dman3998

It's not called "bandster HELL" for nothing. gets better when you graduate to real food. then you just have to work with the band and you will be fine.

You most likley have no restriction untill your 3rd or 4th fill. I totally agree with you on the eating however you can do that for long term and eventually you will eat stuff you should not. you are also not getting the nutrition you need to be healthy. for you I would suggest you make a plan on what to eat for a Breakfast, lunch and dinner. then eat the same thing for a few weeks. get into a habbit. by having a fixed menu, you dont have to decide what to eat and will not be temped to make bad choises. then slowly add a few different meal options until you get well into your weight lose journey. when you start to feel the sucess and look at food as needed to live instead of comfort you will be on the path of food rehab and recovery.

I happen to have a different view. if you didn't have "will power" you could not have lost 26 lbs so far. I think we all have MORE than average will power. It just cant overcome some times the physical addiction we have. Same addiction that druggies and alcoholics have. The only thing wrong with you is you have to recognize your addiction! and learn to manage it. I am still trying and failing on a regular basis but you cant let it defeat you. tomorrow starts out perfect with a clean slate. You can do it!

That is even harder for me than the food choices, I HATE to exercise but I will say it gets easier the more you do it and it helps in many more ways than just burning some calories.

The band or any gastric surgery does not fix your head. only you can do that. WE are all addicted to food the very same way a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol. there is no cure only management. you have to totally look at food as a means to stay alive and not for comfort or to make you happy. I am working on it and fail on a regular basis but have to keep trying. the Band is only a tool to help you with your Quest. hang in there you can do it. dman

I was banded July 2010 and for the first 3 fills I was getting more and more restriction. on the 4th fill I was great for about 3 days then nothing. no restriction at all. I had a Barium swallow xray and it "looked" like a dilated pouch but I had no other symptoms and no restriction. I had surgery yesterday to see what was up and he found the band was unclasped. so he pulled it out fixed all the scare tissue and repositioned it. but the same band back in. so I am now hopeful it is good and will work properly. I would think after 5 years it would not be your problem. but you just never know. dman

Just got my 3rd fill, 10.25cc in 14 band and after I got back on solids, is seems like I have less restriction than before. The person that did the fill really jabbed around the port "looking" for it for a long time. I am almost convinced that she poked my tube and caused a leak. I went from 7.5cc at the 2nd fill and she added 2.75cc. after the second fill I HAD to eat slow I would pb very easy too from eating too fast or too much still got hungry after 2 hrs or so. Now I can gulp water and eat without thinking about it. I still can PB if I eat really dry chicken or ham but I think I am less restricted. getting bummed as its been since July and I dont feel like this band thing is helping much, just making every day suck. and I am not losing much lbs either. the question is, is it possible to have a fill and feel like you have LESS restriction? it doesn't seem right.

I was told 1/2 - 3/4 of a cup per meal depending on how the band formed the pouch. I am at 2 fills and 7.5cc and am about like you, pretty much can eat till it hurts. but no restriction except on not chewing or eat too fast. from what I understand the next fills will be much smaller and make a bigger difference sometimes a little as 1/2cc can be too much. my next fill is in 2 weeks so we shall see.

Just got the 2nd fill, 7.5 in 10cc band. I am concerned I will never be "just right" because right now in the morning I have restriction can eat and drink but VERY slow and get full in a few bites. but as the day wears on my Lasix (Furosemide) kicks in, I dump Water big time and by lunch I can eat about anything. still a little slower but not really any restriction. So the problem is if they get it so I have restriction at supper and all evening, then Am I going to be choking and unable to eat or drink anything at Breakfast? I am thinking this is so. Must be others with a similar issue. a lot of us take it for BP and other problems. What can I expect with my 3rd fill comes up in about 3 weeks?

got my second fill today, I think I GET IT now! I got another 2.5cc for a total of 7.5 in a 10 band. I dont think its the sweet spot but I can no longer chug Water, have to sip it slow. In a few days will be back on full solids and I suspect I will have to eat real slow. bout time, this could work!

second fill today been 5 weeks since the first one. I got 2.5cc more so now I have 7.5 in a 10 band. I think I GET IT now! I have restriction, dont know how much yet but I can no longer chug Water. have to drink it slow. I suspect when I get onto solids in a few I will be close to the sweet spot. I can get another fill in 3 weeks so I am hopeful for some lbs falling off in the fall. not sure I like it, but the weight going down should be enough compensation to feel justified.

It's 9pm, had a good dinner but the demon cravings are creeping in the dark recesses of my mind, taunting me. telling me I didnt eat that much today I need a munch, a little salt, a little sweet, a little chocolate, a little crunch. I go to the frig, what is edible without much effort?? carrots - naw no flavor, sugur free Jello? well only as a last resort. Protein drink? YUK! ---cheese stick! yum! 2 bites and its a distant memory.....The demons are in full swing now twisting my stomach in knots, gotta find something, gotta find something. I'm NOT really hungry cupboard doors are flying open - close - open again did I miss something, gotta eat, no, YES!...STOP!.... BUT wait!.... AHA! in the pantry a half a bag of chips! not a wise choice, but hey I can eat just one chip and I will be OK. You all know the rest of this story, and the remorse and guilt. to bad there isn't a morning after pill for overeating. Yes the demons are always there waiting in the shadows for your guard to drop a fraction of an inch and they jump in and attack. My band is right now like a dull sword. I can beat them with it but to hack and slice them out I need it sharpened, I need the sweet spot. 2nd fill is next week, with one fill I have 5cc's and no significant restriction. I guess that is why it's called bandster HELL. battle ON! we will win the war! it's a process it's a process it's a process it's a process it's a process it's a process it's a process it's a process

I suspect that the compulsion to eat is partly a learned habit, which has to get "unlearned" there is of course an emotional aspect but I am thinking that with the help of the band we can UN-learn the habit part and only have to deal with the emotional part. sounds good on paper anyway......

For me the scale is judge and jury, my mentor and friend. I will explain. I KNOW that I vary day to day with Water and misc. SOO, if it goes up and down a few lbs each day I do not sweat about it. but I do keep track of "trends" if it goes up then not down as far then up and not down as far I know I have to get my crap together and re-dedicate get back on program. IF it goes down and not up as far the few times before I feel encouraged. and try to do even better. I also take into account fit of clothes, if they are getting loose but no move on the scale I figure it's redistribution and is good but lbs is lbs. unless your going for muscle mass, it's got to come off and I am still putting in more cals than I am burning. So the moral of the story is: The scale doesn't lie and keeps you honest. IF it's going down you are doing things right.