CarlaG

Here are my 2 cents....I struggled for 2 months with my last fill. I kept going back and forth between was I too full or not, should I get a slight unfill or not. Some days I could eat fine and then others I couldn't get egg drop Soup or my Protein Drink down with PBing. Over the last month I couldn't eat 3-4 days a week and only lost 6 lbs. in 6 weeks. I went to my surgeon and he asked if I was in need of a fill because of my slow weight loss. I told him I thought I needed an unfill and explained my situation. He proceeded to take out .5cc and you talk about relief. I wish I had not struggled for those 2 months. I now realize how miserable I was whenever it was time to eat! Don't wait too long if you think you're too full. I wish I hadn't. I've gotten too run down and now have to build myself back up. :bolt:

Just an update....I went to my surgeon today and he removed .5 cc from my band. He said I should feel immediate relief and to go out and have lunch I did just that and was a little nervous with the first bite, but was able to eat just fine. I also had dinner tonight with no problems. What a relief!!!! I hope it stays that way because I feel so much better. I was feeling very blah and dizzy and now feel great that I could actually get in some hard Protein and decent calories. Oh happy day!!!! :confused::biggrin::smile:

I am seeing my surgeon on Wednesday and I am going to ask for an unfill since I am having a little heartburn to sometimes when I eat. To top it all off, I've also injured my leg exercising so now that's at a standstill too! Could this get any worse!

I have been struggling with my last fill since July and I am so depressed about the whole thing right now. I went to see my surgeon in August thinking I was possibly too tight. He thought I was fine and my weight loss was progressing. Well since last month, I have only lost 7 lbs. I can hardly get any food in. I would say 3 to 4 days a week I cannot eat solid Protein. I either have to stick to Protein Shakes or eat "slider" foods to get in some calories. Sometimes I PB so bad that I don't try to eat or drink anything after that but then on the other days I can eat "normal". Actually, it really still isn't normal because I cannot get in any veggies and/or fruits. If I get in my protein and a small amount of carbs I'm lucky. I know I should be trying the veggies/fruit first before carbs, but the veggies seems to get stuck more. I never feel hungry, but I also don't feel like I feel full when I should. I'm to the point where I am not feeling well. My labs show that I'm now anemic and I'm feeling dizzy and just overall not well. I am disappointed in the whole process right now. I picked the lapband because I didn't want to get nutritionally compromised, but that is exactly what is happening. I'm afraid to get a slight unfill because then I might be able to eat more than I should. Has anyone else had this happen? How did you handle it? I feel like I'm out of control. I can't keep my eating habits consistent because of the finikieness of this band and I don't like that. Any suggestions? :redface:

No protein in the ice. It is just normal ice...water only. It helps to keep fluids in. Dehydration was a concern for me because I couldn't get hardly anything in. The Sonic ice is just convenient due to its size. It is just shaped like little balls and it is easy to suck on or chew. It was easy just to have a cup of it with me at all times.

I had a horrible time getting my protein in to begin with. I tried but the protein drinks made my stomach hurt pretty bad. One thing that saved me was Sonic ice (thanks Pat!). You can go to Sonic and they will sell bags of their ice. It is just the right size to suck/chew on. I couldn't do the protein drinks until about 2-3 weeks after surgery and I was so sick of sweet stuff. I cheated a little about 3 days out and got some boneless dark meat, yolkless egg noodles, bullion and boiled it and then put it thru my Magic Bullit and ate that. I couldn't stand sweet. This was a little salty and very thin but satisfying. When I went to see Dr. T after the first week he said it was ok that I couldn't get the protein in. He told me to wait another week and try. After that I was fine. Also have you tried the Special K powders you can add to water? I think they are 5g of protein.

Sue, I too see Dr. T. I went in July for a fill and saw him in August and was doing pretty well. Since then I have only lost about 4 lbs. I know he is going to say something about it, but I really feel like if I get another fill I won't be able to eat at all. He too told me about probably not needing a fill for a while so I'm very confused. I also thought about getting an unfill right after my fill (also my 3rd) and I'm wondering if that is what I need because I think I'm not getting enough calories in. I went for blood work since I am 6 months out and I am now anemic and my vitamin D levels are low so I'm not really sure what he will say about that. I guess I need to decide if I should try a slight unfill for a while or if I need another fill. I do get stuck sometimes and have no hunger at all so I don't really think a fill in the answer

I take them whole. I drink a Protein shake every day and have been since 2 weeks after my surgery. I use the GNC whey Isolate 28 chocolate. I started out with vanilla but like the chocolate a whole lot better. They are not my favorite but I definitely wouldn't get enough protein in without them. As it is I found out today that I am anemic and my Vitamin D levels are low. They did blood work due to being 6 months out so I'm going to have to figure out how to fix those problems. Anyhow, I started noticing hair problems at about 4 months and I'm now seeing new growth, so it shouldn't take to long to fix your problem. Good luck!

