I had my surgery almost 3 years ago. I do not feel the restriction that i had during the first couple of years. What is going on? HELP!:thumbup:

Yes, the pouch can be stretched--but that's probably not what's going on with you.

It sounds like you need a fill---even a tiny, tiny one may take you back to the level of restriction you were enjoying before.

I'm freaking out little bit. I am 21 days post op and I am mostly back to eating normal foods. I try to stay with soft moist foods. I am having a problem with slowing down. I east way to fast and with no restriction yet a cup of food doesn't cut it. A few times, like today, I know I over ate. I'm stuffed, miserable, and scarred. Am I screwing up totally? Am I stretching my pouch or causing damage I don't know about? Is the band gona work for me?

I agree it sounds like you might need an adjustment to get you back to restriction.

Sam C I wouldn't worry too much just yet. Have you had a fill yet? You will have to be in charge of your portions until you starting getting fills and then you may even have to continue this until you hit your "sweet spot" or "green zone" which varies for each person. I had my 4th fill this week and I guess I will get to test it tomorrow when I get to eat solid food. I have the Realize band (11cc) and am at 7.5cc's hoping that this is the one. My doctor says he usually sees realize patients hit the "zone" between 7 & 9 ccs but like I said everyone is different.

Blue Eyes - I have a Realize 11cc too - first fill is scheduled for 4/14. I'm still on the "puree" stage and I'm finding that I have some restriction i.e., sampled some cooked ground beef with the expected result but that by the end of the day I can easily eat a cup of pureed food. Can you describe what your restriction feels like. Do you eat solids?

I'm waiting to be banded, but my sister is having the same trouble as you are. She went to a "Band-Aid" class this weekend and was told you can stretch out your pouch. First thing to try is eat your protein first and make a protein plug. Then eat your other food. Don't drink with your meal or you can wash it through. This will curb your hunger longer and get you protein in. See if that works for you. Also she learned that if you stretched your pouch you can have your band let all the way out and let gravity take over, it will pull down through the band then get the band tightened again and it is corrected and you will have a smaller pouch again.

Blue Eyes - I have a Realize 11cc too - first fill is scheduled for 4/14. I'm still on the "puree" stage and I'm finding that I have some restriction i.e., sampled some cooked ground beef with the expected result but that by the end of the day I can easily eat a cup of pureed food. Can you describe what your restriction feels like. Do you eat solids?

Hey Jax! When I first got my band I had some restriction too I guess from the swelling and stuff after surgery, but I found that as I healed I didn't have as much. I have seen alot of people talk about how they are "tight" in the morning but "loosened" by the evening. I usually eat a 6 oz container of Chobani ff greek yogurt with a couple of packets of splenda for Breakfast and that gives me no trouble in the morning. As far as how restriction feels I can't really say, I don't even know if I have it yet quite honestly. I'm so scared of stretching my pouch that I limit my intake to what it is supposed to be 3 oz of protien and 1/2 c of veggies and I stop. I am looking forward to the day when I eat a couple of bites and am full without stopping myself.

I've heard of people having tell tale signs called "soft stops" for when they are full....like hiccups, burps, runny nose and I have had the runny nose thing happen Friday when I ate lunch so I took that as a sign to stop. I have had 2 small stuck episodes, one last month with a piece of squid at a sushi restaurant and one just yesterday with a piece of soft pretzel cause I didn't chew it enough or maybe took to big of a bite. Let me tell you they are not nice and hurt like hell but at least the ones I had only lasted about 10 minutes, I've heard and read about people that had them last for alot longer.

Good luck with your fill and keep me posted on how your restriction is going.

Hey Gordita, I am almost 3 years out myself and was going through the same thing. I was getting a little depressed because I picked up quite a few pounds during our very "snowy" winter. So...I headed back to the doctor for a fill (my last one was in November 2008). Well...during my doctors visit, they advised me that as time goes on, they are seeing that patients that have had the band 2-3 years have less saline in their bands. They advised that it's not from a leak but probably just little amounts escaping through the port because of it being sticked so many times over the years. Anyway...they said that they are seeing that patients are approximately 1-2 ccs less than what their chart states they should have. So...in saying this, they wanted to compare mine. At my visit in November 2008, my chart stated that I had 12.5ccs in my band...so...they drained it all to see just how much was in there now. Are you ready for this...6ccs. So...I got a fill of 2ccs but it was waaaaaaay too much...I was up all night vomiting from my own spit. So...I went back the following day and had 1cc removed. I have lost 12 pounds in 5 weeks and have great restriction. So...I think it's time for you to go in for a fill...don't get discouraged...that's why we have the band...it's a tool and if we continue to use it correctly we will continue down our road to healthy living.

Good luck!