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Beware of the UN-fill !!!



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Ok' date=' we've all been there...You go and get a fill and they give you all of these specific instructions on what to eat and what not to eat. They make you drink Water before you leave to make sure you're not completely shut off, etc etc.. But what about if you get it loosened? They don't tell you what THAT'S gonna be like!! So here's a list of the potential side effects for having an UN-fill (I wish I would've known before I had my band loosened):

- Gas

- Bloating, Water retention

- Diarrhea or constipation.. or diarrhea followed by Constipation followed by diarrhea

- More gas and bloating

- Hunger

- RAPID WEIGHT GAIN!!!!! And I mean RAPID, even if you're watching what u eat!!!

So what do we Banders do?? We go back and get a fill, right???? And another fill, and another fill.. But guess what!! THERE'S NO GOING BACK!! It's that "green-zone" everyone talks about. If u get to your green-zone, then don't mess with it!!

Unfortunately, I did mess w it. And after 3 more fills in my 10 yr old band, I'm up 65 pounds in about 6 months. So I gave up.. had my band removed last month and in 3 weeks I'm getting the Sleeve.

Anyone else have this happen???[/quote']

Hi, I'm going through this now, wish I would have knew this before my unfill. My fills r not working for me :( I'm hoping for a change every time I get a fill

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Ok' date=' we've all been there...You go and get a fill and they give you all of these specific instructions on what to eat and what not to eat. They make you drink Water before you leave to make sure you're not completely shut off, etc etc.. But what about if you get it loosened? They don't tell you what THAT'S gonna be like!! So here's a list of the potential side effects for having an UN-fill (I wish I would've known before I had my band loosened):

- Gas

- Bloating, Water retention

- Diarrhea or constipation.. or diarrhea followed by Constipation followed by diarrhea

- More gas and bloating

- Hunger

- RAPID WEIGHT GAIN!!!!! And I mean RAPID, even if you're watching what u eat!!!

So what do we Banders do?? We go back and get a fill, right???? And another fill, and another fill.. But guess what!! THERE'S NO GOING BACK!! It's that "green-zone" everyone talks about. If u get to your green-zone, then don't mess with it!!

Unfortunately, I did mess w it. And after 3 more fills in my 10 yr old band, I'm up 65 pounds in about 6 months. So I gave up.. had my band removed last month and in 3 weeks I'm getting the Sleeve.

Anyone else have this happen???[/quote']

Wow

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I was not judging you or your experience. I am not on a high horse and I have never forgotten where I started.

My point to you was that the title of your thread is extremely strong. Unfills are part of living with a band and no one should be scared off from having one when its needed.

The damage done from having a too tight band outweighs the POTENTIAL issues from having an unfill.

My comment was not directed to you.

And anyone who had or is getting the LAPBAND needs to be taking the initiative to be informed. Research and information gathering from MULTIPLE sources. PRIMARILY from their physician or other qualified medical personnel, but most DEFINITELY NOT from a "Support Group/Forum".

So if someone is "scared" because of something they read in a blog... then there are clearly more concerning issues at hand. Issues such as the need to educate the general public about what should and should NOT be used as legitimate resources for medical advice.

Are YOU an MD? Cause I certainly am not!

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I have had many people tell me how they were doing fine' date=' then needed to get a total un-fil, not 1/2 cc here or there, for whatever reason, then found it very difficult to get back to that magical place they were before....never quite the same....

But I cannot say one way or the other....I have never needed to get any Fluid taken out.....

As far as judgmental people.....this LBT...and you find that unusual??? This forum is full of self proclaimed experts.....convinced it is either Their way, or No way....[/quote']

Touché.. :0))

....about the experts that is...

And ur right, I should've been more clear in my original post (which in all honesty,was meant to inject a little humor about my situation...but that clearly fell be the wayside)

Anyway I probably should've mentioned the part about how I had been spitting up (productive belching, whatever u wanna call it..) more than normal, hence my decision to get it loosened... but instead of loosening it, the over zealous nurse practitioner completely emptied it!!

I had a 4cc band filled w 2.75cc saline and no adjustments in over 8 yrs. So this chick takes me from 2.75cc down to 0.4cc in one visit.

I finally got them to take me back up to 2.1cc at my last fill, but it was as if there was no band. No amount of fills would fix it, or take me back to where I was..

So anyway... on to the sleeve...

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i got the lapband because i was fat/lazy and overate huge amounts of fast foods' date=' chips etc...i feel once a person accepts what the problem is, they can fix it.

i do not have any fills *just a starting primer at surgery and i have no idea how much* but i do watch my caloric intake and try to eat better foods...and i feel is someone gains (65 pounds after a fill), they overate/drank more calories than their bodies burned off and hence the weight gain...i can say this and its true because i did not get over 300+ by dieting.....that being said, you stated you were a success, excuse me, you still are....

so to lose weight, do what you and everyone who has the band is suppose to do...eat better foods in the allotted amounts (stopping at 20 min mark) and let the band control the quantity..i understand fills help with the controlling the quantity......and because you can eat more then the 1 cup (or whatever your dr recommends) doesnt mean you should...that goes for whether someone has the sleeve or band or ds or bypass..you drink/eat more calories than you burn off and you WILL gain weight.

again, BEST of luck to you.

hope it truly works out. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />[/quote']

Ok, wait a minute.. Wait just one minute.... Let me get this straight...

