I have not posted in here for a while. I had my band surgery on July 9th, 2007. It has been over a year and my weightloss has been very minimal. I have had 5 fills and never really get good restriction. This past June was my last fill at capacity and no restriction. I am so down right now. I read the success that many people have had with the band and I am not one of them.

I have given up on myself and it feels horrible. I have not gained or lost any weight since June. But I still eat like before surgery, I stress eat and I can't stand it anymore!! I don't exercise but I want to, is that weird? I get all hyped up that once I start working out again I will get to goal and my band will probably work. Then it all goes away in a day or two.

What is wrong with me? How can I get out of this funk?

What do you mean about last fill at capacity?

I have 4cc's in my 4cc band.

Lex,

first of all, the band slowly leaches Fluid out over time, which is why we have to go back every 6 months for a tiny top up.

Secondly, it sounds like you have some issues there that you haven't addressed. Self sabotage is not nice. We all do it at times, but its important to start looking at the reasons why underneath everything.

When you get excited about the idea of exercising but it doesn't turn into actually doing it, what's going on in your head? What sort of self talk are you giving yourself? Often its subconscious stuff going on and its the hardest to address.

What else have you tried to do to help with the stress besides eat? I know you know this, but the band won't change us, we have to change ourselves.

Have you thought about seeing a counsellor to try and get to the hard of these issues?

Hrmmm...have you had a barium swallow/x-ray to see if you even HAVE any restriction? There was one lady in my month group that was having issues never having restriction and it turned out they had put the band around some FAT by the stomach and not around the upper stomach itself. I find it odd that you'd have absolutely no restriction - I'd look into that.

If it really is in the right place, then maybe consider a revision to a different surgery like the sleeve.

But I guess I'd also have to ask what kinds of food you're eating? I'm not trying to be an ass, but for instance, if I eat ice cream, there is no such thing as restriction. LOL That's just as an example.

Edited November 9, 200817 yr by steph_co

I agree that something sounds wrong. You should have restriction. I would insist on a barium test. I read a thread where one girl's lapband was never closed properly. If nothing's wrong don't worry, I have heard the bands hold more than what you think capacity is. Insist on fills untill you feel the restriction you want.

Thanks guys, I will ask for a barium swallow and going back to the nutritionist. I seriously need to get this journey back on track.

I will keep in touch!

I say what the others say. Make sure your bad is properly funcutioning and at the same time get to therapy so you can work on your head.

It's 90% about how you behave. Therapy can impact your behavior big time.

Let us know what happens.

I actually have 4.5+cc's in my 4cc band. I kind of had the same issues as you. I had to go back to basics. Make sure I was following all the rules. Exercising for some reason makes my band feel tighter. I definately would go get your band checked. Mine was checked and was fine. I just learned that I had to live with using a little more willpower. If your band is fine, maybe get an unfill and start over with 1cc at a time. You never know it could make a difference. Good Luck and keep us posted.

LAEXGORDITA - I'm with you. I was banded May 2007 and have only lost the 12-15 pounds I lost during my pre-op phase. I haven't lost or gained 1 shittin' pound in 18 mos. Talk about depressing, disappointing, etc. I know how you feel - except I wish I had some of the success you've had with weight loss. It is such a battle. I'm like you with the exercising - I THINK about it every day, and then I make an excuse as to why I can't start today - maybe tomorrow. Yeah, right there hasn't been any "tomorrows" since May of 2007! I feel for you because I know how hard it is to watch everybody else succeed, and it seems that we're the only ones who don't have a success story to be told. The only advice I can give you is I take my life hour by hour, not day by day, because I can do a lot of damage to my "diet" in 24 hrs time! Keep plugging away - you can do it. I can do it, I just need a kick in the a**. Good luck, and you've got a friend in me.

I hope you ladies don't give up on this. I was banded in 2006, and didn't lose much of nothing the first year either. It took me a while to understand that exercise was a very important part of the program. Believe it or not once you start it becomes almost as addicting as food. And for some reason when you see your body change by exercising you start putting more healthy things in your body. Just forget about the last year and start over from the beginning. Forgive yourself, know that the way you tried it for a year didn't work, and that now your going to give something else a try. Don't give up! My favorite quote is "never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat". Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Hi Lea: I grew up in Glendale Queens so always get happy when I see a Queens girl. Now what's going on? Did you start with a low BMI? Are you eating proteins first no matter what? I do the same thing by the way with exercise. I found that once I joined a raquetball league where I HAD to be there 3-4x a week or I would let people down I went. Exercise always calms my appetite down.....If I don't do it first thing in the morning ....I usually never get around to it. Start with one small thing and be patient it will become a habit ...oh and start out slow...I always go in like gang busters and 6 weeks later crash on the couch with junk food. Slow and steady starting out with the exercise....pls keep me posted.