Does anyone else get stuck a lot???

[tennisgal 0]

I only have 5.25 cc but I seem to get stuck A LOT! However, I've only actually PB'd 3 times. But that was b/c I really work HARD to get thorugh my "stuck phases" without PBing. Sounds like I need an unfill but this is the first time that I've actually lost in months! So I'm just curious to see if others feel the sweet spot comes with a lot of "stuck episodes." Sometimes it's because I eat too fast or b/c the bites are too big but most of the time it happens no matter what or how much I eat. Any advice or is anyone else stuck a lot?

[Laurinda 1]

I don't think it's a "sweet spot" if it comes with so many issues. When I hit my "sweet spot" and from what I have heard and read from many others, it's a point where you have very good restriction and yes your weight loss picks up. I think if your getting stuck all the time then maybe yes you should talk to your doctor about a possible slight unfill. Getting stuck all the time is no way to live..Good Luck to you!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I did until I got it through my thick skull that I needed to take SMALL bites (like dime sized or smaller) and chew WELL (at least 40 times). When I do that...VOILA! No PB! No STUCK! LOL I am careful, especially when I'm hungry or in company, to watch myself and I haven't had a problem in a while now. Usually PB and stuck means too tight (at least that's what I read on here, that clued me into what I was doing wrong)

[jaynell31 0]

I was getting stuck often also so I tried slowing down and chewing a lot more and now I really don't have any problems now. I think it is very important to eat slowly and chew chew chew.

[coloradobanding 5]

I got stuck pretty much any time I ate and it was driving me CRAZY!! I got a complete unfill and am slowly working my way back up to what I believe is my sweet spot (3cc in 10cc band). I REALLY enjoy the fact that I can eat and not worry about anything causing me pain. However, I have to be very careful not to fall back into my old habits!

[tennisgal 0]

Thanks so much for your advice!! I hear a lot about people PBing but not so much about this "stuck" issue. So it's good to hear from others that have gone through it.

The thing is that last month I got my fill, had great restriction for a few days and then started getting stuck. Went ahead and got another fill at the beginning of this month and the same thing...best restriction EVER the first week and no stuck episodes and then a week later everything starts getting stuck. I just thought maybe there was some hump I needed to get over and eventually the fill would stay put and last but I don't think I can stand these stuck episodes anymore...probably do need a slight unfill. But at $150 a pop...yuck!

I keep wondering if it's the chewing thing and I think it partly is but not all the time.

Let me know if anyone else has dealt with this. Thanks so much!

[tennisgal 0]

Colorado, just curious...was it necessary to get completely unfilled??? I was hoping for a small unfill.

[Hoop79088 1]

I only have 5.25 cc but I seem to get stuck A LOT! However, I've only actually PB'd 3 times. But that was b/c I really work HARD to get thorugh my "stuck phases" without PBing. Sounds like I need an unfill but this is the first time that I've actually lost in months! So I'm just curious to see if others feel the sweet spot comes with a lot of "stuck episodes." Sometimes it's because I eat too fast or b/c the bites are too big but most of the time it happens no matter what or how much I eat. Any advice or is anyone else stuck a lot?

Wow, I could have written this same exact thing!!! I am in the same boat you are. I don't have all of the answers but when I really concentrate on the small bites and chewing like crazy I usually don't get stuck. My fills/unfills costs $275 so I don't really want to do that. I am losing weight and hope that once I lose more weight I won't be as tight and the getting stuck won't be as often. How much weight have you lost? I've lost 31.5 in a year. I've got about 40 to go. Good luck!!!

[coloradobanding 5]

Colorado, just curious...was it necessary to get completely unfilled??? I was hoping for a small unfill.

It was not necessary to get a complete unfill, it was my choice. To be honest, I was getting very discouraged by not knowing what my body was going to do, or how it would react, etc. After talking to my nurse and describing my habits (and confidence) she agreed that we should do a complete unfill, see how it goes, then slowly fill again.

I work out at least 5x a week, and have no issues with will power (well sometimes, but usually not). I know how to work with my band, filled or unfilled, and have lost 2lbs since the unfill. We are also going on vacation on Sunday and I didn't want to worry about having stuck/PB episodes, so the complete unfill was a HUGE weight off my shoulders.

Let me reiterate, I was a powerful athlete in my "pre children" years, and am gaining on that status again. I do eat foods in moderation and the BEST part is that I can eat chicken breast! Seriously, the ONLY thing I could get down before were slider foods which was totally counterproductive to my lifestyle change. So having the unfill allows me to eat chicken, turkey, broccoli and carrots with NO fear; I cannot tell you how wonderful that is. But this is my personal situation and I know me. If you are scared that by unfilling you will start ravenously eating junk again, just get unfilled a little at a time. Just my .02

[tennisgal 0]

Thanks for the info...no, I don't think I EVER want to go back to being completely unfilled. When I think about how much I could eat then...!!! I'm amazed that I'm not losing soo much when I compare what I used to eat to what I'm eating now.

But that's not the case! I have to work for every pound and it is slow...about 30 pounds total since November. I'm a teacher and these last couple of weeks are VERY stressful and busy. When I get out of school, I'm going to really concentrate on mostly Proteins and keep up with what's giving me trouble and getting stuck. If I look at it carefully I think it may be mostly early in the morning and breads and sometimes meat which could be from not chewing. And then I'll go from there deciding on whether or not to do an unfill.

Yesterday and today have been the first two days with no stuck episodes in a very long time. This is what happened last month, too. Got okay again right before going back for a fill so I went ahead and got another small fill. Who knows??? This is all very confusing. I just praying for just the right amount.

[tennisgal 0]

Lisa,

About 30 pounds since November. I was so depressed when I didn't loose anything the last couple of months but I didn't have much of a fill then so I knew it would get better. Now, I'm dealing with this stuck stuff...yuck! However, I have not gained ANY back at least and do not feel like I'm depriving myself at all except for a couple of things. So at least that's better than any diet. I'm going to hang in there and try to keep working in the right amount of fill and more Protein. It's just so much pressure when you see how much others have lost. Good luck!