YOU HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN YOUR FIRST FILL YET??? And you're DOGGING me out about my complications from having my band loosened!?!??!

How long have you had your band??? Cause I had my band for TEN YEARS!!! You're in the wrong forum chick!! Maybe try the "Lapband for Beginners" group or something.

What a JOKE!!!!!!

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Ok, wait a minute.. Wait just one minute.... Let me get this straight...

YOU HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN YOUR FIRST FILL YET??? And you're DOGGING me out about my complications from having my band loosened!?!??!

How long have you had your band??? Cause I had my band for TEN YEARS!!! You're in the wrong forum chick!! Maybe try the "Lapband for Beginners" group or something.

What a JOKE!!!!!!

Wow are you always this needlessly rude and nasty?

CarolinaGirl has lost over 100 pounds. She is far from a beginner and her success proves she knows what she's doing.

No one was "dogging you" for your complications. Numerous people simply stated they've never had those problems after an unfill and stated the obvious- you don't gain weight from an unfill you gain weight from eating too much.

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Ok, wait a minute.. Wait just one minute.... Let me get this straight...

YOU HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN YOUR FIRST FILL YET??? And you're DOGGING me out about my complications from having my band loosened!?!??!

How long have you had your band??? Cause I had my band for TEN YEARS!!! You're in the wrong forum chick!! Maybe try the "Lapband for Beginners" group or something.

What a JOKE!!!!!!

i am not dogging anyone as i have no right to as i am like everyone else who is overweight and sought help with wls..i have no input on fills or complications or loosen bands.

its not my style to (dog) anyone.

i merely stated a fact, to gain weight, you eat more cals then you burn off..

and you stated you gained 65 pounds..that was by eating excess calories.

and yes, no fill for me yet but making it happen and i have been banded nearly 11 months...and even still wish you the best of luck with the sleeve if you go that route.

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Wow are you always this needlessly rude and nasty?

CarolinaGirl has lost over 100 pounds. She is far from a beginner and her success proves she knows what she's doing.

No one was "dogging you" for your complications. Numerous people simply stated they've never had those problems after an unfill and stated the obvious- you don't gain weight from an unfill you gain weight from eating too much.

thanks for the nice words in regards to me missy.

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Hi' date=' I'm going through this now, wish I would have knew this before my unfill. My fills r not working for me <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> I'm hoping for a change every time I get a fill[/quote']

Thank you for your post.

I feel your pain. It's so frustrating i know!!! It's like I wanted to pull my hair out.

And despite what some people think, we're not out there eating double-bacon cheeseburgers and milkshakes!!!

But don't give up!! I believe it's possible to get back to the green zone. Talk to ur doctors, ask questions, research, get a second opinion if u have to. It's your body, and NO ONE knows how YOU feel. So don't let anyone decide what's best for you.

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Logical and simple as that.....I remember being told I was fat because I ate too much.....gee, you think???

gee i do think...and that is why i was beyond fat...i was super morbid obese..

simple to me...once i accepted it...by seeing the number and getting a tool to help me...

i never looked back.

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Oh dear, that's terrible!!!

Do you think you may have made some poor choices along the way, which may have contributed to your 65 lb gain?

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When my band was leaking I gained 39lbs. And pretty fast too. But it was coz I was always hungry. So I ate. And not well either. I don't blame the weight gain on the band but I do admit that without the help of the band NOT gaining weight was tough. If it was easy to not gain, why would I have needed the Lapband in the first place, right?

But the gain wasn't the band's fault. It was mine.

Also in the note of being unfilled, I have been completely unfilled before and managed to get back to the green zone after. So I'm hopeful I will this time after band replacement as well. Though I know of many bandsters who struggle to find the green zone again after a complete unfill.

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Hi Bandsters,

I'm new, but not new... I had problems with my band also. I had my surgery 4 years ago. I came very close to goal weight, 155 was the lowest I had gotten. Then I believe I may have had to much fill and began getting sick. One month ago I had my fill removed and was scheduled to have the band removed next Weds. May 15th. I have just decided against it. I called my doctor and spoke with the PA. She had a band, then had the bypass done. She keeps insisting that I should have that done that it is easier than the band. I don't want to. I have an appt. tomorrow for a fill. Sooo.. I have it in my head that I am beginning all over again. I need the "tool" to help curve my appetite, although in the month with no fill, I didn't gain any weight but nor did I lose any. I hope that I am making the right decision to try it again. Just thought I'd share my story. You all sound so inspirational and I really do need to keep reading the boards and positive affirmations that they bring! We're all in this together!

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Hi , just wanted to let everyone know , that there is hope after an unfill. I was feeling down after my unfill , felt that my band was not working , however took a couple of extra fills , now it's working again , on my way to lose again. Yay. Hang in their Bandsters it does work sometimes slower than others

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