Complete Failure...

Ok I was just wondering. Hope everything works out for u Doreen!

The band requires consistent follow up for most people to be successful.

Some people don't have fills regularly and seem to do fine -- but the majority of us have to have slow, steady fills to get the true benefits of the band.

If I were you, I would schedule an appointment right away-- to get in and see your surgeon and get on a schedule to have your band slowly filled so you can eat a small meal and feel satisfied for several hours.

You are wrong in thinking 'if you had restriction fluids would help fill you up'.
Fluids should always go right through the band -- and they wash food down, so that it does not stay in your pouch long enough for your brain to be signaled that you have eaten.

You need to make some physical changes (fills) and some behavioral changes (no liquids with meals and not for 30 - 60 minutes afterwards).

You can do it --- the rest of us have done it --- it is not easy to break a habit like that, but it is possible.

The band can be a great tool, but you have to be willing to be persistent and to make changes.

Remember, "if you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got'

I don't have anything to add, other than to encourage you to please go see your surgeon and to not be embarrassed.

I have a friend in about the same situation and they thought that once you got a certain amount of fluid in the band, that you never had to go back again.  They had not lost any since their last visit and were embarrassed to go back.

The doctors have seen it all before and they are there to help us.  Please go and get the help so that you can use your tool properly.  Making an effort to help yourself might also ease the depression a little.

Thinking of you,

You have gotten some great advice, I have one thing to emphasize. Start excersising! It has so many benefits, just one being weight loose. It took me about 4 months post-op to hit the gym. I started out very slow, walking at a slow-moderate pace for 20 minutes. I gradually increased the time and started to walk on a slight incline. Now I jog on the treadmill for 35 minutes including a 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down. My goal is to get to 40, then increase the speed a little. There is something about excersise that helps with food choices. You can do it! Keep us posted on how your doing. Best wishes!

Exercise is also known to help with depression.   Doesn't have to be in the gym.. I just walked in my neighborhood for the first 7 months after banding.  During the summer, I'd get up and walk really early while it was still cool enough to stand it.. taking a flashlight sometimes.  Come back home and finish my sleep.

So glad you're posting Dee.. that means you have some gumption to get some help.  :)

 Sorry to hear that you have not had much success with your band, but you are not getting the most out of your band, it is not helping you because you don't have the restriction you need to help you lose weight. Is there any reason you have not followed up with your surgeon for needed fills? The band is adjustable the Sleeve is not, in order for you to get the restriction you need you MUST get needed fills and follow band rules.

Also you may need nutritional counseling and a band nutritionist to help guide you, you SHOULD NOT BE EATING WITH YOUR MEALS, EVEN if you had the Sleeve the SAME RULES WOULD APPLY...also you will have TIGHTER LONGER LASTING RESTRICTION WITH THE BAND THAN WITH THE SLEEVE, so you just need help on learning about your band and how to use it properly, please follow up with your surgeon and allow the band to help you.

 you SHOULD NOT BE EATING WITH YOUR MEALS,

REALLY, Naomi? Okay, Dee, Naomi says to make sure you NEVER "eat with your meals"!!! Sigh . . .  and that is why you have to take orders from "experts" with a grain of salt.

Dee, I completely know how you feel! I was banded September 2010 and I have only lost 33 pounds at this point. I have been yoyo-ing up and down but I have never gone below 296 and it has been almost a year. It is so depressing to know how much work went into getting the surgery and now to feel like you're failing ..... I think there is hope for us though. I am headed back to my surgeons office to have a talk with them. I wish you the best and maybe we can lean on one another!

Hi Dee...you might be too tight.  If you are having problems and feel like you need to eat soft foods or drink with your meals, your band could be a bit tight.  This is known as maladaptive eating.  What happens if you don't drink with your meals?
Call your surgeon and nutritionist...you need to be evaluated asap.  Hang in there, it might be a simple fix. 
Steph

Thanks Everyone! To answer a few questions. I did not go back because of fear of too much restriction, scared of throwig up, scared of something getting stuck (like my beloved bread). Thought I could do it without too many fills. I got my appointment they cant see me until July 7th and the back to get a fill under xray. I wonder if my band has slipped? If I don't drink nothing much happens I just feel like I want something to drink out of habit of drinking and eating. Today I ate lunch and drank maybe 3oz of my 12 oz drink, a major improvement. MAJOR! I have terrible acid reflux that I have had for about a month, I can eat easily 3-4 cups of food with no problem. I had a cup of salad last night and was hungry still. So I ate some toasted bread and a cup of pasta. Which finally filled me up. I bought a nice exercise bike it should be here next week. I am exhausted I see my husband 30 minutes each morning and no more until the next morning he works 2nd shift and is gone when I get home. So I don't see him until in the morning he gets up to help get the kids ready. So Monday-Friday I am a single parent of 3 kids. 2.5yr old twins and a 5yr old. 3 kids under six, that I have to get to day care, me to a better not be late 1 minute job and then at 5pm pick up everybody we are home by 6:15pm, by the time I get dinner, baths, stuff ready for the next day I just want to crash and read or lay my head on a pillow and watch the news. I am gonna try and sneak in 15 minutes on the bike while they eat dinner.