so here is the deal

So I had a fill on September 17th - no real change after about a week.  By week 2 I was wondering if I even had anything in my band and remembered the struggle Stephen has been having.  I also thought about what Penelope has been going through - Hey girl how's about an update? -  and so Thursday I called Natalie and she recommended that I call Lise and so I did. 

I explained to Lise that I am hungry about an hour to an hour and a half after a meal and that a one cup serving does not come close to satisfying my hunger and I mean physical hunger not head hunger.  I expressed my concern over the possiblity of a stretched pouch and wondered if I should have a fill under floroscopy.  Nope she said that is not indicated here - she believes I am eating too much too often.  Okay lets say for argument's sake that I am - although I dont believe so.  If I am eating too much - and I have stretched my pouch then would they not want to check to see if that is the case so that they can either remove some fluid or tell me to go on liquids for a while to let things shrink?  But she said no.  She said she would speak with Dr. Beau and see if I can have another fill and to call her back the next day.  So I did.

Dr. Beau has said I can have another fill on Wednesday - That means I am still looking for my sweet spot.  Lord knows it has been very illusive for about 4 months.  I have not lost an ounce in 4 months - I have in fact gained a bit.  I am hungry all the time.  It is currently about 2 hours since I last ate something and I am starving.  Not just a bit hungry - people across the room can hear my stomach and if I don't have something I will get nauseated.  If I were to have a snack of say a yogurt or cheese and fruit - in one hour I will be just as hungry as I am now.  If I eat only protein for every snack and 4 ounces of protein with every meal - I am still hungry in 1 to 2 hours and often if it is just a snack - 30 minutes and the tummy grumble starts again.

I am frustrated but undaunted.  I know this works, it worked for the first few months and I just have to find the right combination, the right routine and the right amount of fluid in the band.

In the meantime I am trying to live with the hunger and trying to pay close attention to amounts, weights, content of meals.

Now I don't want the waiters to feel that my discouraging tale is the norm - I do not believe it is.  I also believe that everyone is different and everyones experience is unique.  I hope though that in the sharing I can help someone over a struggle of their own. 

I will get through this if only because I can come here and find understanding and compassion and a listening ear.

Thanks for being here guys,
Ann

Rachel - how the heck are you doing by the way?

Ann,

Too bad you are having such a bumpy journey. Glad to hear tou are hanging in there rhough. My jouney su far has only had one bump, so I am definitely blessed.

I am close to my sweet spot; I think the next fill might be it for me.  Hopefully another fill is all you need too. Stay positive Ann.

Jet

 Hi Anne, I am feeling much the same as you.  I called Lise and she said it was because I am losing fat around the band.  So..., I am going with that and hope that my next fill will make a difference.  I also am still looking for the illusive SWEET SPOT!  I was checking over my weight lose chart and guess I really  can't complain.  I have had a lose every month since February:
Feb, & a week of Jan. - 10 lbs.
Mar. -  7 lbs.
Apr. -  8 lbs. (surgery Apr, 28)
May -  16 lbs.
Jun. -  5 lbs. (1st fill)
Jul.  -  5 lbs. (2nd fill)
Aug. -  4 lbs. (3rd fill)
Sept. -  4 lbs.
Oct. - (4th fill)
 One pound a week is less than what I would like to lose - but it's better than a gain and I'm HUNGRY!  LOL  I feel like the last couple of months I've been running mostly on will power and we all know that won't last for ever!  This will be my 4th fill on the 8th.  I really don't expect it to be my last. but I am hoping it will help get me back on track.

Hang in there Anne - WE will make it - each and everyone of us!!!!

Ann , I am sorry  that you are having a bump in the road .  When you get your fill again, you should feel a lot more restriction....  Maybe they didn't put in a lot of fill this time & You needed more . Stephens story I guess is scary & when you didn't feel your fill , you are worried  that  you may have the same thing  .   I wish you all the luck on this fill coming up , it will do the trick I'm sure.   Its good that everyone shares the good with the bad , that way we know what the norm is .

Abby , you have done real good on your losses .   The losses are right on the mark.   So you are having a fill on Wed. good luck I hope this one is exactly what you need to keep you from being hungry !!

I had my sweet spot until I had to have an unfill. I am close to the sweet spot since the last fill, but I am battling head hunger. I want to eat. Today I had a Tim Horton's yogurt for lunch and that held me until supper.  It would be great if it were like that all the time, but I often find I need a snack  most mornings. Lunch will hold me to supper. I still want to eat in the evening- that is where the head hunger is an issue. I eat in front of the TV at night and that is very very bad.

Ann, Hang in there. You will get to your sweet spot. I went through several fills that would only last a couple of weeks then nothing. I think that is a common experience. You have to be very proactive and bug them when you are not feeling restriction.
Hang in there girl
Charline

Thanks for all your comments folks,  I so need your encouragement and support right now.  I count on it.

I truly believe I could not do this, I could not persevere, if I did not have this community to come to for support and encouragement.   This surgery is a wonderful thing and the doctors do all they can to give you the information you need to make it work.  Then you muster all your "intestinal fortitude" and have the surgery and then what?  Learning to "Live the banded/bypassed/sleeved/switched/etc Life" is basically up to you.  Its trial and error, agony and ecstacy, up and down, in and out, its a roller coaster today and a float on calm water tomorrow.  But through it all we come here, we learn, we are inspired, we are uplifted with compassion and understanding that knows now bounds.  We are tied together by a commonality that transends location, lifestyle, background. 

I am currently doing it one meal, one snack at a time.  I am thinking all the time about calories, protein, quantities, amounts.  I am trying to make wise choices and patiently waiting for Wednesday.  One day this will click for me and I will get to where I want to be.  As of this morning I want to lose just about 60 pounds more so the journey is not over by a long shot.  The process is not even close to being done.  That being the case you can count on one thing - I am here for the long haul.

So thanks again for being here.  I love you all.
Ann

Ann - for us peeps - I don't think the process is ever done. That's just the way it is. The "head hunger" , real hunger in your case, the elusive "sweet spot", the stuck feeling - and on and on it goes. It's not easy. But SO worth it. I hope you have a smooth appt on Wed and it helps you "get there"! take care!