I had my surgery on July 18. All seemed well til the day after I got home. My stomache swelled n felt like I swallowed a bowling ball. Called dr n he didn't seem concerned. Ended up in ER and they emptied the band. My dr didn't bother to visit me for any of the five days I spent in the hospital. Lost 20lbs I. That week and not a pound since. Had several fills since am still hungry alm the time. Can eat twice what I should be able to. I feel like this was the worse mistake I've ever made. Am I the only one this completely unhappy and depressed?

Sorry you've been having problems, but no my Dr and his staff are always there to address my needs.

The hosp you were in for 5days, was your Dr on staff there?

How much a fill did Dr give you at time of surgery?

Sorry about all the questions, just trying to understand.

As far as eating have you ever heard "just b/c you can, does not mean you should". I'm still in bandster hell (no restriction) but I still eat by the bandster rules, 1000 cal per day,no more than 1cup of food, 3 oz protein 1/2 c veggies, 1/4 good carbs. 60 gr protein total per day.

At least 64 oz fluid per day.

So what are you eating?

would try and make an appointment with a nutritionist and also try and get into to see the doctor again again. If your not happy with the doctor try and see someone else. PLEASE don't give up. Also try and hook up with a support group.

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

I had my surgery on July 18. All seemed well til the day after I got home. My stomache swelled n felt like I swallowed a bowling ball. Called dr n he didn't seem concerned. Ended up in ER and they emptied the band. My dr didn't bother to visit me for any of the five days I spent in the hospital. Lost 20lbs I. That week and not a pound since. Had several fills since am still hungry alm the time. Can eat twice what I should be able to. I feel like this was the worse mistake I've ever made. Am I the only one this completely unhappy and depressed?

the band will help you eat less but until you are at that magically zone

its up to you to make sure you dont eat twice as much as you are suppose to..you stop at your allotted amount PERIOD. you stop at 20 min whether you are hungry or not..dont blame the band for you not using it correctly.

def see your nutritionist and def eat lean Proteins so you can be full and veggies/fruit and drink alot.

3500 calories is a pound whether you eat it or drink it.if you take in more cals than you burn off, you will gain or not lose weight...you are the only one who knows what you are eating...and since you said you eat twice what you are suppose to, i would gander that is why.

You might want to consider finding another surgeon to do your aftercare. Sounds like you didn't get off to a good start with the original one.

this is a diet and if you start on a DIET you will loss. Track every bite and you will find you are not on a diet and eating the wrong foods. Junk food out of the house you might want to follow WW diet program I did in the beging and it help me till I got to understsnd how the band helped. It work but so worth it. Keep working on it and see a counselor to help you find what your mind is doing and stopping you.good luck you can do it

It seems that you do not really have the support of your doctors. I would talk with my insurance and find someone else, that has concern in their patients. Good Luck.

Bizarre! Sorry for you troubles, but the story is just bizarre!

I had my surgery on July 18. All seemed well til the day after I got home. My stomache swelled n felt like I swallowed a bowling ball. Called dr n he didn't seem concerned. Ended up in ER and they emptied the band. My dr didn't bother to visit me for any of the five days I spent in the hospital. Lost 20lbs I. That week and not a pound since. Had several fills since am still hungry alm the time. Can eat twice what I should be able to. I feel like this was the worse mistake I've ever made. Am I the only one this completely unhappy and depressed?

You have to ask yourself if you are unhappy with your surgeon, you deff. need to make some arrangements in finding one who will listen and help you with all your needs. You will read many many of us who love our surgeons, have great rapport with them, and we are all doing successfully well. I think having a surgeon who actually cares makes a huge difference in the world.

Don't ever give up! Remember you still have a tool that can be worked with, you just need the right guidence along the way.

I wish you the very best,

Some of you may have read into what I wrote. Just because I can eat twice what I should does not mean I do. I follow the rules that my dr gave me even though he changes them every time I see him. I walk 3 miles 5 days a week an hour each day. I won't say I haven't had a few bad meals since my surgery but I can count them on my two hands. For the most part I eat 4 oz of chix or fish and a sm amount if veggies for dinner n lunch n usually egg beaters or oatmeal for breakfast. I NEVER feel full. I am hungry in between meals and I just don't think the band is working. My idiot dr keeps blowing me off. I get my fill once a month with no results. I am still following a weight watchers program as far as cooking but my nutrishionist told me not to, sooooooo now what? I don't know what more I can do n I am completely frustrated. I do track all my food and stay within a 1200 cal range n 71 g of protien which is what my nutritionist told me to do. I am just frustrated and don't know how much more I CAN do. This was not a cure all but it was supposed to help.

You get a fill every month? Sounds bizarre.

I would find another doctor, because either he is not listening to you or you are lying to him about what's going on.

Also get with a support group and a nutritionist. Are you drinking with your meals?

There is something wrong with a doctor who is " changing the rules" at every visit. There are a pretty standard set of rules that banders follow. That is not to say that there are some minor differences here and there. But, generally they are standard.

Sounds like you need a new team.maybe you also have other issues that a psychologist could help you with.

What did they say was wrong when you were in the hospital? If they kept you for 5 days they must have had some concerns about something. Did your doctor check and make sure your band was positioned correctly? Could it be disconnected from the port or have a leak? I feel horrible that your going through this! But I really think that if it were me I would change doctors! Having the right surgeon can be just as important or more as following the band rules! Good luck and please keep us posted on your journey. I believe with the right doctor your view on the band will change.

It sounds to me like you need a new surgeon. No offense, but yours sounds totally useless if not incompetent.

well, from what i understand, the band wont make you full

but it will hep you eat less..i dont have any fills but i eat as if do.

and if you are exercising and eating as you describe, it sounds like

you are doing correct.

just because the scale is not moving, does not mean the band is not working.

Remember you are your best advocate. You either need to find new Dr that will work with you, or have a heart to heart with present Dr and not leave the exam room until he addresses your concerns.

Has he made sure you have no leaks, slips or unlatched band?

If band is in working order, he needs to find a Dr for you that can do metabolic test, b/c the numbers don't add up.

Do you actually measure your servings or eye ball them?

We'd really like to help you, but need more answers.

I'm curious too, why they kept you in hospital for 5 days?