what should i do? help!

[kristina]

i had a fill wed. morning at 9am. it was a 2cc fill and i felt fine when i left.
i did liquids on wed, and liquids on Thursday. i felt restriction, and i had to sip, sip, sip, but i had no pain.

yesterday was my first day of mushies. protein shake in the morning, and i had 1 bite of tuna at 2pm. it hurt. not stuck, no pb, just uncomfy. put it up & switched to a protein shake. uncomfy from tuna but okay.

by dinner i thought i could have some mashed potatoes. i made meatloaf too but i knew i couldn't eat that. so it took me an hour to get about 1/2 cup of mashed taters down..and it was hurting and i should have stopped even trying...but i went to another room..got away from the kids...it was an awkward meal- but i got it down..in an hour. way too long. promised myself liquids today.

so before bed about 11 i had a cup of hot tea, i was feeling okay. when i laid down i had heartburn bad. so i went and got a Tums. i kept burping and burping and burping and i couldn't get comfy.
i finally fell asleep around midnight. at 4 am i was spewing stuff out of my nose and mouth..i woke up like that!!! WTH??? i could not lay down flat, i could only sit up. so i ended up downstairs sitting up in a recliner from 4am-8am when i was able to lie down again without my esophagus doing weird things. it felt like it was burping without my help..like at any minute I'm going to throw up something...
right now i feel fine. i am def. sticking to liquids until Monday at this point when i can get back in to the doc.

my question is...do i need an ER visit? or can i wait till Monday. most of you know my history and I'm scared to wait if something major is going on.
but i really don't want to deal with the ER who have no clue about bands, or Me, and my doc is out of town, so he wont get called in..

they will take out all of my fill... when they find someone...in the ER instead of just some of it like i obviously need. i just had the fill! i think it may have been too aggressive of a fill for me with my band history, and my tummy swelled right up with the attempt at mushies. the tums on top of that didn't help.

my gut tells me to stay on liquids, until early Mon. morning when i know they will get me right in.
but i don't trust my gut..its gotten me in trouble before.
what do u think?

[chrispygal]

Kristina you are DEFINITELY overfilled. I had a girlfriend who would choke in the middle of the night like that. It was from reflux and being too tight. DEFINITELY stick to liquids. I understand wanting to wait to see your doc vs the emergency room and if you can keep down liquids, then ok. If you can't keep down liquids, GO IN IMMEDIATELY. To sleep, try a chair or propping the top half of yourself up on the couch.

I can't imagine you've slipped off 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes and one bite of tuna, or that it irritated your stomach. I just think you are WAAYYYYYYY too tight. Poor thing - it is a miserable place to be. Lots and lots of liquids Kristina. Hang in there. xoxoxoox

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

I'd also say stay on liquids, and if you can't get those down.. go to ER immediately! This is nothing to mess with sweetie.. I know it's hard to think you have to have some taken out, BUT it's only temporary, if you let it go, it could be longer. You're not a failure if you have some taken out.. you're playing it safe.. and remember.. this is not a race to see how fast you can lose weight.. it's being healthy so you CAN lose weight.. k? Take care.. praying for you now.

[kristina]

liquids are not going down easy. shit. im sorry but i just have to say SHIT. shit shit shit.
i feel like vomiting every tiny sip.
guess im goin to the er.
can i cry?

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Yes.. you can cry.. it's ok.. honest.. go to ER..

Just tried to call ya.. got your voice mail.

[newlifeat57]

Honey, I'm praying for you.... I say go to ER. With your history, its best to be extra careful.....

[believeinme]

glad you are going to the ER...Sure you hope you feel better soon:grin:

[kristina]

called the er...they said: now get this. they said..we dont do that. u have to go to ur surgeon. and i said..well its sat. surgeons office is closed.
and she said- i dont know what to tell u ma'am. and i said- u are an er u do everything. can u have a nurse or someone call me back. and she said they are with patients. the beds are full she said. omg. are u kidding me???
gave them my number..she said she would see what she can do. what a joke.

[chrispygal]

Wow. Is that the hospital that your surgeon is assoicated with? If so, I would think they can find a way to get in touch with him. Do you know what hospital he is associated with?

And calm down. Getting stressed out is only going to make matters worse. We'll figure this out Kristina. Do you know your doctor's name? We can google his info and see if we can find what hospital he works with.