Weightisover, I know how you feel. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went out to dinner with some friends who just moved back to town. They didn't know about my surgery. With my first bite I knew I was stuck. I made my way to the restroom and there was someone in the one stall. We were at a nice restaurant so I suffered until she left so I wouldn't ruin her dinner. About 15 minutes later, I had to go again (still stuck). This time both stalls were occupied. I had to go out behind the restaurant. Thought I was done, but no such luck! For the third time I made my way to the restroom and the only thing that ever came up (besides slime) was a tiny piece of meat about the size of a pencil eraser. Needless to say I didn't eat my dinner and threw away what I brought home. I think that was my first and last visit to a Thai restaurant.:cursing: I find that I get stuck when I haven't eaten in a while (over 4 hours). I've tried to notice if I'm eating too fast but sometimes it doesn't appear to be that. If I don't eat regularly, my stomach cramps up when I finally do eat and that starts the whole PBing process. I have to be very careful to eat at the proper intervals. Anyhow, the whole thing was just very embarrassing. We told our friends what the issue was so now my husband's ex (who is also this person's friend) I'm sure knows about my surgery. It wasn't what I wanted but oh well...life goes on :thumbdown:

Julia, Do you know if you have a hiatal hernia? I too have asthma and always had a cough. When I got my band the doctor also repaired my hiatal hernia (which I didn't know I had). I no longer have a cough. I believe a lot of my coughing was due to the hernia. I also believe that had a lot to do with my sleep apnea because I haven't used my CPAP since right after surgery and my husband no longer hears me snoring. Some would say that is due to weight loss but I stopped using the CPAP literally 2 days after surgery which was before any loss.

I don't know if they make liquid biotin but the pills aren't very big. The ones I take are about the size of a Bufferin. You can look at GNC.com. I know I got Omega 3 chews since they are so big so they may have biotin liquid or chews too. I actually got my biotin from Walmart. I'm taking 2000 mcg a day and wash and condition my hair every other day with the Jason's biotin shampoo and condition from GNC. The hair loss has slowed way down and I'm starting to see new little hairs. Good luck! :thumbdown:

I do think that is part of it but I really do not feel any hunger at all. When I do PB it is always after I have not eaten in a long time. The doctor doesn't understand why that is happening but when I don't eat every 3 hours or so, when I do finally eat my stomach cramps up and I end up getting stuck. It is just really hard to eat when you don't feel hungry. I really thought with this surgery food would no longer be my life, but it really still is about food. Now it is just making sure to get enough and the right things. It also doesn't help that I work shift work and am constantly changing my sleep and eating habits.:thumbup:

I had my 3rd fill in July but over the last month I have only lost 3 lbs but most of the time I feel like I have restriction. I do notice that I can eat more than when I originally had the fill but I am not feeling any hunger. I also have a tendency to get stuck every few days (don't always PB but sometimes I do). Should I go for another fill? Have any of you experienced this and waited it out? I already feel like I don't eat hardly anything and I'm worried that if I get another fill I will have alot more problem getting stuck. I'm feeling a little depressed right now because I just spoke to the doctor at my visit in August and told him I was shooting for being 199 by January 1. It sure isn't going to happen if it takes a month to lose 3 lbs:frown:

I love your avatar picture. Is the girl a relative of yours? The picture looks exactly like one of a granddaughter of a coworker. What a coincidence if she is one in the same:biggrin: Carla

I've had 3 fills now and have found that it takes from 2 to 4 weeks for the fill to "settle" in. I kept debating with my last fill if I should get some taken out but I am glad I didn't. It has been a month and I can now eat fairly normal. It is still a small amount and some days it is more than others but I'm glad I didn't go for the unfill. Give it a little time and see how you do. Good luck! :thumbup:

Denise, You started at the same starting weight as me. How far down did you lose to? Your current weight says that you are moving closer to your starting weight? Do you feel like you have restriction? I hope you get back on track. I feel that since I've had this surgery I owe it to myself and my family to make it a success. I can definitely see how I could still eat out of control even with it by what I choose to eat but I can't do that to myself. I have come to the conclusion that I am worth it and I will continue to succeed. Some days I am not perfect but I am trying my best. That is all any of us can do really. Maybe now that your band is not a secret you will get the encouragement that you need and that will help. Good luck!

