non-compliant or bad banding

tampabaygirl · April 14, 2005

I have been banded for 1 full year and still miserable with the band I want it to work so bad I dont know if I am non-compliant or I have a problem with the band itself I pb or vomit after almost all meals with or without restriction I am at no restriction right now and chew chew chew but things still get stuck. What does it mean when they say there band doesn't have enough restriction can they eat like before the band or can they just more then they would like too! I cant eat either way and have been in the hospital and had study after study and currently doing another study with no restriction to see if there is any slippage I have had so may studies and they keep telling me no slippage.I hope to god that I am not the 1/2 percent that cant tolerate the band. I am trying everyday to work hard at finding a answer any help or opinions would be great!!! thanks a lot for your support Lori lotim@tampabay.rr.com

the best me · April 15, 2005

I am anxiously awaiting answers here, because I can't keep anything down either, and wonder if a year from now I'll be in your shoes...I was banded last Friday, 6 days ago and PB'd on Jello yesterday afternoon and have been having a horrible time ever since. I am so discouraged so I'm really sorry for the trouble you are having. You will get good advice here!

vinesqueen · April 15, 2005

Sorry Lori, I don't have any suggestions for you, I can only offer support. I'm so sorry you are having such a difficult time with your band.

You too Kathy!

hagerteresa · April 15, 2005

Hi Lori,

I have had my band a year too but don't know what I can offer. I have reasonable restriction and still have to be careful about chewing and eating slowly enough. If you are pb'ing all the time STOP eating solid foods for a few days. Maybe your throat and stomach are just very irritated and you aren't letting it recover. We really should do that anyway anytime we PB. I myself do PB once in awhile but its because I forget to chew and eat slowly enough. I also have to be extra cautious in the mornings. Things are more prone to get stuck then. You don't drink with meals do you? I have gotten a stuck feeling from drinking to soon after eating. I know Michelle (another girl on the forum) had a severe irritation with her band but it got all better with treatment.

Kathy, Jello might just be a challenging food for you. I think I would have problems with it now. Its just so globby. Are you still on the liquid or the mushy stage? Rather than Jello, I do better with pudding. Applesauce is gentle too. All the wonderful rich creamy dips are good too. I loved those during the mushie phase.

Sorry your both having a tough time. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions or want to chat more. Hopefully some others will get on here and respond too. Best wishes, Teresa

paula · April 15, 2005

Lori, ((hugs)) my goodness! What a horrible experience. My first guess would be to get your surgeons input - but looks like youve already done that.

You cant keep anything down? How long has this been happening?

Alexandra · April 16, 2005

Lori, what does your surgeon say? How are you with liquids and mushy foods? Even mushy and soft foods can trigger an esophageal spasm, which can feel like something getting stuck or a PB. Has that been considered? From what I hear there are medications that can help with that.

My only other thought is that perhaps the band used is just too small? Inamed makes a larger band which may not have been available to your doctor a year ago. If you have absolutely no fill and still feel uncomfortably tight restriction, maybe it's worth investigating that possibility. Good luck, and please come back and let us know how you're doing!!

tampabaygirl · April 16, 2005

Thanks to everyone I will keep you posted and those are great questions to ask the Dr.:kiss

nat's_back · April 16, 2005

Lori, I have been banded for 4 months now, and I have a fill of 1.8cc. I have a lot of trouble keeping things down, especially Protein (tuna & chicken) even when I chew chew chew and eat slowly. I don't even attempt to eat solids at Breakfast anymore, and lunch is iffy. By dinner I can keep more down, but I still battle it. I am thinking of going and getting a slight un-fill just to see what happens. But PBing all the time is horrible. I am with you. I know most people do not go through this.

All in all, I am happy I got it done. No regrets.

DeniseG · April 16, 2005

Just a question.........do you have regular sinus problems? I wandered if your pbing has anything to do with it if you do. For instance, I have just about no adjustment now, and I pbed on something I have never experienced on it before. I am really having major drainage problems due to pollen. I think I pbed more of the drainage than actual food. It has been several months since I pbed anything.

nat's_back · April 16, 2005

WOW!! yes i do have a lot of drainage...never thought of that!! Thanks.