[kristina]

i am going to take a hot bath...and then im going to do that chica..ur right im starting to flip out. its time for me to go and chill and think this through calmly..i love ya..thanks chica...and heres the link to my place..
http://www.moreoflife.com/

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

I'm at a loss for words. The hospital should have a way to get in touch with him somehow. Geeeeeezzzzzzzzzz wish I knew something helpful to say to you.. like Chris said.. try to stay calm.. stress will only make you tighter. (I know.. easier said than done).

[kristina]

bath is running and i already feel better. ed thinks i should wait till monday for sure. especially with the level of ignornace i am dealing with here. after monday i am going to the ER for a little visit with them on how to deal with lapband patients. and maybe speak with a supervisor. thats if i dont go in before then. i am going to take this bath and calm down..i am always more open at night..so maybe i can get more water in the evening.

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Ed's right.. if you went in now and they don't know what they're doing, things could be worse. Sip and relax in the bath.. and give Ed hugs for calming you down.

This brought back what Dr Anderson said about ER's not knowing how to deal with this issue. It's time to get everyone educated.. it made me wonder too, that if the ER where I had my surgery done knows what they're doing. This is one question I'm going to ask at my next appointment which is Nov 18. that same night we have a support group meeting too. Gonna make sure to ask that there too.

Hugs!

[redgrldj]

Kris I just checked out their site.. It says they have practioners on call 24/7... I would just call the appointment number on the site and find who is on call right now..

[chrispygal]

I agree with Patti. They should have a way to get in touch with the surgeons. But again Kristina, just make sure you're getting your liquids in. The last thing we need is you being dehydrated.

[MyGenesis]

Yikes Kristina,
I just jumped here from Jer's thread...I hope you hear from the surgeons office and find someone to help you out before Monday.
I am thinking 'bout ya and hope the bath helped. Meditation and relaxation...focus on the band...Stress not good.

[jomarie88]

Oh no! I'm sorry, sweetie. They should always have a band surgeon/doc on-call...gosh, even blah Kaiser has one! I really hope you are ok until you see the doc....hang in there. My thoughts and prayers are definitely with you. Try and relax as much as possible. A warm bath sure does help..

[sassy46545]

Kristina,
The ER does not have to do anything unless you can't get fluids down. If you cannot get fluids down and become dehydrated they should start an IV to rehydrate you. Being too tight is not an emergency if you stay on fluids. You can wait until Monday for an unfill...just stay on water based liquids until then. Don't even try milk based or protein shakes. A hot shower or bath always helps me too so I'm glad you're doing that. Do some deep breathing. And remember, our prisoners of war endure far worse! It's uncomfortable and very inconvenient, but you'll make it.

tracy
Sips of hot chamomile tea...(reduces inflammation and promotes relaxation)

[Mloukas143]

Oh gosh. I don't know what worse..waiting until Monday or going to an ER that doesn't know that their doing...what is wrong with people? you don't know if it is something serious or something as small as getting an unfill..but prolonging it can only make it worse. I agree with everyone else, stay on your liquids and do what YOU can do in the mean time..and most important, stay calm and relax as much as you can. Getting stressed out may only make you tighter and you don't want that. Once you feel relaxed...try the liquids again and see if they go down easier. Man, I can't believe this is happening to you again! When are you going to get a break?
Sending prayers your way and hoping for a fast recovery...I'm sure an unfill will do you good, don't think about "what if" it'll just get you worked up. Hang in there.

[MoOrLess]

Kristina...I thought of Dr. Anderson too -- as I mentioned in the owl/puppy thread....remember he also said that you could check out the Allergan website and find a doctor in any state...www.lapband.com/
- YES -- just type in your zip code under the "Find a Lap-Band System Surgeon" and they give you within 10 miles of your zip code and outside of 10 miles -- you might want to check this out for other "options" -- and perhaps if not for this time - fur the future - you would know what hospital another doctor is affiliated with and could have that info ready if need be - hope this helped on some level hon

there is "out of towner" information too for anyone traveling (again - at the Allergan website at www.lapband.com)

"The LAP-BAND TOTAL CARE™ Out of Towner Network - Commitment to Providing Access to Quality Aftercare
In response to this challenge, Allergan created the LAP-BAND TOTAL CARE™ Out of Towner Network. Through the Out of Towner Network, when traveling or relocating you can identify a prequalified LAP-BAND® System surgeon anywhere in the United States who is dedicated to meeting your need for immediate aftercare.

