I got my band on November 14 and I have gained 12 pounds. I followed the rules for a long time, but now am eating the same as before with the exception of drinking with meals. I have never felt any kind of restriction. I am wondering if this has happened to anyone else, I'm so afraid that I have made my pouch huge or something. I have 10 ccs in my 15 cc band? Any advice? Thanks, Nichole

When you say you are eating the same as before, do you mean before the band? With the exception being that you are not drinking with meals? Or did you mean that you are still following the band rules, but have started drinking with your meals? Just wanted to make sure I understand you.

Drinking with your meals is one of the big reasons people start to gain, according to what I've been told. With the band, your food is supposed to fill up the small pouch above the band, filling you up more quickly, and keeping you full longer as the food works its way through. When you drink, it makes your food more liquid and causes it to pass through your band quickly, so you lose the benefits of the band. So, if you are following your post-band diet, but are drinking with meals, that could be the root of your problem.

If, on the other hand, you are back to eating amounts that you did before the band, you should go back to your doctor and talk about another fill.

I meant that I am eating the same as I always have before the band. I'm just not drinking with my meals. The other night I had four tacos for dinner, I have no control, I've never felt full since about two weeks after surgery, I have fills every two weeks... :biggrin:

Nicholeinaz...first, I don't think there IS a 15 cc band. It's possible, but in all my research I've never heard of that. Second, that is a very aggressive fill schedule...are you sure they put that much in with each fill?

Having said that, some foods go down more easily even with restriction. Personally for me, crumbled hamburger and taco shells are "sliders". Have you tried roasted chicken for example? Can you eat it like before? IF so you need to talk to your surgeon. If you are 2/3 filled (in whatever size band) and feeling nothing at all...(you may not be "there" yet but you should feel SOMETHING) then you need to be checked out! Good luck!

I personally refuse to diet and while I am on board with "good choices" and exercise, I haven't counted a calorie nor measured a bite of food. I gained back some post op but once I got restriction (my fill doc is way more conservative) I am losing again. So gaining isn't unheard of, but not feeling restriction if you are so filled is rare. It CAN happen, but it's rare. Confirm your band size, confirm your fill level, then meet with your nutritionist if your doc feels everything is ok.

Four Tacos, that is quite a bit. Doesn't sound like the diet I was given, In fact I was scared to eat anything like that for 7 months after surgery. My rule was nothing I had to pick up and eat with my hands. I cut everything with a knife or a fork (seafood fork). Use a butter or breakfast plate no refills.. I would question how much he is actually puttin in there. Could you have a leak. Maybe do a fill under the FLouro. Four months should be seeing some reults, are you walking exercising? Writing down EVERYTHING you eat. Sta away form the SLider foods. Dont put anything in that does not have at least 7 g protein. That cuts out a lot of foods right there. I am able to eat some taco chips, the hard crunchy stuff goes down a little easier than the Chunky. Like toasted bread is easier than regukar sliced bread (Whole wheat of course). You may wan to sit down with the dietician at the dr office and get some suggestions, but be prepared, she will ask for some sample days of what you have been eating. So start journaling everything you eat. good luck hang in there, work on changing your eating habits as well.:biggrin: