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Hi, I’ve been banded since 2012. It was slow at first with no restriction and needed allot of fill. I finally got to a good place but added a little more and it got too tight but I loved the rapid weight loss . I lost about 100 pounds and then starting to infill they found a slip took out most fluid and weight started going up. Then they found another slip ( I had no idea). This was in May and they took all the fluid out and have been slowly filling. As soon as it was out my body’s digestion seemed different. I never had gas and as soon as I would eat anything I would have gas. I’ve been really watching what I eat and volume plus increased exercise to walk/jog 3 mikes most days. The weight is just coming on line gang busters. I feel like where is it coming from is every calories eat is being stored to fat. My stomach doesn’t hurt but it just looks so big like it’s bloated. I’m getting so depressed. Just had another fill which I’m at 6.5 and still don’t think feel anything (possibly a little). Has anyone had similar body reactions? I’m not normally a gassy person and I didn’t have it after first slip but they didn’t take all out. I know I have or did have insulin resistance when I was at high weights. I am so sick of this body I said I would never go to again!!

Hello, I have been banded for 4 years with highly exceeding my expectations getting to a weight (123lb) I did not think I'd ever see again after 2 years. It wasn't always easy as the first 9 months I didn't feel restriction even though my surgeon was aggressive with the fills. Then when I started to get some restriction I filled at one point too tight. I then slowly had unfills mainly due to reflux. Not eating much, not being hungry and not eating some of my killer foods like bread, Pasta, and Diet Coke was great. It was the reason I did this in the first place. After a last unfill a year ago which gave great relief to the reflux I thought I was basically in the green. I had some heartburn but nothing a tums couldn't cure . The last year I ate small meals and got full fast and was happy that I could closely maintain the loss within about 5lb. I just had the annual check up and they looked at the band with fluro and found it slipped and a pretty large pouch (well not sure how large ) above the band. They took 2cc out not the whole band like I usually read and said come back in 6 weeks to check if the slip repositioned and could start doing fills. So I have a few questions as everything I read sounds like a slip has to be fixed with surgery. What is chance it can recover with the 2cc unfil? I will say that has taken care of the heartburn but I am hungrier although there is restriction. I am feeling though like my weight will start creeping up but I'm watching it and trying to get more exercise in. This was my fear with it and that it was a foreign object in my body so how long can that stay. I was self pay and I figured lowest risk and lowest priced would be best but pretty much immediately after even though I had no complications and was doing great after a few days thought I should have paid the extra 5k for the sleeve. Anyhow I was wondering about success repositioning without surgery?? Is there anything I can do at this point to help like go on liquid diet etc. Dr didn't mention surgery at all but I'm sure it's a we'll cross the bridge when it's time. I really don't want to do that and it's been great and what I absolutely need. I see food now and people eating and wonder how they eat all that and how I easily ate all that . It is the best decision I've made for my health but trying not to pay double every four years. Any stories or suggestions welcome ! Thanks Cyndi Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Update - I did go in and the slip resolved itself. It's so hard for me to read the X-rays as much as I'm trying to! I like to know what it looks like and when it's not right. They said they don't do a full unfill unless bad. With smaller slips they take some out like mine so not all the restriction goes away. They put .25 cc back in. He thought it looked to slow at .50. I think it's ok. It's not as restricted and I'm hungry more (don't like). I really am not eating more but I'm worried as my weight is rising. I learned one thing . I prefer very tight. I'm going to try and loose or maintain at least and it I can't will ask for another .25. The unfill did resolve the heartburn almost completely. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Wow yea that's bad. Thanks for the reply. Hoping for best outcome but will deal with whatever. I just kind of feel like I made wrong decision and should have opted for sleeve. Even if this is ok , I'll be shocked if I don't have some problem down the road. I wanted this for the rest of my life. I feel like the low % quotes from dr on complications is not probably accurate. If he had said 25% chance another surgery or won't last forever (which I did ask ) I would have gone the other way. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

