Glammaw

Elyse, sorry you are having problems. These are the same problems I was having and they did a complete unfill on me. My fill would be okay for a couple of weeks, then really hit me. I cannot be at more than 6.3 in my realize band. Right now I am five weeks after the complete unfill and hoping to start fills again in about a week. I am sure it will be a slow process. Just be careful, because none of what you are having is good for you. I remember the waking up feeling like I was going to drown if I didn't spit it out. Please call your doctor and don't take any chances. I have been lucky and it seems mine has resolved, but I won't know until I start my fills again. I will keep you in my prayers. Take good care of yourself.

Thanks, ladies. for the motivation. No fill yet. Have to wait another couple of weeks. This is like startng over from the beginning. I can eat most anything. Today I had rice at Shogun and it had to come up, but no other problems. I am anxious to start getting fills again and take off this last 25 pounds. Elyse I know you will get back on track soon. You are just going through a rough patch. Give yourself a break, then get back on track. I know you can do it. JMS, thanks for the kind words. It always helps to come here and find the support and encouragement I need. Thank you all :redface:

They don't know. removing all fill was the first step and it seems to have resolved all of my problems....except for my weightloss, of course. I had reflux so bad I could not lay down to sleep, everything I ate got stuck and I had to get it up. I was sick and miserable. Everything seems fine now except I can eat way too much. As far as the port problem, they just seem to work around it. They say it is where i have lost weight and it sort of flipped over???? In any case, it is painful, but worth it to get a fill. Thanks for the advice.

Hi to all you Notorious Novembers. I have had a complete unfill for a month and see the dr. on tuesday. What to do? I have had no problems since the unfill, no reflux, no problems at all. It has been so easy. But, I got the band for a reason and what use is it without a fill. I gained 4 lbs while filled and obviously too tight at 6.4 ccs in a 9 cc realize band. I have gained an add'l 4 lbs this month. I was afraid it would be more, so I feel good about that, except it is a gain. So, I guess I am looking for advice. My port is partially flipped, which makes getting a fill painful but not impossible. At least, they were able to unfill my band. Who has wise words for me? What would you do? I sure was sick before. Congratulations to all on this journey with me. It isn't easy, but everyone is doing great : )

I have been having some chest pain, too. Kind of scary, like is it a heart attack or gall bladder or the band.....wish you much luck in getting everything straightened out. The pain is not fun!

Thanks, I am working really hard at not overeating or eating slider foods. I had developed maladaptive eating and find that I am still leaning toward those foods. I think I am just afraid to eat real food, since I don't want to throw up anymore. It is such a relief to eat and not get stuck or have to run to the bathroom to get it up or slime. My dr. considers me a success at 75% of my goal weight. I still have about 25 pounds to lose though. At what point do we consider ourselves a success? Or do we ever? Please hold good thoughts for me and my band. Thanks.

Hello everyone. Got a complete unfill today. May have a slipped band and I do have a partially flipped port. Have to wait 30 days to see if problems resolve. If not, dr. will do upper GI to check for slippage. Had 6 ccs in a realize band. I'm afraid of gaining weight, but have been PBing and sliming all day, every day. Have maladaptive eating disorder since I can't eat any normal food. I gained 4 pounds in 3 weeks. If I need surgery, I won't replace my band. The past three weeks have been hell. Besides the dr. had to stick me three times and then poke around a lot to get into the port for the unfill. Anyone else have these problems?

Hello everyone. Got a complete unfill today. May have a slipped band and I do have a partially flipped port. Have to wait 30 days to see if problems resolve. If not, dr. will do upper GI to check for slippage. Had 6 ccs in a realize band. I'm afraid of gaining weight, but have been PBing and sliming all day, every day. Have maladaptive eating disorder since I can't eat any normal food. I gained 4 pounds in 3 weeks. If I need surgery, I won't replace my band. The past three weeks have been hell. Besides the dr. had to stick me three times and then poke around a lot to get into the port for the unfill. Anyone else have these problems?

Elyse, congrats on feeling so good in your body. I want to feel like that someday. I have about 20 more pounds to lose, but I still have this muffin top and wings where my arms used to be ;0 Must be angel wings! Struggling a bit, but now that the weather is changing, so is my mood. Hope spring is finally here!

Princess, we have all been there with the eating wrong things. After you return from your trip, go get a fill. Try to go back to the beginning and eat like we all did in the beginning. It is easy to get off track, without the added stress of a divorce. It is a daily struggle, if you can't get your head in the right place. Good for you for taking care of your personal needs right now. This is all about the journey. Enjoy the trip and when you come back, get back to the basics. I celebrated getting in onederland, and now I am working hard to get this last 20 pounds off. We have all been there, Princess. Keep your head up and take care of yourself. You will get back on track....you will.

I am having some soreness at the port site, too. The NP at the drs. office said mine was twisted or flipped but she got a fill in anyway. She said it sometimes happens when you lose a lot of weight. I don't see how that is possible, since the realize band port is anchored in a muscle, but what do I know? I do know the port area is "tender". My fill is good now so I don't have an appt to see my dr. but if it continues I will see him so he can order an upper GI to see what is going on with it. Guess I am afraid to find out, because I really don't want more surgery. And, although I have lost a lot of weight, I don't want to start over. Please, keep me in your prayers. And, if you continue to have problems see your dr. But, keep in mind that it could just be from losing weight....a good thing!

