Hi. My name is Alllie and I had my surgery in June of 2003. I started at 300 and I lost 120 pounds with in 2 years. Things were going great. I was looking good, feeling good... then I went and had a fill - I guess it was too tight - I started throwing up bile in my sleep, couldn't even recline without burping up nasty stuff. I refused to go to the doc for a while- because I wanted to keep losing weight. When I finally went back- it seems as if I had turned my esphogaus into a baby stomach. That meant that I had a stomach in my esphogaus, the band stomach and then the regular stomach. They took all the Fluid out of the fill - I started eating like a wild woman- seriously - with in a month- I think that I gained 20 pounds.

So - Over the next 2 and a half years- I have been filled and unfilled so many times. Sometimes I can eat whatever, whenever. I'm back to being filled at 2.8 - and haven't lost anything with in a few months. My weight is back up to 280 and I feel like such a failure. I didn't tell many people that i was getting this surgery- and I'm glad that I didn't - due to this.

I'm wondering if anyone has been in a situation similiar to mine and what they have done to help get back on track.

Thanks

Allie

Hello Allie,

I didn't have the same problem, but I had my fill last week and can eat what I want. I don't feel much restriction to eating. I decided today to put myself on stage 3 for a week then the next week move to stage 4 for another week to strenk my stomach back again. I don't like the feeling of just eathing what ever and when ever so I am trying this to see if this will help. I presently weight 275 and started the process 2 1/2 months ago. If you want to check in with each other to encourage each other let me know. It's great to check in with another person.

Hi Allie,

My situation is very similar to yours- banded quite a while, too-tight fill, ignoring the symptoms- thats me! I didn't have the 2nd stomach thing, but part of my lower stomach slipped above the band, making it larger and also causing the reflux problems. I had an unfill and it corrected itself, got another fill about a year later, and 6 weeks after that, the reflux started again. I was unfilled, it corrected itself and here I am. I have a small fill, which helps some, but I keep waiting for the reflux to start again.

My surgeon has said that if it happens again, I have a couple of options- have my band repositioned, removed or convert to a gastic bypass. At this point, I'm not sure what I would do, but I'm very, very frustrated.

My highest weight was 380, 330 at banding, 225 at the lowest and now I'm back up to 275.

I just want reliable, predictable restriction. When its working, its WONDERFUL and I lose weight easily. It just doesn't seem to be working for me.

Good Luck!

Melissa

i had my surgery march 26th 2008 and had my first fill on may 9th i have a 14cc band and i got a 4cc fill , it was tight but , i was losing weight also so i dealt with the problems and in 11 days i lost 13 pds well now im able to eat whatever i go for my second fill wed the 4th cant wait either i need restriction i know we all do , cause i know myself if nothing is stopping me im gonna eat, anyways total weight loss so far is like 36 pds i believe i will know tomorrow for sure wheni go for my fill and of course b4 the fill i have to get weighed! So good luck to you ladies if u wanna add me plz do so we can keep in touch,, take care

Dr.Glascock Cedar Falls Iowa

start weight,363, 326 ,my goal is 165

I feel your pain. I was banded 6/2005. Lost over 80 lbs over two yesrs starving. I was to tight or i would have lost more i think. I got so tight my band shut off and my Dr. was relocating. He told me to go to the ER.

Huge mistake! They removed all Fluid and opened my band. He said I was very malnurished. So they said take a 2 month holiday. Weight gain is horrible. So I went back for a fill and it was to tight again after a week. He unfilled it then way to loose. To much money on it so I put it off and I am at square one. My doctor appoligises and said they should never fully remove the fluid. It is so hard to adjust. We now are going to start over. I am doing low low to no carbs to start until after fourth and the famiy leaves back to their home. Then I am going to give it a try again. Startrd the gym too. X your fingers for me.

I am the same. I got banded in july 2006 and lost weight then for the last two years I have been getting fills and unfills. It is very frustrating to me. I can not even drink water right now. I went for a small fill 0.8cc last week and it was too tight. It worked fine for the first 3 days then it got very very tight. I called and will be seen tomorrow but at this point I want to have it unfilled completely. I am tired of this yo yo stages. I am going to start the gym and work out. What do you all think?

Spursfan, be careful with your unfill. I would do .3 I have been going through the same thing and I'm up 5-7 lbs since the middle of June. 3.2 is too tight., 3.08 is too lose There is a fine line with a sweet spot isn't there!?

Sherry319, perhaps some counseling might help a little. Everyone can have power over food, it's just a matter of finding it.