HELP Please Advise!!!!

happysilly307 · March 2, 2008

I have an unusual problem. First off, let me say I have had virtually NO weight loss, after 4 months of banding. Maybe 5 lbs, but that is all.

Here is the unusual problem: I am definitely over-filled. food gets stuck 24/7. Even liquids. It is a rare meal when something does NOT get stuck. And the pain is horrible!!! I get referred pain all along my jaw line and up to my head, in addition to the awful pain I get in my upper tummy/esophagus area.

But, even with this, I have NOT lost weight!!! All I can figure is, I am eating the wrong things, and I pick things I can "get down" without getting stuck, then eat alot of it, since I am so hungry (After I get stcuk on two or three bites of food, I stop eating. BUT, maybe 30 minutes later, I am hungry!!!

I take responsibility here. I obviously am doing the wrong thing re food choices.

My question is...I am going to the Dr on Tuesday and I don't know what to do. Should I get an unfill? Even though I am clearly not losing weight? Should I demand that they do an xray to determine if the band is placed correctly? I am NEVER full. Yet, things get stuck. It is not fair, that I get NO positive consequences of being banded, yet I get the bad consequence of severe pain and getting stuck all the time.

PLEASE HELP!!! I am desperate!!!!

jfran · March 2, 2008

How many fills have you had? I would probably get a partial unfill so you can eat foods that are more solid and healthy for you. In the meantime drink your Protein shakes and take your Vitamins. Are you exercising? I exercise 6-7 days a week for an hour to 2 hours at a time. I also eat 5-6 small meals a day at regular 3-4 hour intervals. You may be in starvation mode because you can't eat enough calories, or you may be getting too many calories from those "easy" foods that go down well. Reassess what you are eating now and see if you need to increase or decrease. Remember Protein first, then fruits and veggies and grains last. Good luck!

Also, is there any chance you may be insulin resistant? If you are untreated(not on metformin) it may explain why you aren't able to lose weight.I know of a lady that was on a 9 month plateau and couldn't lose even though she was exercising and getting fills. She got so many fills that she couldn't even swallow her spit. She eventually went to the doctor and found out she was Insulin Resistant. They put her on metformin and she has finally started losing again. I have been on metformin before and during my "weight loss" phase after banding and I truly believe that it has helped me to lose this weight.

Good LUCK!

VegasGrace · March 2, 2008

If you keep it up you will lose weight. For the first 2-3 weeks of this your body has gone into survivor mode and won't let you ...but after that....you will. About a pound or two a week.

After about 6-8 weeks you will begin malnutriton starting with a potassium deficiency. Not to worry as drinking fruit juices...sipping on them all day...will ward that off.

Once you reach goal, get an unfill.

But...if you don't like this idea, get a slight unfill. Get to the point where you lose weight by dieting...as in changing your food types along with the quantity as the band will do that for you.

Good luck.

Bergdorfblonde · March 2, 2008

I was kind of in the same boat as you. I got my lapband and thought weight loss would be easy. It wasn't. Plus it was embarrasing going out with family friends who my mom told I had lap band surgery, and they kept asking me how much weight I'd lost, and I couldn't say I lost weight at all.

I realized it is very easy to overeat with the band. I really wasn't watching what I ate and just kept eating like a fat person.

Now, I try to keep to 1200 calories a day. 400 for Breakfast lunch and dinner. I don't always follow it. Sometimes I eat a lot more calories than my goal. But the days I do stick to it, I lose a lot of weight.

I don't deprive myself of anything. If I want McDonalds, I order a small happy meal (4 chicken mcnuggets and a small fry) It's 400 calories. If I want chocolate, I eat 400 cals of chocolate. I am eating exactly what I want at the moment I want it, I am just more mindful of calories so I can stay on track.

The difference between now and before the lap band, was before, I could eat an entire supersize meal and still eat more. Now I am satisfied by a small happy meal. Use the lapband as a tool. You still need to watch the calories. If you do, the lapband helps you be satisfied on less food.

Its also hard to binge, which is great for us binge eaters. However, if you graze all day, you can eat millions of calories on the lap band. Just stick to an eating plan where you are limiting your calories and the weight will come off.

I have an unusual problem. First off, let me say I have had virtually NO weight loss, after 4 months of banding. Maybe 5 lbs, but that is all.
Here is the unusual problem: I am definitely over-filled. food gets stuck 24/7. Even liquids. It is a rare meal when something does NOT get stuck. And the pain is horrible!!! I get referred pain all along my jaw line and up to my head, in addition to the awful pain I get in my upper tummy/esophagus area.

But, even with this, I have NOT lost weight!!! All I can figure is, I am eating the wrong things, and I pick things I can "get down" without getting stuck, then eat alot of it, since I am so hungry (After I get stcuk on two or three bites of food, I stop eating. BUT, maybe 30 minutes later, I am hungry!!!

I take responsibility here. I obviously am doing the wrong thing re food choices.

My question is...I am going to the Dr on Tuesday and I don't know what to do. Should I get an unfill? Even though I am clearly not losing weight? Should I demand that they do an xray to determine if the band is placed correctly? I am NEVER full. Yet, things get stuck. It is not fair, that I get NO positive consequences of being banded, yet I get the bad consequence of severe pain and getting stuck all the time.

PLEASE HELP!!! I am desperate!!!!

jayden393 · March 2, 2008

Get a slight unfill it will help. You need to eat real food not food that will go down.

shortgal · March 2, 2008

My opinion is see your doctor. Be honest with how often you get stuck and what foods you can eat and they will weigh you.

Four months of this is unhealthy. If it were me, I would want an x-ray to confirm that all is well.

kbinaz · March 2, 2008

You don't say what your 'wrong' food choices are so I can't say for sure if that is the issue. You seem to be implying that you are choosing foods that are easier to get down and are less likely to cause you pain. That is the greatest problem with being too tight. The band is meant to work with real food, not liquids and not mushy food. If by wrong food choices you mean cupcakes and twinkies, then that is something the band isn't going to help you with. The goal should be to be able to eat enough for your three meals that you only eat three meals and feel no need to snack in between. You clearly aren't there so I would talk to your doctor.

Marimaru · March 3, 2008

I would say to get an unfill. Maybe even more than a slight unfill. The band is designed to restrict things like chicken breast and veggies... if you are eating Soups and ice cream because they'll go down, it's not going to do you any good.