Frustrated BEYONd belief!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PAMMIE]

WOW, GREAT POST ROB

[MyNewLife]

OmY .....WOW! I second and third and ...that....AWESOME POST!!!!

[Mamab46]

I was banded 12-29 at OCC with the SAGB-VC band. I have had 3 fills and am upt to 7cc and still have lost no weight. I am drinking my protein, have some restriction, but still not losing weight. I am worried something is not right. Anyone else have the same band (which holds 11ccs) If so, at what point did you find your sweet spot?? How many ccs do you have and at what point did you begin to lose weight????

I completly understand your frustration, I was banded on 12/11 at the OCC, I have lost a totalof 30 lbs, but have only lost 5lbs since going on solids. I had my 2nd fill two weeks ago and am at 7.5 cc and cannot keep any solids down, every attempt to eat the smallest piece of any solid gets stuck. My diet consist of Oatmeal in the morning, soup for lunch, yougart for snack and oatmeal for dinner. I repeat still not loosing.

fill o

[Mamab46]

I was banded 12-29 at OCC with the SAGB-VC band. I have had 3 fills and am upt to 7cc and still have lost no weight. I am drinking my protein, have some restriction, but still not losing weight. I am worried something is not right. Anyone else have the same band (which holds 11ccs) If so, at what point did you find your sweet spot?? How many ccs do you have and at what point did you begin to lose weight????

I completly understand your frustration, I was banded on 12/11 at the OCC, I have lost a totalof 30 lbs, but have only lost 5lbs since going on solids. I had my 2nd fill two weeks ago and am at 7.5 cc and cannot keep any solids down, every attempt to eat the smallest piece of any solid gets stuck. My diet consist of Oatmeal in the morning, soup for lunch, yougart for snack and oatmeal for dinner. I repeat still not loosing.

[Mamab46]

I completly understand your frustration, I was banded on 12/11 at the OCC, I have lost a totalof 30 lbs, but have only lost 5lbs since going on solids. I had my 2nd fill two weeks ago and am at 7.5 cc and cannot keep any solids down, every attempt to eat the smallest piece of any solid gets stuck. My diet consist of Oatmeal in the morning, soup for lunch, yougart for snack and oatmeal for dinner. I repeat still not loosing.

[macleay]

I completly understand your frustration, I was banded on 12/11 at the OCC, I have lost a totalof 30 lbs, but have only lost 5lbs since going on solids. I had my 2nd fill two weeks ago and am at 7.5 cc and cannot keep any solids down, every attempt to eat the smallest piece of any solid gets stuck. My diet consist of Oatmeal in the morning, soup for lunch, yougart for snack and oatmeal for dinner. I repeat still not loosing.

That sounds terrible! I'm so sorry you're unable to eat solids. Here I am wanting restriction and it looks like you got that and more! Do you think maybe a slight unfill is called for? It can be difficult to lose weight if you're not getting enough calories and it sounds like you're not. And you should be able to eat solids, just not as many and very slowly.

Others with more experience in this will comment, those are just my thoughts. Hope you get it figured out and the weight loss comes!

[BrownEyedGirl]

I completly understand your frustration, I was banded on 12/11 at the OCC, I have lost a totalof 30 lbs, but have only lost 5lbs since going on solids. I had my 2nd fill two weeks ago and am at 7.5 cc and cannot keep any solids down, every attempt to eat the smallest piece of any solid gets stuck. My diet consist of Oatmeal in the morning, soup for lunch, yougart for snack and oatmeal for dinner. I repeat still not loosing.

Those sound like all the warning signs Dr. Ortiz told us about. I hope you go in to see him or some other doctor soon.

Dolittle says this in his post about getting good fills:

12. One of the most important things in determining if a fill is good is choosing proper band foods. Soft foods, liquids, junk foods, sweets, etc, will never be well-restricted, and will never tell a thing about having a good fill or not. Only solid foods give useful info.

