I'm posting this for a patient of mine-we're stumped..I was going to refer him for an Endocrine and GI evaluation but after reading the threads on dilation-this sounds similar. Any input appreciated-thanks!!

Adj. Gastric Banding Surgery done at the end of May 2006, about 6 months ago. To date I have had 6cc of Fluid placed into the band. My current weight is 444 lbs, down a total of 120 lbs from 2 years ago. The surgeon said that the band should be forming a pouch that would hold about 1 oz, and release the contents very slowly.

As of right now I can without having any sensation of being full, eat a 10 oz Top Sirloin Steak, a 6 oz Baked Potato, and a 4 oz dinner salad over a period of about 20 min. 30 minutes. I'm able to eat other foods that are normally restricted, such as celery, with no problem. In fact, the last time I had celery I ate the whole bunch, over a period of 30 minutes for lunch. Still no sensation of being full, nor any trouble as a result of the stringy nature of celery. Nor is any form of white non-toasted bread, or even Peanut Butter. The only item that has caused any sensation of fullness was eating one Blueberry Muffins that you can buy at the store. Also I have not had any problem that has caused me to bring stuff back up, as a result of eating too much.

My current average daily intake of calories, for the month of November is 1638 calories/day. Over the last 6 months my average daily intake of calories is down from a high of 2250 calories/day. But even at this months average of 1638 calories/day I am still gaining weight, and I am finding that the band is still allowing to large of volume of to be consumed, without feeling full.

I normally exercise by swimming 1 mile, in a little over an 75 - 80 minutes 3 times a week.

One other fact, which may or may not be important, is the fact that when the temperature is down in the low 30's, with little to no wind, I'm quite comfortable outside in a short sleeve shirt, with no coat.

Does any one have any idea about what is going on?

Or what it will take to get the band adjusted so that it is working?

Suggestion on what should be checked?

Charlene being banded now almost 2 years i really have tried everything. Eating chunky soups that have been blended really is defeting the thory of the band!

Eating anything blended fedfetes the bands theory it is restrictive surgery.

Not a band so we survive on blended foods.

i do appreciate your advice but this has been going o from the day i was banded, its time it came out its a horrendus device i also am now begging to thing its too high up and thats why i am not able to eat anything without vomiting.

Paige...

Better to eat around the band with blended, healthy foods than ice cream, chips, chocolate, mashed potatoes, etc - which is what you've been doing, correct? My band is tight - sometimes very tight - and I eat a lot of soup. Nothing suceeds like success, so theory or no theory, I still think it's a good idea.

I apologize in advance for sounding unsympathetic, but your posts make me think that you never believed the band would work for you. I think your band was doomed to fail from day one.

If revision surgery is what you want, I certainly hope that's what you get. With the RNY, however, you will be right back in the same spot within 2 years. Your pouch will stretch, the dumping will have subsided (if indeed you ever dumped at all - about 1/3 of RNYers do not ever dump), and the weight will begin to creep back. Look at Carnie Wilson. She has really packed on the pounds since her bypass!

DS gives the best chance of weight loss with absolutely no help from you - except you really need to take the supplements religiously. Of course, it's major surgery and cannot be reversed. People do suffer complications. And they die sometimes. Notice that on any Lap Band message board, there is one thing very conspicuously missing....a memorial thread.

Paige: It sounds like you are your own worst enemy...I don't want you to feel like we are beating up on you here....but you don't seem to be open, nor accepting, of excellent advice being given by Carlene. I agree when she infers that your band was defeated from the beginning.

It sounds like you are looking for a miracle wonder tool that will take care of all your overeating and bad eating problems.....I don't think that exists.

Please listen to Carlene....its very sound advice.

Carol

Sounds like you need another fill or 2. I didn't have restriction until my 3rd fill. What you are describing is an empty band. You should only be able to consume 800-1200 calories a day. Good luck.