Julia, I think that is hilarious but you may be on to something. Did you ever watch the show Popular? There was a really big guy on there who after the show was cancelled had bypass surgery. He made a comment on a talk show about being 2 inches shorter due to the fat he lost in his feet and the top of his head so your theory might work about the scalp being stretched. Its something to think about

Cheryl Ann, I was just wondering the same thing. I have trouble eating one time and I just got through eating Wendy's chili and a baked potato no problem. If I knew I was going to be able to eat, I would have opted for salad! I'm so frustrated by the whole thing right now because it either goes down fine or I'm PBing or in pain because even the smallest bite gets stuck. I don't think I'm overeating (even though what I ate today seems like alot), I just wish there was a rhyme or reason to it!!

I am five months out from my banding and have had 3 fills for a total of 5.7 cc in a 10 cc band. This last fill was only .5 cc and I am miserable. Eating is painful and alot of PBing. My dilemma is this....I work 12 hour shifts switching from 7a-7p to 7p-7a once a month. I got my last fill right at the beginning of night shift. I struggled for the first 2-2.5 weeks and finally got where I could eat and thought I was through the worst of it. Well now I'm back to day shift and can't eat again. Has anyone else who works shifts noticed that they have a problem eating when their schedule is switched? I literally cannot get the food down and it is painful. I'm guessing once my body gets used to the new shift is when the eating becomes easier but then it is time to switch again.:thumbup: I don't know if I should ask for an small unfill or if I should just deal with it each month. I chose this path of WLS to try and preserve my nutritional health but I really don't think not being able to eat for 2-3 weeks out of the month is all that smart. Eating is becoming a dreaded chore but I'm afraid if I get an unfill I will be able to eat more than I should. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Jeff, Number to WLSC is 591-9572. I too had surgery there and am self pay. My insurance had an exclusion so no matter how much I fought, they would not pay at all. You might want to check into that before you try to fight. If you know they don't have an exclusion, just keep plugging away. I sure wish I had done it sooner but I had to get my husband on board. I really felt I had to have his support (especially since I am self pay) so I could succeed. He was fearful and it took a while for him to understand what the surgery was and what it meant to me/us. He saw the special on TV about 6-7 months ago and that was it! Good luck and keep us informed!

Aubrie, My nails were doing that too and they have cleared up with the upped Biotin. I originally started taking 300 mcg a day and the bottle said that was the RDA but apparently it wasn't enough. Someone else on the site recommended a hair and nails biotin from GNC. Its 3000 mcg. I had just bought a bottle of 1000 so once I am done with that (I've doubled my dose to 2000 a day) I'm going to get the one from GNC. I think I should buy some stock in that store :biggrin:

I've also noticed my hair falling out. I've upped my Protein, I'm taking 2000 mcg of Biotin daily and using a biotin shampoo and conditioner every other day. Obviously I'm freaking out about it too! I am starting notice a difference in how much hair comes out while in the shower and I've been doing all 3 for about the last 2-3 weeks. It is getting less and less every day. Some people also say it is the shock of the surgery but yours was awhile ago so I would assume its from lack of protein. If you decide you want the shampoo, I got it at GNC. Good luck!

vkcse03: Actually my second fill it took about a month to loosen up some. I've noticed over the last day or so that I think this fill is starting to loosen up. It is getting a little easier to eat but I definitely still have to be very careful. I'm going to give it a little more time before I ask about an unfill since things seem to be getting better. That could change tomorrow though since it keeps changing. I have been on night shift for the last month so I'm beginning to think that is the issue. It seems to be easier to eat on my days off. I switch back to day time living on my days off so I think the nights may be making things harder. Let me know how you make out.

Well, by all the responses I think the best best is a slight unfill. I am definitely not enjoying what I do get to eat...it is such a chore and there is no weight coming off. I guess I'm not getting enough calories and it is getting harder to exercise since I don't think I'm getting enough to give me energy. Guess I will call my doctor's office tomorrow. Thanks everybody!

Brandy, How are you doing with Protein intake? My doc wants me to get 90 grams in. That is a lot and even with the Protein shake my hair is falling out. I really think I am actually getting more protein now than before I had surgery so I can't figure out the hair loss thing?