The Out of Towner Network is one more element in Allergan's commitment to support you on your weight loss journey."


and yes - what Tracy said -- the ER "DID" help me - gave me an IV and I was BPing constantly for hours (different than your situation a little bit) and the BPing stopped within minutes of the IV going into my system -- so watching for the dehydration issue is a big one! and a reason to GO to the ER....so if you can't get anything to stay down then GO - the IV will bring relief and may even help you wait until Monday....

[PattiDi07]

All I can say is .... wow..... Kristina, I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this stuff, especially after all that you've had to endure. Praying..... keep us posted, ok? I am so new at this stuff, I really don't have any advice cause I'd be doing the same thing you are doing.... coming here and asking for help. The others on here are old pro's (sorry, girls.... no offense.... you know what I mean, though, right? lol), so I would listen to what they are saying. And if you have Susan (P-Nut)'s phone number, you might want to give her a jingle.... she's always so calming and is always the voice of reason, ya know? Hang in there.... :)

[kristina]

hey yall! big giant hugs and smooches!
as suspected i am not as tight in the evening..or the bath..or yall or whatever..i was able to get in a protein shake..and now i am sipping teeny tiny amounts of water. so thats good. i dont feel as weak. i have constant heartburn, and i cant lay down at all. still. even in the tub i had to sit straight up. so strange. i was fine!!!!! cpl of bites of mashed potatoe and wham! i have a sensitive tummy. all there is to it and i HAVE to keep it loose. i have to say hey..make it looser than u would for a normal person. i dont like being tight and i need alot of leadway. and smaller fills. i really was fine in the office..and on liquids i was great...so weird! i think i just got nervous cause i didnt have these symptoms before. all i had was too tight. now im too tight with acid reflux, vomiting..bile stuff coming up..and i am supposed to slip easier the next time?
the great thing is i saw my band on wed and it looked great. i know i did everything ordered by my doc...so no guilt.

when i call the number i get nothing. it says u can leave a general message and i did. but there were no 24 hour nothing that i saw..where is that at pattie? was it pattie? sorry if not! :)
they wont get the message till monday.

i think i will be fine as long as i get in as much water as possible tonight...its very slow, but i am getting some.

thanks to all who have responded. i feel much better promise!

[kristina]

ps. if i had one of those needle things i would take some out myself!

[MoOrLess]

Very smart Kristina - I totally agree -- you are a lot like me it sounds like - we just stay a bit "looser" and things go much better. I guess we just have to keep working our "head" instead of our "band" some days lol

Glad you feel a little better -- be sure to follow up on Monday -- I'm relieved to hear you are able to sip some liquids.

Now -- see if you can find "other" local hospitals/doctors in case this kind of thing happens again on the Allergan site (www.lapband.com) please :)

[MoOrLess]

ps. if i had one of those needle things i would take some out myself!

LOL I've said that MANY times myself :neener:

[wingsfly825]

just reading this now kris..im so sorry you had such a shit experience with er but im glad your able to drink the protein and get some water in..sounds like your going to have to sleep sitting up chica..sending you prayers ..big hugs

[momsquid4u]

Kristina
that is who did mine and here in wichita they have a pa that will come in at night she gave me a card with her cell on it and told me to call if I ever felt to tight. Please call the 800 # and have them get a hold of someone for you now!
Please keep us up to date I hope you feel better soon
Julia

1 lb a week challenge 9/10/09 -12 lost

Banded 08/24/09 by Dr Scott Ellison in Kansas
242/198/145
S/C/G first fill 2.6cc 9/30/09
2nd fill 1 cc 11/2/09



http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wk0t5jv/weight.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wk0t5jv/)

http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;14;0/st/20090824/e/my+lapband/k/a859/event.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/)

Life is too short for drama & petty things,
so kiss slowly, laugh insanely,
Love truly and forgive quickly

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

I've been thinking (I know this is dangerous) that maybe you are one of those ones that might have trouble with mashed potatoes too.. even tho they're soft, they're very dense unless ya really make 'em runny (and who likes runny mashed taters?) I'm not saying you're not too tight.. all I'm saying is maybe the mashed taters aren't for you? I know I have trouble sometimes with any kind of potatoes if they're mashed, but cut up and chewed till goo it's fine.. for me it's all about texture. I love mashed sweet taters with butter, salt and pepper, .. it's a no go for me..

