I just got back from my surgeon's office. The GOOD news...I have made it into ONEderland for the first time in OVER 20 years! 35 pounds down since surgery on 12/13/11, 79 pounds down altogether. O_o

The BAD news...apparently my body works the opposite way of most everyone else's, in that the more weight I lost, the TIGHTER my band was getting, and I knew I was going to ask for a SLIGHT unfill because it was becoming steadily more difficult to eat over the past few weeks, but then last night I was up ALL NIGHT coughing, with horrifying heartburn and pain in my left shoulder. Plus I lost 14 pounds in 5 weeks, which SOUNDS good, but honestly, even *I* thought that was a bit too fast, mostly because I've been losing that much because I can't eat. The result? The doctor took out HALF my fill. I am SO scared that I will fall off the wagon, because before I had my LAST fill, wayyy back in the beginning of March, I had gained 3 pounds, then was doing SO well with 5cc (out of 10cc) in my band until it started tightening itself. Right now, though, I just feel relief from the almost constant uncomfortableness. I plan on doing liquids for the rest of the day today, even though an unfill doesn't necessarily require it, just because my left shoulder still hurts if I take a deep breath, and I want to make sure all that acid can work its way out.

It would just be nice to have some support, and maybe stories from other people who had unfills and still did OK. I am going back in only 3 weeks (instead of 5-6) to check things out, and possibly start slowly filling again. I KNOW I can do it, but I just feel a little nervous. :/

I'm sorry you had to go through that and are facing a few weeks without much restriction, but I think your doctor did the right thing by pulling plenty of fill out. With symptoms like you were having, leaving it alone could lead to a band slip.

I've had unfills of all sizes (including complete unfills) and have to be honest: I gained weight while waiting to get more fill again. But once my restriction was back, I lost that regain.

Good luck!

The same thing happened to me. I have only had two fills, the last was in October and I had less then 3 ccs in my band. I am now down 105 pounds and instead of getting looser my band got tight. I had 3 unfills in the last two months and now have nothing in in my band. But I am doing much better like that because I can eat again without being miserably sick. You can do this!

(null)

Thank you guys so much for your encouragement, it means SO much to me! I am feeling NO restriction at all, and I can almost feel that little out-of-control demon sitting on my shoulder. But I refuse to listen to him. I can make it 3 weeks until my next fill, I KNOW it! Even if I don't lose anything, I plan on not GAINING anything, either.

I totally understand ur fear! I got a substantial unfil prior to my plastic surgery & in 2 wks I've gained 23 lbs back! Prior to the unfil I was super tight & eating a mear 400-600 cals per day. I kinda cut loose & started eating everything I haven't been able to eat in momths!

I can't get in for a fill till June 5th. I'm hoping tog drop @ least 10 lbs prior to it. I would feel so ashamed to weigh in @ my doctors right now

I was unfilled for nine months while I had chemo. It was hard work but I didnt gain. I ran and went to the gym (rpm and bodypump) like normal during treatment, yeah I was pretty run down but I had to do it! I couldnt let myself gain!

If I can do that through two surgeries, radiation and chemo and keep the weight gain away for nine months you CAN do this!

I might add, I was years into maintenance and eating 1500 a day, not 600!!!!.A bit easier to stick to with no fill.

@betheboo I am so sorry you've been having a hard time! You CAN get back on track, I know it!

@jachut wow, you are truly an inspiration! I hope everything has turned out well for you and that things are in remission.

I fell off a little bit yesterday. I went out with a friend after work and had a glass of wine and ate over half of the Snacks we ordered, and this was AFTER I already was about 65 calories over my 1200 for the day. But I did NOT allow myself to beat myself up. My period is coming, and I needed a grown-up night out, and I still came in under 2000 calories, so it wasn't a total loss, and today has been another day to try again. Overall, so far, I feel like I have been doing OK, and that I can make it until my next fill appointment, at least with a neutral no-gain-no-loss status if nothing else lol.

i had my surgery in june of 2009. STILL haven't reached my goal.... started at 219, first couple monthes, lost about 15 lbs. after that, it's been a constant struggle... my original surgeon moved, so i have his partner........ kept telling him something was wrong, not losing weight, like being stuck........ would give me a fill, then take it out....... NEVER got past 1 cc........ now since christmas 2011, i started putting on weight, one day i went to get into my jeans, and they didn't fit, first i thought it was cause my hubby started doing laundry, and was shrinking my jeans, NOT.... now i'm size 12, not looking very good, and i am vomitting EVERYDAY, sometimes 2-3 x's, one day i can eat and be o.k. then boom, forever after, even if i drink coffee!! at dinner, everybody can tell if i can't eat, i get burning and choking feeling, and then it's into the bathroom, until i can't vomit anymore................ what gives???? yes, i talked to my original surgeon, but also told him i no longer have ins. because my husband lost his job, i mentioned this lapband not working right, then i called my doctor,(who has unfilled 3 x's), and now i'm trying to get up the $$ to pay for a visit to see what's going on!!!

@betheboo I am so sorry you've been having a hard time! You CAN get back on track, I know it!

@jachut wow, you are truly an inspiration! I hope everything has turned out well for you and that things are in remission.

I fell off a little bit yesterday. I went out with a friend after work and had a glass of wine and ate over half of the Snacks we ordered, and this was AFTER I already was about 65 calories over my 1200 for the day. But I did NOT allow myself to beat myself up. My period is coming, and I needed a grown-up night out, and I still came in under 2000 calories, so it wasn't a total loss, and today has been another day to try again. Overall, so far, I feel like I have been doing OK, and that I can make it until my next fill appointment, at least with a neutral no-gain-no-loss status if nothing else lol.

I'm glad you didn't beat yourself up for that, because you've got to live a full life. A grown-up night out is great when it doesn't lead to a permanent vacation from healthy living. I don't think weight loss needs to be like walking across a bed of nails. That's what "dieting" felt like to me. Hopefully, banded life is for the rest of your life, complete with celebrations, missed meals, the occasional treat, etc.

I've had severe reflux for 4 mths also. Thought I might be a little too tight, so I went to the dr yesterday - I slipped. Dr said it was most likely caused by vomiting. So he took out 1/2 of my fill also (about 5cc) and will refill in 2 wks. I just ate my usual 1/2 of a tuna sandwich (which normally fills me up) and I'm still hungry. I'm hoping to not gain during these 2 wks.

But last nite was the first time in 4 mths that I slept well. No pain at all. AND I usually take 1 rx Nexium, 2 rx Prilosec, and 5 otc Zantac + about 20 rolaids a day and I still had pain. Last nite I didn't have any pain whatsoever and I slept like a baby. What a relief.

I'm also hoping to keep off the weight this next 2 weeks. Not gunna try to lose, just not gain. Then when I get refilled, I'm gunna work on losing the last bit of weight I need to lose before my goal.

Good luck to you!

Marci

Wanted to update on this. The good news? So far I have managed NOT to gain anything. I haven't lost, but I've stayed within a half pound either way of the last weight at the surgeon's office. Yay, me!

It's been SO HARD, though. I feel VERY disconnected from both my band and the habits I was only just beginning to learn with it's help. I have NO restriction whatsoever. I am running on sheer willpower, which, obviously, I don't have much of, or I never would have ended up here in the first place. Myfitnesspal has helped some. As well as I still will NOT eat bread, or pizza, or much Pasta.

The better news? I only have to do this for one more week before I can start getting fills again.

@marfar7, I hope you're feeling much better!