If its not working, there is probably a problem!

[JennHB]

I will try to keep this short, but when I got my fill of 3.6cc's (4cc band) in April, I knew it felt tight. I told the fill Dr. that it was a little tight and even my surgeon Dr. Martinez wanted to check on me before I left to make sure it was ok. I could feel the water they gave me go through my band. I was partially exctied thinking "if it is tight, I am going to lose weight faster!" so I told them I think I was exagerating and that it was fine and I left.

For the last 4.5 months I have been sliming almost every day or every other day. Since there are some times when I can eat a normal size meal, I thought the sliming was due to my not chewing well enough or eating too fast. After time it became normal for me to eat two bites of a meal, slime, then have another 1 or 2 bites and be done. I know that lookingback now I htink WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING! but the desperate side of me was like "its my fault for not chewing well, and the less I eat, the more I will lose." Well I have not lost 1 lb since my fill in April. I have been virtually starving myself for the last few months and since I cant eat I have been filling up on liquid calories like smoothies, gatorade and juices to "feel full" without ever actually being full.

I went to OCC this Saturday and the handsome, sweet fill Dr. I could tell wanted to shake me and say "what are you doing?!?!" He told me my stomach was inflamed, that my band is lucky it hasn't slipped but if I wouldn't have come in, it would have. And he said I was stretching my pouch and my band was so tight I am lucky i ahve been able to get som food down. All because I thought "if my band is tight, I will lose weight faster". Boy was I wrong.

Now I have a completely empty band, I have to have malox with every meal for 5 days to help repair my stomach lining. The good news is, the fill Dr. said that my stomach should be repaired in 3 weeks, and I can go back and they will give me the # of cc's that will hopefully be my "sweet spot."

The reason I am posting this is so that others dont make the same mistake I did. I was not honest with OCC and even though I knew my band was tight, I was more afraid of them taking some out and not losing weight. I remember leaving and there was a girl in the lobby who was like "I am so jealous you got so much cc's" and looking back I wish I would have thought more about the consequences rather then just the weight loss focus, because the truth is, if your body is starving, it will hold on to all of your fat cells. Hence, why I have not lost any weight.

Hopefully my journey will begin again in 3 weeks and I have learned from my mistakes. If your sliming or PB'ing often, go get your band checked, it is not normal!

[ValleyGirl]

Yep, same thing happened to me and now that I only have 2 cc's and can eat three meals a day, I'm losing faster than when I had 3.4 cc's and was barely eating. You'd think starving yourself would equal weight loss but it does not. I'm glad you're band is okay and you are back on track!

Sabrina:)

[JennHB]

Yep, same thing happened to me and now that I only have 2 cc's and can eat three meals a day, I'm losing faster than when I had 3.4 cc's and was barely eating. You'd think starving yourself would equal weight loss but it does not. I'm glad you're band is okay and you are back on track!

Sabrina:)

I am glad to hear you are losing weight again! I am soo ready to get back on the "band" wagon! I was sooo sad when they took it all out but had to remember that it is my health I am messing with here! Just since having it out I have had soo much more energy and feel so much better mentally and physically. And since I was used to eating so little for so long, my portions are still limited to Lean Cuisine size. I am glad I am not the only one out there and that you have had sucecss since going through this.

[yoyodieter]

Your storey is exactly the same as mine, but I Just have been living with it.. I only have 2cc but I can only tolerate few bites at a time, pb then continue. I also have not lost any weight since the last fill..(Jan.) because I never feel like I have had enough to eat so I kinda of graze all day.

I also drink alot more now than before just out of frustration.

But thanks to post like yours and Sabrinas, I finally have given my head a shake, and just scheduled an unfill for Saturday.

I thank my lucky stars that I didn't slip my band.

Sabrina I will be using your Dr. in Surrey.

I know alot of people will benifit from post like yours.

Lesson learned...MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

[labmom]

Lesson learned...MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

absolutely.

while new here - i have been banded almost 2yrs.

had to have an unfill 2 months ago due to a chest infection, which caused an aspiration cough & reflux. never had reflux before.

for the 6 wks i had nothing in my band - i had to push that plate away, i could eat double & when i went for a barium swallow to make sure all was OK; i had lost 3lbs.

i'm slowly working my way back up - because it is work w/out restriction & i NEED restriction - cause i just love food:)

getting an unfill is not the worst problem to have - having a band slip is........best take care of the problem before it gets too big:)

[CanadianBandster]

I too just got a big unfil - I was lucky and didnt have to have it all taken out. I went from 2.6 down to 1.6 and I feel sooooooooooooo much better. I didnt feel too tight after my last fill for awhile - but it seemed to get tighter and I couldnt even take a deep breath. I couldnt get down to have an unfil because of time - I have non - really- but MAKE THE TIME! I flew to TJ monday had the unfil and flew home yesturday Tuesday. I feel like a million bucks - I can breath! Even though I am doing liquids for 5 days and maalox. He said things are in place but that Im lucky too.

