggest, though, is that you take the word "failure" out of your vocabulary, out of your definition of yourself, and out of any description having to do with you or how you're doing.

As silly as it might sound, the words we choose to describe ourselves can have a great impact on our actions and beliefs. You are courageous and able and willing to do what it takes to get the unhealthy weight off.

It's good that you are identifying having no will power. And maybe you have more than you think! You might experiment with that; see just how powerful your will can be.

I think maybe you just need to settle down from the unfill and the new fill and the one you will be getting soon. Remember you have been successful with this band. Go forward, no matter what.

So what if you gained back 12 pounds. That is all it is-- You gained 12 pounds. ok. That's done. Go forward from there and never ever give up.

Stop the "failure" crap. It's not helpful to you nor does it keep you moving forward toward your goal.

Remember the beautiful being that is YOU, the one who came out fighting and got this surgery done! The one who, along with most of us on this site, struggles at times, messes up at times, likes to eat and doesn't like to feel hungry. That's all ok. And it's what is really happening. To define any of that as "failure" is like kicking yourself when you're down.

Give yourself a big hug. It takes courage to start and to continue this journey. It may possibly be the hardest thing you'll ever have to do--and exceptionally rewarding! Keep reaching out and trying new strategies. Get excited about the whole thing again!

And drop the "F" word, it's a waste of your time.

~hiddn