Glad you're feeling better.. warm drinks are good right now.. in fact I'm thinking about getting a hot green tea.. or spiced chai (just the tea bag not the mix).. Hugs!!

[kristina]

oh please believe me i wont touch mashed potatoes again!!! EVER. i hope thats it!!! good news- i have lost 8 pounds since wed! LOL! one more day....just one more day! :)

[Charity]

Oh Kristina. I am so sorry...do not know what to say or do. Surely there is an emergency place somewhere you can go

[amyk]

Kristina, I'm a total noobie so not much help besides prayers and hugs!

[MyGenesis]

How are you today? I have bee thinking about you since I was meditating in church this mornin... I hope you felt the good and healing vibes!
Feel better. Look at the list of foods you got in the beginning...sounds like you may need to go back to basics!
Hugs!!!

[kristina]

Oh Kristina. I am so sorry...do not know what to say or do. Surely there is an emergency place somewhere you can go
u just had surgery and ur worried about me???!!! awwww! im going to be fine! i am getting up and getting ready at 6am...i may even be at the center when they open and wait till they can fit me in! i can drink water about 6pm. and then i just drink and drink and drink! tried a protein shake before church...and i have had heartburn and hiccups all the way through service.


Kristina, I'm a total noobie so not much help besides prayers and hugs!
prayers are the most help i can get..so thank you!!!!

church did me a world of good! thanks for everything yall. i really am going to be okay. im sure of it. as long as i dont try and eat i cant slip. right now the thought of food makes my stomach turn. as soon as i can drink today im going too...and alot!
big loving grateful hugs to all!

[Charity]

Honey you have been there for me so many times. My heart went out to you. So glad you are feeling better. I just drove up to Walmart (about 8 minutes). I wanted bouillon and the broth I bought was just nasty. I can understand why they just gave you clear liquids in the hospital. Thick stuff isn't that much fun. All I want is warm clear liquids. Maybe some hot tea would be good for you. Just sip sip sip....shuffle, shuffle, shuffle....best medicine out there

[kristina]

charity- i hate the broth stuff. hated it! i just watered it down really well, and the box stuff is better than most others. jello is refreshing too. when i had the appendex removed i was on clear fluids and the hospital brought in like 6 different things. it didnt seems so bad when i had so many choices. so when i was on liquids after this fill i did the same thing. i made a plate with 3 tiny bowls of different things. jello, broth, and juice. makes it feel more like a meal. i sat down and drank it...3 times a day, and drank protein shakes when i was hungry.
u are already shopping- GOOD for you!!!!
eat what feels right to u. no matter what stage ur in. if ur on full liquids and want clear..all the better for ur band. its time to heal heal heal.

[chrispygal]

Hey Kristina, I just got in and logged on right away so I could see how you were doing. I'm glad you're managing ok and will be happy when you can go in and get some taken out. Glad you were able to relax. Personally I think it makes a big difference. xoxox

[newlifeat57]

I did the same thing as Chris(py) and came to see how you were--but at the time there was no news. then stopped everything to check on you just now. You were in my prayers this morning several times.

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Ditto for me too.. been thinking and praying hard here for ya.. :)

[Patrick]

Kristina, we are here for you, as the posts do attest. Prayers are being sent for you hourly.

[wingsfly825]

lots of prayers and hugs chica.....

[Kate]

Just found this! So sorry you are having to go through this,K. Water or Isopure should always go down, shouldn't it?
Hang in and good luck in the morning! Thinking of you... :thumb:

[christie]

Oh, DAMMIT! I just got back into town and I'm checking in quickly. I'm so sorry! So, so sorry! But can I just say that you are being very level-headed and smart about this situation!

Please check in tomorrow after you unfill.

[kristina]

i will my friend. and i am soooo grateful for yall...there arent words. u know? thank you for being here- YET AGAIN- for me. promise to check in as soon as i get home tommorow! they better see me! LOL! gosh..i hope they see me!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q224/margiewantstobeloved/_thank.gif

[kristina]

on my way to the doc. he said he should have been paged within an hour of my message and -his exact words- heads will roll. get up here now.
LMAO. love him.

