My first problem- advice needed

Hi everyone,

I've run into my first problem with my band today. Back story...For the past two months I've had a hard time eating, like a really hard time. I've had this fill for  10 months and my grandmother had just passed away and I started a new job with long hours and I thought it was stress from those two things but it never went away, so I got tired of not being able to eat and getting sick so I went to the doctor today. Turns out my band slipped a little bit. I thought this may have been the case but I didn't know how it could be fixed. When she told me that she needed to take out all my fill right then and there, I freaked, didn't know what to do so I cried. I go back on Jan 18th for another esophogram and I'm hoping it corrected itself some of my fill can be put back. I'm so scared to gain weight back as I just hit my goal weight. However, I ate a proper meal, first time in I can't tell you how long so it was good and my only snack was an apple. Please tell me that I'm not the only who has had this and felt that way. I'm a bit lost and could use any advice. This is going to be a very long and hard 4 weeks.

Jaimie

How long have you had your band?

2 years and almost 3 months

I had a full unfill due to stomach flu---just didn't want to risk it.  I still much follow my food plan regardless.  I had a refill but not quite as much as they removed.  I don't feel "restriction" but that is not a liscense to eat. 

You worked hard to get to your goal weight----just keep doing the healthy thing and you will be ok.  Good Luck!!!  Hope all goes well.

Jaimie -

I have not had to have an unfill -- but if I did, I would be nervous about gaining weight, too.
I would try to remain diligent -- eating on a schedule and weighing regularly.

I am sorry for the band slip --- but hope that others will read your story and pay heed --- that waiting for 2 months knowing that something is wrong is a bad idea.

I know that 'life got in the way' -- and am so sorry for your loss of your grandmother --- but a small unfill 8 weeks ago might have avoided your current problem (not to judge you -- just to help others learn from your story).

I wish you only the best -- and that starting on January 18th you will be able to start working towards an appropriately filled band.

 Jaime I'm right there with ya.Had some problems of late. In Nov they took out .75 out. I was hungry and gained 2.4 lbs. I got hold of myself went back to the gym and lost it. Had problems again this weekend with night coughing and dizziness. He showed me my upper GI. He took 2 cc out. very scared. I refuse to gain it all back. I wear a size 10 to 12 pants. I am not giving them up. I worked to hard. So did you. We will overcome this. We will do this together.
Wendy

I know it's only been like 12 hours and I was doing really well, eating a lot of protein, went to karate and now I'm I'm  hungry. I'm doing everything to stay strong. I am right here with ya. I'm an 8 and I refuse to not fit into my jeans anymore.

 Keep in touch we can try to help each other

Some people have found that being able to get in good nutrition again can jump start weight loss again. You don't want to lose but it might offset some of it. I have not had a complete unfill but from late De****il mid-May this past year I had enough removed to be really loose. I had just gotten tight enough to get stuck too often. Yeah, I gained a few pounds, but I lost them, too. I could have gotten a fill as soon as we got back home after the winter but I didn't feel I had to have it until early May. I was really surprised. I didn't get the whole amount put back in and after 6 weeks had a .5cc taken back out and have been just fine. Actually it is good for me to feel hunger and not have it be an emergency. I try to have a protein snack mid afternoon and again in the evening and it works pretty well.

Good luck to you and just keep coming here. Remember that you can have everything but you don't have to. It isn't what is best in the long run. This is part of learning to live in a new way.

Sue

As Sue said, sometimes an unfill can be a blessing in disguise because it makes it easier to eat solid food with better nutritional and satiety value.

I had a band slip, complete unfill, and 6-week rest period. I did regain some weight, but after I got enough fill put back in, I lost that weight plus another 5 pounds.

It's great that you were able to catch this slip when it was slight instead of major.

Hang in there!
Jean