Ok, I really thought I had restriction at my last fill. That lasted 2 days!!!!! I have 12.5 in my 14cc band!!!! WHAT THE F$$$!!!!!!! I am so frustrated with myself and really jealous of alll the success of others. I've been playing with the same 5-7 pound for 2 1/2 months. I can only dream to feel full. Its just not happening. I'm sorry for sounding psychotic, but I just want some restriction. My dr. does my fills under floro and watches everything go down. I just remember that feeling before the band that I was going to be the one it doesn't work for, and I now think that it may be coming true. I have just about given up ( well not completely, I did find my way back here didn't I). I have another fill scheduled for next Thursday. I have no idea how I should get my head back into thinking positively.

This SUCKS!!!!

Ok, I really thought I had restriction at my last fill. That lasted 2 days!!!!! I have 12.5 in my 14cc band!!!! WHAT THE F$$$!!!!!!! I am so frustrated with myself and really jealous of alll the success of others. I've been playing with the same 5-7 pound for 2 1/2 months. I can only dream to feel full. Its just not happening. I'm sorry for sounding psychotic, but I just want some restriction. My dr. does my fills under floro and watches everything go down. I just remember that feeling before the band that I was going to be the one it doesn't work for, and I now think that it may be coming true. I have just about given up ( well not completely, I did find my way back here didn't I). I have another fill scheduled for next Thursday. I have no idea how I should get my head back into thinking positively.

This SUCKS!!!!

Sweetie, don't give up... how much can you get down? are you possibly too tight? I know this sounds weird, but for a month I only lost 3 lbs because I don't think I was getting enough calories in. I had to get a slight unfill and I have dropped 3 lbs in a week just since the unfill. I don't know how long that will last, but my weightloss acts very funny. I'll hit a plateau for a long time and then drop 3-5 lbs in a week.. very weird... and Quit looking at what others are losing... you are not them and they are not you. Everybody is losing at a different rate. There are some that have lost over 70 lbs now, but I can't let that get me down and neither should you. I know there are some who have lost under what you have lost... You haven't even been banded for 6 months yet. If you divide your weight by 6 (even though it's less than that), you've lost over 5 lbs a month! That's really good. Please, don't get discouraged..

First question, are you exercising? I actually get more restiction after workingout, and loose much faster. If I hadn't been working out I won't have lost very much at all. Question 2, are you drinking with meals? I know I can get just about anything to pass through quickly and feel really hungry agaIN if I drink when eating. #3 Are you eating protein first? I am hungry all day if I don't eat protein first. Lastly, Are you drinking anything carbonated? That will strech out the band and defeat the whole thing. Good luck, I hope you find restiction, I can see how you would be frustrated.

Alyssa - I'm so sorry to hear about all your frustration. And Crystal is so right about not comparing yourself with others. I've lost 93-94 pounds total but I had so much more to lose than you. In fact we're now close to the same amount left to go and my loss has slowed to a crawl. I was gonna give you all the old pep talk but you know it already. Instead I'll just say "Hang in there" and keep talking here. We're all here for you and we all understand the frustration in a way that most unbanded others don't. So if you want to rant, feel free but don't give up. You have done fantastic! And even if you stay losing at the same rate it will be gone in a year and a half. Is that really so bad? You're going down and not up. Before you know it, it will all be gone.

It's kind of funny how frustrated I am now. I've only lost 4 pounds this month and feel like pigging out (and have in fact) cause I think that's so little. Hell, a year ago if someone had told me I could lose a pound a week I would have danced with joy. Guess I need to give myself a good kick in the butt. LOL

In answer to all of your questions: I can eat quite a lot, so I am getting plenty of calories. I do get in my protien first. Occasionally I will sip just a little of something with my meals. No carbonation at all, I drink a lot of crystal light and I also like the nectar Lemonade or Iced Tea protien powder (just for added protien as like a snack or breakfast). As far as excercise goes, I am no on my eliptical as much as I should, but in the same sense I have four children home from school. I do not stop moving. I couldn't tell you what is on tv or anything. I find the computer a couple times a day for short periods of time other than that, I am moving non-stop (2 1/2 weeks until kids go back and I can get more serious about the eliptical).

As far as the jealousy goes,to a point I am frustrated about the lack of weightloss, but really gets me is the restriction. Here I have only 1.5cc left to fill in my band and still no restricion. I am jealous of those with lets say 5cc in the same band and are sooooo full after a small meal. What happens if my dr. fills me up and I finally get restriction and after awhile I loosen up, I have nothing to tighten up. I am not expecting a miracle, just that my tool isn't a dud!!!

Thank you for all of your encouragement!

Usually these bands can go tighter than that given amount. I asked my doctor this question too. He said that mine actually goes bigger than 10cc and can go up to like 12cc if needbe. I wonder if a smaller band would have been better for you?? and I know you are frustrated, but don't leave the group or anything. Keep coming back here because I think it helps coming on here ...

When you have a fill, does your doctor check your current fill level before adding more? If not, I would ask him to do that. If you have a leak in your tubing, that would cause loss of restriction like you are describing. All he has to do is pull out the saline before adding more.

After my second fill, even the first day or two, I felt like I had less restriction than I had before the fill. With my third (and most recent) fill, I've had pretty good restriction for the last few weeks, but I feel it slowly waning so when I go back at the end of the month, I'll get another fill. My doctor already said he will draw all the fill out then replace it next time because at my last fill, the connection between the syringe and needle leaked a bunch of Fluid out so he didn't know how much I really got. I also have the 14 cc band, and have between 6.5-7 cc or so.

Crystal, I've been wondering that too, if my band is maybe just to big. I screwed up, I don't go next Thursday, I go this week. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I 've worked pretty hard to get this far, I'm not giving up.

Jamie, I didn't even think of a leak. I am for sure going to ask my dr. about that. See I am so glad I flipped out, I wouldn't have known to ask about checking my Fluid or a leak!!!

Thanks Again!!!

I went this morning for my fill. The dr checked me out and he said no leak, and not to worry. He said that I will get to my sweet spot and that my band can hold a lot more than 14cc, so I will have more room if need be. I feel ok, I think I'm restricted, but that's what I said last time so only time will tell. Just thought I'd give you an update!

Valvinnek - thanks for the update. I hope this time the restriction 'holds'.

Fingers crossed.

Crystal is right about being too tight and not getting enough calories. I've certainly had that going on lately. I was stuck between 172 and 175 for almost 6 weeks and it drove me crazy. I ate less and less and still nothing. Then I talked to Crystal and she suggested I increase my calories for a while, which I did. Then BOOM! down to 165 in a hurry. Now I seem to be kind of stuck again, but no worries. I'm not in a race to finish this. I'm perfectly fine if it takes me the rest of the year to lose this last fifteen pounds. I know that the smaller I get, the more I'll have to fight for every pound. And the slower I lose it, the more likely I'll stabilize right where I want to be.

Kjeter

"I'm not in a race to finish this"

That is my new favorite statement.

Who cares how FAST it comes off, as long as it's coming off. Thanks.