[birdieloves]

Kristina, I just found this. I am so sorry that you had to deal with this all week-end. Your doc sounds awesome and I am sure that he will make sure that someone else doesn't have to suffer like this. Prayers being sent your way that all will be well.

[Neal R.]

Late to the party but hope you feel better soon. Update us when you get back fromt he Drs.

[BrendaC]

OMG, this is the first I have seen this and am so relieved to know you are at the doctor's office. A 2cc fill seems awfully aggressive as far out from surgery as you are. I know you already know that. I hope your tummy heals quickly. And just for the record mashed potatoes was one of the first foods to plug me up. **hugs** and **kisses** sweetie

[LapBandBunny]

Kristina,

Just found this thread... hope things are going ok at the doctor.

Let us know what happens!!
Prayers & Hugs,

[Rini]

oh Boy twin! I turn my head for a second and there you go again!oof.well im adding to the prayers girl. the man upstairs knows how to take care of you! Hope the dr appt went well. I know you will come back and give us an update!love ya lots girlie.

[kristina]

hey friends. again i am always in awe at how lucky i am to have found this site, and u. thank you for checkin in! :)

my band slipped-again. he said he never should have given me that much- he felt terrible. he went on and on and i felt sorry for the guy! hey i wasnt stopping him with that 2cc's. i was EXCITED about it! now here i sit. empty again.

when he took out fluids my prolapse went right back into place. really good news there. he said a prior prolapse is like a sprained ankle..it just wont ever be the same again. i said i am going to have to stay loose. i will never be at the perfect restriction again. he agrees.

so it went back down but he wants me to be empty again to make sure i heal. i lost 11 pounds in 6 days. so all the weight i gained from being unfilled was lost. i hope i dont gain it again.
i go back in on the 17th. 8 days from now. i stay on liquids/mushies until then. i have had coffee and i can still feel restriction. how crazy is that?
yall-it was the most painful fill i have ever had. he didnt numb cause he was in a hurry to get me unfilled, and then my port was tilted, and i had to stand up with this giant heavy needle hanging out of my stomach. i told him if he didnt take it out i would...man that hurt.

all in all i am in great spirits! i feel mentally prepared to deal with this cause i have before. i have detoxed from sugar during this little trial, and i dont even crave it. another plus. i lost 11 pounds..another plus. i still have restriction. another plus. the prolapse corrected itself right away. BIG PLUS. im counting my blessings, instead of my disappointments and i am happy.

oh and get this yall. he said he has had patients here in lansing that went in for a gall bladder removal and they took out her band!!!!! they thought they should!!! i said i will talk to the er here. he said he already has- and it does no good. and he gave me his personal cell phone number in case i have an er again and their answering service doesnt page him. he also told me what hospital to go to, and have them call him if he doesnt answer his cell. so i feel safe if this were to happen again.
make sure u are clear if u have surgery for them to not touch ur band.

then i went to get my coffee after the visit the cashier at the 7/11 said it was on him cause i was so beautiful. no crap! God is gifting me and lifting my spirits up. i just know it!

[LapBandBunny]

Oh Kristina, I'm so sorry to hear about that... but it sounds like you are in the right frame of mind.

I go in tomorrow for a barium swallow and am wondering if I have a slip, too. My symptoms sound very similar to yours. I've been without a fill since last monday and still have restriction... hmmmm...

Anyway, speedy recovery to you.. I hope it all goes well. Congrats on the weight loss and the free coffee, that was a fantabulous compliment. :)

[newlifeat57]

A quick note.... Glad to see all is better. But also sorry to hear about that that darn band is doing weird stuff again...

[kristina]

Oh Kristina, I'm so sorry to hear about that... but it sounds like you are in the right frame of mind.

I go in tomorrow for a barium swallow and am wondering if I have a slip, too. My symptoms sound very similar to yours. I've been without a fill since last monday and still have restriction... hmmmm...

Anyway, speedy recovery to you.. I hope it all goes well. Congrats on the weight loss and the free coffee, that was a fantabulous compliment. :)
gosh i hope it isnt. but if it is..God forbid! dont freak out..like i did the first time. cause usually all it takes is some out and some time.