I am having some soreness at the port site, too. The NP at the drs. office said mine was twisted or flipped but she got a fill in anyway. She said it sometimes happens when you lose a lot of weight. I don't see how that is possible, since the realize band port is anchored in a muscle, but what do I know? I do know the port area is "tender". My fill is good now so I don't have an appt to see my dr. but if it continues I will see him so he can order an upper GI to see what is going on with it. Guess I am afraid to find out, because I really don't want more surgery. And, although I have lost a lot of weight, I don't want to start over. Please, keep me in your prayers.

Thanks, Elyse. Now with Lent, maybe it will get a little easier. I have 22 more to lose to be at goal. It has taken awhile, but you just have to keep workin it! Just to think, by summer I COULD be at goal. Come on summer :thumbdown: Good luck to everyone on this journey!

Ladies, thanks for the good wishes. I am happy to be where I am. Now, on to the last 22 pounds

Not yet...my current dr. did not do the surgery. He is very good though and I am hoping she was wrong. I won't see him for a month. I don't think this is a common problem and completely unexpected for me. Since the port is anchored in the muscle with the realize band, it seems unlikely that it flipped. I am sure they will have to do an upper GI to find out for sure. For now, it is just really, really sore from the fill....or maybe because it really is flipped!

Thanks, kirafiki, I am really excited. AT 59, it has taken awhile. This was my hardest and sorest fill yet, Maybe I won't need another. I am at 6.4 in a 10cc realize band. Thanks again and good luck with your weightloss

I FINALLY DID IT!!!! I AM BELOW 200 POUNDS....not by much, but there nonetheless. Haven't been this weight in 25 years. I had a small fill and found out that my port has flipped or twisted. The NP was able to position it for a fill this time, but don't know about another. Kind of scary..... I picked up my 51 pound granddaughter and realized it had been like carrying her and another 5 lbs of potatoes around all day, everyday. Fell last night in this darn snow and with my back and knees, I am really sore today, but very, very happy! Keep it going, ladies....thanks for your support.

I FINALLY DID IT!!!! I AM BELOW 200 POUNDS....not by much, but there nonetheless. Haven't been this weight in 25 years. I had a small fill and found out that my port has flipped or twisted. The NP was able to position it for a fill this time, but don't know about another. Kind of scary..... I picked up my 51 pound granddaughter and realized it had been like carrying her and another 5 lbs of potatoes around all day, everyday. Fell last night in this darn snow and with my back and knees, I am really sore today, but very, very happy! Keep it going, ladies....thanks for your support.

:hurray:

Thanks, ladies, for the suggestions and the motivation. Picking up 50 pounds would be really hard for me to do, much less stand and hold....real motivator! And, it gives me a good picture of where I came from. Since both my knees have been replaced, I hear your pain. I just need to realize how much better my life is now. I can walk to and from work without pain and I never need to park on the street because I can't make it one more step to the garage. I seldom take pain medicine and my meds have been cut to almost nothing. Time to get going again and realize what a gift I have been given. I am on the backside of this journey now and I am going to get to goal. I just need to start over with my food choices and if I need a slight unfill, I will get one. After all, life is all about the journey :smile2: I knew I could come here and get the encouragement and motivation I need. Thank you so much JMS and 2-Lose-Fluff and also Crystal. We can all do this together!:thumbup:

Thanks, 2-Lose and JMS for your quick responses and your understanding. I want to keep on keepin' on, but it is hard sometimes. I am going to go back to the protein drinks and see if that helps. I know I am not getting enough protein as is. And, I really need to get back to drinking more water. I guess I have just developed some easy, lazy habits. I really, really wanted to be at goal at one year and it didn't happen and then my orthopedic surgeon said I would never be able to walk more than I do, and it will only get worse. That was hard to hear, since my goal was to walk a 10K race with my son. But, hey, I am off my meds, diet controlled diabetic, so that is good for me. This has been harder than I thought it would be. It looks so easy for some and it just hasn't been that way for me. To not eat and not lose weight is a bummer! Sorry for the pity party

Ok, I need help, AGAIN. I am at a crossroads and I am not sure which path to take. I exercise all that I physically can. I have had both knees replaced and have a spinal injury, so I am very limited. I barely eat, but often it is slider foods, because the "real" food gets stuck and it is painful and embarassing to choke and throw up everywhere. So, I am either going to get a fill or have a large fill removed. The last time I got to 6.5 cc I couldn't lay down to sleep, so I had some removed. Now I am at 6.2, but have not lost weight in 4 months. I want a life again, that does not include constant BPing, sliming and fear of food. Or, if I can't have that, I want to actually LOSE weight. I am happy that things have been wonderful for some of you, but it hasn't been for me. What do I do? I don't want to give up, but it has been 14 months and that is long enough to wait for true restriction. I don't want to be afraid to eat with my granddaughters. Sorry for the long post, but please, someone, offer me some suggestions, ideas, help.

Congrats Elyse and Ebony. I celebrated my one year bandiversary on 11/21. I am down 55 pounds, from a size 22 to size 16, off all diabetes meds and feeling better everyday. This year has been eventful and sometimes difficult, but worth it. I am 59 and unable to exercise very much so the weight is coming off a little slower but coming off nonetheless. Right now I have had a 1.5 cc unfill and recovering from an overfill that resulted in 12 days of vomiting and reflux. I will go back on 12/2 for a slight fill. My bandiversary gift to myself was a longer life, hopefully. Yay me!!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Hi! I finally have restriction, after almost a year, and I love not even wanting to eat, but I need to get my protein in. I hate the protein shakes, but hoped someone could help me with ideas of small portions with a lot of protein. any suggestions would be a big help to me....thanks!

Thanks. I'm gonna google that and see where I can get it. I had to have a 1.5 cc unfill yesterday, so I am on liquids right now, but I will need the additional protein soon.