Hi there. I have not posted in quite some time, nor have I been reading other posts religiously as I once did. I am hoping to hear from some other people that are years into this banded life that can shed some light on some things for me. I was banded in the summer of '05. I was pretty sure that I would lose every single extra pound in the first six months. I didn't, but I did lose about 30 pounds. In the first year I lost a total of 40 pounds. I was pretty happy with that. In the second year, I reverted to some of the emotional eating that made me fat in the first place, but managed to stay stable despite myself. In the third year, which will end in August, I have managed to gain back all 40 pounds. In the beginning of the year, I was teetering on being too tight. I didn't want to gain weight so I kept it that way. Over the course of a few months, it seemed to get tighter as I gained a few more pounds because of all of the soft foods I was eating.

Then my surgeon left town. That was the biggest blow, because she was amazing. I found myself on my own and I had no idea what to do. By the time I found a new surgeon I had gained about 15 pounds because it was too tight. The new surgeon, although nice, had no clue what to do. He took Fluid out of my band, but way too much. This left me with almost no restriction and have since gained back every pound that I originally lost.

I'm going to a new surgeon tomorrow, one that has a great reputation from what I have read. I am hoping to be able to start all over and find success again. Has anyone had luck years later? I am frustrated today, and have been for quite some time. I have even been considering looking into alternative surgeries. I never thought I would consider that.

Any advice and/or similar experiences would be so helpful to me right now. I am really hopeful that by Christmas, I can manage to get my weight back down below 200. I'm at 260 right now. Thanks to anyone who has advice or encouragement for me, and thanks for reading this far! I'm hoping that involving myself in a support group will help me get this thing together.

Thanks!

Edited May 19, 200818 yr by ts505050

I am living for my fill next week. Now that plastic surgery is imminent, I budgeted for it, I've got my last 2 consults before scheduling it, I find my food addiction is rearing its head again.

I was horrendous over the weekend...I wasn't bothered by the pizza I ate on Sunday, but yesterday I ate another calzone, and then went to Baskin Robbins to get a small chocolate shake. Which as you know, is 16 ounces of ice cream milk and fat. Yes, it was delicious. Yes, I hammered the whole thing and could have eaten more.

I'm disappointed in the total gluttony of yesterday. I haven't done that in a long time...I was alone, and wanted to eat alone...I just had gotten Aunt Flo, too, so I was crampy and watery-eyed Complete emotional eating. The previous week I'd had Hooters wings, too. Usuaully it's once a week I'm falling off the wagon (or just deciding to eat some damned delicious food!) but I feel like since I'm facing the "end" of weight loss, I'm FLINGING myself off.

Anyone else get like that?

Today I'm prepared with yogurt, cherries, Fiber fortified applesauce and walnuts to clean me out and get my stomach to shrink. I had minor restriction yesterday so I don't know if its cause of Aunt Flo or if I really DO have a small leak. I was hungry and seemed a bottomless pit!

Then again, I wonder if it's because of the psychological implications of getting plastic surgery, and not having the excuse of "oh I'm not finished yet"...like I'm subconsciously delaying the end.

I hear what you're saying Kate....about subconsciously sabatoging yourself. I think this is what I go through. And I thought I did all the psychological work as to why I emotionally eat but yet my subcoscious takes over.

I've been post surgery for 12 months and have lost 20 kilos (44 pounds) and have another 22 pounds to go which is difficult to get off because I have a lot of pain eating anything acidy, salty or too fibrous. The acid burn can be so painful I find myself eating ice cream to soothe it. Not very nutritious but happens a lot when I make a wrong food choice. Even some soups hurt a lot. Anyone else experienced this?

I was banded in July '06. I took a long time to get the fills right and I didn't really get "with it" and serious about going for fills until Sept of the next year (long story - mostly to do with money, etc). But now I have tons of restriction and that's my problem. I am totally stuck, I can't lose weight no matter what I do. I live on Water, Soup, veggies, a little bit of Protein mostly from Peanut Butter because I throw up everything else. I walk 3+ miles EVERY DAY and I have been doing this religiously. I am 50 years old, I have lost only 47 lbs since this was done. I hardly eat anything. How the HELL can I not be losing?? Do NOT say that I'm over-filled because I would just go back to eating again since I really do miss it so much. Eating is not even fun anymore, I dread meals because I know if I hurry I'll be in the bathroom. food is not joy anymore, it's pain. I just don't know what to do. I wish I had gotten the stupid gastric bypass now. My stomach doesn't even feel like mine anymore, I used to be able to diet and lose my stomach but now it's just there... Help! I'm so sad and frustrated at this point. I don't know if I should have had this done or not! :thumbup:

Started at 257... "down" to 210... don't know if I'll ever see the 100's again in my life... I mean, it's been 2 freakin' years now!!!!

