LShire

Hi, When I read your post, I had to double check the name on it to make sure that it was not one that I had previously written!! I was banded on July 21, 2008 and have 7.5 cc in a 10 cc Realize band and am finally beginning to feel some restriction. It has been so frustrating to say the least. If I tried really hard and lost a few pounds, my doctor wouldn't fill me because she said that I was doing well, so the next month I ate until I was satisfied and thus gained the weight back. During my last visit, I was insistant that I wanted to know why I could eat 3 slices of pizza or an entire sub with no problem if I supposedly had a stomach that would only hold 1/2 cup. She decided to order a barium swallow (which they had discontinued doing after the surgery because no one had ever had a problem). Well low and behold I have a hiatal hernia caused by the procedure which is larger than my new stoma, so I now have 3 stomachs except the one is not supposed to be there and is weak. They said that explains why I have been able to eat so much and not feel anything. It only happens in less than 1% of the surgeries and since my doctor had never had a case of it happening, they decided to discontinue the barium swallow. Now I have to meet with my surgeon on Friday to see what my options are. I'm assuming that I am going to have to go back for surgery to repair the hernia. Is that going to mean that the band is no longer an option for me since this happened the first time? I've wasted 6 months and a lot of psychogical damage and am worse off than I was before I had the surgery done. At least I finally have an answer and it is not just in my head. I hope your situation is getting better. Sincerely, Linda S

Hi, thank you for the tip on drinking. Unfortunately, I already follow the 30 minute before and 1 hour after (mine is even stricter) drinking rule, but I do aprecciate the input. Hopefully when I go for my fill on Monday, I'll get more restriction and finally be where I should be and get my motivation back. Linda

Hi, I'm as confused as you are and very frustrated. I was banded on 7/21/08 with a 10cc band and currently have 7.5 cc of fill. I feel no restriction at all and can eat a full size sub, or a large plate of anything or 3 pieces of pizza, etc. I have lost less than 20 pounds in 5 1/2 months. Two months ago I gained 4 pounds so I was given a 1 cc fill. I still felt nothing but was determined to be really good and practically starved myself and lost 6 pounds and 4 weeks and my doctor wouldn't fill me because I had lost weight. I go for my 5th fill next Monday and I'm pretty sure I've gained the six pounds back. The only time I feel anything is when I eat dry tough meat and don't chew it well; otherwise I feel like I never had the surgery and my motivation and will power has gone to almost nothing. I never imagined it would be this difficult. How am going to make this a life-time tool if I can't even stay motivated for the first 6 months?? :Yawn:

Good morning, I was banded on 7/21 and within a week of liquids, I progressed to mushies with no problem. I felt no restriction at all. I had a 3 cc fill @ 5 weeks and still nothing, another 2 cc fill 4 weeks later and nothing, 1 cc fill 4 weeks after that and a little something if I ate too fast and last week I had my 4th fill taking me to 7 cc. I am really struggling. I lost 20 pounds during the pre/post op phase, but since I have been on solids, I have actually started to gain. I finally feel restirction now that I am at 7 cc, but I am having trouble dealing with the fact that "fullness" has now been replaced by pressure in my chest. I don't find that satisfying and still get hungry within a short time. My dietician said that I have the challnge the band with dense foods like meats and fibrous vegetables but these are not the things that satisfy me so I find myself right back to the eating habits that I had before the surgery. Looking for all the wrong kinds of foods - and they all slide right past the band! Sorry to be a downer. Linda

Yes, 123alk that was my understanding too. I have not been eating the "slider junk foods" as my dietician calls them, but I have still been able to eat unlimited quantities of healthy foods despite the fact that I have 4 fills and was banded 3 1/2 months ago. I could and should have chosen to "diet" the old fashioned way until my restriction kicked in but I had heard stories from other bandsters in my program that if you are losing weight (1-2 pounds per week), they won't give you a fill. So I figured what was the point of having the surgery in the first place if that was going to be the case. I never realized that it would take this long for results. I do love the quote in the post after yours - do not let your knife and fork dig your own grave. Excellent!! Did you lose any weight during the pre-surgery stage? Best of luck to you. Linda

I was banded on July 21 with a 10cc Realize band and up until this past Friday after my 4th fill, I could eat as much of anything that I wanted. I lost 20 pounds during the pre-post fasting but not a pound since after 3 1/2 months. I had a 3 cc fill at 4 weeks, then 4 weeks later I had 2 cc, then another 4 weeks and 1 cc and just had a fill on Friday of 1 cc which puts me at 7 cc and I can finally feel some restirction. I am satisfied with smaller portions but am not finding that they are sustaining me for more than a few hours. I did get a "gentle lecture" about slider foods - ones that go right past the band such as cake, donuts, cookies, ice cream, milk shakes, chocolate - you know, all the good stuff that got me into trouble before WILL still get me into trouble now and forever. My dietician said to find foods that "challenge" the band such as dense foods like solid meats, dense breads, fibrous fruits and veggies. I'll be honest, I am discouraged and struggling. I hopped over to the "what are you eating, suggestions" blog and was really surprised at what people are eating. Most sound like very unhealthy menus with protein shakes that would slide past like water, french fries, ice cream, etc. But then I am seeing huge weight losses at the same time so I just don't get it. I am looking for healty foods that will fill me up and hold me until my next meal while still allowing me to lose weight? Anyone have any tricks as to what is working for them? I had no problem eating two eggs and a piece of dense whole wheat toast this am. Am I still too "loose". Thank, Linda S. York, PA. 54 years old with a starting BMI of 41.

This is my first post and I just wanted to say hello. I was banded @ Penn State Medical Center in Hershey, PA on July 21, 2008 and am doing well. I've manged to lose 20 pounds since my surgery despite feeling no restriction at all. I did have my first fill yesterday (3 cc in a 10 cc band) and all I've felt so far is nausea. I wanted to ask. How do you add those little weight loss things under your posts. It's been great reading your posts and I look forward to sharing some of my own experiences now. L Shire York, PA