Living with extreme band variations..... Advice?

[Keona1323 11]

Hi All.... I have been banded since 2008 and have lost over 100lbs. My weight has remained the same for a little over a year now. In march of 2013, my bad was at 5.8cc and I was having issues with severe heartburn, and food coming back up frequently. I went for testing for hernias and such and all was good. My doctor removed 1cc. By September, we decided to drain the band and start from scratch. 5cc was added. End of sept another 0.6 (5.6). End of October back to 5.8 and was still feeling like I was not at my sweet spot despite being back at 5.8. So went to 6. Tooooo tight!!!!! So back to 5.6.

At 5.6 my weight has maintained (not gaining). I can't eat anything in the morning - can barely get my meds down let alone a Protein Drink, etc. I eat a small granola bar around 10/11 and takes me about an hour to eat. lunch usually around 1-2pm. Depending on how the day is, it either goes down or it doesn't - which means it every bite instantly comes right back up. Now here is the interesting part..... dinner time I can eat just about anything and a larger portion than I feel the band should be allowing me based in restriction earlier in the day...... By 9pm I am super tight again (if I don't have my meds down before then, I am up all night bring up Water and thick goo all night long. And don't even get me started on the burping!!!! I try and get 8 glasses of water in but find I can't even begin to try until late afternoon......

So for those of you who have been banded a while, what's normal, what should I be concerned about? Am I too tight??? It seems that when I try to unfill even the smallest amount, I just eat more..... Any advice or suggestions would be helpful.

[Bandista 7,466]

I've only been banded a year but this would be too tight for me. I don't eat in the morning because I'm not hungry and do feel more "restriction" (tricky word -- see Dr. simpson link in my signature below) but I don't feel comfortable with any sliming or bringing back up of food (unless it's my own fault eating too fast). Hope this helps and that you find your sweet spot. My body fluctuates a lot - inflammation (arthritis), etc. I don't keep a tight band because I need a little extra room for those times I'm going to be more inflamed. This also occurs with a cold or sinus issues, etc. Even just hormones.

[Julie norton 2,850]

My experience is bands are fickle. They will tolerate something one day and not the next. Hot tea. Easy food. Cottage cheese. Yogurt. Helps a bit. But mostly time ... Which is HARD when you are hungry!????good luck. Let us know how it is going

[Keona1323 11]

Thanks. I am going to go In for a very small unfill nov 24. I've been so tight for so long that sliming at every meal has become the norm.. Which I know is not good. So it's time for a change.

[SandyM 1,956]

So why are you waiting till November 24?

[jerbear 17]

I was banded 4 1/2 years ago and started having problems about a year ago that sounds very similar to yours. It turned out my band had slipped and had to have it replaced. Before they got to the point where they decided to replace it they took the Fluid out and put it back several times. I got to where I couldn't eat anything but mashed potatoes and ice cream and cream Soups. I now have a new band but the weight I gained during this time is not coming off very well.

[Keona1323 11]

That's the earliest I can get in. If I see my surgeon, it's a big ordeal of two days travel, etc. so he set me up with a general surgeon who worked with him and he's in the next town over (only an hour away) for fills/unfills. And that's his earliest appt. so I will be patient. It's been like this for so long, I am rather used to it. But I am looking forward to not sliming every single thing......

[Keona1323 11]

I have been checked in the past for band slippage when I felt tight and everything was fine. We unfilled and then found our way back to where I am now. So I am not really concerned that that is the issue. I think once a little bit of Fluid comes out, it will be fine. Just not too much! lol