eyespy

Haven't been on the site in about a year. Glad to see this thread. I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I am in the minority that the band does not work for. I took about a year off getting fills, too. I just needed an emotional (and financial) break wanted to get to place where I was doing all the right things so that they couldn't blame the band's failure on me. I KNOW I need to eat less, eat right, and exercise, but I thought the band would at least make me feel full so I could do all the right things. Obviously, if I could do all the right things, I would never have needed the band to begin with. I lost just under 30 pounds, and about half of that was in the first month when I was on the liquid diet. (It's been almost three years.) After that, I lost about three pounds per month a couple of times. Then I gained about half of it back. I have never really experienced feeling full with the band. I am amazed by people who say they just eat a few bites of food and feel full. I can eat just as much as the average person. I will say that I cannot eat the ENORMOUS amounts of food I could before, or rather, I haven't wanted to, so I guess that is something. Right now, I am doing Weight Watchers, and honestly, I am actually doing better with it than I did with the band. I have lost 13 pounds in the last three months. Now that I am eating the right way, I think I am ready to go back and get another fill. At least now when I explain that I am not experiencing fullness, I can say I am doing all the other right things. I wish I could rely on the band a little more instead of just plain will power. We all know that will power eventually fails. I am optimistic, though, that I can keep this up long term. I'm not really depriving myself of anything. I am just eating healthy meals, avoiding processed foods and food with added sugar--for the most part--so my blood sugar is balanced, and I really don't want too much junk. When I do, I eat a little. Guess I have gotten a little (or a lot) off topic. At any rate, I feel motivated to make a call tomorrow to go back in for a fill and see if I can't this thing jump started! I have an 11 cc band, I am already at 11 cc's. They said more actually will fit in there, so we'll see. Thanks for the thread. Sometimes a little venting is all it takes to feel better.

Yes, they take Fluid out every time and there is no leak. The same amount of fluid comes out each time. On one occasion, I was too tight that I couldn't keep anything down, so they had to take some out. I thought the time after that would be the one. Only have I had a couple of times where I got the fullness sensation, and that was just slightly smaller than a normal size portion, but it was only for that meal and the next time I ate it was the same as usual. I keep thinking that maybe I am missing something, but when I hear people describe how they feel when they eat, I know I am not experiencing what they are. I know the band is there doing something because there are definitely foods that I have trouble with and certain times of the day that make it hard to eat. I just don't feel full. (and I mean a phsyical fullness not an emotional one.)

I agree that I do need to go back in for another fill, but I have been going in every six weeks for two years. I did not mean to imply I am never going back, but I need an emotional break, and a financial one. I agree that I am basically trying to do this all on my own without any assistance from the band. I keep trying to explain this when I go in for a fill, but they don't get it. Yes I know I need to eat less and avoid certain foods, but if I could have done that correctly, I wouldn't have needed the band. That's what I told them. I wish they had more answers for me or at least thoughts about why this isn't working.

I have an 11 cc band, and I am at 11 cc. I still don't feel any restrictions. I was banded almost two years ago, and I have only lost about 23 pounds. I had lost about 28, but I have put some back on. It is very frustrating because my doctor keeps expecting me to make all of the right choices. I keep trying to explain that if I could have done that, I wouldn't have needed the band. I am supposed to be getting some help from it, but I don't. In the beginning I did really well even though I had no restriction, but like anything else, it's hard to maintain restricting your food intake, when you don't get full. I have had a couple of times where a smaller amount of food filled me, but it is a rarity. I have finally stopped going in for fills, even though they tell me they can put more than the 11 cc's. I feel like I need to get back on track before I go back in so I can at least say I have tried. I keep thinking there is something they could speculate about why I am not feeling any restriction, but they just tell me everyone is different. Meanwhile, I keep paying every time I go in for fill with no results. I have to pay my doctor, plus the hosipital, so it's over 100 per visit. Sorry, just needed to vent. It's so frustrating to only be 20 less than when I started two years ago. I thought I would have lost at least 50 pounds by now.

