Hey everyone. I've been disappointed with my band experience and I was hoping I could get a little advice from you guys. I was banned on 9/13/06 and I haven't lost much weight. I lost a few pounds immediately post op but it didn't take long for me to fall back into my old terrible eating habits. I've only had one fill thus far and though I have a little restriction, I can still get down a pretty good amount of food. This whole procedure has made me realize that I have a serious food addiction. Iv'e been overweight and had issues with food for over 15 years but now I see the light on this addiction like never before. On my worse days, I actually force food down to the point of serious discomfort. I haven't been to the doctor or any support meeting in over 4 months because I'm embarrased about my weight. I started out at 380 and though I haven't weighed myself in a while, I know I'm still well over 350 lbs. All my friends and family know I got the surgery and they all wonder why I'm not dropping pounds like others who have had wls. This all has me very depressed and as a result I turn to food even more to comfort me. I'm scared to get another fill because I fear I will continue to try to overeat and end up seriously hurting myself. Restriction in my stomach doesn't really make me feel "full", the food just feels "stuck" and I find my self just waiting until the food "goes down" some so I can eat some more. Isn't this isane? I haven't had any physical problems with the band except for a little sorenes in the port are every now and again. Yet still I am seriously considering getting the band removed. I never was thrilled about the idea of a foreign device in my body, and now I realize that the issue is with ME and my terrible habits, not the size of my stomach. Do you guys think another fill will help my situation? Or should I just focus on the REAL problems within me. I'm confused and utterly depressed. If it wasn't for the love for my children I would have given up on life a long time ago. Any insight would be helpful.

First of all, you definitely need a fill. You shouldn't be able to eat more than a cup of food at a time. In my case, its more like 1/2 cup of food at a time. Restriction is really important.

I am involved in a 12-step program and I can tell you that working on myself on the inside has been a huge part of my journey. I had been working a program for 2 years before having the surgery, and I have similar issues with food as you do. I don't think I would be as successful in my weight loss or as happy with my life (despite lots of crap that has happened in our family, including my husband's addiction and suicide in 2005) if I wasn't working a program.

Addiction can't be cured -- by the band, or anything else. Try going to OA and see if it can help you as much as my program has helped me. Therapy is another tool and I agree that it can be helpful as well.

my thoughts and prayers are with you.

J-

Your post makes me very sad. I am new to the band, but I dont really have the relationship with food that you seem to have. I know there is help out there for you. Please dont be embarrassed to ask for it, pray for it, or do what ever it takes to get it. You have a great tool inside you already that can assist when you get those issues in your mind worked through. If you done have a counselor to talk to go back to your Dr.and tell him what is happening. It might be that a fill can kickstart you. I know you want to be healthier for your child. Your body is a temple and it should be tood good care of.

I will pray for you to get the Peace that you are looking for.

Mary

BBW...now that stands for BIG BEAUTIFUL WOMAN? Am I correct? Be strong...be a WOMAN...we can handle a lot more than we think we can, and your mind can really screw you up. That's how we all got in this situation to begin with, by using food to fill emotional needs. Ending your life is not an answer, believe me...from personal experience...GO TO SEE A THERAPIST, or an OA Meeting...get some 'HUG" from all the people there that are just like you and me.

You've put yourself out here and told your story...that's a very brave thing to do. Takes a lot of courage to speak up sometimes, but you did it. Don't quit..go at your own pace and follow the program for Lap Band eating.

I am getting banded on the 18th of this month and am currently doing the liquid fast for 2 weeks. Into my 6th day and dropped lbs. already...I'm surprised.

Please, please....keep reaching out and never give up. Many squishy big hugs to you girl, be brave.:thumbup:

Cinch that sucker up! Everything will be okay!

I’ve been overweight for 23 years (I’m 27 years old if that tells you anything) and have had an addiction to food that is so extreme that at one point, all I could think about was my next meal. My favorite part of vacations was eating out every night. Every penny (literally) I made at work went straight into my stomach. I’d buy take-out meals designed for entire families and eat them by myself.

When I first got the band, most of my family thought it wouldn’t work for me. The band limits the size of your stomach, but it definitely doesn’t help the addiction too much. They figured I’d either give up the band, stop getting fills, or just ‘eat around the band’ entirely.

I was banded April 11, 2008. I’ve lost 128 lbs since then. I have had three fills. My first fill had hardly any restriction and within a week, I scheduled my second fill. The second fill lasted about a month before I started doing exactly what you are describing. I would literally eat and eat, stop and wait for the food to go down, and eat some more. It was time for a third fill.

So, three months after I was banded, I had my third fill. I told the doctor to make it nice and tight. He did. I think I am at around 5 CCs right now in a 14 CC band. For about a month after my third fill, I was devastated (I like to think I was going through withdrawal) I would sit down with my food and stare at it- and stare at it- and continue to stare at it. I was moody, angry, hungry, and had no energy at all. I was desperate to continue eating; my mind was telling me over and over to just take another bite- one more bite. My stomach, however, was telling me that there was simply no more room.

After one or two very (VERY) uncomfortable lessons, my stomach won. I started paying attention to what I put in my body. I started to exercise (needed to do something, anything to keep my mind off of food) and before I knew it, I was no longer eating out because it was simply a waste of money. I was cooking healthy foods, making good decisions, and jogging.

Some people may say I was too tight after the third fill. But I could drink water without any problems, and I was still getting enough calories to sustain myself. I was / am really- really tight. This is what it takes for me. The addiction is still there, it’ll never go away. With out the reminder in my stomach, I would eat everything in sight.

You may consider seeing a counselor about your addiction, but I also think you should get a fill. People don’t generally adhere to addiction if all it does is make them miserable. You’d be surprised at how quickly you stop overeating once there’s no more room to overeat. I think you should give the band a shot. I think all bandsters are addicted to food. If they aren’t, why are they overweight?

Good luck! If you need someone to talk to, you can email me at chanda.cryer@gmail.com.