No you do. I whole heartedly agree with that. You really get to know your body and stomach well in this procedure . I love that I really knew what I could and couldn't eat and just one bite of something that just isn't agreeing you learn to stop. I would call it a slip with little or no symptoms (at least in my mind but I realize I prob like the band on the tight side) which sounds rare from the boards . Sounds like usually people go in as they are having problems. You poor girl. I think I have your kind of luck though. Lo. I'm glad you were ok. That would totally freak me out. Oh man! On my unfills that I requested which were about 3 when it was too tight at least I didn't get pushback. I knew I was losing weight fast but calorie intake was so low and I was rarely hungry and a bite would take it away. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for the reply . So when you did it the first time did it go back into place by itself? The second time not and you had surgery to reposition? Also is reposition surgery cheaper then the original if you know? I am worried of the cost of all this but even going to debt I think it's worth it in the long run for me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for reply. Yea I was so worried when it took so much to feel restriction. Once I felt it though at I think 10 it was a fine line and very little between too tight and ok. I don't know why I'm scared to ask him why he didn't unfill all like I've read as it was definitely on my mind but he and the PA didn't seem to flinch like it was normal protocol just taking out a few. He's a respected GI in a big bariatric practice doing mostly WLS so I think I was worried questioning him but I should have to see why that's his philosophy. Cyndi I will ask. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks yes I think I've only read of a complete unfil too so not sure why his philosophy is different. It is now at 7.6 of a 11cc realize band. I'm worried it won't look any different. The barium seemed to go down just fine. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm interested too in what others say. I had my band in 2012 and have been very successful losing 95lb but I like you went through back and forth of fills. It took allot of fill for me to feel restriction and then it was too tight and slowly let some out each time. Now for the last year I thought it was fine but they imaged it and it's slipped. I don't have really any symptoms. They took 2 cc out and I guess it goes back into place allot. I am praying it does. I was self pay too and I don't want to deal with what that would cost. I feel like I knew this would happen and after the surgery I really wished I had gotten the sleeve so I didn't have something foreign in my body. It just seems like too many things can occur with something that shouldn't be there normally. Anyhow, I'm curious what others say. Good luck to you.

Hi, I was feeling great with the restriction and amount I would eat and stay not hungry. I then started having some reflux issues when I laid down and dr found it was too tight. He removed .5cc and fixed reflux overnight but I feel like can eat too much and more importantly hate the hungry feeling. Anyhow those that are in green I wondered if it's literally like a .1 or .2cc difference to be there? It seems like .5cc isn't that much out but it seems like making big difference. I forget how much I have in my band (realize) but it's within a few cc of capacity. I had no restriction until it got pretty high. I'm going to ask for a fill for sure but appt isn't for 8 weeks. I thought I'd see how well I can battle and stick to it but if weight goes up I'll call in for earlier fill. Thanks much just curious how when close is it literally for you a big difference at small increments of .1cc? Cyndi

Hi, Glad to hear it's better after seeing Dr. It's funny as I posted almost exact same thing a few weeks back..I felt better immediately after unfill. This is what I posted after. Oh yea I was also on a girls weekend and drinking a little wine too.. I think that made it worse:) I asked him to do flora to look at it. I was very tight (as I expected ) and the drink went down really slow. He said above band looked agitated so took .5 cc out and prescribed antacid but it stopped that night so haven't taken any med. Now though I don't eat too much but getting hungrier quickly so worried. I'll give it a few weeks but if gain will go back and ask him to put .1 or .2 back. Take care

Thanks for reply. I asked him to do flora to look at it. I was very tight (as I expected ) and the drink went down really slow. He said above band looked agitated so took .5 cc out and prescribed antacid but it stopped that night so haven't taken any med. Now though I don't eat too much but getting hungrier quickly so worried. I'll give it a few weeks but if gain will go back and ask him to put .1 or .2 back.

