Is this what it the band is suppose to do???

icuwalsh · March 31, 2007

Hi all

I have had my 3rd fill for 2 weeks. I have "thrown up" 6 times. What is weird - i think this is really my first fill that has given me any restriction. I really don't think I'm to "full". I think the problem lies with my first 2 not giving me any restriction and have been able to eat anything and ate to much. So here I am with my 3rd fill (only 1.4cc) and having problems. some meals are very painfull and have a hard time staying down. If I take my time and eat small bites and chew my food - it doesn't give me any problems. Some of the problem food seems to be with chicken. I did eat "beef" 2 times and didn't have any problem. Usually, yogurt is no problem, but every now and then it does hurt a little. When I think about it, I think I ate the yogurt to fast.

My question is - am i just really trying to get use to this and this is the way it is suppose to be, or am I overfilled. I'm afraid to get some removed as it will just be like it was before this fill and i will eat to much.

I have only lost about 17 lbs since December 19th so this is really slow for me. :hungry: :help: :confused:

I am getting frustrated with this. Please help me.

mypov · March 31, 2007

I'm sorry you're not having an easy time! From what I've heard from others, you can be overfilled even by .1cc or so! you never know what a big difference a tiny amount of saline can do. Anyway, if you are throwing up all the time, something needs to change. If yogurt is a problem, you could definitely be overfilled. chicken is a problem for lots of people and sometimes adding something like gravy to it helps. Anyway, of course you need to eat slow and really chew, but since it sounds like you are already doing that, I would look into getting an adjustment.

PS- I prefer to call it an adjustment rather than a fill or unfill because sometimes people think of an "unfill" is like taking a step backwards-but there is NO benefit to being having an incorrect "adjustment level".

Good luck!!

losingjusme · April 1, 2007

Hi all
If I take my time and eat small bites and chew my food - it doesn't give me any problems.

hi, i'm sorry you are throwing up, but i think you resolved your problem in the above sentence ... you NEED to take small bites and chew chew chew ... then chew some more.

try dark meat chicken maybe, it is usually more juicy ... or some sort of sauce or gravy. if you still cant handle it, stick w/ beef, etc..

after chewing your small bites and you are still having problems, maybe a slight unfill is needed.

good luck

Jachut · April 1, 2007

You've answered your own question -"If I take my time and eat small bites and chew my food - it doesn't give me any problems."

This sounds like your problem, not overfill, just not eating the right way. Dont worry, you dont really learn this until you *have* to and it comes gradually with each fill. Once you're filled right, if you eat too fast and dont chew enough you'll have problems, well you can have problems well before youve hit your sweet spot if you eat like that.

Being well restricted is, well, restrictive! You cant just go out and eat anything, you have to choose carefully and eat carefully. It gets to be second nature though and I enjoy food more now than I did when I could just inhale it.

juliegeraci · April 1, 2007

Hi all
I have had my 3rd fill for 2 weeks. I have "thrown up" 6 times. What is weird - i think this is really my first fill that has given me any restriction. I really don't think I'm to "full". I think the problem lies with my first 2 not giving me any restriction and have been able to eat anything and ate to much. So here I am with my 3rd fill (only 1.4cc) and having problems. some meals are very painfull and have a hard time staying down. If I take my time and eat small bites and chew my food - it doesn't give me any problems.

*That is the key, you must chew well and take small bites. Also, you shouldn't be able to eat more than 1/2-1cup of food at a time. 1 cup is pushing it for em.

Some of the problem food seems to be with chicken.

*Chicken is a problem for me too. I can't eat that much of it. Maybe 2 bites.

I did eat "beef" 2 times and didn't have any problem.

*I can do about 2 slices of tri tip at once.

*Truthfully, it sounds like you are at the right fill level. What you have described above is ideal with a fill. You just have to slow it down and take small bites remembering the signals of when enough is enough. If you do this for a couple weeks and you still need an unfill I would go then. You shouldn't be able to eat that much right now. So you may be at your sweet spot. Time will tell.

icuwalsh · April 1, 2007

Thanks for all input. It makes me feel better to know that I am just acquanting myself with the band than having problems.

The last 2 days have been much better. I have also learned I can't "gulp" slimfast either. That didn't sit to well. I guess I never realized how fast I eat until now.

GayleTX · April 2, 2007

The 'machanics of eating' is a very important part of using your band. Sounds like you haven't had to practice that method before....you're a newbie all over again!!

Many doctors say 'you can eat anything you want....just in smaller quantities.' Well, I'm sure that is so for some people.....but very few. Every is different and it takes a few months of experimenting to find out what you can eat, how you can tolerate it prepared.....don't give up, just keep working with it.