An Unfill After 2.5 months?!?

[AngelaAnn]

Hi All,

I had my third fill in February of .2cc's-- almost 2 and a half months ago. I've had a love/hate relationship with this fill. Lost 14 lbs., but PB'd a lot. Well, lately the PBing went away but since Monday night, I've had terrible heartburn and I know from the paper that the OCC gives that this is a sign of being too tight. I don't feel too tight and I can eat and drink just fine, but this heartburn is killing me.

Some points to consider:

1. Money. Lame ass excuse I know, but $100 to unfill and then another $100 in a month to put that same .2cc's back and I'm pretty strapped for money right now.

2. It's the week before my period and the band generally does weird things before it.

3. Upcoming finals= Mad amounts of stress. Don't know how to stress manage either.

I honestly don't know what to do. Any advice would be helpful. Has this happened to anyone else? I mean after 2.5 months?!

[karenlynn79]

Hi All,

I had my third fill in February of .2cc's-- almost 2 and a half months ago. I've had a love/hate relationship with this fill. Lost 14 lbs., but PB'd a lot. Well, lately the PBing went away but since Monday night, I've had terrible heartburn and I know from the paper that the OCC gives that this is a sign of being too tight. I don't feel too tight and I can eat and drink just fine, but this heartburn is killing me.

Some points to consider:

1. Money. Lame ass excuse I know, but $100 to unfill and then another $100 in a month to put that same .2cc's back and I'm pretty strapped for money right now.

2. It's the week before my period and the band generally does weird things before it.

3. Upcoming finals= Mad amounts of stress. Don't know how to stress manage either.

I honestly don't know what to do. Any advice would be helpful. Has this happened to anyone else? I mean after 2.5 months?!

Yes the band can tighten on its own like that. I guess my main concern would be, can you eat solids like you could before? I would also call the OCC and talk to a fill doc. When I was too tight I had heartburn too but couldn't eat..... good luck! It's better to spend the money as a precaution than have a slip..... I've had to have 2 emergency unfills in 2.5 years and it's not fun.

[JazzyJude]

Angela, I agree with Karen. If you are concern, call OCC and ask questions and get the medical attention you need. Don't risk and take chances...

Now, I had my 3rd fill last month and right now, I am tight as a tick...due to STRESS! So, yes, your stomach swells up when you are stressed out and, of course, your band is NOT giving an inch for relief! I went on soups and protein shakes to help and it did. Now I am thinking of doing the 5 day pouch diet for two reasons ~ to see how my band really is and to jump start my weight loss again. I've not PB'd as I am watching what and how I am eating before that 'tightness' begins.

Good luck and keep us posted!! Jazzy!!

[determination]

Hey Jazzy,

What is the 5 day pouch diet? I was so tight after my 3rd fill. I PB'd alot for about a week and had a horrible night cough. I saw on the chart that OCC sent on facebook that those were signs of being too tight. Everything is back to normal this week thank goodness. But I think that if I could I would like to shrink that little fickle pouch if I could.

Anne

[AngelaAnn]

Hi All,

Thank you--I talked to Dr. Acosta and he said that it sounds like I haven't been eating 'normally' since my SECOND fill and that I will just continue to get tighter until nothing can get through. I'm getting a complete unfill tomorrow morning--I wish they wouldn't take it all out because I know that I still can't be trusted around food--even after 8 months. I'm scared of being hungry again. I'm scared that I will gain a bunch of weight back in the interim and sad that I have to start over again with the fills. I'm crying as a write this and I don't know why. This has not been a good day.

[JazzyJude]

Hi All,

Thank you--I talked to Dr. Acosta and he said that it sounds like I haven't been eating 'normally' since my SECOND fill and that I will just continue to get tighter until nothing can get through. I'm getting a complete unfill tomorrow morning--I wish they wouldn't take it all out because I know that I still can't be trusted around food--even after 8 months. I'm scared that I will gain a bunch back in the interim and sad that I have to start over again with the fills. I'm crying as a write this and I don't know why. This has not been a good day.

DON'T be sad Angela! You may be starting over but at least without the pain and swollen from the band surgery!

Take this as a positive challenge as you have experience under your belt now! Also, make it a game with yourself! Pretend you are one of the candidates in the Biggest Loser Challenge and you are starting on day one tomorrow. I'll bet that you will lose some if you get your 'mindset' ready for this. Don't think negative but an opportunity to show that you've learned some valuable insights thus far, from Dr O and his staff, and the forum and your other supporters.

(I'll be your 'Jillian'!)... =D> I am rooting for you...YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

[PAMMIE]

Hi All,

Thank you--I talked to Dr. Acosta and he said that it sounds like I haven't been eating 'normally' since my SECOND fill and that I will just continue to get tighter until nothing can get through. I'm getting a complete unfill tomorrow morning--I wish they wouldn't take it all out because I know that I still can't be trusted around food--even after 8 months. I'm scared of being hungry again. I'm scared that I will gain a bunch of weight back in the interim and sad that I have to start over again with the fills. I'm crying as a write this and I don't know why. This has not been a good day.

NOW DON'T BE CRYIN, MAYBE THEY WON'T TAKE IT ALL OUT, JUST WAIT

AND EVEN IF THEY DO, YOU REST UP A BIT AND START GOING BACK IN AGAIN

YOU'LL BE FINE, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

[ValleyGirl]

Angela, I didn't know if it was my imagination because it seemed to start right after I read your post, but I'm now having heartburn too. There are days I think I'm too tight and plan for an unfill and then the next few days I am fine so then I decide to stay at this fill level. Today I am too tight for sure. I just tried a couple bites of baked potato and it got stuck....mushed up potato!!! After thirty minutes, the pressure in my chest was driving me nuts so I went and bent over and up came slime and potato but this time I could taste stomach acid like you have when vomitting- no wrenching but I could for sure taste the acid and that has NEVER happened, even though I have pb'd before. I guess I'm going to need an unfill too. I remember reading somewhere that heartburn was a bad sign but I can't remember why. Please tell me everything they told you. Thanks.

Sabrina:)

[AngelaAnn]

Angela, I didn't know if it was my imagination because it seemed to start right after I read your post, but I'm now having heartburn too. There are days I think I'm too tight and plan for an unfill and then the next few days I am fine so then I decide to stay at this fill level. Today I am too tight for sure. I just tried a couple bites of baked potato and it got stuck....mushed up potato!!! After thirty minutes, the pressure in my chest was driving me nuts so I went and bent over and up came slime and potato but this time I could taste stomach acid like you have when vomitting- no wrenching but I could for sure taste the acid and that has NEVER happened, even though I have pb'd before. I guess I'm going to need an unfill too. I remember reading somewhere that heartburn was a bad sign but I can't remember why. Please tell me everything they told you. Thanks.

Sabrina:)

Hi Sabrina,

Right after I made the appointment, my heartburn went away and I was able to eat a decent amount of solid food for dinner and breakfast the next morning (and I can NEVER eat in the am) and today I've eaten okay too. No heartburn either. I told the OCC that if I didn't feel better after my period started then I would have a partial unfill. I even ate a piece of toast today and I can't remember the last time I had bread. I'm sure I will tighten up again due to stress from finals, last semester I didn't have as much of a fill and I could only do liquids finals week (I did lose 5 lbs.) but once the stress went away, the fill loosened. Stress and the band ain't no joke. If I go get an unfill this week, I will let you know.