So I have been banded for about a year, and I have gone from 387 to 314, and that's having lost and gained the same 20 lbs over and over again.

So I decided to get the fill to end all fills. I am now quite restricted. Only problem is, I think I may be too restricted and I am a student on the other side of the country from my home and my surgeon.

Although I am losing about 6lbs a week now, I eat, but can't really keep anything down. Even water comes back up.

Sometimes I am so thirsty, I'll just down a bottle of water, and although my mind is yelling STOP, my body won't let me.

The only thing I don't really have a problem with is slurpees...:scared2:

I really would like to lose this weight and have a chance at a normal life, you know where you get on a plane and don't have to fear someone sitting next to you because you are oozing over into their seat, or going to an amusement park and having to get off the ride because you don't fit into it...and actually going on a date!

I don't know, part of me is like tough it out, loose the weight and the restriction will ease, and part of me yearns for the embrace of a Big Mac!

Please don't tell me I need a psychologist and I wasn't ready for banding, yadda yadda yadda, I'm a human being, with mood swings and second thoughts and there is no ideal that will ever fit everyone, so if that's your first thought, please don't...

I just need some help and ideas or suggestions.

Thanks,

PP

I do understand your frustration. Those same thoughts occur to me on the occasion, especially when things aren't going well with my band.

You sound like you really need a slight unfill. If you cannot even drink water, that means you are too tight. See if you can find someone there locally that you could see in a case like this. Good luck to you.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I guess I should start looking for someone in MI who can give me an unfill. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I think there are fill centers up your way check them out~:smile2:

Get unfilled! Do not put yourself through that to try to lose weight. It will come off!

It takes awhile to figure out your perfect formula. It took me 4 years to reach my current weight and I had the same ups and downs. I had to constantly go in for fills and reached a point where from being overfilled I had a slippage. The slippage led to rebanding, so find someone local who can help.

Thank you FighterGirl, there was a lot about banding that my surgeon neglected to tell me. Of course that is no excuse because I should have done the research on my own, but you know, sometimes its easier to be told. I am just now starting to really educate myself on what it REALLY means to have a band.

I found a great clinic in Ypsilanti called Barix Clinics, and they were able to help me out. I have never drank that much water in one sitting in my life! So, I'm willing to forgo the 10k, I paid in cash, to a certain Dr. in North Texas and move on with these people.

Thanks again to everyone who responded. I know now that being banded is not like gastric bypass, where you lose tons of weight in the first year or so. Its more of a permanent lifestyle change, than a lifestyle reconstruction.

I hope that I can become a contributing member to the forum and I look forward to learning more from you all!

Hi:

Please get a slight unfill and you may want to see a nutritionist too. You can become ill from not getting enough nutrients and Vitamins. They can counsel you on what you should be eating with the right restriction level.

I hope you're well on your way to a healthy restriction level soon.

Take care.

Sue