I finally have some restriction! I finally feel full! It’s been almost a year, and this is the first time. I can still eat more than I feel like I should with the band, but it’s actually a normal size portion, so I’m happy with that. I was worried that I would never feel full, that I’d just feel discomfort or pain. I also feel vindicated because now that I am eating enough to feel full and satisfied, I am not eating junk or binging. I think my surgeon and his staff felt like I was sabotaging myself. I kept trying to explain that I am not getting the fullness sensation and that makes it difficult to stick to a diet. I knew that if I felt satisfied, I’d be able to tackle the other eating issues. My blood sugar is more stable, which reduces my cravings. I finally feel like this band is doing what it was designed to do!

I go in again tomorrow for my umpteenth fill. At almost a year out, I still don't have any restriction. I am meeting with the surgeon this time. It's usually the PA who does the fills. Maybe I will get some answers as to why I don't feel any restriction. I know the band is tight because it sometimes hurts for the first couple of bites.

I am glad to hear that I will know it when I feel it. Part of me keeps thinking that maybe I am ignoring something. I have PB'd, but it's usually with the first bite of a meal, especially if I haven't eaten anything solid yet. I have a 10 cc band, and I'm somewhere around 8 or 9 cc's. Thanks for the comments. I feel like maybe this will work after all once I get more restriction. I do worry that I'm going to go from no restriction to so tight I can't eat and there won't be anywhere to go in between. At least I have managed to keep off what I lost. I've lost 27 pounds, whcih occured from July-Dec, nothing since then. Half came off after the three week post-op liquid diet. I swear, I think the only reason I've lost anything is becuase of the post-op diet and the liquid diet each time I have a fill. My surgeon is stricter than most, and we have to be on 2 days clear, 2 days full liquids, and 2 days of soft food after every fill! Someone asked about insurance. I have BCBS of FL. I get charged an office visit copay and % a hospital bill that the hospital bills. (I think 20%) What a rip off! The hospital gets a cut every time, I guess because Mr. Doctor's office is on the premesis of the hospital. They bill it as a procedure, rather than an office visit. Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

Can anyone explain what "full" feels like with the band? I have been banded for almost a year, and I have yet to feel full. I can still eat a TON of food. At my last visit, I got into an argument with the nurse. I think she thought I was purposely cheating by trying to eat around the band. All of the things she was telling me to do were the same things you were supposed to do BEFORE the band. I thought the band would help by making me feel full so it would be easier to do those things. When I explained the amount of food I caould eat, I think she realized I wasn't purposely eating aound the band. Here's an example. If I go to a restaurant, I can eat a yeast roll, a side salad, a 6 oz. chicken breast, and some baked potato. I still don't feel full. I just stop eating. SHe said she doesn't know any band patients that can eat an entire breast of cheicken. That's when she finally started listening. So, my question is, what does full feel like? Is it something I could be overlooking, or would I know it when I felt it? Does it feel the same as before only higher up? For those of you that the band is working for, how long can you go between meals before feeling hungry again? I just can't understand if I am doing something wrong.

Well, I am totaly disappointed with my 4th fill. I finally have some changes, but it's definitely not what I expected. I have a lot of discomfort and a some pain. It happens with the first couple of bites. I also PB after the first few bites. I end up having to spit out a lot of what I have eaten. I'm starting to feel like a bulimic! I am also not feeling full. I have asked other people if they feel satisfied or just uncomfortable. They say they are satisfied and not hungry for four hours. All I feel is discomfort or pain, and I am starting to fell nervous whenever I eat. I guess that alone will keep me from overeating! I know I will be losing weight after this past week post-fill because I can't really seem to handle eating. I plan on speaking to the nurse next week, but I was out of town all last week and so I didn't have a chance. I can't imagine that I am filled too tight because if so, wouldn't I feel full?

I am like many of you who have not felt restriction after several fills. I went for my 4th fill this week. It does feel a little different, but I thought so last time, as well. I'm still on liquids, so I won't know anything just yet. What is everyone else’s post fill diet like? I have to be on clear liquids two days, full liquids two days, soft foods for two days, and then to a regular diet. I half think that's the only reason I am losing any weight at all. At least I have been walking. I have been walking 5 days/ week for 45 min-an hour. Still, I've only lost 26 pounds since I was banded in July. I have a normal appetite and I can pretty much eat everything on my plate, although I try not to. When I eat less, I am hungry a couple of hours later. I am worried this will happen when I get restriction. Someone asked about how it felt and I am wondering the same thing. Will I feel SATISFIED, or just uncomfortable?