I feel sooooooooooo much better!

[nicolek]

Hi All

Yes Yes Yes get an unfill if you are too tight. I waited too long and lost my band,

so far I am maintaing ,but boy its hard.

[ValleyGirl]

Your storey is exactly the same as mine, but I Just have been living with it.. I only have 2cc but I can only tolerate few bites at a time, pb then continue. I also have not lost any weight since the last fill..(Jan.) because I never feel like I have had enough to eat so I kinda of graze all day.

I also drink alot more now than before just out of frustration.

But thanks to post like yours and Sabrinas, I finally have given my head a shake, and just scheduled an unfill for Saturday.

I thank my lucky stars that I didn't slip my band.

Sabrina I will be using your Dr. in Surrey.

I know alot of people will benifit from post like yours.

Lesson learned...MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

When are you coming up?

[dawns]

Wow, I have been questioning if I have been too tight since my last fill. Now I am really questioning it just reading this post. I had a fill of 1.3 knew I was too tight went back to the doc had an unfill of .3, thought I was too loose went back hoping for only a .1 fill but she put .2 back in and I have wondered all along if it was too much. I can't eat anything but a protein shake in the mornings then lunch is only about 3 bites and then I have to spit and stop eating then I have a snack later in the afternoon. For dinner I can usually get a protein in but I can't get any veggies or fruit or carbs in. So I have some kind of snack in the evening which is usually something easy to eat. But I usually have to spit almost every night with dinner also. There is no way in hell I could eat a whole lean cuisine meal. I did loose 10 pounds in the beginning of this whole fill/unfill/fill but that was in the very beginning and I have been struggling with the same 3 pounds up and down now for the last 5 weeks.

As I write and read this I am pretty much convinced that I am too tight but would love some feedback. Also I think it was Sabrina who said she can eat 3 meals now and really losing -- are you satisfied and not hungry in between the three meals? The other thing I have noticed the last couple of days is that I am sooo hungry.

Thanks for the input (but I think I know what most of you will say).

dawn

[ValleyGirl]

Wow, I have been questioning if I have been too tight since my last fill. Now I am really questioning it just reading this post. I had a fill of 1.3 knew I was too tight went back to the doc had an unfill of .3, thought I was too loose went back hoping for only a .1 fill but she put .2 back in and I have wondered all along if it was too much. I can't eat anything but a protein shake in the mornings then lunch is only about 3 bites and then I have to spit and stop eating then I have a snack later in the afternoon. For dinner I can usually get a protein in but I can't get any veggies or fruit or carbs in. So I have some kind of snack in the evening which is usually something easy to eat. But I usually have to spit almost every night with dinner also. There is no way in hell I could eat a whole lean cuisine meal. I did loose 10 pounds in the beginning of this whole fill/unfill/fill but that was in the very beginning and I have been struggling with the same 3 pounds up and down now for the last 5 weeks.

As I write and read this I am pretty much convinced that I am too tight but would love some feedback. Also I think it was Sabrina who said she can eat 3 meals now and really losing -- are you satisfied and not hungry in between the three meals? The other thing I have noticed the last couple of days is that I am sooo hungry.

Thanks for the input (but I think I know what most of you will say).

dawn

Yes, I can eat three meals a day now and lost 11 pounds in twenty days but now two of those pounds have come back- although I ate way too much on the weekend (wedding Saturday and a Sunday night buffet) so I desreved those two pounds! I can go about four hours without feeling hungry now that I'm eating nutritious foods! I can still eat more than I should (went from 3.4 cc's to 2 cc's) so I have to watch myself more which is harder but I feel better than when I was super-tight. Hope that helps.

Sabrina:)

[dawns]

Yes, I can eat three meals a day now and lost 11 pounds in twenty days but now two of those pounds have come back- although I ate way too much on the weekend (wedding Saturday and a Sunday night buffet) so I desreved those two pounds! I can go about four hours without feeling hungry now that I'm eating nutritious foods! I can still eat more than I should (went from 3.4 cc's to 2 cc's) so I have to watch myself more which is harder but I feel better than when I was super-tight. Hope that helps.

Sabrina:)

Thanks Sabrina that does help. I called the OCC today and talked with Dr. So and he confirmed my suspensions about being too tight after I told him everything that I have been doing with the food issue. I told him that I had about 3.2cc now and he said that with the 4cc band once you get up past 2.8cc you cross into the risk zone of being too tight. He told me to get to my fill doctor and have a least 1cc removed and stay on full liquids for at least 5 days. I have an appt. tomorrow for an unfill and I am in the process of getting my passport and plane tickets to go back to the OCC for a band check.

I am really thankful that this post was originated.

Thanks,

dawn

[JennHB]

I am really thankful that this post was originated.

