I am 4 months post op. The band has done little as yet. My weight has not changed from the initial loss on the liquid diet. The company I have used, say that I can only fill at the rate of 1 mil per fill, every 4-6 weeks. I am upto 6 mill now and they also say that it won't work properly until 7 mill is in there. (It's a 14 mill band...I am a 6' male).

Until I had the 6 mill fill I could eat a meal almost as normal, occasionally getting the 'something stuck' feeling if I ate too fast. Since the 6 mill fill I get a 'something stuck' feeling after only 2 mouthfulls of anything other than sloppy food. I have now discovered what I will have particular trouble with, chicken and bread, these seem to stick more than anything. Because of this I give up eating the meal and am hungry again within an hour or two.

Before the 6 mill fill I would get this feeling occasionally and after it had cleared (2 minutes) it would not come back during that particular meal.

My query is this: Am I waiting for food to pass through the band therefore causing a back-up and the 'something stuck' feeling? If so when that feeling clears the food must have passed through the band.....surely that's not the idea? Is my band set too high????

Edited June 27, 200818 yr by Grayorm

Hi Grayorm - I was banded April 17th and this is my biggest problem too is figuring out what to eat. I'm having protein shakes for breakfast, I don't eat much for lunch and then protein at dinner but I am almost afraid to eat because I get things stuck. My centre keeps telling me to chew, chew, chew and slow down. I think we're on a major learning curve of learning how to eat again. I am down 21 pounds since surgery date and feel good but miss my friend food!! Jodylou

Hi Jodylu, I do chew chew chew but still it happens. I started out on the shakes, but the dietician said that they will just run through the band and you will stay hungry. She told me to eat dry foods with no drink until an hour later, and to take tiny bites and chew them to nothing.

You are right it's a steep learing curve. I expected to eat a small prtion of dinner and be full until the next meal, it's nothing like that. If this is how its supposed to work I will be going back for answers.

You are eating a lot less calories than before, right? Are you logging your intake? If you eat less, and are exercising, then your body will burn fat for fuel. Your metabolism sounds a bit sluggish if you haven't lost weight since the liquid diet.

Talk to your doctor, something might be wrong.

Purchase the dixie pack of children's disposable utensils (even though I wash and re use them) they will help you eat smaller bits, chew chew chew and then chew some more. Put your fork/spoon down during bits. You have to learn to enjoy the taste of the food and that alone will help you to feel full faster. It is a true learning process that we all go through. Make sure you are measuring your food as well, if you don't like the idea of actually measuring out the portions then go to the Dollar Tree on the baby isle and pick up all the different size 4 ounce containers you can find and put your meals in those that way you know that every meal is 4 ounces. In the beginning you may or may not eat 4 ounces some may need a little more but try the containers first and if needed add a little more food after you have completed the 4 ounce portion and waited for about 5 to 10 minutes for the signal that you have had enough before eating some more. Choose foods high in protein then eat your veggies you may not have room for sides. Best of luck to you both.

I'm the exact same. I just had a fill two weeks ago, and in the evening everything is getting stuck. Even with this, I haven't lost a thing. I'm so puzzled and getting more and more disouraged.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one feeling this way. I was banded 5/6/08. I had my first fill two weeks ago and I can eat an entire chicken no problem. I have gained two pounds since my surgery. It is very disheartening. I hope the next fill does the trick.

I too am confused. I get food stuck, I am always hungery. I have had 4 fills. Do I need another fill or two to not be hungry? I am assuming food is gettng stuck because I am eating too fast and not chewing good enough..is that the case?

Lots of questions in the same vein and no real answers here.