Here today, gone tomorrow....

daisydoodle · September 17, 2005

Yes, I know....fickle band. My last fill in July put me in a good place. I think I felt like I had restriction for the first time. I lost a few pounds the first couple weeks...found out I was prego and then just maintained for the next month or so. (Both my band doc and OB wanted me to maintain not lose while I was PG.) Well, something weird happened because my restriction went away and since I've had the miscarriage I've lost a couple of pounds, probably due to Fluid. But I don't have the restriction anymore. I remember having to be SOOOOO careful just a couple of months ago: VERY small bites, chew chew chew, no bread or it would get stuck. Today I found myself eating 3/4 of a cheeseburger and half of the fries. No problem. Luckily I stopped and reminded myself "yoo-hooo...you have a BAND, remember??" Does it happen that quickly? Restriction today, gone the next month? I could understand if I had lost a considerable amount of weight during that time....but I'm only a few pounds lighter than at fill time. I go back to band doc in October for my next check up. Should I go earlier and ask for an adjustment? Or wait for my fickle restriction to sneak back up on me?

the best me · September 17, 2005

Hmmm, my feedback is that your loss of restriction is directly related to your miscarriage, or, better put, your increased restiction was directly related to your pregnancy. I get tighter at "that time of the month" when swelling, bloating, Water retention, etc is going on, and last month, the good restriction lasted for about 2 weeks. Yay! I'm actually looking forward to Aunt Flo's visit this month. Did I say that? Lots and lots of women say this happens to them, as I'm sure you know.

I'd say it's more due to water, fluids, increased blood supply, and all that was going on in your body during that time, and less related to any weight loss. Plus, take into consideration any stoma swelling relatd to getting filled, then getting PG, and now you have no stoma swelling and an unfortunate miscarriage.

Don't you have the VG band? Yes, there's your stats. I'd like to think that 6ccs would do it, but maybe it really is time for another small fill?

I am one to NOT get fills for several reasons. Cost is one, I'm self-pay. I was so terribly tight post-surgery I panicked and really don't want to do that again. And I want my band to last a good long time so I never want to be over-filled. It just causes too many problems. I would rather have a slow and steady weight loss that lose fast, be miserable, and risk band problems (reflux, slippage, erosion).

That said, I realize that I should be working with the restriction I have, rather than wishing for more. As long as my fill keeps me fuller longer and makes it easier NOT to want to graze on empty calories, or high-fat foods, I'm good. It's definately much easier when I'm so tight I CAN'T graze and over-eat, but that doesn't mean I need a fill. Know what I mean?

Crapola, it takes me so many words just to get a point across. Do you know what I mean?

I would wait for at least one period cycle after your miscarriage before deciding. That fickle fill may come back a bit, and you obviously were able to think twice and put down the burger before it got out of hand. So you do have good self-control.

And yes, it happpens to me that fast. Good restriction one day, wake up the next and I have to be a stricter bandster to keep that full feeling. Hope all that helps.

jqpublic · September 17, 2005

Im so sorry to hear about your miscarriage,hope you will meet your weight loss goals. Take care God bless John.

Parvathi · September 17, 2005

Hi Daisy,

Very sorry to hear about your miscarriage.

The perfect restriction for me, seems to last a month to two months, then gradually goes away. I spoke with my doctor about that on my last visit. He said that the pouch gradually changes shape and as that happens, you'll notice less restriction. A top up on fill fixes it.

Your issue may be completely different though, considering everything your body has been through.

If you feel that your body is ready for it though, it couldn't hurt to add a bit more and see how you go.

Good luck

vinesqueen · September 17, 2005

Actually, I would wait a while before the fill. You've "only lost a couple of pounds" in a couple of weeks. Isn't that rate we are supposed to lose?

You have just been through a very rough experience. I suggest you hold off on getting the fill because your body is still trying to sort out it's new conditon.

Oh, and a double cheese burger from McDonalds's has about 460 calories, not 8 million calories. A small fry has about 230 calories. I don't know where you actually went, but you would have eaten about 460 total calories for that meal. A meal with that many calories is well within the bandster guidlines... You don't even break 1400 calories. I'm not advocating eatling like that everyday, but it is important to keep things in perspective.

Also, the band is not about being restricted, it is about losing weight through reducing your caloric intake. Right?

paula · September 17, 2005

I would wait for at least one period cycle after your miscarriage before deciding

along with Kathy and Vines, this is exactly what I was going to say.

Hormones mess with my restriction in a major way. And only 1 month post preg., I would guess your hormones arent straight.

other then this, you feeling ok?

CandySmooch · September 19, 2005

Well I don't know about anyone else, but my band is fickle from day to day! One day I can eat more than usual and the next its just a couple of bites! I'd like to find a steady groove because most days I think I need more fill and then I'm like oh no I couldn't take anymore - and still the scales stay the same.

Texblueyes · September 19, 2005

I am so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I think I would wait for a fill also, But always talk to your doc about it.

La_madam · September 19, 2005

Daisy, if it were me, I would go in sooner just to make sure all is well with your band. You have been through alot but you need to make sure your band is OK

I personally have 2 friends who both had erosion and both of their only symptoms were "sudden" loss of restriction. Not saying that is the case for you and I do not want to scare you but being pregnant and then having a miscarriage, I would want to know that nothing happened to my band. If not atleast callyour D.r and express your concerns and see what he says.