pjrugby

Hi all.. well its such a tough journey and your blogs all prove it.. I had my band fitted about 2.5 years ago. and it didn't work.. wow i was so upset and felt judged and blamed by the doctor. I have now emigrated to NZ and there's no lap band support for miles and miles. I last had my band looked at in July 08 (the hospital in the uK agreed to check for leaks) as i complained so much. They said it wasn't leaking, but it just didnt' work. Its filled to the brim with fluid.. Well since Jan of this year it now works. i have no idea why or how or what changed.. strange.. so i have lost weight. but i wish i was more on track.. I vomit too much and in my head i still eat too much. I do get heartburn when i drink wine or have spicey food. and orange juice is now out of the question. I am amazed and pleased for people who find the band so great. i guess they get v good after care support. For me i am all alone now. but am trying to learn to eat better... but its still a long journey. One of the awful things for me is that i can't lie down with anything in me. not even a mouth full of water.. so i have to put my fingers down my throat before bed. yuk.. its another thing which has recently started happening. I do hope the band is ok.. i don't have anyone to ask.. i am just grateful it now restricts the amount i can eat. good luck with it all.

Hi all well where do I start.. i haven't been on this site for over a year.. or maybe more. I had my lap band fitted in May 2007 and it didn't work. I was devasted and complained to the UK hospital and felt very alone. My hospital checked for leaks and then filled it to the brim, not with saline but the other solution.. (can't recall what its called). So my band was last seen under x-ray in july 2008 in the UK . Well .... it gradually started to work and since Jan of this year I have had full restriction. Does anyone know why it took months and months for it to work.? I have since moved to NZ and don't know of any local doctors or places for support ? which is a shame. I need a lot of work to improve my diet. I do not pb. i never have. .If i eat too much (which I often do) after about 30mins i get such a pain i have to put my fingers down my throat (is this normal? . I also get chronic heartburn after one glass of wine.. is this normal ? Never had heartburn before in my life. i don't want to drink lots of wine but its nice to have a glass or two sometimes. I also can't lie down with anything in me. not even a glass of water. or as I fall asleep (or my muscles just relax) it comes up my nose and acid comes into my mouth. yuk yuk.. so generally before bed I have to put my fingers down my throat to clear myself of anything. and usually its just liquid.. am i normal ? kinda hard to know.. does this happen to everyone ? I have now lost weight, which is so cool !!! I still have a way to go. I do worry that I don't lead a very healthy life style. and i am sick far too much Oh another thing.. fizzy drinks. i can't manage them.. only half a glass and i feel full . even a cup of tea makes me feel full i have to sip it. is this normal ? I also struggle to get enough water in during the day.. ? is this normal .. ican't drink more than a few mouth fulls at a time.. crisps and cake slide down so easily ..arghhhhhhhh!!! I guess because it didn't work for so long I gave up on it. .and now i am kinda having to learn what to do ? I still eat too much, most days. and have to be sick.. which is not good.. i do worry about myself but feel pretty rubbish at controlling myself. i have to put my fingers down my throat. as it never comes up without help.. any tips on how i learn to love my band. i certainly love the weight loss and want to look after myself better. i still feel greedy and generally eat too much and pay for it about 30 mins later when i have to be sick.. arghhh thank you very much Paula New Zealand.:thumbup:

