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So, just when I think I have this banding thing down, something changes! I got my last fill at the end of April, which was my 3 fill since I was banded in mid November. I've had really good restriction - can't hardly eat what I call my "bad" foods (breads, pastas - all the things that greatly contributed to my need for a band! :)). I've been doing great on the weight loss - 2 lbs per week.

Then during July I started this up and down stuff so that basically I'm at the same weight I was at the begining of July. Then Monday, I'm suddenly loose! I can eat breads, organge chicken, etc. Small amounts, but still more then I need to be eating. So, I've scheduled another fill!

It just is so strange to me that I go from having good restriction to barely any restriction! Has this happen to anyone else?

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All the time :redface: Don't worry, you're normal!

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Yeah it happened to me like that too, I guess as the restriction lets up you don't really notice until its a big enough difference where you can start eating those "bad" foods again lol. But yeah it always seemed to just come out of nowhere to me as well.

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I'm right there with you! I didn't realize it until I looked down and was able to eat ANY bread. Toasted, in biscuits and gravy, or a tuna sandwich. I know these are foods that I was really quite (sadly) happy I couldn't tolerate. I found out by accident one day when my hubby's biscuits and gravy smelled too good not to try just a tiny very well chewed bite. And another, and another... STOP! Yes, it's time for a tiny fill I think. I still find that if I eat more than 5 or 6 bites I end up stuck and usually sliming. So fun. I get to go in for my year check up next month. It's just so strange in June to be completely happy with my restriction and tell my Dr that I really don't want a fill and two months later it's changed a bit.

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Since I'm right at the beginning of this process, I'm thoroughly fascinated and CONFUSED by this!? I was just reading a really fabulous blog by Catherine55 and several times throughout the blog she mentions that her band felt "loose" or "tight" yet she was at her "sweet spot" - so does the band, on it's own, for no reason whatsoever, just tighten and/or loosen?

I am so confused! (but still excited!)

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Bubbles, it's not so much that the bad changes as it feels like it's tighter or looser. I know on days that I'm congested and end up breathing through my mouth my band feels tighter. It doesn't hurt as much as I am much more aware of my restriction. I've heard of some people that can tell a difference if a change in atmospheric pressure happens even. If I've learned anything from my journey thus far it's that everyone is different and so is their band and how it works WITH them. Good luck on your journey and I hope that this helps.

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Got my fill - only .6cc this time - smallest fill I've ever had. Now I'm nice and tight. Back to 3-4 bits and I'm done! I stay nice and full and never hungry....once again, I have to remind myself that I need to eat otherwise I start filling weak! Already lost 5 pounds in 5 days! Back on track again.....wooohooo!

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If you haven't read it, there is a really good sticky at the top of this forum that explains fills pretty clearly, I get it now!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-lap-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738/

Edited by dman3998

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The way it was explained to me is that there is some fat between the band and stomach, so as you loose, the fat between the stomach and band melts away, as that happens the band will loosen up, this happens more in the beginning but as you loose weight, and get closer to the sweet spot it is less frequent.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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