jrae

I was having similar problems like you. Even tho I didn't want an unfill because i was afraid of gaining more weight, my NEW dr insisted I have one. Then slowly my dr added fluid & low & behold I started losing finally! I was too tight to keep down good solid protein so of course I was starving & hungry & eating sliders - which make you feel like you have no restriction. It's a vicious cycle! Try getting some fluid out then follow the program: protein first, then veggies, then carbs. Drink 8-12 glasses of water. Walk or do something active 30 minutes a day. Don't give up. No one was more shocked than I was that getting fluid out would actually make me lose the weight! Good luck.

You sound so discouraged! It's so hard to keep going when you aren't losing! I've seen it over & over on this site where people lose 30-50 lbs in the 1st year without too much effort, then they stop losing & struggle & give up. Are you on my fitness pal? Try logging your food- you may be surprised at how many calories you are eating. Also get enough protein - at least 60-80 grams. Drink water! Try for 1 week to follow the plan. If you do you'll lose 1-2 lbs. which is normal. Good luck! :-)

I agree. You are too tight & need a tiny bit of fluid taken out. You won't lose weight eating sliders- chocolate & biscuits etc. you need good solid protein. It's seems common that for no foreseeable reason the band tightens up. I've been going along fine & then out of the blue, I can't keep down things I ate the day before! Don't put it off- work out a payment plan & see a dr. Good luck! :-)

It sounds like you had a horrible & traumatic experience! I always had problems like you are describing - keeping down water in the office but then even tho I was on liquids- tightening up & not being able to keep down water! It's sooo frustrating! Try scheduling your fill early in the week, then if there's an issue, your dr will be in the office. Also try 1 cc at a time. Good luck -hope you feel better! :-)

You think you are not getting acid in your pouch? Guess again- you are even tho you don't taste it when you pb! Your esophagus will eventually start dilating & you will get acid in your pouch. The first sign is tiny swirls of red when you pb & then it will progress to barfing coffee grounds. Trust me- been there done that. If you have a realize band it may be that .1 cc fills will have an effect! Not a typo- 1/10th of a cc! My band is 11ccs & I am in green with 3ccs. Anything over is too tight. Good luck.

Get some out! I have 3ccs in 11cc band & I am in green zone. It's just a #- go by how you feel.

I think if you have "night cough" you are still too tight!!! You won't over eat if you are getting enough solid protein & drinking enough water. There's that "5 day pouch test" diet people do to start over. You may try that. I only have 3ccs in an 11cc band & I am in the green zone. So don't let the # of ccs dictate whether you get more fills. Talk to your dr. Good luck.

I started over too- had a bad dr - was too tight. Lots of damage to my esophagus & hernia. I was unfilled for a few months then new awesome Dr slowly added fills. During this time I started using myfitnesspal & logging all my food. That was my eye opener. I didn't want to count calories but it's the way I lose so I resigned myself to it. I have hypothyroidism too & slow metabolism but the weight is coming off slowly but surely. I look at it like a lifestyle now, not a diet. Good luck & don't give up. You have to work at it but the band will help control your hunger as long as its not too tight & you can keep down solid protein & veggies. :-)

I really like what Miss said. I'm compliant about 90% of the time too. At first when I'd give in to a craving I'd think "this is it! It's over! I've ruined it & now I'm going to fall off the wagon" but then the next meal or next day or so I'd find I wanted to eat healthily & the craving was gone. Now do I run for the fridge when I see a tv commercial about food? No. I try to fight those. But when I can't stop thinking about a certain chocolate with a caramel center I know it's better to just eat it and get back on track. :-)

Green zone is that wonderful place where your band is neither too tight or too loose but just right! It can be hard to achieve but you know when you are there- you can go 3-4 hours without hunger or even thinking of food. You can keep down solid protein- meat- & veggies without vomiting or sliming or pain. 1 cup of food is satisfying- I am NOT saying "stuffed"- you are satisfied. Stuck is what happens when you don't show your band respect- you eat too fast, bite is too big, or it's a difficult food to process like pizza or dry meat. It starts to hurt, feels like you swallowed a rock or need to burp. As it progresses it makes you sweaty, stomach churns, mouth fills with saliva, chest pressure, sharp pain & nausea. Sometimes it will pass on its own. Sometimes you will vomit suddenly & unexpectedly. It's awful but it teaches you to slow down & pay attention to your food. Hope this helps. Good luck! :-)