A good test meal is 2-4 oz of solid meat or chicken - be sure it's soft and moist - and about 1/2 cup veggies. You should be able to eat about a cup of food (no less) and this should keep you satisfied for about 3-4 hrs.

here's the link:

http://www.occforum.com/index.php?showtopic=9919

[bogiesmom]

I completly understand your frustration, I was banded on 12/11 at the OCC, I have lost a totalof 30 lbs, but have only lost 5lbs since going on solids. I had my 2nd fill two weeks ago and am at 7.5 cc and cannot keep any solids down, every attempt to eat the smallest piece of any solid gets stuck. My diet consist of Oatmeal in the morning, soup for lunch, yougart for snack and oatmeal for dinner. I repeat still not loosing.

Girlfriend, I know the grass is greener but please allow me to envy you for 60 seconds...

okay, I think it is awesome you got 7.5cc total on your second fill(awesome for me not for you I guess). Did you get your second fill at the OCC? Did the OCC over fill you? Who was your fill doctor? That seems weird becuase they have been fill stingy with me...hmmmm. Would you mind PMing me so we can take this off-line? I want to compare notes with you and pick your brain if you don't mind.

It sounds like to me that you are slightly over filled and B: your not getting enough calories and your body has gone into starvation mode.

PM me please.

[AngieB]

Girlfriend, I know the grass is greener but please allow me to envy you for 60 seconds...

okay, I think it is awesome you got 7.5cc total on your second fill(awesome for me not for you I guess). Did you get your second fill at the OCC? Did the OCC over fill you? Who was your fill doctor? That seems weird becuase they have been fill stingy with me...hmmmm. Would you mind PMing me so we can take this off-line? I want to compare notes with you and pick your brain if you don't mind.

It sounds like to me that you are slightly over filled and B: your not getting enough calories and your body has gone into starvation mode.

PM me please.

Hey B - do you watch the barium swallow, when you get your fills? I've watched all my fills closely. Mostly because I have found it very interesting. The barium should be slowed but not held up.

This video shows a good fill. Watch the barium. See how it flows.....has your been similar? The reason I ask this is because I've not heard anyone say the OCC is fill stingy. I myself don't get my fills there, so I have no first hand knowledge, but it seems strange to me. Also, the last time we spoke before your fill previous to todays, you had mentioned you had considered asking them, the OCC, to go easy on you. What did you decide to do? Did you ask them to be conservative? If you did, maybe that is why you feel like you do??

[Red]

I too started out with a lower BMI than some. I only had a total of @60 lbs to lose, but couldn't do it myself, so I was banded with the 11cc band last July. I lost slowly, but consistently until December, then hit a major stall. I have 6.5ccs after 2 fills and 1 slight unfill. Only today, almost 3 months later, has the scale gone down another 3 pounds. HALLILUJAH! It is frustrating, but I believe the people with lower BMIs lose much slower. I am very happy I got banded as it helps me tremendously to eat much less than I used to. I have 25 pounds to go and I know I will get there eventually. So hang in there. Walk or dance or find something you like to do that gets you moving. Work with the band. It works if you work it! Best of success to all.

[BrownEyedGirl]

I too started out with a lower BMI than some. I only had a total of @60 lbs to lose, but couldn't do it myself, so I was banded with the 11cc band last July. I lost slowly, but consistently until December, then hit a major stall.

I thought I read somewhere that those with lower BMI's can plateau for longer periods. I could be wrong though. But anyway, congrats on your successes! I can't wait until I'm 20lbs down.. then 30.. then 40.. then 50.. then SKINNY!

[Aliveat55]

I was banded 12-29 at OCC with the SAGB-VC band. I have had 3 fills and am upt to 7cc and still have lost no weight. I am drinking my protein, have some restriction, but still not losing weight. I am worried something is not right. Anyone else have the same band (which holds 11ccs) If so, at what point did you find your sweet spot?? How many ccs do you have and at what point did you begin to lose weight????

[bogiesmom]

Hey B - do you watch the barium swallow, when you get your fills? I've watched all my fills closely. Mostly because I have found it very interesting. The barium should be slowed but not held up.

This video shows a good fill. Watch the barium. See how it flows.....has your been similar? The reason I ask this is because I've not heard anyone say the OCC is fill stingy. I myself don't get my fills there, so I have no first hand knowledge, but it seems strange to me. Also, the last time we spoke before your fill previous to todays, you had mentioned you had considered asking them, the OCC, to go easy on you. What did you decide to do? Did you ask them to be conservative? If you did, maybe that is why you feel like you do??

