Here is my crazy story. I had the band done Nov of 2010. I have not had any crazy problems but the band has been getting on my nerves lately. I initially lost about 30 pounds and then my life had a big crisis hit..the stress is near killing me and I started eating crap and of course gained weight. I am working 4 part time jobs to keep my family afloat, i have two young kids and no time to take care of myself. Anyway i find it so hard to eat lately, it hurts and the crap food is so much easier to eat. I have been to the doctore but is not much help. I feel like i vomit about twice a week but i avoid the good food for me since it is hard to eat it and i dont have relaxing time to eat slowly non stressed. I hate never getting the normal full feeling, sick of the lump in the throat and pain in the chest, sick of the being afraid of certain foods, plus i feel bloated all the time and gassy. Then i have been hearing all the horror stories about the band and cancer and then i get anxiety thinking i have a ticking time bomb inside of me. sometimes i really truly regret getting this, It was a waste of time and money and heart ache. I feel like i was losing better without this thing in me and feeling better also. I want it out most days but not even sure if insurance will cover it. Any ideas suggestions??? Mot sure what to do. thanks in advance!

Sounds like you aren't ready to make the band work. Maybe you should get your life in order with fewer jobs and less stress before you tackle your weight loss dilemma?

tmf

sounds to me like you are too tight. I have been to my doctors office so many times to get this thing adjusted that were on a first name basis. I know what you are describing is exactly how i felt when it was too tight. I mean I was good at 10cc then 10.5 was too much. I have a 14 cc band and I started at 306. I am currently 220 pounds. hope this helps

I am in a very similar situation.I think this is more about what's going on in ur life than the band.it seems that with the stressors u have you would probably be in worse shape with out the band.if u don't have time to focus on eating right band foods now I think u will still make bad choices with out it because your focus is on keeping a roof over ur head not ur on health.

I have 3 part time jobs now and had to move quickly last week and I have been eating crap also.when I try to eat right I'm not chewing slowly enough( don't have time,trying to get to my next job)and I've been having a lot of painful stuck episodes.so I've been eating the easy bad stuff and have gained back I couple of pounds in the last 2 weeks.But I know it's me and not the band.my goal is to get through the next couple of weeks.I'll be done moving and hopefully getting permanent fulltime employment.Then refocus on my health.good luck to u.

You seem to have so much going on and I am right there with you. First thing you shod know is constant stress will cause your band to tighten itself true fact ive asked my surgeon.

I wish I could help with all yhe stressful things you sound swamped.. My suggestion go for a small unfill it should stop the lump in your throat and give you a little less restriction then you can start eating healthier which in turn will eliminate a littlr of your stress toward urself and make sure you are taking vitamins! They really do help you feel better.

And dont stress about all the bad youve heard about the band ofcourse there are complications that comes with any surgery and you by far do not sound like you need anymore stress right now. Make sure you visit your band doc regularly and then they can check for complications! But really I know where your at with stress and if you ever just wannaa talk or vent email or text me I always have an open ear crazy.beautiful25@gmail.com or 8168080643

You poor thing ...first get it loosened....I too was too tight and couldn't eat good food...it was easier to each fattening yogartt all the time. You've got enough going on ..if ou loosened it you can go back to eating healthy foods that will be better on your mental and physical health. It sucks having the hunger comeback but you said you don't get the full feeling anywa. If you ate more hungry ou can get j. The habit of choosing healthy fruits veggies etc. you will be n my prayers ..

Thank you all for your supportive responses. Toomuchfun -I feel that if I wait until my life is in order I will never do the right thing by me and give up completely on my health. It does not look like my stuff is clearing up anytime soon so i will have to live with what it is despite how sucky it is. Anyway I do know how to persevere I am a fighter I am just trying to figure out what route to take. I was actually thinking about having some fluid out and seeing if it puts me in a better place. I am not losing with what I have in it so dont think it will hurt much. I appreciate all of you!! thank you your encouragement literally brought tears to my eyes!

It does sound like removing some fill will help you.

It sounds like the original poster needs to work multiple jobs to keep his/her kids fed. Telling them to work less hours is pretty mean spirited.

Atta Girl!! We're here one way or another!

tmf

My band totally gets tighter with stress, and it sounds like you have a lot. As recommended I would suggest getting just a bit removed, so you can cope with the rest of your life! If things settle down then you can get another fill. You need to have the energy to do everything you need to do!

I havent gotten to the point of hating my band and wanting it out, but I've been on the same journey in the past year or so. I've had cancer, been treated band since I got "better" my life has been hell. I'm depressed, anxious, having panic attacks, have been through a hellish menopause, gone back to full time work in a very stressful job. I'm time poor and managing poorly. As a result, my eating has been simply awful. But you know the one thing that overlays all that and really pushes me into freak out territory is seeing my weight rise. It may be dysfunctional but managing my diet and exercise gives me a sense of control and makes all the rest seem not so bad. I don't succeed at it 100% of the time, probably only 50% at the moment, but I feel compelled to keep trying. The fact that my weight has stayed fairly steady is not a credit to my self control and discipline, its a freaking miracle is what it is, but it is the ONE thing I can control to some extent out of all the rest of it and I choose to hang onto that.

You would have to be superhuman for the stress and heartache not to show in the way you care for your body. Don't beat yourself up, you're only human. And try not to hate the band, do what you need to do for now and hopefully it will be there functional for you when you can have the leisure to establish a better relationship with it.

Just want to give you a virtual hug (( )) try to take it one day at a time. Sounds like you are overwelmed. Take care.

Just want to give you a virtual hug (( )) try to take it one day at a time. Sounds like you are overwelmed. Take care.

I'd like to quote Fantasy because that's what I'd say too. Hang in there, even if it's by your nails. I hope you can work it out and feel better soon.

Purple: I have been where you are. I hated my band and wanted it out. I was "over" it. I had a lot of stress in my life and regained 54 of the 100 pounds I lost. i was stuck whenever I ate healthy food and found myself eating more and more ice cream and sliders.

When it finally came to the point where I discussed removal and was planning on having it taken out, I freaked out. I was so afraid of re-gaining ALL of the weight I lost. I decided to refocus and start over. I don't have as many personal stressors now, so that helped. But life still gets in the way. It is hard. I am not perfect every day. But I try and stay positive and focused. I am back down a total of 70 pounds again. I am actually going in for a repair next month. So in 3 months went from wanting it out... to fixing it!

You CAN do this. I am sorry that you have a lot going on in your life right now. Stress can really make it hard. Maybe removing all of your fill for a little while will help get you back on track. Or remove some. Give yourself a break. One less thing you have to be stressed about. Keep the band a little bit looser so you aren't stressed about getting stuck and can make healthier choices.

Hang in there. Keep plugging away. Your life will eventually swing up again and having your tool to help you will be a good thing!