KarenB · April 20, 2005

Natalia, I know my dr. advises 24 hours of liquids after a PB. I didn't realize that at first and learned the hard way that it becomes a viscious cycle if you don't give your band, esophagus, etc. a rest.

Good luck & let us know how you're doing.

nat's_back · April 20, 2005

Natalia, I know my dr. advises 24 hours of liquids after a PB. I didn't realize that at first and learned the hard way that it becomes a viscious cycle if you don't give your band, esophagus, etc. a rest.

I know, Dr. had told me that too. But sometimes I am bad and start eating more solid type foods at about the 12 hour mark, maybe I stretch it a little longer. Now that I hear you say it, about being a vicious cycle, I realize you are right. I am only doing it to myself as well.

However, even when I haven't PBed for several days, then I attempt to eat something like chicken salad, or tuna salad (things I should be able to eat), and I get really really sick, then that is when I feel that something is not right. I feel that I may have too much restriction. You know?

DeLarla · April 20, 2005

Sometimes it's almost like you have to suck on your food for it to totally liquify before swallowing. PBing on Jello and liquids isn't good. I almost PBd on a banana, but I didn't think I had to chew the banana as well as other foods. Are you sure you aren't swallowing even little bits of food? My surgeon said everything has to be a liquid consistency to get through, so even the smallest bits can cause problems. Other than that, I wish I had more help. But your weight loss must be remarkable if you can't eat anything, right? To me, restriction doesn't mean a full pouch, it means not being able to swallow because I feel too tight in my throat - like a near-PB.

KarenB · April 20, 2005

Believe me, I do know. Fills area really hard for me to get used to, and I have had to have amounts removed. Mostly my own fault, but once not. Also, I have had a terrible PB on jello--it had to be liquid in my mouth before swollowing or else it just goes down as a blob & gets stuck. Weird but true!

sassaay · April 20, 2005

Hi Natalia,

Sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. I have lived with that vicious cycle of not allowing enough time between PB's and eating solids... it is no fun, so I can only imagine how frustrated you must feel having to deal with this for an entire year. Not sure if you have tried any of the following... but these are things that I have had to come to terms with and basically try and remember each time I sit down to eat:

* Try a variety of solid foods. Maybe you won't be able to eat tuna and chicken like others... Or maybe these meats are not moist enough. chicken breast can be very dry and tuna is also difficult to disolve without a lot of help (mayo/dressing). Have you tried very moist meats cooked in a crock pot until they fall apart?

* How big are your bites of food? I have learned that I need to cut up my food into very small pieces before trying to put them in my mouth. Otherwise, I find myself rushing to eat (because I am hungry) and my bites are too big and this leads to problems. I have seen some recommendations of bites no larger than a pencil eraser... I think my bites are about 2x this size.

* If I think I have taken too big of a bite... I will hold some of the food in my mouth. I know this sounds disgusting, but I will chew, chew, chew... but only swallow a very small amount. Then I will chew, chew, chew and again swallow a small amount. I keep doing this until my mouth is empty and then I stop and rest before taking another bite.

* I found a mindful eating tool called the Powerseed. http://www.powerseed.com/

It is a small audible or flashing light unit that helps you slow down when eating. You take a bite every time the Powerseed flashes or beeps (every 30 seconds)... You cannot take another bite until you get that signal. After 5 minutes there is a different light flash or signal that prompts you to examine your level of hunger. Are you satisfied? If so, stop eating. If not, then continue eating at 30 second intervals for another 5 minutes. I have found that often I don't feel ready to take another bite after 30 seconds... so I will wait for the next signal. I also find that I am almost always satisfied after the first 10-15 minutes.

I guess the bottom line is... if you haven't already tried very moist solids and very small bites with lot's of time between those bites... maybe some of these suggestions will help. Now, I am only suggesting this for those times when you haven't PB's in at least 24 hours. If I have a BAD PB episode, I actually go at least 48 hours on fluids. I am getting to the point now where I can tell whether or not I have let enough time go by after a PB before eating solids... I drink a semi thick Protein drink and unless it goes down easily... I stay on fluids until I can drink one of these comfortably.

I hope you are feeling better really soon.

Take Care,

A.