Not losing anymore

Has anyone lost much weight with the lap-band?  I had the band  6 years ago and have not had much success.  I work out 3 to 4 days a week for atleast an hour.  (zumba, eliptical, kickboxing each of those days)  my body has been up and down the last 4 lbs forever.   But, I am still not close to my goal.  I have a 4cc band and have 2 1/2 cc in the band.  Have not had a fill in 2 years.   Can anyone share if they have hit this WALL??? 

There are several who have the 4 cc band who could answer your question better than I...Kate P for one...
You might need a fill...+ I see a baby in your avatar...things change.
Hang in there.
Steph

To be honest, I had a steady weight loss for 18 months post-op.

I either lost or maintained my weight every week except for 1 for the whole time.

I had very consistent follow up with my surgeon (every 3 weeks at first, then every 4 - 6 weeks, then every 8 weeks, etc).

Of course, in my experience, the band takes lots of monitoring ----- getting back to your doctor can only help ---- maybe just a small fill will help you keep going.

I know I should probably go get a fill But, I feel so imbarassed that I have not lost much.  It makes it hard.  I did go back for 4 years steady to the doctor  but, I never went over the 2 1/2 cc.  At one point they had to take all the fluid  out because I was getting stomach pain bad.  So for about 1 and 2 months they filled me a little at a time again.   I wanted to loose more before I went back to the doctor but, I don't see that it is going to happen.   Thanks again foryour advice.

 Hi Dona
I have hit the same wall as you. I have been banded for 5 years and lost most of my weight the 1st year.  I have been playing with the same 5 lbs for the last 2 years. I run 4 miles ever other day and in between I do a 90 min workout  30 on the evil stairmaster, 30 on the elliptical and 30 on some light weight training.. so whats going on? well I haven't had a fill for a long long time, I had a hiatal hernia before i got banded and at my last fill I was told it had gotten worse, I am scared to get filled but know I have to use this tool that works so well when its at a proper restriction.. anyway get a fill and see if it helps. I have had problems with reflux but don't know if its caused by my band or the hernia.. I have to get that fixed asap.. anyway I hope to start losing again.. Good Luck =)

Thanks so much for your reply.  You mentioned you have reflex,  so do I.  I usually pop 2 tums and feel better.  I even have the heartburn/reflex even when I just drink water which people think I am crazy when I tell them I could just have water and get it.   Milk also helps me when I have no tums.  I think it is the band.  Thanks again

If you want the band to really help you, you do need a fill!  I lost 42lb with a loose band, but it took an auful lot of will power. Now I have 8.75 in a 10ml band and its only now that I know what the band is capable of. I can now only eat about 2 cups of food in one sitting, and it takes me half an hour to eat it. By that time I'm really full & will stay that way for the next 4 hrs.

I know alot of people prefer their bands loose & it works for them & thats fine, but your not getting all of the benefits that way.

Jill

My last fill was October 2009.   

I was losing really well, and it was 2 lbs a week consistently.    Until May 2010.   Then I stalled at 250ish...     In between getting discouraged, working out like a mad woman, and playing with my calories to see what worked for me...  Ive worked really hard and have gotten down to 217 as of May 1 2011.      

After talking to a few friends, I've decided that this would be much easier if I would just suck it up and go get a fill to help me along a little.  After all, the band is a tool right?? And we all got it to help us along the way???   

My fill is scheduled for tomorrow at 2:00 pm.

Get a fill sweetie!! And dont be embarassed about not losing as much... your surgeon is there to help you, go see him/her and let them do their job that you paid them to do!

Good Luck!

I'm having the same problem (not losing any more) but I think my issue is that my pouch has stretched a bit.  I decided that I likely needed a fill last September - the Friday before Labour Day, and asked for 1/4 cc.  She thought I could handle 1/2, so that's what I had.  I drank my water before I left, and all was fine.  I visited my brother on the way home and had a cup of tea and that went down fine too.    I had liquids for the rest of the day, but the next day I still couldn't eat anything. 

It ended up that I couldn't keep even liquids down.  I kept hoping that it would settle, and my stomach was just upset that I hadn't had a fill in a while, so was sensitive, but by the holiday Monday I had to go to the ER as I wasn't able to even swallow my own saliva.  It was waking me up in the night, choking!

They were really nice about it (I had a sheet from my clinic about how to do it) and had lots of questions.  They took out a little more than the 1/4 extra, so although I kept some of the fill, not much.

I lost 14 pounds in three days, but that was dehydration.  As soon as I was able to drink liquids again, it all went back on.  I was never so happy to have a glass of water.

Out of the blue, my clinic has contacted me again (I was banded in 2007, live outside of Toronto, so not close to the clinic) and I am going to get some help again. 

I heard of a way to shrink your band if you stretch it, and I know that I should do it again.  It's called the five day pouch test.  http://www.5daypouchtest.com/  It reminds you of how you felt before.

I lose so slowly anyway, and after so long it is hard to be so strict when you aren't being rewarded with weight loss.  But I am so pleased to be in size 18 clothes and not shopping in "fat stores" any more.  But I still want to lose that last 60 pounds.  I envy those of you who have consistently lost 2 or even 1 pound a week.  Even right after my surgery, I had a week where I actually gained a couple of pounds!  

Hi Jaclyn,
 
   Thanks for the push....  I really do need to find the courage to call and get that fill... Thanks again