Angie,

Thank God you asked. Sometime I take things for granted that since I am thinking about something I figure everyone else has esp and can tell what I am thinking. Here is the deal, I have been watching the barium on all three fills. The first 2 fills the barium went down quick, no issues. I felt like saying something but I thought, no don't say anything, you are not an x-ray tech and they are. The 3rd fill I noticed that the barium was not going anywhere at 1cc. Dr. So was going to give me .5cc but I pushed him to give me a little more and he only gave me 0.6cc and I think in reality I needed 0.75cc on the last fill. No the OCC is definately fill stingy compared with docs in the US ... Mandy got her first fill today at 6cc in North Carolina and I have read on other boards that people with the 11cc band getting nice big fills like 5cc at a time at other places. I got a few tricks up my sleeve though when I go back to the OCC this week though so we will see if it makes a difference in getting a good fill.

[Mamab46]

Girlfriend, I know the grass is greener but please allow me to envy you for 60 seconds...

okay, I think it is awesome you got 7.5cc total on your second fill(awesome for me not for you I guess). Did you get your second fill at the OCC? Did the OCC over fill you? Who was your fill doctor? That seems weird becuase they have been fill stingy with me...hmmmm. Would you mind PMing me so we can take this off-line? I want to compare notes with you and pick your brain if you don't mind.

It sounds like to me that you are slightly over filled and B: your not getting enough calories and your body has gone into starvation mode.

PM me please.

I don't know how to pm, can you explain?

[bogiesmom]

Girlfriend, I know the grass is greener but please allow me to envy you for 60 seconds...

okay, I think it is awesome you got 7.5cc total on your second fill(awesome for me not for you I guess). Did you get your second fill at the OCC? Did the OCC over fill you? Who was your fill doctor? That seems weird becuase they have been fill stingy with me...hmmmm. Would you mind PMing me so we can take this off-line? I want to compare notes with you and pick your brain if you don't mind.

It sounds like to me that you are slightly over filled and B: your not getting enough calories and your body has gone into starvation mode.

PM me please.

I don't know how to pm, can you explain?

No worries, I am PMing you now and you can just reply

[Aliveat55]

I was banded on 12/4/09 and have just had my third fill. I have the 11cc band. I am now at 6cc. I have yet to really feel restriction and have had -0- weight loss. Very disheartening. But I think I am going to follow closely the recommendation of so many in this blog to be exact in how I eat and what I eat. What makes me crazy is that friends of mine who have been banded are restricted to the point that they have to do the right thing. The band won't let them eat any sizeable meal. I want that kind of restriction. I hope this time I get to feel what restriction is supposed to feel like!

[bogiesmom]

I was banded on 12/4/09 and have just had my third fill. I have the 11cc band. I am now at 6cc. I have yet to really feel restriction and have had -0- weight loss. Very disheartening. But I think I am going to follow closely the recommendation of so many in this blog to be exact in how I eat and what I eat. What makes me crazy is that friends of mine who have been banded are restricted to the point that they have to do the right thing. The band won't let them eat any sizeable meal. I want that kind of restriction. I hope this time I get to feel what restriction is supposed to feel like!

Where did you have your fills? What size bands do your friends have? How many cc's are in their bands? Have you tried www.thedailyplate.com for tracking? I think there are acouple other tracking programs that others here use as well that may help you until you get restriction. Maybe some others can chime in with suggestions of programs they use.

