7 years banded, and still clueless... You?

[bacon 514]

I have been banded for over 7 years at this point. It seems that things change so much with the band. At least with mine. MOMENT OF TRUTH! I am not the poster child for lap band. I have lost and gained at least a bazillion pounds in that time. I was 210 at my lowest. I stay round 275 these days.

Well it's time to kick it into gear, one last chance before searching out info for a revision. For sure I am the tightest in the morning. If I drink a cup of coffee or tea, I loosen up enough to take my pills. After that I can barley get anything through. Lately I have been sipping Water or SF lemonade letting the sip go all the way. Sometimes I time myself and only take a sip if the time is an even number. lunch has been small lately, but for years I'd fight and fight to get anything down. Usually regurgitating several times a meal. sometimes end up vomiting. By dinner I am able to eat a half a side of beef...

My life is in no way a regular life. I drive truck and start between 3-4am, work way too many hours, eat on the go, get little sleep, and the stress level is out of sight due to the cargo I carry. I'm getting pretty tired of not being my ideal weight, so here we go again.

I'm not sure if I'm asking a question here, or if I just curious of what others deal with. Feel free to tell me how your band acts from day to day. Thanks for taking the time to read this post!

[B-52 7,113]

There are so many ways to look at your story, it's hard for me to find a place to start.

A couple things jumped out at me.....

I am always tight in the morning, till around 11...so, aside with my morning coffee, I will have a home made smoothie which will give me 30-40 gms of Protein. Then I drink Water consistantly throughout the day. If you can't make your own, or if you are on the run, I have found convience stores are now stocking Protein drinks right out of the cooler...Muscle Milk and Naked are my favorite 2.

lunch is small, sometimes just Soup from the cafeteria depending what hospital I'm at that day.

The other thing that jumped out at me, is you "Fight" to get food down, regurgitating several times.

One of the biggest lessons I learned, is not to fight the band, but to learn to listen to it...to obey it.

That's why I will not call it a tool, as if I can control it. I let it control me and not fight it.

If I can't continue to eat, then I stop. it's as simple as that. Does not matter if I ate a lot or very little. It all avaerages out in the end.....The band says stop, I stop. This also keeps my portion sizes under control, all thanks to the band.

To force it, and regugitate, then try to force it again, onlty irritates the band making the problem only worse....if you don't let it calm down, you will NEVER be able to keep things down...and it can last for days

That is why Dr.'s will take Fluid out...to give it a break because the patient will not...........

I have learned the hard way, not to abuse it, but be gentle with it in the way I eat, and what I eat.

It sounds like the band is attempting to do something....let it happen...don't get in the way but learn to flow with it...it's a new lifestyle, which means we cannot hang onto the old. (which made us fat)

[bacon 514]

_{Great points! Thank you!}

[cheryl2586 3,053]

As you gain weight your band becomes tighter. It will be so tight you can't eat. Go to your surgeon and get some Fluid removed. It's never too late to start over but if you let your band stay tight you will end up with erosion of the band into your stomach. You will feel lots better once you get the band unfilled a bit. How do I know this? Because it happened to me. I gained some weight and could keep nothing down. Not even Water. I had a cat scan and the band was in the correct location. I went to my endo because I was tired of being sick. When he went down in my esophagus I had a blue berry stuck in my band and it clearly showed my band was too tight. If I had waited and just stuck it out who knows what would have happened.

[bacon 514]

Thanks for the insight @@cheryl2586 . I don't think I need to unfill, I need to get my butt in gear. I think I am irritated around the band causing trouble. Too many years I have abused the band, I'm talkin abuse, the way you abuse a $500 Honda Civic. I keep rereading @@B-52 post and it makes perfect sense. Back to the basics.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

But still if you are forcing food to go down it may be too tight. I have been banded for six years now. I would at least see your surgeon.

[Julie norton 2,850]

Nice to see you posting again Cheryl

We are all at our own levels with this band trip. I go for a fill in about 3 weeks and know I'm up a bit.... But I will resume banded life....and lifestyle

Flying home tomorrow ✈️

This is the The best week I've had since being widowed last year.... Haven't cried in many days????There is life out there !

I have faith by Christmas things will be right where they need to be ⭐️