I'm at a little over 18 months banded. 14cc band, the max I was filled was 6.5 ccs, which proved to be too much (my doc aggressively fills). With 6.5 I was PBing daily. Went back down to 6ccs, and the PBing slowed to 3 or 4 times a week. I'd never know what would trigger my band. I'd always chew everything completely, avoid liquids with meals, etc. I tried really hard to be the model band patient. Some times salad would trigger it, other times it would be meat, lentils, Pasta. You name it, I've gotten stuck and sick on it. I went in and had an unfill down to 2 ccs, so that I could hopefully give my pouch time to calm itself down, and allow me to start over again.

I got my unfill on 2/17. Did liquids for two weeks (I hate muscle milk now lol), and started slowly transitioning back to solids. I'm still having issues PBing and not knowing what is going to affect my band, although it's down to once a week instead of the 2-3x. I've been eating primarily yogurt and muscle milk with the occasional small amounts of Protein - meats, cheese, etc chewed very well, as well as vegan substitutes.

Friday I had an ounce of salmon after successfully having salmon a few days before. lunch was at 11. Everything went down well, I chewed, felt fine. Midafternoon I started having seriously awful bloat. I took two gas pills to try to reduce it, and drank Water. Still not hungry, but I didn't feel stuck or have any indication that I was. By 9pm, I was even gassier and feeling miserable, so I went to bed. I woke up at about 1am in excruciating pain, my whole abdomen so swollen with gas that my belly was all tight, my port was sore, and it felt almost like it did right after surgery. I took some Tums at that point and tried to lay back down to see if it would help. I figured I'd give it 20 minutes, and if it weren't any better, I'd go to the ER (I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I was worried it was something in my organs gone awry as the pain was so bad, but since it was under the ribs on the left I didn't suspect the appendix or anything). The Tums ended up making me vomit, and I spent the next two hours throwing up all of the salmon that I had eaten over 12 hours before. It had been stuck, but I didn't even know - there was no indicator! I fell asleep finally at about three, and had to be up at five to go to work. It wasn't a fun day.

I've been on liquids all weekend, and just attempting mushies today... but I'm so done. I know this is a tool so it's not fully the band's "fault" per se, but I felt that I've tried so hard to do everything right by it. I'm only down 13 lbs after 18 months, and I've just been miserable. I have an appointment next Monday to talk to my doc and see what my options are, but in all honesty, I'm in a 100% "eff it" attitude. I've been able to re-route my bad behaviors. Instead of eating when I'm stressed, I get on the treadmill or clean the house. Hubby and I have revamped our eating habits - more vegan sources of protein, less pastas and breads, very rarely any meat since we never know if I can keep it down or not. I chew chew chew chew chew, and don't mix liquids with my meals. I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall and getting nowhere.

I'm not sure if I have any complications that will warrant my insurance taking the band out, but I'm definitely looking at all of my options. I don't want a revision surgery, I totally just want to be back to normal. The upside is that I haven't gone above my starting weight, but the downside is with the low amount of calories that I eat (1100-1600 max, and the latter only on days that I do an hour on the treadmill with weights) and all of the vomiting I do, I still haven't gone below the 200 mark.

I just don't know anymore.

Verdict is in... band is slipped. The surgeon was overwhelmingly kind (as I was freaking out) and said that I am just one of those that doesn't tolerate the band, and they're putting in a referral now to get my removal covered, and he was willing to do it as early as tomorrow - we just have to wait for coverage info. It's all a bit of a blur and I'm really not sure how to feel about it. I'm really battling the emotions right now.

