Feeling really down

I don't know what to do, I've had my band for a little over seven months and I have only lost about 20lbs some of which I lost prior to my surgery. I just feel horrible! I was banking on the fact that I would feel a difference with the band, but I don't. It almost feels as if nothing is there, I never get sick and I can eat anything I like with out any complications. I knew that it would be easier to practice self control if I would get sick if I ate too much of haad something I should not, but I don't experience anything the only thing is that sometimes I have to eat slower if I am eat bread and thats not always the case. I dont know if I should get  a revision surgery or try to work with what I have...I am only 23yrs old and want to be free of all of the struggling and depression surroundding my weight. I think because I feel like I am failing, it's making it harder 

When was the last time you went to the doctor/had a fill? Maybe you should go there and ask for a fill. Also, are you tracking your daily calories? Are you exercising?

Unfortunately it sounds like your surgeon didn't give you all the details of what is necessary for the band to work.  Yes, it is about helping you control portion size and should decrease hunger, but that's generally after you've had several fills.  How many have you had? 

And while the band will help you with portion size YOU still have to choose a different type of diet than you ate before if you really want to make changes to last a life time.  Even then, we all backslide on occasion so this is a life time journey, not one with a beginning and an end.

Even if you had restriction to where you were regurgitating food, that is not the way the band is used as a tool.  That is a bad sign that either you are not following good band eating behaviors or there's something wrong with the band.  Regurgitation (pbing) is not a positive sign that your band is working. 

If you are able I would highly recommend the book called Bandwagon by one of our members here named Jean M.  It's an encyclopedia of sorts for people living with a band.  You can order it on the banner ad above or on her blog [email protected].  It should really help give you some ideas on simple changes you can make that will help you on your weight loss journey.

Until then, make sure you are keeping up with fills.  My surgeon recommends a fill every 6 weeks, IF YOU NEED IT, for the first year. 

Take care!

Lisa O.

I can totally understand where your coming from. I got my surgery about 15 months ago and through this entire process you hit platues along the way. My best advice to you at point would be just because you can eat things you shouldn't doesn't mean you should. I put myself on a very strict diet and watched what I was eating and how much etc. I have measuring cups everywhere, I used a calorie counter that shows how much protien. I exersize etc... The band is a tool that helps you only 10% of your total, your will power and determination are the rest.  Also sounds like you need a fill...you should get the feeling that you are full after about a 1/2 of food. If your not you need a fill plain and simple.

Well I have a 10cc band and I have it filled at 9cc. I've had a total of three fills since surgery. My surgeon said that she would not give me another fill if I lost 2-5 lbs after my last fill. I know that most of this is on me, I just thought it would have been more drastic. I can improve my eating and exercise habit, it's just been very difficult. If anyone have any tips for my eating and exercise habits I would appreciate it, Thanks. 

Couach to 5k! It is a great program. You can get a free app for it.  Go to the exercise and fitness board for awesome motivation and tips. The folks on that board are amazing. Join the Thanksgiving challenge I put out today to start on Monday.

 It is NOT on you if your "tool" is not working like it should, call your surgeons office and demand an appointment. Tell him exactly what you are feeling (and aren't feeling). At each fill have they drawn out the fluid that was already in the band and then added more, or just added more? 

If they have just added more ask that they draw out all the fluid in your band to see if it's all still there, if it isn't then you could have a leak (which would explain why you are not feeling any restriction). If all the fluid is in there ask for an Upper GI to make sure that your band is properly placed (this might mean that you have to contact another surgeon to look at your pictures). 

I am sorry you are going though this, but make you doctor work with you. If you can't find a solution, revision is always an option. 

Well exercise I can't help ya with cause I can't do it but the only thing that keeps me in line is journaling my food and making sure my amounts are correct. I have an empty band because of so many problems with it but even with it empty it still won't let me eat too much. Have you been checked for a leak because I can't imagine a full band not choking you to death. I think the highest I had was 8 in my 10 cc and I was slimming and pbing all day long, couldn't eat much but soup it was so tight. Please don't feel like a failure because my doc told me that 1/4 or more of their patients never feel any kind of restriction  or are too tight, too loose all the time. The band isn't really very effective for many of us. Before revision tho if I were you I would try doing my very best and hardest to get the band working and then if it still is not helping well the maybe look at revision. Remember it is expected to only lose 4-8 lbs a month with the band so you really aren't that far off of the average. Good luck!

You didn't mention, but have you had fills yet? Without sensing a good level of restriction the band won't really work as designed. However you shouldn't depend on negative effects (throwing up) to modify your behavior. Please remember the band is still a tool, and you've got to make changes even before you might feel the changes the band is supposed to bring about.

Good luck!

" I knew that it would be easier to practice self control if I would get sick "

This isn't the RNY surgery, we don't get sick when we eat. We can get stuck, but not sick
First thing you should do is throw out all the bread, just toss it in the garbage. Bread is evil and you will go blind if you keep eating it.