Hi all well where do I start.. i haven't been on this site for over a year.. or maybe more. I had my lap band fitted in May 2007 and it didn't work. I was devasted and complained to the UK hospital and felt very alone. My hospital checked for leaks and then filled it to the brim, not with saline but the other solution.. (can't recall what its called). So my band was last seen under x-ray in july 2008 in the UK . Well .... it gradually started to work and since Jan of this year I have had full restriction. Does anyone know why it took months and months for it to work.? I have since moved to NZ and don't know of any local doctors or places for support ? which is a shame. I need a lot of work to improve my diet. I do not pb. i never have. .If i eat too much (which I often do) after about 30mins i get such a pain i have to put my fingers down my throat (is this normal? . I also get chronic heartburn after one glass of wine.. is this normal ? Never had heartburn before in my life. i don't want to drink lots of wine but its nice to have a glass or two sometimes. I also can't lie down with anything in me. not even a glass of water. or as I fall asleep (or my muscles just relax) it comes up my nose and acid comes into my mouth. yuk yuk.. so generally before bed I have to put my fingers down my throat to clear myself of anything. and usually its just liquid.. am i normal ? kinda hard to know.. does this happen to everyone ? I have now lost weight, which is so cool !!! I still have a way to go. I do worry that I don't lead a very healthy life style. and i am sick far too much Oh another thing.. fizzy drinks. i can't manage them.. only half a glass and i feel full . even a cup of tea makes me feel full i have to sip it. is this normal ? I also struggle to get enough water in during the day.. ? is this normal .. ican't drink more than a few mouth fulls at a time.. crisps and cake slide down so easily ..arghhhhhhhh!!! I guess because it didn't work for so long I gave up on it. .and now i am kinda having to learn what to do ? I still eat too much, most days. and have to be sick.. which is not good.. i do worry about myself but feel pretty rubbish at controlling myself. i have to put my fingers down my throat. as it never comes up without help.. any tips on how i learn to love my band. i certainly love the weight loss and want to look after myself better. i still feel greedy and generally eat too much and pay for it about 30 mins later when i have to be sick.. arghhh thank you very much Paula New Zealand.:thumbup:

Oh i so so so understand.. a lot of people are saying how great I look. of course its great. but but but . i am worried that I am such a long way from being a slim person.. i would still over eat every day if my body allowed me to. i have yo yo dieted for years. all of my fat clothes are still in the spare wardrobe.. lets hope my head sorts it self out eventually.. but good for you.. i still don't eat great. and am sick far too often. argh onwards and upwards. and get shopping

hi all has this happended to anyone.. if so what did you do ,, how did it go ? I would be grateful.. in summary Lap band fitted in may 07 - no restriction Ist fill under x-ray June 07 - no restriction 2nd fill under x-ray about August 07-some restriction which lasted about 2wks then subsided. 3rd fill under x-ray in October 07, great restriction (but with no pb ing at all) this lasted for for about 5 weeks , which then subsided :girl_hug:. After the main feeling of restriction had gone i could not eat as much as I could eat pre-surgery. but could still eat and drinks lots.. downing a pint of Water was not a problem. In october 07 i was told about 10.5mls in total had been put in my swedish adjustable gastric band, and there was no more room. i have just gone back to the hospital very upset. My BMI began at 38 and its still 34 now !! The doctor has no suggests as to why the feeling in October has subsided.. he said either there is a leak or i forced two much food down which made the band stretch (how on earth could i have done this.. surely if i did this i would have pb'd) . I have never ever forced food down or caused myself any pain. So this week i had another procecure under x-ray.. I discovered that the band is secure on my stomach and looks good.!! the doctor withdrew 6.5mls out of my band. He then flushed through dye and x-rayed it .. he said there were no leaks and said he could only fit 5mls back in. I questioned him lots; He said although we had worked out that 10.5mls in total has been put in.. he only took out 6.5mls. so where have the other 4mls gone? he said he could not get the whole amount of Fluid out.as some will stay in the band/port (that makes sense) then he said some must have evaporated (how on earth can this happen.isn't the band a sealed unit ?). He couldn't elaborate. He then told me that sometimes the band can bulge out - on the wrong side. not the side wrapped around my stomach. so if this happens the restriction won't be on my stomach..The doctor then starting telling me about other procedures on the market which are much better.(not good to hear). I have a few weeks before my consultant appointment. But am so stressed about how poor this band has worked. And guess what.. restriction is so so so poor, its not there at all !!!!!!!!!!!! god this journey is going so badly i am so fed up. i wish i hadn't started it all. sorry this has gone on a bit.. sorry if its not that clear.. i am so happy for you guys that it has worked for.. but am so distressed that my journey has been so negative.. as you will all be aware, the more negative the feels the more junk food i want to eat. and the more of a failure i feel (am sure that sounds familiar to a lot of you).. This band is just not working as it should. with kind regards and best wishes

