Depressed

[Jerseydiva15 3]

Hello everyone. Let me tell you a little bit about me. I got my lapband in Aug 2010. Everything has been great. I started at 288 I went all the way down to 150 but I didn't like the way I looked I was beginning to look sick. I recent moved to Charlotte, Nc and my allergies have gotten really bad and I have had some inflammation and I was put on steroids twice. I went from 150 to my current weight of 200. In the process 3 ccs were taken out from my band and she has gradually put some back in but I feel I don't have enough restriction and she refuses to give another fill. I feel that I need at least another cc in. I have been eating right and exercising but I constantly feel hungry. Can anyone help? I want to lose about 30 lbs I felt great at 170

[Ginger Snaps 1,323]

I don't have any advice but I'm wondering why she's refusing to do another fill?

[Jerseydiva15 3]

I was too tight previously and I was not keeping anything down. It also had to do with the inflammation. That's when she took 3cc out. She does fills using X-ray machine and when she gives me that nasty flourodie liquid it doesn't go down but I keep telling her I'm fine.

[Bandista 7,466]

Hi there, it sounds like your surgeon wants to take it a bit more slowly this time to protect you from going too far too fast. Do you have a goal weight in mind? The 150 was too low -- maybe the two of you can discuss what the goal should be and then align strategies. I suspect she just wants to make sure you're not rushing the process and risking the whole too tight again thing. Just know that you're doing great -- you're back on track and the scale is headed in the right direction!

[LeeB1946 261]

Beware the steroids. I had to use some and gained 7 pounds in 3 days. When I talked to my Bariatric PA I was told that if I continued to use them I would lose my band. Seems as if the two don't go well together and can cause swelling around the band. I understand why doc does not want to give additional fill if you were too tight before. Take time and this will come off.

[Jerseydiva15 3]

Thank you for replies. I will try it's just so frustrating.

[parisshel 1,892]

When recovering from a steroid or non-steroid band complication, it is very prudent to take time before the band is refilled. I had a partial unfill in late March, due to my stoma swelling shut from anti-inflammatories, and I feel your pain. I have zero restriction currently, and being back in the Dieter's Mindset is a PITA. I am literally counting the days until I can get some fill put back in, which will happen in late June. (My surgeon's protocol says I have to wait 3 months for the stoma/swelling to clear...I guess anti-inflammatories really stay a long time in one's system.)

So yeah, it's hard to be patient. But we are in this for the longterm, and will find our optimal fill levels once more. I'd contact your fill person and just try and get a ballpark figure on how long you need to wait to get a little more fill.

If they are seeing that the barium doesn't go down when they do your fill with fluoro, you really "aren't fine." Yes, it's great to speed on down the scale, but if your band is so tight the barium doesn't move through the band at all, you are risking band erosion or slippage. You don't want to either of those.