I typed the following on to Facebook too, but thought I might have a better chance of a response here...

Help!! I was banded on 5/3/06....I lost about 60 pounds, was doing great, feeling great, followed the instructions to the letter....then I started cheating a little here, a little there....slowly started gaining some weight back....stopped doing what I was supposed to. Now I am back up about 40 or more pounds, yet still don't feel as though the band is too tight. I haven't had a fill for probably a year!!

So I'm feeling as though the small part of the stomach has stretched out. Is there any hope that I have not ruined things for myself? Do you think the small part of the stomach has been stretched out too much and cannot be reversed? How do you get back to doing the right thing?

I went through sooooo much to have this done 3 years ago. I am so angry with myself. Yet now I feel like I have a new excuse to not try...I feel as though I have damaged the pouch by stretching it that there is no hope.

I haven't talked with my Doctor in about a year as I know what he will say. 'This is only a tool, YOU have to do the work, YOU have to follow the plan, etc. etc." So as much as I love my Doctor, I'm just afraid to go back again.

Some days, I feel as though things are working as they are supposed to, then there are other days it feels as though I am able to eat way too much.

Again, I appreciate any thoughts, support, etc.

I typed the following on to Facebook too, but thought I might have a better chance of a response here...

Help!! I was banded on 5/3/06....I lost about 60 pounds, was doing great, feeling great, followed the instructions to the letter....then I started cheating a little here, a little there....slowly started gaining some weight back....stopped doing what I was supposed to. Now I am back up about 40 or more pounds, yet still don't feel as though the band is too tight. I haven't had a fill for probably a year!!

So I'm feeling as though the small part of the stomach has stretched out. Is there any hope that I have not ruined things for myself? Do you think the small part of the stomach has been stretched out too much and cannot be reversed? How do you get back to doing the right thing?

I went through sooooo much to have this done 3 years ago. I am so angry with myself. Yet now I feel like I have a new excuse to not try...I feel as though I have damaged the pouch by stretching it that there is no hope.

I haven't talked with my Doctor in about a year as I know what he will say. 'This is only a tool, YOU have to do the work, YOU have to follow the plan, etc. etc." So as much as I love my Doctor, I'm just afraid to go back again.

Some days, I feel as though things are working as they are supposed to, then there are other days it feels as though I am able to eat way too much.

Again, I appreciate any thoughts, support, etc.

You won't know if your pouch is stretched, your band slipped or your need a fill unless you see your doctor and have an upper GI. I know you don't want the lecture but until you go you will just be guessing. You obviously want this weight re-gaining to stop, so you need to take that first step. It probably won't be as bad as you think. You won't be the first person to fall off the wagon your doctor has seen. Just be honest and tell him you want help and hopefully he will put you back on track. Good luck.

Yes the pouch CAN stretch; it's part of your stomach and that is very very "stretchy". As Cleo'smom said, you need to go to your doc. You won't know what your status is until you get checked. If it IS stretched and you haven't let it go on too long, sometimes an unfill and rest period will get things back to normal. But the longer you wait, if it is stretched, the less chance of "repair".

Call your doc, get back with the program. Yes it's a tool, but it must be maintained to work.

Thanks everyone for your advice and motivation. I'm going to call my Doctor next week and set up an appointment. I WILL get back on track.