1 year mark

Well June 17 was my one year. I started this process at 317 and was down to 234. As many of you know I have battled getting tight and having unfills. I have stuck to the rules 95% of the time. Later this week I will post a before and after picture. So about three weeks ago out of the blue I got to tight and couldn't eat one bite of food without terrible pain. So I had some fluid taken out. I went about my business moving and went on vacation to see Mickey Mouse. Three weeks have past and I have little restriction and admit that for the past three weeks I have eaten many things I shouldn't have. I never ate large amounts of food but high fat foods throughout the day. I have gain 6 pounds in 3 weeks:( I am so upset. So today a little late but for my 1 year mark I weigh in at 240. So I have lost 77 pounds in a year. I missed my goal by 12 pounds.  I go to the doc on July 9th.  I am wondering if my loss of restriction is because I lost a lot of weight since my last fill add with the small unfill. I don't understand how the removal of .1 or.2 CC made me go from painful eating to loss of restriction. Is this normal or could there be something more going on.

Before you start telling me just because I can eat it doesn't mean I should, I know that! I plan on getting right back into my plan 100% in the morning. Yes, while on vacation I ate some fries and ice cream but I should say a meal was like half a hamburger (no bun) and a few fries. So it is more then I was eat ting but I wasn't stuffing my face at the buffet. I admittedly did eat a mickey ice cream everyday, a late night snack,  and a lot of lemonade. When I am at home I only drink water. 

So over all I am happy with ,my weight loss for the year but with all the pain and trouble I have had getting tight for no reason and being extremely sensitive to even the smallest fill..... I am still not sure I would recommend the band.

I first want to say i am sorry you are having problems with your band tightening and hope you get to a good place with your band.

Personally, the gain of 6 pounds with what you were eating sounds normal to me.

I am glad to hear that you recognize what you ate was not your normal and you are getting back on track!

I am not a veteran, but I can tell you that my surgeons office never talks restriction with me. We talk about what I am eating, how much, am I satisfied and how much water and protein am I taking in. Then the discussion of how long am I able to go between meals before I am hungry. If it is less than 4 hours then we discuss a fill. Not because of restriction. Could be a different philosophy, but it works for me. I have only had one fill and don't plan on anymore in the near future.

Make sure you are eating proteins that satisfy you. I think that is part of solving the head hungry issues.

I am sure you can get back on track and start losing again. You were definitely successful earlier!

CONGRATS!  We had surgery like 6 days apart. I am sorry you've had these problems and I recall reading over the last yr of your band tightening.  Hamburgers are MY MOST FAV FOOD in da world. I eat a burger 1-2 a week, but, like you now bun and with it, I eat some swet potatoe fries.  THERE IS NOTHING wrong with this meal.  Nor is ice cream as long as you are treating yourself. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I see my surgeon tomorrow.  I'd like a little fill, but, we will see what she says!

Don't hesitate to reach out if you need someone to chat with!

Heather

Thanks! I am happy to say that made most or all of the 6 pounds is water weight. I woke up this morning and lost three of it. I am sure all the food in Disney is very high in sodium.  So maybe it isn't as bad as I thought:)

When I used the word restriction it wasn't about how much I could eat but what I can eat. I couldn't eat steak, hamburgers, or any type of bread. While I was on vacation I ate hamburgers (1/2 no bun), about 3oz of steak, and I did have a biscuit one day.

"I don't understand how the removal of .1 or.2 CC made me go from painful eating to loss of restriction. Is this normal or could there be something more going on."

Yes, and yes. .1 ro .2 cc can make a pretty big dfifference, oddly enough. it always has for me. But, the fact that you had a sudden increase in restriction with pain could indicate a problem of one kind or another. Did they do anything aside from the unfill?

 Hi Dev
I am a new bander and will be receiving my first fill (maybe in July).
Can people get small fills (like .1 or .5 cc's instead of a whole 1 or 2).

The amounts do tend to make me confused. Can you explain it to me alittle better. I would very much appreciate any advise you can offer.

Yes, fill amounts can be very very small, although the first fill is usually larger. As you get closer to having actual restriction or when you just need things "tweaked", they can add or remove very tiny amounts. 1 is 1 cc, .1 is 1/10 of 1cc. To visualize things better, 2.5cc is about 1/2 a teaspoon! The last time I had fluid removed, my doc took out .2cc, and it made a pretty huge difference for me.
It can also make a difference what size band you have, the older style (like mine) only holds 4-5cc, the newer ones hold more.

Thanks Dev. I was hoping that .1 or .2 cc could make a big difference. No they didn't do anything else. I didn't see my regular doc but his partner.  Also, we have learned that I am sooo sensitive to this whole process that as soon as I am under any real stress my body reacts and I can't eat. So that has happened to me a few times this past year. It is always when I am stressed my brother almost died, my nephew was murdered, moving. I see my regular doc on the 9th and will talk to him. I did notice that as soon as I got back home from vacation and dealing with the move, my stomach started acting up. I have moved out of my house to rent it but am not moving into my new house til mid July. Right now we are staying at my MIL house

 You'll get back on track.   YOU WERE ON VACATION for chrissakes :)  you are entitled to enjoy yourself. AND, let's not forget you were so tight you couldn't eat, so when you finally were able to get some REAL food in you you went a little nuts.  It happens to everyone.  

carry on, soldier.  You've done great!