Thanks,

dawn

Me too, I feel sooo much better since my unfill, I don't like waiting 3 weeks to go back but if it makes me better and back on track than so be it. It's nice to have this forum to share stories, here I thought I was the only one. I am glad you called OCC and had it confirmed before it was too late. You will feel sooo much better! I scheduled my re-fill for October 16th at OCC and cant wait to see what the band is actually SUPPOSED to be like.

Thanks everyone!

[dawns]

Thought I would give you all an update. I went to the doctors office that has been doing my fills and let the PA know what had been going on and what Dr. So had told me. She acted a little put out that I told her that Dr. So suggested that I have fluoro with barium to make sure my pouch looked ok and refused to do it even though it is available with the payment that I gave them. She pretty much said there was no reason to look at the pouch because it was a sure bet that I was swollen. She said that she would be able to see if I had too much fluid in the band when she put the needle in and see how much saline comes out on its own. She used a 2.5cc syringe and it immediately filled the whole syringe. She put 1cc back in and left 1.5 out. She told me to go on liquids for 4 days and to call on Monday if I am still having trouble. I asked her if she thought it should all be removed and she said no because then I would just eat and gain weight.

I am really glad I went and that she at least listened to the part about Dr. So suggesting 1cc be removed, however I left feeling like a school girl who had been called to the principles office for doing something wrong! Lesson learned. I just really hope that I haven't stretched my pouch and the swelling goes down and doesn't turn into anything worse from here. I actually think that I have been too tight since about April or May when I had my first fill with this doctors office. I will be going back down to the OCC I think around the first week of December to have everything checked out.

Again I am so thankful that you started this thread.

I did want to ask though, did they have you do liquids for a while and how long before you started feeling better? I have been so bloated the last couple weeks and I think that goes along with all this other muck of being too tight and not getting much in.

dawn

[IrishRN]

Thought I would give you all an update. I went to the doctors office that has been doing my fills and let the PA know what had been going on and what Dr. So had told me. She acted a little put out that I told her that Dr. So suggested that I have fluoro with barium to make sure my pouch looked ok and refused to do it even though it is available with the payment that I gave them. She pretty much said there was no reason to look at the pouch because it was a sure bet that I was swollen. She said that she would be able to see if I had too much fluid in the band when she put the needle in and see how much saline comes out on its own. She used a 2.5cc syringe and it immediately filled the whole syringe. She put 1cc back in and left 1.5 out. She told me to go on liquids for 4 days and to call on Monday if I am still having trouble. I asked her if she thought it should all be removed and she said no because then I would just eat and gain weight.

I am really glad I went and that she at least listened to the part about Dr. So suggesting 1cc be removed, however I left feeling like a school girl who had been called to the principles office for doing something wrong! Lesson learned. I just really hope that I haven't stretched my pouch and the swelling goes down and doesn't turn into anything worse from here. I actually think that I have been too tight since about April or May when I had my first fill with this doctors office. I will be going back down to the OCC I think around the first week of December to have everything checked out.

Again I am so thankful that you started this thread.

I did want to ask though, did they have you do liquids for a while and how long before you started feeling better? I have been so bloated the last couple weeks and I think that goes along with all this other muck of being too tight and not getting much in.

dawn

Considering you were able to get the barium with your payment and they still refused to do it would anger me. That is just pure stubborness on the PAs part and a power trip. There was no reason not to do the swallow. It is a simple procedure and does not take anymore time.

You should never had felt like you did when you left - a school girl in trouble.

Being in the medical field for so long, I have seen MD's and PA's like this all too often, these people are human and remember... they are practicing medicine.

The problem is you knew what you were talking about and they didnt like it. Dont feel like you were scolded for being right.

[CanadianBandster]

Hey Dawn - I wouldnt keep going back to that place after that. I woulda been pissed

I had my unfil from 2.6 to 1.6 - today was my first day being able to eat since then - and honestly it is the most I have been able to eat in about ohhhhhhhhh 7 months!!!!!!! I PB'd a lot. It was horrible. I think even though this 1.6 may not be my sweet spot I think it will be enough for me. Time will tell

[dawns]

Considering you were able to get the barium with your payment and they still refused to do it would anger me. That is just pure stubborness on the PAs part and a power trip. There was no reason not to do the swallow. It is a simple procedure and does not take anymore time.

You should never had felt like you did when you left - a school girl in trouble.

Being in the medical field for so long, I have seen MD's and PA's like this all too often, these people are human and remember... they are practicing medicine.

The problem is you knew what you were talking about and they didnt like it. Dont feel like you were scolded for being right.

Thanks for that. I am an RN also and I hate dealing with people in this profession who act the way she did. It is such a fine line of pretending like we only know so much and not have them think you are telling them what to do when dealing with people like her. She really was on a power trip the minute I mentioned what Dr. So suggested. But I am glad that she did the unfill. So all is good.

I am anxious to start eating on Monday to see if anything gets stuck. I am planning on doing soft food Monday and slowly progressing from there.

thanks for the support,

dawn