Complete Failure...

Hi I had surgery last August.  I have only lost a total of 23 pounds and now I am gaining weight! I have only had 2 fills since surgery.  One in September and then another one in March,  I have not lost any weight since my last fill and recently gained 3 pounds back bringing my weight loss down to 20. I have no restriction. I can eat anything I want, I am so disgusted with this wishing I should have had gastro or the sleeve.  Is there any hope for me? Its like I never had surgery, every now and then I may get something stuck and I walk it down or arch my back and drink something to help it down.  I do drink with my meals, always have been a heavy drinker with meals.  But I am thinking if I had restriction, fluids would help feel me up,  I am depressed beyond reason...

 Yes, there is hope for you. If you were NOT here asking that question, I would say that there may not be.

NUMBER ONE: get in to see your surgeon
NUMBER TWO: stop drinking with your meals
NUMBER THREE: get in to see your surgeon

Two fills is, frankly, not much. You may need more than just another one to find restriction.

Took all of your advice, got an appt on July 7th, drank only 3oz today of my usual 12-16oz drink with lunch.  So a concious effort to avoid drinking made and succeeded!

How come you haven't went and seen your doc then if you are having problems ?   March is quite a long time not to see him especially if you are always hungry. You need to call and get in and see your doc .

Drinking with your meals is probably not helping any either .  You need to stop doing that because that does push the food through much faster . You need to wait  at least 30 min till you drink again.  I dont even keep a glass of anything to drink around when I'm eating because I would do the same thing .

And even when you get restriction you will still be able to eat around that .  You will find foods that just slide right through your band .   You do have to learn when to say no to them foods and make better choices.

I can eat anything I want also but I am learning to make better choices. If I do get hungry instead of reaching for the chips I grab a handful of grapes or peanuts, or yogurt something more healthy instead of the chips.

We will always be able to eat around the band you can do that with any surgery .

The first thing I would do is go and see your doc for a fill since it sounds like you need one and then start measuring your foods again , drink your water, and start to exercise again.  

I also think there is hope for you!

I am three years post-op and am still losing weight!  It has taken that much time to really understand my body and my needs.  After some time "fighting" the surgery by eating the wrong things, not exercising etc., it finally clicked.   I am now 73 pounds lighter.

I had to realize that when I was told the band was only a tool, they weren't kidding.  Now, I am so grateful for the band.  I still have to make good choices but now they are worth making!

I agree that you may need another fill and you may need to adjust your habits but it is NOT too late.

Keep fighting!

Hey there is always hope.  I agree that 2 fills since last August does seem light.  I had surgery on 12-28-10 and just had my 4th fill.  It was too tight so I had to have an unfill yesterday.  My weight loss has been slow but steady so I'm good  with that.  Check with your surgeon about the lack of restriction you feel.  I visit the surgeon every 4-6 weeks...it keeps me honest...lol

Would you please share with me what was going on that caused you to know that you were too tight and received an unfill?  I ask because I had .25cc added 3 weeks ago and I kept waiting for it to feel a little bit looser, but it hasn't so I am thinking I may need an  unfill.  Thank you.

I was originally banded Feb 09.  I only lost 25 and put 10 on.  I did have some fills and even switched doctors thinking it was something they were doing.  I loved my surgeon and did go back!!!  He sent me for an upper GI and found I had a hiatal hernia.  He fixed that and revised my band.  That was only a week ago and he says this should solve the problem.  I wasn't going to fills like I should have because I did not know if I wanted them. That was real dumb on my part.  Talk to your surgeon and see what is going on inside with your port, band and if there are any other issues.
I hope this may have helped you some.  Best of luck!!  You can PM me if you would like.  sounds like we have alot in common!!!

Just wondering why u got another band if your not sure if u want fills???

There was an emergency in my surgeon's family and I thought that maybe he wasn't concentrating on his patients. So I don't go back for fills.  I found another surgeon that actually my surgeon's office recommended. I went there once and called my surgeon's office back and the medical emergency in his fam settled down and I went back.  I never disliked my surgeon, I was afraid that he had so many other serious prob that he was slacking.  Know what I mean?