Its now a year since I unfilled my band totally for my bowel resection and chemotherapy and I've learned a LOT about myself and my band in that time. I've been gradually refilling since about July.

I'm proud to say that I'm just about exactly the same weight I was when I was unfilled last year. I did lose about 15lb due to my surgery and the chemo and I have regained that. But I have learned that I definitely need that band working in order to maintain my loss for life! This has been the most frustrating part of my journey and something many bandsters experience at the start, but I avoided. I unfilled my 4cc band with 3cc in it. I have gotten up to 3.6cc and dont have half the restriction I did. I can eat entire sandwiches, I get hungry between meals, I can eat raw carrots, apples with the skin, cold yogurt, all the stuff I used to struggle with. If I go out for dinner I am positive I could eat an entree, main and dessert if given enough time. I dont vomit, dont get stuff stuck.

But man is it hard to keep weight off! I have worked my butt off this past year, I have been on a "diet" the entire time and I run incredibly tiring interval runs of an hour in length and covering 10 kms or so, a few times a week with 'small" rums of 8kms of steady pace the other days. I do Body Pump. And I have still battled to keep that weight off. I average around 2000 calories a day and that is with effort not to eat more, and extras. Its doable, I could live without my band and would probably never see 240lb again, but I sure couldnt maintain a BMI of 20.

I've just had a fill of 0.2cc and I can "feel" my cup of coffee. Yippee. I want easy street for a while. I want to maintain without thinking about it. I think I've learned enough lessons now. I sure have a renewed respect for all those vacuous hollywood starlets. They may not be the sharpest tools in the shed but they sure know something about hard work to maintain those size 0 bodies - not that I'd want to go there. Its work, no doubt about it.

Please please please let this fill take and give me what I'm looking for. My doc said she'd do a barium swallow if it didnt. She said bands often shift when they're unfilled but usually you can tolerate less fill afterwards, this is a little unusual (and we're positive there's no leak). It must be the fact that I lost 15lb when my BMI wasa already just 20, and I know because my colorectal surgeon remarked from the CT scans I had that there is simply so little fat separating my organs that he could barely read the scans and tell one organ from another. I'm glad I regained that weight (and I look better for it) but I dont want to regain any more!

Fingers crossed xx

You are such a survivor, I admire you.....I have been reading your posts for a very long time....not always agreeing with you which is not a bad thing. Your post is honest and real and showcases how bandsters change over time and with experiences. The band fill changing after an unfill happened to me, too, with no explanation from the doc. I had a slip, unfill, surgery, slow refill, and it is hard to find restriction again...I am already past the fluid level I was at when I had the slip. I am glad you are an active poster sharing your journey.

Mimi

Thanks for sharing. I, also, hope that you have reached your restriction level. You are the one I read if I need inspiration! You have done amazing! I, too, just had revision, so I am not sure what my restriction will be after I am off liquids! Good luck, Karen

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Oh Jachut...and here I thought you were easily maintaining it! I really did...I was kind of envious. You've had a year of hell and you've come through the other side. You've gained great strength, stamina and knowledge of yourself.

I too hope your fill takes...your band is small and you don't have much room for fills in it.

Here's hoping you feel your coffee everyday and you find your appetite dimmed once again!

Jachut you are a real inspiration making it through all you have and never stopping to be helpful and encouraging to others. I for one have learned a lot from you and always look for your posts. I too am crossing my fingers for you!

Cheri

Thanks guys - no there's been nothing easy about maintaining it. Its not like its so hard that its not doable, but I've certainly had to apply myself each and every day. There's been many days when I've been really really naughty! And you know, obsessed as I am with being skinny, I'm OK with that. I've had cancer FFS, there's more to life than always worrying about your weight.

But it just goes to show that you dont HAVE to be perfect all the time. You can fall off the wagon, you can eat poorly, you can struggle with restriction and its not the end of the world. I cant lose without restriction but I've been able to maintain. I'm glad to be an inspiration but believe me I am no different to anyone else here, I have the same disorders/hangups/difficulties.

On a bright note, it seems I have restriction. Hoo-bloody-ray. Finally. So its bye bye to the occasional Peanut Butter AND butter on toast in the mornings, oh how I will miss you. But oh, what damage you do to my thighs!