HI everyone its good to read your comments. and thanks for all your support ,, its appreciated... i am waiting to hear back from my surgeon.. i can eat lots again..... i am worried because they told me last october the band was full up .. totally.. and if they add any more it will distort its shape... !!!! i have the swedish lap band,, is anyone familiar with this..... ?? the surgeon never mentioned it was a large band... onwards and upwards and best wishes to you all

thanks every one for the tips and info.. does anyone experience what i have.. banded in may,, 3 fills under fluoro, and i have been told the band is totally full up. and my restriction isn't very much.. its seems that if teh band is full up.. that it !! the band has nothing left to offer me regards paula

Dear Karen (and others).. i think i have something like you mention. I was banded in may.. no restriction.. i am now on my 3 rd fill (which was done at the end of sept -- no restriction on 1st fill and a little on the 2nd) and the doctor told me the band is now totally full up !!!! and he can't add anymore or it will be distorted. i have no support from the hospital who did the band. and i see no one.. basically i have given up dieting. and i have only lost 13 kgs in total. hardly life changing.. i spent a lot of money on my op and feel so fed up, you know the story the more fed up i am the more i eat. i do have some restrition.. immidiately after my 3rd fill it felt really tight and i was so happy and i lost weight. but its slacked off. its just kinda happened, i could eat more and more. i can't eat as i did before. but i can eat a 6inch sub if i wanted. i have never had productive burping.. it if feels uncomfortable i put my fingers down my throat and it comes up. .but that isn't very often.. sometimes i get a really uncomfortable feeling after i have eaten. and i am sure i can feel it passing through the band.. its a big passing through feeling.. not a dribble.. !! at my 3 rd band fill appointment (under fluoro) my doctor told me he was surprised as the band was looking loose, and last time he filled it - it was tight. i asked how this could happen.. he didn't know. .. i am sure it has gone a lot looser again...........as i can feel it.. when i say loose, its firmly on my stomach, but the whole the food goes through got looser.. i don't come on this site anymore. as i feel unmotivated and a failure.. and my band doesn't work in the way anyone else's does... i am earting far too much junk food and not exercising either. basically i know its got to be in my head,, motivation and all that.. but he medical issues regarding my band are just not working. i have written a huge letter of complaint to the hospital and i await their response.. i have some control in my life but not enough. hence i wanted the support from the band,, its september i was over joyed as i thought i finally had proper restrition. but that has passed away again. and with the band already completely full i have nothing left !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its just rubbish anyhow on a more positive note, christmas is coming and i wish you all a good one.. thanks for you support. like i said i dont come on the site too often.. as i feel like a failure. but its good to find a link like this to post stuff one

Hi everyone i haven't been on this site for a while, because i feel disheartened. I am glad for all you guys out there who have found success with your band.. but i have not. and i search for any threads similiar to mine, and i just end up feeling a total failure.. and then i feel very sad. its 7 months post op.. and its not going well. no restriction post op.. and after 10 days on liquid i managed an egg sandwich very easily. 1st band fill. no restriction 2nd band fill. some restriction but this subsided after 2 weeks. 3 rd band fill.. well i was delighted it seemed to work. restriction and feeling of being full i have never pb'd and after the 3rd fill if i ate too much it was painful so i i just put my fingers down my throat and it came back up... which was painfree. however i am now 7 weeks post 3 rd band fill and again the feeling has subsided all fills have been done under fluoro... and after the 3rd fill the doctor told me the band was full up. and he could not add anymore Fluid or the band would be distorted. after the 3 rd band fill i was full after about 4 to 5 desert spoons of food. now i can eat double that...!!!! i am very upset that my band just doesn't seem to work properly as my fills have been under fluoro I and the doctor can cleary see on the x ray that the band has not dislodged.. the doctor said that my stoma (i think its called that the area which my band covers) was tight after the 2nd fill but by the time of the 3rd it looked loose .. he didn't know why.. my hospital has offered no more support. i have now written them a huge letter asking what they are going to do. because i did have restriction and now it has gone.. help.. i feel more and more fed up each day, i was self funding and this has been a huge waste of money.... any suggestions anyone... ?? any one live near london who has any ideas of anyone i can see (which will be cheap ) the more fed up i get, the more i eat chocolate and rubbish junk food, which slips down so easily.. i still have some restriction with regard to bread.. but can eat a whole slice and a half of bread in one sitting, and i could only eat half a slice 7 weeks ago i welcome any support and comments.. i would love to come on this site and for once have good news. but i just don't seem to have the same experiences as anyone else kind regards Paula