It sounds like you are living on "sliders". Your band is probably too tight. You are probably hungry so you think it's too loose but it's actually the opposite. If you are so restricted you can't keep down solid protein you won't feel satiation. Listen to your dr. Read the threads in "complications" & you'll see the long term problems a too tight band can cause Trust me - you will feel so much better. Good luck.

Do you like fish? Try tuna & salmon in pouch or can. Fresh or frozen fish in pouch you can grill, steam or pan saute in a little butter or oil. Cottage cheese, eggs, string cheese, yougurt, edamame, chicken, beef & pork are all good sources of Protein. Just make sure meat & chicken are moist- add broth to them after cooking. Your band can be tight and you will still be hungry if you can't keep down solid protein!

You should be able to eat any bread as long as it's toasted. I just feel better not eating bread so I don't. You'll just have to experiment & find a brand you like. If I want a "sandwhich" I have a lettuce wrap- romaine is perfect for it! Good luck.

Listen to miss & elcee. Their advice is the best you are going to get!

You may be surprised at some calorie counts! My fitness pal opened my eyes! Did you know a small milkshake at in & out burger is 580 calories! A frozen margarita is 550! I thought I knew a lot but I was wrong! :-) good luck!

Do you use my fitness pal? Try logging all your food. Get enough protein, water & try to exercise. You may have just gone a little crazy eating food you haven't had for a long time. Focus on one meal at a time & don't beat yourself up. Good luck!

You are still too tight. I have 3 ccs in an 11 cc band and it is perfect for me. If you can't keep down solid protein you will not lose. Good luck.

Gosh I forgot to say that the "you" in my post is terry simpson.

Let me clarify about what I meant about getting my band "right". I was a patient of yours for 2 years. I lost 30 lbs in the 1st year but that was from throwing up because my band was too tight. You would fill my band and then unfill it over and over and charge my insurance each time. When you can't keep down solid Protein you will eat what will go down- "sliders" which will cause you to gain weight, which I started to do. You answered my questions for help with grimaces and eye rolls. Our last conversation ended with you calling me "a lap band failure". I was devastated and discouraged. I lost all faith and trust in you. I was afraid to be under your care. That is what I mean by getting it wrong. Now let me explain what I mean by "right". My wonderful ob/gyn of 20 years recommended Dr. David Johnson. The 1st thing he did was order an upper GI. I also had an EDG which revealed a hernia & damage to my esophagus. I had a complete unfill, rest, & then slowly he added fills. Low and behold I started losing weight!!! I could keep down solid protein! I was satiated so I could go 3-4 hours without hunger! I could eat fruits and vegetables without vomiting! It's a miracle! It actually works and I am losing weight steadily, healthily and happily! That is getting it right. I hope this clears up any confusion for you. I would also like to offer you some advise. Trolling the site looking for your name and then responding with excuses and contradictions only makes you seem defensive and a bit desperate. I didn't respond before because I didn't want to waste my time. However when you make it seem like happenstance that my band is working I take offense at that. I went through 2 years of hell at your hands. You took an oath not to harm. Keep in mind that you are the only dr I have ever seen reply on this forum. People will question your motives as they should. So go ahead and reply just try to make it seem like you are caring and compassionate. Good luck.

Like Miss I find ignoring the craving makes it worse! Watch your portion & log it and then move on. This is life not a diet!

This is not a race. This is not a diet. This is a new way to live life. 800-900 calories seems low. Unless you are tiny you need around 1200 calories a day for a 1-2 lbs loss each week. Some weeks you lose, some you don't. Just keep plugging away, get enough protein, drink lots of water, exercise. You will get to goal but it will take longer than you expected. Good luck!