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So, after losing 114 pounds, I found myself hungry all the time, gaining weight and suffering from the worst heartburn ever. I had gotten complacent in my diet, I will admit that, but I still felt like something else was wrong. Went back and had a barium swallow done. Turns out i am dilated. I have has all of my Fluid removed for the next three weeks. I have had my band for two years and decided that now is the time to "restart" my band. I am going to do the presurgery diet until I get fills again, and just start over.

Has anyone else done this? Has it worked? I hope this will reset my thinking back to being newly banded and help to lose the pounds I have gained. Please give me your opinions.

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I never had to have my band un-filled, but whenever I feel I can eat more than usual with little effort...I go straight liquids for 2-3 days....some call this the 5 day pouch test..why I will never know...

Pouches will dilate..it is normal due to over use....just as the stomach will stretch....drinking while eating will do it also....too much in pouch at one time...

I have friends in your situation, and yes, the Dr. completely unfilled their band to give it a rest....then started all over again....

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I think stretching(dialating) our esophogus or pouch is always on most bandsters mind? Especially for those of us who find it hard to slow down and take small bites. You could help those of us on the forum if you could expound on how this happened so that we don't make the same mistake?

I don't have any advice for you since it's never happened to me. I have heard that the unfill is one technique that is used to shrink the pouch back to it's original size. I think there's also a video in youtube where a doctor surgically repairs a dilation.

tmf

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I am really not sure exactly how or when it happened. I would guess I just overate a couple of times and that did it? But I always try not to eat once I begin to feel full. I really can't say what did it.

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I am really not sure exactly how or when it happened. I would guess I just overate a couple of times and that did it? But I always try not to eat once I begin to feel full. I really can't say what did it.

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I also did the same think back in November had everything takin out then waited 4 weeks. I went back in everything looked good so started refill. So far has been ok but I did go back and refresh my eating habits.

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I did full liquids with protien shakes. I drank 5 shakes a day with a lot of Water in between. I was refilled Friday and so far, I feel great!! Doing Mushies now.

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Google 5 day pouch test to know more.

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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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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