I'm sorry your band has slipped. I had a

Minor slip and after my band was emptied my stomach fell into place. Although it wasn't slipped I continued to have problems not keeping food or fluids in. I have my follow up appointment next week on Tuesday. I don't know if there were any issues with the band or not because the I haven't spoken to the doc yet. Although my appetite is not back yet I'm able to eat anything. I have been eating bread and flour not excessively but it goes down the pipe pretty well. I'm having to go back and using self discipline in the food choices. It's not my band making the choices for me any longer. To be honest with you I really like being the one in control of my food rather the band. I hope you recover soon. Maybe the sleeve would be another option? In the end regardless of what happens you are the owner of your mind and body. You're in control now! Bout time no? Have a good weekend

I know for me the hardest part was not stress eating, and I'm scared that will be the same thing once I have it out... and I am determined to have the dang thing out. Per the doctor I tried a solid food (small frozen bean burrito), and it ended up getting stuck/I got sick, even with no Fluid in my band. So it's back to yogurt and tea for me at this time... I did indeed have a fantastic weekend though, so that didn't get me down at all. Husband was out of town, so I had my best friend over and we did nails, updated my Etsy Shop, and I did about 16 hours of yard work! Spring is finally peeking its head out, and that is thrilling

I'm not sure about revision to the sleeve. I have two friends who have done wonderfully with it. I'm just scared of the prospect of another surgery - they (the doctors) were initially wanting me to do a bypass, but I have friends and coworkers who have had nothing but trouble with that, so that's why I opted for the band figuring it was less invasive and therefore less problematic. We'll see, though. I hope you have a fantastic week. I'm on track for 20 hours of Overtime this week, so at least being busy keeps me from being overly emotional and freaking out about my band

I know for me the hardest part was not stress eating, and I'm scared that will be the same thing once I have it out... and I am determined to have the dang thing out. Per the doctor I tried a solid food (small frozen bean burrito), and it ended up getting stuck/I got sick, even with no fluid in my band. So it's back to yogurt and tea for me at this time... I did indeed have a fantastic weekend though, so that didn't get me down at all. Husband was out of town, so I had my best friend over and we did nails, updated my Etsy Shop, and I did about 16 hours of yard work! Spring is finally peeking its head out, and that is thrilling I'm not sure about revision to the sleeve. I have two friends who have done wonderfully with it. I'm just scared of the prospect of another surgery - they (the doctors) were initially wanting me to do a bypass, but I have friends and coworkers who have had nothing but trouble with that, so that's why I opted for the band figuring it was less invasive and therefore less problematic. We'll see, though. I hope you have a fantastic week. I'm on track for 20 hours of Overtime this week, so at least being busy keeps me from being overly emotional and freaking out about my band

Sorry to hear about all your problems. Happy you went to the doctor. I am not an expert but why can't a new band be put in? I don't know enough about this. You do hear about people having the sleeve not by pass as the new WLS. Carnie Wilson had the band after by pass which seems weird but Hollywood money buys things.

Good luck and feel better. By the way I love my band.

I absolutely adored mine at first! It was only about 6 months ago that I really started having problems, and my pouch just doesn't want to seem to settle down. Doc called it "fussy" and put me down as having band intolerance, so he recommended just bagging the whole thing. It sort of makes sense... I'm so paranoid at this point with my struggle with the band that I'd rather just have it out instead of replaced, because I don't want to have to be opened up again if it fails. I'm still thinking long and hard, because I want(ed) this to work so bad, but I'm band shy now.

Ducky, I feel your pain. I was in your shoes for a year and I finally got my band out on Tuesday. I feel like my life has been given back to me and I now do not need to worry about where the next trashcan is or what is going to get stuck. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out and that's okay. How are you coming along?

I'm scheduled to get mine out on Tuesday May 13th. I'm excited, but still really disappointed. I'm coming more to grips that it just doesn't work for some people, but I'm scared of gaining weight. I'm almost obsessively making healthy freezer meals and planning my workouts so once I get the release to go back to working out, I can have a plan. I did that last time as well, but it helps with the anxiety to plan as well as I can.

How are you feeling since having it removed? How has the recovery been? I'm only taking 4 days off and going back to work the following Monday, so I'm hoping thats enough. I know when I had it put in, it felt like I needed a month off.