[AmberStarrC]

I was banded in October 2009. It has been 6 months and I have lost only 15 lbs. I too am frustrated beyond belief. There are days when I hate myself for spending sooooo much of our hard earned money on this monster in my stomach. My husband is in the Army- he goes to war to pay for things like my lap-band and I have tremendous guilt over this. I am working on my relationship with the band, but am having lots of regret and remorse. I have had 2 fills that totaled 5.5 cc's in an 11 cc band. When I went to my last appt, my fill doc actually did an unfill of .5 cc's putting me down to 5cc's I had lots of vomiting with solids, food constantly stuck and still with all this, no weight loss. I have even had my primary care doctor (who would not refer me for bariatric surgery because I had a bmi of 39.5 not 40 and was only prediabetic) refer me to a specialist to ultimately remove my band. Well, I couldn't go to the specialist because the thought of giving up so soon was awful - I feel like this is my last hope for permanent weight loss and a real life. So, at a recent appt with my primary care doctor, the woman looked me right in the eye and said, "I spoke to the gastroentologist, you know the specialist, you saw and he told me that you were not losing weight with the band because you are consuming a high number of liquid calories." My doctor lied to me. She looked me right in the eye and lied to me. She assumed that I was sabotaging myself, because I'm fat and after all that's what fat people do right. I never saw a specialist or anyone else about my band, but as I'm learning if you don't have success with the band it's your fault. My fill doctor does the same thing to me. He assumes I am drinking calories. I AM NOT DRINKING CALORIES. I have never been a calorie drinker. I used to drink diet coke (yes I know no calories) but I even stopped doing that since I have read that some artificial sweeteners actually make you crave sweets. My fill doctor even gave me a "Weight Loss Report Card"- I failed. He noted that I need to work on my soft calories. Okay. Every day I have a protein shake in the morning and for lunch since I cannot swallow anything before about 6 pm. The protein shakes I drink are super low carb, I believe 3 net carbs total/110 calories/2g fat. Then for dinner I try to eat a lean protein and a steamed vegetable. If I cut my meat into very very small pieces and chew for a ridiculous amount of time, it goes down ok. I don't eat ice cream. I don't eat sugar. I'm exercising as much as possible. Brisk walking on a steep incline or the eliptical and some weights. Usually only 4x per week and yes I know I need to step it up with the exercise, but I have a baby and am always so tired. I know what it's like to be frustrated beyond belief. When I read a post on this forum that said someone had lost 86 lbs in 4 months, I literally wanted to punch myself in the face. I do not understand why the band hasn't worked for me. I do not understand why the band works for some so well and not at all for others. I'm sitting at 200 lbs. I have to fight to not gain every day.

[bogiesmom]

I was banded in October 2009. It has been 6 months and I have lost only 15 lbs. I too am frustrated beyond belief. There are days when I hate myself for spending sooooo much of our hard earned money on this monster in my stomach. My husband is in the Army- he goes to war to pay for things like my lap-band and I have tremendous guilt over this. I am working on my relationship with the band, but am having lots of regret and remorse. I have had 2 fills that totaled 5.5 cc's in an 11 cc band. When I went to my last appt, my fill doc actually did an unfill of .5 cc's putting me down to 5cc's I had lots of vomiting with solids, food constantly stuck and still with all this, no weight loss. I have even had my primary care doctor (who would not refer me for bariatric surgery because I had a bmi of 39.5 not 40 and was only prediabetic) refer me to a specialist to ultimately remove my band. Well, I couldn't go to the specialist because the thought of giving up so soon was awful - I feel like this is my last hope for permanent weight loss and a real life. So, at a recent appt with my primary care doctor, the woman looked me right in the eye and said, "I spoke to the gastroentologist, you know the specialist, you saw and he told me that you were not losing weight with the band because you are consuming a high number of liquid calories." My doctor lied to me. She looked me right in the eye and lied to me. She assumed that I was sabotaging myself, because I'm fat and after all that's what fat people do right. I never saw a specialist or anyone else about my band, but as I'm learning if you don't have success with the band it's your fault. My fill doctor does the same thing to me. He assumes I am drinking calories. I AM NOT DRINKING CALORIES. I have never been a calorie drinker. I used to drink diet coke (yes I know no calories) but I even stopped doing that since I have read that some artificial sweeteners actually make you crave sweets. My fill doctor even gave me a "Weight Loss Report Card"- I failed. He noted that I need to work on my soft calories. Okay. Every day I have a protein shake in the morning and for lunch since I cannot swallow anything before about 6 pm. The protein shakes I drink are super low carb, I believe 3 net carbs total/110 calories/2g fat. Then for dinner I try to eat a lean protein and a steamed vegetable. If I cut my meat into very very small pieces and chew for a ridiculous amount of time, it goes down ok. I don't eat ice cream. I don't eat sugar. I'm exercising as much as possible. Brisk walking on a steep incline or the eliptical and some weights. Usually only 4x per week and yes I know I need to step it up with the exercise, but I have a baby and am always so tired. I know what it's like to be frustrated beyond belief. When I read a post on this forum that said someone had lost 86 lbs in 4 months, I literally wanted to punch myself in the face. I do not understand why the band hasn't worked for me. I do not understand why the band works for some so well and not at all for others. I'm sitting at 200 lbs. I have to fight to not gain every day.

