Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Is my band too tight?



Recommended Posts

I have had my band for 18 months, I live in the UK. I have hardly lost any weight, 12lbs. I had a fill 2 days ago to take me to 7.5 mls in my 10ml band. I can't eat, don't feel hungry (????) but I can't really drink much either. I can sip liquids. Warm liquids are easier. If I take more than a sip, I get pain, hick ups and belch. How long should I wait before assuming that it is now too tight? I have never been in this position and have never really felt that the band was working for me. I don't want to 'cry wolf' if I just need to stick to sipping for a few days. Is this how you feel when entering the green zone? I accept the stomach will be irritated after a fill, how long should I allow it to calm down? It's about time it started to work for me but should it be this difficult at this stage? Any advice will be greatly appreciated right now my band aider friends.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sounds a lot like my experience with my last and final fill....

After a week of not being able to eat anything solid, I called my Dr.

He talked me into waiting it out....it took me a month to get used to it and everything to settle out. the more I tried to eat, the more irritated and tight the band remained...

But keep in mind, my Dr. knows ME...Knows my bad habits...Knows what I needed to change about myself if I wanted the band to work. So he may not give the same advice to all his patients.

BTW, over 4 years later, and there are still days I have to sip Water...especially first thing in the morning....get that infamous gurgling sound. I can never gulp Water down...I can never drink fast.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you soooooooo much B52! I read your response earlier today in a quiet moment at work. Things have improved very slightly. By midday I had managed 1/4 cup of juice. In the afternoon I managed a large cup of clear beef stock over three hours and then this evening I have managed 2 cups of Water. I am hopeful that I don't get reflux in bed tonight. If I survive.....my plan is to stick to clear fluids for a few more days. At least I'm not going to dehydrate now. I realise now that for 18 months my band has not been allowed by me to work for me. Now I have an adjustment that takes me closer to what I had the band fitted for in the first place. I feel more confident to persevere with it now. Thanks very much from bigbandbetty in the UK :-)))))))

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sounds to me like you have too much Fluid in your band. You HAVE to eat!! I would definitely call your Dr. and see if they can take a little out. 7.5mil in a 10mil band is a lot. Did you drink Water after your fill, before you left the Dr.s office? That should have told you right away if you were too tight. You cannot live on fluids, but if that's what you are going to do, make sure you are drinking Protein drinks!! You don't want to loose all your sources for Vitamins and you have to have Protein. Good luck!! I just got a fill last week (.3 to a total of 6.1) and am having a lot of heartburn. May have to have .1 taken out. Trying so hard to gret in the green zone. Not easy, but too much invested to quit. Take care.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks TXDebbi. Just trying to drink my first warm drink of the day. Three sips and pain in the holding pouch area with each sip like yesterday morning. One bout of reflux in the night. So that's an improvement. Things got better as the day progressed yesterday. My surgery package has support for me in a 24hr helpline included & I know that they will recommend a downward adjustment from what I am learning from my friends on Bariatric Pal. If I can get fluids down and keep them down without reflux or pain, I will push on for a few days more. If I can stand it. I'll call the help, one and discuss the situation too. We can't access our Doctor. I will let you know what the help line operative suggests........

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, it's bedtime. I have managed to drink fluids all day. I have just had some Natural Ketosis almond oats. This has, I think, passed my pouch. No pain. Small glass of Water, down. Maybe I will survive. Maybe my band has taught me a lesson. It's work tomorrow for me. Thanks for all your help so far. I will post tomorrow and let you know how I get on overnight. Fingers crossed. post-150647-14252471473444_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The last 11 days have been very difficult. I am managing fluids and just about managing a Protein Shake. Finally the restriction is there. No hunger at all but not a chance of eating anything solid, even really well chewed solids. I have reflux at night.mi can't eat at all until mid afternoon (even then it's only Soup or a Protein shake) I have an appointment on 21st March with my Bariatric nurse. I am expecting an aspiration to reduce the mls. I won't be sorry even though this is the first time I gave felt restriction and list weight since the fitting. Good? Bad? Not sure. I think it'd too tight at the minute. I am hydrated which is the main thing..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Bigbandbetty, all sounds too familiar, who are you attending, I'm in the UK too.

I had a tough time like you're describing a couple of years back and was miserable, I ended up getting my band emptied which I now regret (I'm now 4st heavier than my starting weight) sometime 0.1ml can make all the difference but you'll need to give everything time to heal as you've been sick etc. everything will be inflamed.

I got a fill for the first time again 2 weeks ago, I felt it tight in the beginning and was slightly panicked but now 2 weeks on I've managed fillet steak, veg & potatoes for dinner, albeit it was 3oz of steak & it took me half an hour to eat but it was 'normal' food. I'm going to need another fill as I'm feeling hungry in between meals but I won't be going too far this time round, slowly slowly does it.

Good luck and hope you get on ok with you're un fill & you feel better soon.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Another Brit here. You sound way too tight. I am paranoid about being too tight - I think that is part of the reason I still have my band after nine years!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×