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Realize Band: I'm At 11Ccs With No Restriction



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I had my surgery August 1, 2008. I did amazing and lost 110 pounds and got to a size 6!

Since last September until now, I've gained FORTY pounds. I am hungry between meals, etc as well. Originally my band was filled to about 7CCs of saline, but I've been monotoring my fills. I have been going every couple of weeks since January to get fills and in March, my doctor sent me in to have an Upper GI done and everything came back normal, so why don't I feel any retsriction?

Now have 11CCs in my band but feel NO RESTRICTION and can eat EVERYThing. I rely on my band to help me...

I am wondering if anyone else has been through this? My doc is looking over my Upper GI films again (this is the third time) to see if there's something wrong. The next step would be for the doc to go back in and check it out surgically, which I don't mind, but it has to go through my insurance and actually be approved, and who knows how long that will take???

I just want to be in my size 6s again...also, I gave all my "fat" clothes away and nothing fits!!!

If anyone could get back to me on this, I'd surely appreicate it!

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What are you eating? You're not eating around your band are you?

I've never used this but here's a website that may help you? http://www.5daypouchtest.com/#.T6mnS4jDHzw.facebook

Have you done a barium swallow test yet?

tmf

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I have read a couple posts on here about the band unhooking and so it is filled but the ends aren't touching therefore there is no restriction.

Something to ask your doc...

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Thanks for your responses!

@tmf: I did the barrium (the upper GI) swallow and the films "look" normal. I don't think I'm eating around the band...I used to feel restriction and never pushed through that full feeling...is that what you mean? Before, I couldn't even get bread down now I can eat ANYthing...

@lauren: My doc is aware, but seems perplexed. I'm grateful that you've seen others with this issue. I am just hopeful I'll be back to normal soon...The weight is creeping on and honestly, I'm freaking out.

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Before my surgery I asked my surgeon "Is this really going to work?"

He said "Well, tomorrow I'm operating on someone who lost weight and needs a smaller band now"

Maybe you need a smaller band?

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He's sure the band doesnt have a leak? or that your port tube doesnt have a leak?

And yes Ive heard that once you lose a lot of weight, the fat around your stomach is gone so your band will feel looser

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I've also heard that some have to have all Fluid pulled from the band for a month or two and then start the fill process again, almost like the body gets too comfortable with the tightness and needs to be reminded.

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Thanks for the responses peeps!

@sashawls - yeah the Lap Band comes in FIVE different sizes, mine is the Realize band and it's just one size. ;(

@Sunshyne068 - I'm meeting with my doc again today, I will ask him what the chances are of a leak...who knows???

@Stephyanders - I'm willing ot bet that may work. I will bring it up to my doc and see what he says! Thanks for the idea!

It really means a lot to me when you all respond, thanks so much!!!

Tara

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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.
      · 0 replies
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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.
      · 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.

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