Amber,

I feel for you girlfriend! We may not share the same political affiliations & views but I am frustrated with you every step of the way I am so glad to read about your journey. Bottom line is we are all different and some of us just are slow loosers with a lot of f'ing plateaus in between the SLLLLOOOW weight loss. I came across a youtube video tonight that I wanted to share and you are my inspiration for sharing and I hope you get the oppertunity to watch this video and the rest of Renee's videos when you find those negative voices offer you feedback. Renee's Journey

[ValleyGirl]

I was banded in October 2009. It has been 6 months and I have lost only 15 lbs. I too am frustrated beyond belief. There are days when I hate myself for spending sooooo much of our hard earned money on this monster in my stomach. My husband is in the Army- he goes to war to pay for things like my lap-band and I have tremendous guilt over this. I am working on my relationship with the band, but am having lots of regret and remorse. I have had 2 fills that totaled 5.5 cc's in an 11 cc band. When I went to my last appt, my fill doc actually did an unfill of .5 cc's putting me down to 5cc's I had lots of vomiting with solids, food constantly stuck and still with all this, no weight loss. I have even had my primary care doctor (who would not refer me for bariatric surgery because I had a bmi of 39.5 not 40 and was only prediabetic) refer me to a specialist to ultimately remove my band. Well, I couldn't go to the specialist because the thought of giving up so soon was awful - I feel like this is my last hope for permanent weight loss and a real life. So, at a recent appt with my primary care doctor, the woman looked me right in the eye and said, "I spoke to the gastroentologist, you know the specialist, you saw and he told me that you were not losing weight with the band because you are consuming a high number of liquid calories." My doctor lied to me. She looked me right in the eye and lied to me. She assumed that I was sabotaging myself, because I'm fat and after all that's what fat people do right. I never saw a specialist or anyone else about my band, but as I'm learning if you don't have success with the band it's your fault. My fill doctor does the same thing to me. He assumes I am drinking calories. I AM NOT DRINKING CALORIES. I have never been a calorie drinker. I used to drink diet coke (yes I know no calories) but I even stopped doing that since I have read that some artificial sweeteners actually make you crave sweets. My fill doctor even gave me a "Weight Loss Report Card"- I failed. He noted that I need to work on my soft calories. Okay. Every day I have a protein shake in the morning and for lunch since I cannot swallow anything before about 6 pm. The protein shakes I drink are super low carb, I believe 3 net carbs total/110 calories/2g fat. Then for dinner I try to eat a lean protein and a steamed vegetable. If I cut my meat into very very small pieces and chew for a ridiculous amount of time, it goes down ok. I don't eat ice cream. I don't eat sugar. I'm exercising as much as possible. Brisk walking on a steep incline or the eliptical and some weights. Usually only 4x per week and yes I know I need to step it up with the exercise, but I have a baby and am always so tired. I know what it's like to be frustrated beyond belief. When I read a post on this forum that said someone had lost 86 lbs in 4 months, I literally wanted to punch myself in the face. I do not understand why the band hasn't worked for me. I do not understand why the band works for some so well and not at all for others. I'm sitting at 200 lbs. I have to fight to not gain every day.

Amber, I know it's hard to see other people losing faster than you but 15 pounds in 6 months is okay...more than half a pound per week. I've seen many people get to goal at this pace, it just takes longer but you will get there! And when you do, you will likely STAY there! Stay positive. I swear, some days I have "willed" this weight off, lol. You deserve it, your baby deserves a healthy, happy mom. Kiss that guilt good-bye.

Sabrina:)