Hi Ronnie thanks ever so much for your reply.. its tricky,, they hit the port, as i can see it myself on the x ray........ i will ask them about a leak, not sure how the can check it .. i don't feel as if they are a very supportive medical team. i just end up feeling more and more like a failure !! you take care

thanks for explaining all about the fills. can i ask you a question.. at any stage in the process did you ever think the band wasn't working.. i have just had my 3rd fill - its early days. but the medics have said i have a 6 mls capacity ,swedish band, and there is no more room in it. so they can't add anymore saline.. they say its now got 10.25mls in it.. i feel a bit tighter when i drink ,but haven't tried a proper meal as yet, as am worried i won't feel restriction and i will be so upset.. i never pb'd .. or anything, i am worried this band has been a waste of time and money well done on your success

Dear Lap banders. i hope this email finds you well.... i haven't been on the site for so long. as i feel such a failure with the whole band process.. but decided i would re-visit,, my story goes on a bit .... but has any one else shared my experience. as a private paying patient i had my band fitted in May 07. Post op i had no restriction what so ever and ate an egg sandwich on day 11 which went down fine.. Had my first band fill. still no restriction. had the second one in july, and i had a tight feeling, and some restriction but not much. however this tight feeling mostly left me after a week or two. i never forced food down, and never pb'd,, but if i ate a sandwich it would be fine, i just needed to eat slower.. i think i could feel the food passing through my stoma a few mins after i ate it. i stopped if i felt full. but it takes a lot for me to feel full. This level of restriction certainly wasn't enough to make me feel full for longer or to make me feel full quicker. like i said i ate the food , then felt it push through my stoma a few seconds later. i must add i have never eaten if it hurt.. sometimes i felt a bit uncomfortable after eating meat. so i just ate slowly or stopped. so i have had my 3rd band fill 3 days ago.. the doctor has told me i have a 6 ml swedish lap band, but its not an exact science and the amount they add to it varies. i have had my fills done under fluoro , and now have 10.25 mls in my 6 mls band. the doctor said he can't put anymore in or it will distort the band. This really confuses me. I ask the questions and the medics tell me the band is like a balloon so it inflates. The doctor said he was surprised as my stoma was tight on fill 2 ,but at the start of fill 3 it was much larger.. he had no explanation as to why this would happen. he then went on to tell me there are other proceedures around (this was like a stab in the chest.... as a private paying patient i don't have another £8000 to pay for more surgery !) and i don't want more proceedures i want this one to work. so i as i said , i am now on the last band fill !! that's is , its full....... no more saline can be added. and if i don't have restriction now. then thats it !! i am so upset .. since the 3rd fill i am feeling tighter. but am too afraid to eat properly just incase i dont have restriction. i have been having Soup and Protein shake (my medics dont recommend liquid diet after the fill, as i am aware the american doctors do), i have had a few mouthfulls of ham and chicken, bread, and it feels tighter.. but i won't know for sure until i try and eat a meal.. at the minute i am grazing (which is bad) i know. as those calories creep up. has anyone else found the band just doesn't work.. i would love to feel tight, and to pb...sounds odd i know, but then i would know my band works. as the fills are done under fluoro I know the band has not fell of or anything. i have never forced food down my throat. i have probably ate far too much, but the band hasn't stopped me . so its not done its job !!! if medics tell me its only a tool one more time, i will cry. i am no fool. I am a failure in the weight loss department and a failure at sticking to diets.. hence i wanted the surgery to help me. and to give me restriction. thanks for reading this.