Hi, I've been banded almost 18 months. I think I'm in my green zone and pretty tight now. I feel all is working well but I've noticed now when I go to bed (many hours after dinner) I gurgle and have burpy gas for quite a while (maybe hour.. Haven't really timed it) which keeps me up. It's not painful but I worry it can lead to slippage or if only happens if too tight. Only happens when I'm laying down and kind of weird to me as I would think food is well past my stomach by then (could see if right after meal). Anyone have insight or experience this or if normal? Thanks

Hi, You look great and congrats!.. It hit home as I had surgery about a week before you and am now in a 14 too (I think I'm allot shorter though at 5'1"). I would say most of mine has been in the last 6 months as I didn't get restriction until then. All through winter I wore my old clothing as they got looser but I didn't think loose enough to get new clothing. In summer I decided to try some new clothing but didn't think the 14 would fit but they do. I feel like my sizes are more like 20lb between instead of 10-15 for others. I don't weigh myself often as always scared to get depressed and I'm happy if I can loose .5-1lb a week. I'm so working it and feel like the band is really helping now but have to make good decisions which are not always so easy or food not available. I find it amazing how some foods I can eat two bites and be so done and others I feel like I can eat quite a bit of. Good job and I'm right there with you .. fighting the battle but for once I think I have a tool that can really help me and I think it's possible.

You will know. For me feels like something stuck in throat but really in stomach. As soon as you take a bite and feel uncomfortable make sure to stop until goes away or will be worse. Drinking makes worse too. I have an 11cc band too and have 10.5. I didn't feel much until 10 and still not green zone but everyone is different:)

Wow you look great! You look so much younger. I think the weight off really does take age off. I wish could blow up profile pics as so tiny on my feeble eyes:) but I still can tell amazing difference. I am at my 6 month mark today and its been slow at close to 30lb. Just starting to maybe get some restriction but would be thrilled to get 40 off and be 10-20 from goal at one year mark. Congrats again.. Love the new you!!

I had 4, 4, 2, and just .5 in a 11cc realize band. I worry as can still eat allot of some foods. Helps hunger somewhat but not feeling green (not 100% what that is either and hoping to find) I guess realize band is softer which can be different.

If they do under flouro I don't know why they don't do more. They can see how fluid is moving through. I have had two 4cc each (although he says it doesn't really equal 8.. Not sure what that means) I still don't feel restriction. Some are more aggressive then others. I'm hoping next fill will feel. I know all are different. It's frusturating to me to think I have that much and nothing. It scares me to think if I had one of those conservative dr I would be well over a year and nothing. Good luck.

Hi, I was banded 4/20 and feel your pain. I'm down 25 and my surgeon has been aggressive with fills at 4cc and another 4cc and still don't really feel restriction and no intolerances. He says it's not really 8cc but not sure what that means. It seems like when I do eat though I stay full longer but still feel like I can eat way too much and have to try to limit myself on own. Anyhow I pray next fill in 3 weeks will do more for me. I'm glad he's aggressive as 8cc on allot of people could take a year. So you are not alone.

Hi, I just got my second fill and was 4cc under flora. The first was 4cc and absolutely no restriction. The Dr. said it was pretty aggressive but I trust he knows what he's doing since watching under flora. I was nervous as feeling really hungry on liquids and ate a little tonight (fill was yesterday). I think it will provide some restriction.. at least hoping. Anyone else have pretty aggressive Dr. like that? I'm scared if I don't feel as there is only 11cc total. I know some have to get up there to feel. The thought of what if I get to 11cc and don't feel..ugg. Although I don't really read that on here that people max out. I did say to the Dr. that means I have 8cc right and he said well the initial really doesn't count or something to the effect it's not really that much. Not exactly sure what he meant. Cyndi

That's good to know. I didn't know there were 14 cc bands. I had only heard of 10 and 11 ones and the older ones were really small like 4 (not sure how all that worked but sounds like it did.. must be different technology with the band type).

Yea it would drive me nuts if it was 1 cc at a time and it took so far up there to go. Seems like since they can see in the flora how at least liquid is going down it's fairly safe to go aggressive. He put some in me then tested then went and refilled it and seemed happier the second time that it was slowing down on the xray.

You mean spotting like your menstruating? I have opposite problem. I had surgery 4/20 and have not had a period. I think the surgery really did mess with the hormones.

Hi 4/20's and all. I've lost 21 but very slow. Feel no restriction at all. I think even less after first fill if that's even possible ! Next one should be next week so looking forward to it. I'm trying to stay on diet but definetly slip but trying to not just let the slips go into slides. Also got hurt working out 3 weeks ago but now at about 90% so looking forward to getting it going again. Funny before surgery guess skipped the bandster hell posts but totally get it now. I still believe this will help me it's just going to take time. Hope all are doing well. Cyndi