can't really eat anymore

Banded Aug 2007, three fills within 10 months.  Nothing since May 2008, started at 289 Current Weight 124. I have to really work at staying above 120.  Seems like over the last couple of years it has been harder and harder to get in any good meals. I can NEVER eat in the morning and rarely at lunch time. I can often eat snack type foods late afternoon. Lately I am having trouble even drinking more than small amounts at a time. No pain, no reflux. Some days I can eat whatever. STILL NEVER BEFORE MID AFTERNOON. Those days just don't come around as often anymore. Somewhat concerned...!

Confused as to how it seems that the band is getting tighter over the years. Any suggestions Anyone?

If the band is getting tighter without any fill you are building scare tissue between the band and stomach.  This is the bodies way of walling off itself from the band.  I went thru what you did but, I gained as all I could eat is snack foods at night.  I started eating chip and ice cream.  I didn't really even care much for ice cream before banding.  Yes, I should have been living off shake.  But, I didn't get the band to live on a liquid diet.

With what you have posted, have you gotten your labs lately?

What has your doctor said? My opinion,  you are to tight you should be able to eat a lot more than just snack foods. Are you able to eat solid Protein? if not you need a slight unfill.  Liquids should never be a problem if you are not getting enough liquids you can get dehydrated and your band could get tighter,  I have had that happen. He may be able to do just .5cc unfill so you are able to eat more healthy and gget down a lot of liquids. My band tightened up a couple of times to the point I asked for a total unfill for a few months. I have been slowly refilling but its been a long process. I waited months to have a fill because I was afraid it would just tighten up. Hope you get relief soon.

If you haven't already discussed this with your surgeon, you need to do that as soon as possible. It sounds like your band is way too tight (for whatever reason) and if you don't get that checked out (at least with an upper GI study), you might be headed down the road to a complication like a band slip or band erosion. Even a small unfill can help you eat enough to stabilize your weight.

I am going to the Dr. Friday to get all my fill removed. I am scheduled for a XTT Nov. 06, and was encouraged to empty so I could take Meds as needed and the increased chance of vomitting after surgery warranted the evacuation. I am worried like some of the other members about not being able to get my fill soon enough and reverting back to my old ways. I have been banded a long time or so it seems, but I still think I may have tendencies to binge, I see it a couple of days a month, around that time.

I guess another secret concern of mine is that I have a slippage. I am a worrier, so I have just come up with this within the last day or so. I have been reading too much I guess. I have had left shoulder pain after eating (too much, I'm sure). Remember I said, "some days I can eat whatever", just not as frequently anymore.

Frustrating!! 122.3 this morning. Seriously messes with your brain! Forever, the scale was the enemy because I couldn't seem to control it inching up. Now, it seems here we are again, except I can't seem to stop it from inching down. UGHHHH!

Maybe this Fill removal will help. Maybe I do have the strength not to go crazy and eat Double Meat Cheeseburgers from Wendy's until I explode.

Happy Halloween

~P~

Pamela,

Are you going to a new doctor or did you previously replace your bariatric surgeon?  I had heard that your identified surgeon went to Israel.

I developed similar lap band issues and, in a nutshell, my body had developed an intolerance to the band.  When it could not physically eject the band from my body, it developed massive amounts of internal scar tissue, covering the band all over, including the interior "donut" that actually provides the restriction that makes it work.  The scar tissue was growing and growing.  It was actually a good thing that I had planned a concurrent revision to the sleeve when the band was removed because, as it turned out, it would have been medically necessary anyway. 

That's not necessarily what's going on in your case but I know that I am not the only one this has happened to.  The best thing to do is to get proper medical attention and, if available, join and attend support group meetings.  Also, individual counseling sessions can be very helpful.  Self awareness and developing insight into our behaviors helps us with both successfully managing our WLS and dealing with every day life.

Good luck and, if I can be of any assistance, please feel free to send me a PM.

Lisa

Yes Spivak did go back to Israel. I have seen Dr. Scarborough at TLC Surgical Center, once in May. I was considering removing my fill then, because I didnt want to loose any more weight. We did the swallow/flouro test and he said it looked as good as someone that had just been banded. Perfect restriction he said. If it's not broke we shouldn't fix it. So I smiled paid my copay and left. I know a lot can happen in  5 months. So I guess I will see, if he can tell by using that machine.

I just need to be able to get in what I need to be healthy, and HYDRATED. I hope it's not scar tissue. That sounds very dangerous.

If you paid cash for surgery and have complications, wonder if insurance pays for that?

Depends upon your insurance.  However, during a period following surgery, medical care associated with that surgery is considered global; that is, the after-care is included.  With my insurance, I believe it's 90 days. 

With self-pay, it can vary.   When program fees are assessed, it will generally specifically stipulate the global period.

Part of my surgery was paid for by my insurance and I have really good insurance.  Even with the self pay, had something gone amuck and I needed medical services, they would have paid unless they could show some sort of malfeasance on my part.

thanks, I will check my insurance.

I had a swallow/flouro test also and was told everything was perfect but, in reality I was way to tight.