3 months out & SO frustrated with lack of weight loss!

drewsmom · July 6, 2008

Hi, I was banded on 3/26/08 and have only lost about 15 pounds. Since I started at just over 300 pounds, that isn't much. I have had 2 fills, the first of which did absolutely nothing for me. The second fill I had restriction for 2 weeks, then again....nothing. I also think my reflux is getting worse since being banded. I am scheduled for another fill on Wed the 9th. I want to get a fill, but am scared about the reflux. I have even been looking for people on the web who have switched from the band to the bypass. I wish I had gotten the gastric bypass instead of this. No one told me that it was so difficult! I was told the band restricted the amount of food you can eat. If that is so, why can I eat so much without getting full? I am not testing the band, I am FRIGGIN HUNGRY!!! If I could lose weight through strict dieting and exercise alone, I wouldn't have needed the surgery! Anyone else as frustrated as me???

Edited July 6, 2008 by drewsmom

snowbird · July 6, 2008

You were banded less than 6 weeks ago and are headed for your third fill??? If you were banded 5/26 and have lost 15 lb since then, you are on track to lose 130 lb in a year. Was your surgery date a typo, or are you including the time you started your pre op diet?

drewsmom · July 6, 2008

Sorry, yes it was March 26th, typo!

snowbird · July 6, 2008

Okay, that makes more sense! I'm assuming you have a larger band. How much does it hold? It sounds like you do need another fill.

My husband was banded in October and has had four fills, and is just barely getting proper restriction after the fourth one. He has lost 60 lb total, but only 30 since surgery, and gets discouraged. I had the 4 cc band and had restriction after the second fill, although I am losing it now.

When you have good restriction, you can eat only a fraction of what you ate before. It isn't exactly a "full" feeling like before, but eventually your brain does start to interpret it that way.

If you truly are hungry and it's not just a desire to eat because something will taste good or out of habit, then you may find your next fill helps a lot. Good luck with it, and don't give up.

~ChinaDoll~ · July 6, 2008

Hello Drewsmom,

Yes it is hard when u r first banded and yes it is frustrating :rolleyes: . I had the same problem when i was first banded I thought that the wght would just melt away. I am just now starting to lose 1 to 2 lbs a week and I have been banded for 6 mnths now :thumbup:. This band is something that takes hard work, you have to make it work for you. Just stay encourage and dont 4 get about the gold at the end of the rainbow. You can do it :biggrin: :frown: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

jbperry21 · July 6, 2008

I'm right there with you. I was banded on 3/31/2008. I've only lost like 7-10 pounds since my surgery. I would have had 3 fills, but the first one my esophagus freaked out and I had to have it all taken out. I've got minimal restriction, but basically to the point that I can't eat certain things any longer. I tend to get hungry about 2 hours after eating, which sucks. I'm frustrated, but this is the decision I made and I'm going to have to make it work no matter what.

aimlagana · July 7, 2008

As frustrating as it is, you have to be patient. I was in a similar pattern. Losing a pound a month for 4 months. So frustrating. I took a long, hard look at what I was/wasn't doing and had to make some life adjustments. I also wasn't properly restricted. If your reflux is bad, talk to the doc. He/she needs to know. There is medicine to help and it works really well. Take Care and know that easier times are coming!

spicegrrrl · July 7, 2008

I totally know how you feel. My doc made me wait 6 weeks before I got my first fill - and that fill didn't do too much to curb my appetite. Four weeks after that (and not losing much weight at all) I had my second fill - a fairly large one and I lost a little. But it wasn't really until my third fill that the weight loss picked up a bit.

I was banded on 3/17 and it can be really frustrating to see people banded around the same time losing at twice the rate - but hang in there! I've found a bit of success in journaling my food - you can review what you're putting in and make adjustments if necessary - it's pretty useful. I've also started a walking routine, which may not be helping to shed pounds fast but is making my body feel better.

Getting to the right fill point can take time but don't worry! This is a long-term life change. It may happen slowly but it'll happen.

Best of luck.