I need some opinions...I had a fill in February and have since lost 58lbs. The band was tight right after, but after a few months it loosened and I could eat very tiny meals very slowly. Since then it has progressively gotten tighter. I'm now unable to eat much of anything without it getting stuck and throwing up. Creamy chicken Soup was stuck yesterday! I've lost 123lbs since being banded in December 2008.

My biggest fear is that I get the band loosened some and I start gaining weight back and I do NOT want to go back to being 295lbs! But I know I have to get something done. I was woken up last night from a dead sleep and starting throwing up something I had tried to eat 8 hours before.

Has anyone had a slight unfill and what were your experiences? DId you gain weight back?

Glad you have relief! I'm also glad you didn't wait as long as I did! Did the PA suggest completely emptying the band? I didn't want nearly as much fill taken out of my band but the PA was very adament about taking enough out so my esophagus could "rest". I am counting down the days til I can go back and the PA will put one CC back in! Did you make an appt to have a fill? This is a daily struggle because i have ZERO restriction right now.

I didn't get an option. They said we are emptying your band.

I have an appointment on Oct. 24th. But was told to call Monday to see if the Dr. wants to see me sooner. Yesterday morning my hubby told me to get the thing taken out! All you have is problems.

Just want to give an update. I have lost 3 pounds since my unfill. Amazing! Hope I keep that way! No restriction at all right now.

That is s great! I have actually gained 7lbs :smile2: I think it probably has something to do with the fact that I was overfilled for so long and was basically starving and now that I am able to eat again, my body is in shock and holding onto every calorie! With exercise, the gained lbs are coming off SLOWLY.

Well I feel great....but can eat anything, I have gained the 3 pounds back. Ready to see the Dr. to get a fill. Why does food have to be soooo good?

I feel your pain!!! I My fill had to be pushed back a week due to work so my date is October 29th! However, with counting EVERY calorie, working out 4-5 days a week, AND the help of a fluid/water pill, I'm FINALLY down 6lbs! Now if I can just stay this weight until after Saturday! I've got a hot little size 12 strapless dress to wear to a wedding where no one has seen me since I lost all my weight! It was tight at the beginning of the week. I tried it on a little while ago and it pretty much fits perfect, if I do say so myself! I'll have to post pictures when I get back. I feel so vain saying this, but I love being able to fit into clothes and feel sexy! It's a new development

My fill is Tuesday and I am so ready for that! I don't want the Dr. to yell at me for gaining weight. I think I am up 5 lbs. now. The last time I gained with an unfill he was not so nice about it. Kinda scared of what he is going to say. :blushing:

Just go and face the music. I'm sure a little tough love never hurt anyone :blushing: I know the doctor is probably not going to be happy with me either. I had a fun filled weekend of lots of beer, Dairy Queen, mexican food, and even a fried gas station burrito at 3AM last weekend. Thanks to all that, My 6lbs came back and then some! RIDICULOUS! My total weight gain is 7lbs since unfill but I have until Friday to work out and eat right again so maybe I'll only be up a few pounds. I've been thinking though, if I didn't gain a lb with being unfilled, they might not want to put any back in soooo showing a few lbs weight gain might not be such a bad thing.

I've almost got myself talked into buying a Gold's Gym Stride Trainer 595. Anyone have any experience with ellipticals? When I was 300lbs, I tried to get on one and definitely thought I was going to die/have a heart attack after 30 seconds.

Yesterday I faced the music and it was a bad song. I was honest with the Dr. and dietician about the way I have been eating and not having control.:sneaky: Well guess what? He said he wouldn't give me a fill.:w00t: After tears and alot of frustration,and more questions after I told him my stomach still hurts off and on. He decided to scope me. Today I drove the 1 1/2 hours again to see the doc for the scope. Well I have 3 ulcers and 2 new meds to take. :ohmy:I did not get to talk with the dr. I have to wait until tomorrow when the nurse calls me back. Kind of confused over the whole thing.

I'm so sorry to hear that chester. Did they say what caused the ulcers? I didn't realize that was even a possible complication. How are things going since taking the new meds?

I got my fill on Friday. She added 1.5CCs back in which brought me to a total of 6.5 CCs. I thought she was only going to put 1CC back and I was a little hesitant but then I figured "she's the doctor, she knows best". I'm back to being miserable again! I can drink liquids SLOWLY in the morning but Breakfast is out completely. (I really enjoyed eating breakfast the past few weeks!) I tried to eat a banana at 10:30 AM and ended up throwing it up for 2 hours today. I didn't even attempt lunch. I waited until supper and ate a few bites of chili which came back up. My fiance made me some VERY mushy scrambled eggs with cheese (He added in butter, milk, and some oil to make them extra mushy). I was able to get down about 3 oz but the tight feeling in my chest is still there and I ate the eggs a good 3 hours ago. I have NOT missed this feeling at all. As of this morning, the scale hadn't budged, but after work, I was down 3lbs.

I'm not an expert, but I don't think the "sweet spot" is supposed to be where your chest is tight during eating. I believe I'm too tight again and probably need some more taken out! Ugh. Work is extremely too busy to take another day off anytime soon not to mention I can't really afford the gas for the 600 mile roundtrip to the doctor right now after getting a speeding ticket yesterday (when I wasn't actually speeding!) sooo it looks like I'm stuck like this until after Thanksgiving.

Claire,

It sounds like you are too tight again. So sorry to hear that. If you went to the your local emergency room could someone take your fill out? I hope you do not have to be miserable until Thanksgiving.

They did not say what caused the ulcers. (I'm wondering if they are new or old) But the nurse said the inflamation above the band was probably caused from food sitting there to long and the acid coming up. I will see the Dr. before Thanksgiving, but the nurse wasn't sure if I could get a fill then or not.

I don't recall reading anywhere that ulcers were a complication from the band but could they be the cause of band erosion?

Ive heard that emergency rooms don't really do anything for you. THe doctor's nurse recommended I go to the ER where I had my surgery done but that is 4 hours from me! They still won't budge about seeing me on any day except Wednesday or Friday. I am able to get down liquids so I had a shake for Breakfast but at lunch, i tried to eat mushies and it came back up. For supper, I just ate crockpot boneless bbq ribs and part of a baked potato and some green Beans. Not sure how I can eat with little difficulty at supper but every other meal of the day is miserable...

Your ulcers worry me!

I have probably stretched my pouch; talked to my doctor's PA today and she said that my symptoms are pretty classic. So I'm going in Friday for a complete unfill, to rest my espophagus.

Am I lucky, or unlucky, that next week is Thanksgiving?

OhJuly - what are your particular symptoms?