Hi Andi...wow you sound frustrated!

First of all, you did get the band done, so let's focus on a solution :thumbup: It is a fantastic tool, but it's very individual with everyone, so we need to figure out what's going on with yours.

The fact that you're throwing up after every meal is not a good thing. It's unhealthy to keep aggravating your esophagus with your stomach acid, it's a strain on your system to throw up, and no healthy person should ever be living on what you say you're eating. The way you are currently existing with your band is unhealthy.

If you're not forgetting any high calorie foods that could be stalling your weight loss, then with all your exercise and eating you're in starvation mode. You can be heavy and be malnourished - and I'm very very concerned for your nutrition right now...

The first step is to take deep breaths and know that you CAN fix this problem. This is fixable. Part of it will take an attitude adjustment, a willingness to do the things you don't want to do in order to get better. Like consider a small unfill. You will not pig out, you will learn how to balance. You have to at least try, and stop running the mental tape that says "I love food too much I'll eat and eat and eat I can't do it I can't do it" Of COURSE you'd fail, you keep programming yourself to!

It sounds like you've never had a healthy balance of band restriction and hunger, so of course you're flipping out and saying you don't want to be unfilled (because you don't trust yourself).

But you definitely need a doctor's care.

If you don't want an unfill, start by making a appointment with your doctor. If she insists on unfilling you, let her. If you go back a month later and have gained, she will fill you. That's how this works - you have to surrender to the process, sister! :tt2:

You're making yourself nuts by believing you can never get control of food. You CAN. Just not alone. So go see your doctor, start logging the food you're eating - all of it - and when you throw up. It's a simple game of numbers, Andi...you're either under calories or over calories, and the band is the belt. You can't continue this way!

Email / PM me if you want. I really want to know how you do!!

{{HUGS}}

I've been post surgery for 12 months and have lost 20 kilos (44 pounds) and have another 22 pounds to go which is difficult to get off because I have a lot of pain eating anything acidy, salty or too fibrous. The acid burn can be so painful I find myself eating ice cream to soothe it. Not very nutritious but happens a lot when I make a wrong food choice. Even some soups hurt a lot. Anyone else experienced this?

Syd, I get that pain if I drink a glass of wine. By the end of the glass, it hurts. But it doesn't hurt before then. I would mention it to your doctor...you might have an ulcer (but I'm no doctor so don't go by what I say). My friend had them regularly and milk/dairy soothed it.

Salty's no good anyway, you retain tons of water!

If you're having acid reflux/heartburn and it's aggravated by certain foods, try drinking a mug of warm Water with a little lemon in it. Yes, lemon! Believe it or not acid reflux is caused by your stomach not having enough acid in it, and it gets very alkaline and causes the bubbling flare ups. I drink that when I'm feeling burpy and acidy and unhappy - usually soothes my stomach right down.

If you're fine until you eat those foods, I'd worry about something going on in your stomach. Either way, call your doc.

Andi,

Don't get discouraged! I can only tell you what has worked for me It sounds like your not taking in enough calories. My nutritionist got a big kiss from me when she told me that I wasn't eating enough. Your body goes into a survival mode when the calories aren't coming in. And water... you have to be drinking the water. Recently there has been many of my fellow bansters that have tried the 5 Day Pouch test to rediscover their pouch. The website is Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

You can try this, I made about 6 attempts until I finally completed it. It's hard but if you stick to it you will realize your pouch again. Hang in there, you have come a long way don't give up. I have had my share of ups and downs but every morning I wake up and say " Start again!!!" Good luck and try the pouch test if you can.:thumbup:

shoresexy thanks for that link!! OMG that's awesome! The fact that I can still eat most breads bugs me...I'm going to try to get back to newbie feeling :thumbup:

Thanks so much for the help. Really sick of ice cream!! Who would have thought it.