Hi,

I am having a hard time figuring out if what I am feeling is normal restriction or if my band is too tight.

I had surgery about three months ago and have lost 50+ lbs so far (since the day of surgery).

I have felt some restriction (in the sense that I could not eat large quantities without pain in my left shoulder and or pbing/stuck episodes) since my surgery.

I had my second fill (4 ccs first time, 1 cc the second time) about a month ago and am having a harder time than ever getting food down. The thing is, when I read posts from people who have had the band for a while and lost tons of weight (my ultimate goal), it seems like some of the things I am experiencing are normal for a bandster. Is this what I should anticipate-that I will never be able to eat in the morning, that I will never be able to tolerate certain foods, etc? If the answer is yes, I'm fine with that, I just want to make sure I am not too tight. Also, even when I get stuck (which is happening now more than it happened pre the second fill), I always think "well, I could have eaten smaller bites, chewed more times, taken longer between bites, etc" which are probably all true so how do I know if it's the band's fault (ie being too tight) or mine (eating the wrong food or the wrong way)?

I tend to eat a Protein Shake in the morning (if anything), greek yogurt (easy food!) for lunch and three bites of Protein such as chicken, fish, meatballs etc for dinner (because I generally can't get past three bites). Of course if I am obsessively careful (with bite sizes, length of time chewing etc), I can get through almost any food. Pre surgery, I loved vegetable salads but I rarely eat them now because I find it exhausting (chewing those cucumbers a million times. . .)

So. . . is what I am describing normal? If it is, it's fine-I am thrilled with my weight loss and can live like this forever (I think) but I just want to make sure I am not filled too much.

I am scheduled for a third fill this week which I am definitely cancelling. The question is whether I should go in anyhow just to get some Fluid taken out of my band? I am a little intoxicated by my weight loss and the thought of slowing it down is (by taking some fluid out/not getting a fill) is a downer for me.

Any advice/insight is appreciated!

You need to be 100% aware of your eating...bite sizes...chewing...speed...Don't let yourself be distracted. If you've been getting stuck it could just be that and not too much fluid. If you've been losing since your last fill you don't want to mess with that. If you haven't been losing you may just be too tight. I have a feeling you're not. You just need to work on how you eat. I wouldn't cancel the appointment though. Keeping your appointments is important whether you think you need an adjustment or not. In your conversation with the doctor or nurse, they may see something that you may not. I don't know about your office, but the support I get from mine is incredible. You are absolutely right when you say that the weight loss is intoxicating. That is exactly how i felt and still do. Going to the doctor and having him make a big deal out of your success just makes you want more! 50 pounds in 3 months is awesome. Especially considering you started out at a lower weight than a lot of us. Good for you. Keep it up.

As usual, I totally agree with Cindy!!! Especially if you are able to drink at least 8 glasses of fluid a day I wouldn't mess with the fill. I, too, congratulate you on your wt loss and wish you the best...keep posting and let us know what the result of your appt is.

Mimi

I had my first fill on 9/7. I went from 3 cc in my band at time of surgery to 6 cc after the fill this past Wed. I think the band is too tight. I have made an effort to take eraser size head bites and to chew at least 30 times. However, I feel pressure building up even after swallowing the first bite of any solid food. I was not able to keep my lunch or dinner down on Saturday. I've been able to drink liquids, but even those have been very..very..slow. I plan on calling my surgeon's office on Monday to see about getting some of the added 3 cc taken out. I thought they were going to go in little stages to find that what they call the "green zone". I'm just going to survive on protein shakes and other liquids until I can get in and see the doctor. I'm type 1 diabetic too, so I really do need to be able to eat something without it coming back up each time.

If you're not able to eat 4 oz of solid Protein then you are too tight.

The band is not meant to restrict the amount of food you eat. It's meant to reduce how hungry you are between meals.

If you can only eat certain foods then you're not getting enough nutrition and while you'll lose weight, you're not doing so in a healthy way. You're basically starving yourself.

Get your fill taken out - eat your veggie salads, enjoy life, enjoy food as fuel, and lose weight in a healthy way. This way you'll also be able to increase your calories as necessary based on your increased activity.

I love salads they are a total slider for me so I get the volume satisfaction while keeping the calories low and I always have Protein on it so it will keep me fuller longer.

I'm feeling the exact same way since my most recent fill but I think it's only because I had a super long stretch since my last one and I had gotten complacent about the speed I was eating. You should be eating about half a cup of food over a course of 20- 30 minutes. Being hyper vigilant about the time has really helped me and forces me to chew more. Im finding it harder to gauge how much is too much after each fill but it's just listening to your body. You'll get through it!

Good luck and congrats!

If you can only eat 3 bites of protein for a meal, yes, you're too tight. Even a tiny unfill can make a big difference! The weight loss is thrilling now, but it won't always be that way, and you WILL get sick of not eating.