Regretting This/Red Zone or just not following the Rules?/worried about slippage/ discouraged :-(

[Butterfly512 115]

I haven't posted in awhile but I am 7 months out from surgery, still at only a 20 pound loss but that was all in the beginning from the pre op diet and first couple weeks after surgery.. Nothing since then.

Yes, I have bad emotional eating habits, bipolar disorder, appetite increasing Meds, etc. etc.

but, I know it's supposed to take awhile to get in the green zone and get all the right benefits from the band.

Right now though, after my last adjustment I have been having everything come back up when I eat, things getting stuck, and choosing the wrong foods even more due to not being able to eat others.. I have been throwing up everytime I eat, so I worry about band slippage, but when I do eat some things very slow and chew a lot I don't have the problem, is the band too tight? I see my Dr Tuesday but I wanted some support and advice ASAP..

Right now I am just regretting this whole thing and feeling like I want it out ????

Maybe I just need an adjustment but I almost would rather struggle with dieting here and there instead of never being able to enjoy food which is how I feel right now

Edited January 16, 2016 by Butterfly512

[TX mom27 15]

I have had a lot of the same problems. In my case it was a dilation. I am actually currently in the process of removing my lapband.

[B-52 7,113]

Don't know your situation, but this is what I know....

First, after a fill, you need to stay off foods for a period of time...it can be inflamed mimicking a overfilled band. Also, continuing to eat only prolongs the situation never giving it a chance to rest and heal....

The same is true after an significant stuck episode....continuing to eat can and will cause dilation.

Stay with liquids for a day or two then ease back into eat, keeping in mind what you did before that created problems.

It took me a few times before I realized Rice was a problem...and that is only one example.

There is a fine balance between band adjustments, what types of foods we eat, and how we eat them.

With the way my band is adjusted, there are certain foods I no longer eat..just too risky..and when I am eating I have to be very mindful how I am eating...can't rush it, can't take too big of swallows, need to chew adequately, etc.

Eventually it all became 2nd nature without giving it much thought.

Before surgery I was doing everything wrong..eating WAY too much, too fast, not to mention an insatiable appetite and hunger....

But that is what surgery did for me...it was a major behavior modification....the hard way in the beginning.

I understand some people choose to have their bands less adjusted, letting them eat more unrestricted, less behavior changes...

But agaion, everyone is different, the band is adjustable and people themselves are different.

[2muchfun 8,928]

Chew, chew, chew your food to a Soup like consistency. Slow down, put your fork down between bites. Small bites, very small bites. It can take months and sometimes a year or two to get the hang of eating correctly with the band.

[Butterfly512 115]

Thanks for the advice, and B-52.. You are always so encouraging and it really helps to hear your advice and success stories.

Honestly, I don't know if it needs to be looser or even tighter right now... I know I am around 10cc now if that matters that much, I know it's different for everyone and That must sound weird to not know if it needs filled more or unfilled a bit but I am still hungry a lot, and when I do eat really slow and the right foods I am fine, although I am making bad choices (nachos, chocolate, etc) because of the fact that I can't eat what/like I want to, so I get frustrated ????

Maybe tighter is good because then I just really have no choice and have to eat right, or maybe it's a little too tight and I need less restriction so I don't deprive myself to the point where I make bad choices? Not to mention the several stuck episodes and throwing up almost daily lately.

Hmm..

[DeborahDav 17]

Your band is too tight, have the doctor remove some of the fill.

Make sure you chew, chew, chew & chew more

[Butterfly512 115]

I went back to the Dr a few days ago and had the amount last put in taken out (.5cc), but now I can eat anything and however much I want ???? and I am so freaking hungry that I do.. Ugh not sure what the answer is, but right now it's obviously not doing what I need it to, so I think I will have the amount added back and really try harder to eat Slow & chew better

[DeborahDav 17]

Try doing some Protein Shakes for 2-3 days only

Then try eating some chicken for dinner only on the 2nd or 3rd night, eat really slow, chew really well see how it does.

This gives your banded stomach time to settle down, the go get a fill but not as much as they took out. Take it slow.

[Butterfly512 115]

Good idea, thank you for the advice

[Butterfly512 115]

One more question, I was worried about slippage with how often I was getting stuck and throwing up.. But I don't really have the symptoms of it.. And if it had slipped then I wouldn't be restricted at all right? Or get to where if I eat too fast it feels like a stuck episode? I tried to eat this morning and after a few bites I felt the need to stop and actually went a little over, I wouldn't get those results of it had slipped, correct?

I am going to try hard to get on track with eating slow and chewing well!

[DeborahDav 17]

I believe so, I would think if it slipped you would be in pain & have other symptoms. The fact that you felt the need to stop is a good sign. Just eat really slow, chew chew chew don't drink anything with a meal.

When I 1st got my band I got sick & threw up all the time, it takes time to teach yourself

[cstew21 10]

When mine slipped I had severe pain on my left side and was very very sick. I went four days without eating solids because nothing stayed down. Finally got in to see my doctor and he removed all the Fluid from my band. I had 6cc in at the time. If you have 10 in that sounds way too tight. I always found it was easy to eat everything I shouldn't with the band. Mind over body when it comes to it. Try drinking more Water and making sure you get Los of Protein in