A quick note.... Glad to see all is better. But also sorry to hear about that that darn band is doing weird stuff again...
i am starting to think my band hates me. LOL!

[Mloukas143]

wow wow wow...I always have something to say, but this time I am at a lost for words. I just can't believe it slipped again. what a vicious cycle this is. Your spirit is up, you look and feel good....11lbs down woo hoo! and even though it slipped, it went right back into place, thank god...you have your next appointment the same time as me for my next fill, the 17th! yay! Will you be getting a small fill with me on the 17th?
I'll be thinking about ya! *smooches* relax, and take care of yourself!

[gregken77]

Kristina---I just read all of this. My Lord girl----I cant think of anything comforting to say. I just hate it that your having such a hard time with this band. My Lord reading all of this scares the crap out of me. I go and get my first fill in 4 days and I read all of this thinking what if. Kristina the wife and I both will be praying for you. I really hope your situation gets better and you can go forward with this band thing. I know you have to be so bumbed out over all of this. Please let us know how things turn out. Man I feel so bad for you Kristina.

[Charity]

What a bummer! Like Greg I have no words to say except I hope he gives his service what for.

Congrats on the 11 pounds, but what a way to do it. Gonna keep you in my prayers my lady.

[chrispygal]

Wow! I can't believe it slipped again! I'm so glad that he gave you his personal cell and the hospital that will know how to get him. That is critical. You have the right attitude too Kristina. Stress and panic lead to no good with the band, I can tell you that first hand and I know you realize this too. Stick to staying away from the sugar if you can. Oh, and sorry for the painful unfill. You poor thing! But I love the 7/11 story. That's fantasic! And well deserved. :)

[christie]

OK, that's it! Next time we go out for coffee, YOUR BUYING, BEAUTIFUL!!!

I'm so glad all is well. I'm not concerned at all that you won't have perfect restriction. You know how to eat. You know what to do. You're STILL going to have great results. I've already decided that I'm not going to get another fill until AFTER the New Year. There's no reason to push the band or my stomach just to lose a little faster. Lessons learned from me, lessons learned from you. DIET (nasty 4 letter word) is a major part of this journey. The band can't do it all, and we know it!

I'm so glad you're OK. Take care!

[kristina]

thanks everyone for listening- or reading- or whatever! LOL. don't feel bad for me!!!! really! i don't! so u shouldn't either.
i forgot to tell u he didn't charge me for this visit or the next one. its free for me regardless, but i think it makes him feel better. poor thing.

Christie- ur totally right. and i did just that today. i went to the gym when ed got home. i didn't leave for 2 hours. i did a hour of cardio and a hour of weights. it felt GREAT!!!!!! my whole body is awake, alive and refreshed. i loved sweating and running and pounding that treadmill. it was WONDERFUL! i will never go this long without my gym time again. doing it at home is for the birds.

Greg- this is the real deal love. this surgery is not without complications. i wish you could have heard lulu romans story. don't be afraid...just be smart- follow orders, and baby that band. u will be fine. look at me..with complications i am Still fine. this journey is not moonlight and roses. but its worth it. all of it. i really want to achieve my weightloss goals.

today ed said he wishes i never got the band. that broke my heart. and we talked about it..about how much weight i have lost cause of this slippery little sucker. LOL! i think he is okay now...i really don't want him to feel that way. but i cant control what he thinks. i still love my band! thats all that matters.

[newlifeat57]

Kristina, I'm beginning to think that you are going to have to be very Very VERY careful with each and every adjustment--like me. It just seems like our stomachs just don't like the band. Although our problems have been very different, we still have one thing in common.. we can't go the normal route with adjustments. I once went as high at 10 in my 14, and now I can barely handle 8.5-9. This is not only a learning experience in how to eat, and how to deal with the head issues, but it is also testing my patience and I could tell that at some point your patience was being tested as well...... h m m mm ??!!!??? Did you pray for patience??? OMG Maybe I prayed for patience.!!! LOL

Well I'm so very glad that you are doing so well and that you aren't in mourning for what your tummy can not handle at this point in time. I kind of feel the way you do right now. I know that I just am going to be one of those that has to take it slowly and remember that this is not a race. I can do it!!! I was a little worried this weekend because I was having such a hard time with my meds. But yesterday and today have been great. I just have to take my meds over a period of time instead of one right after the other. That is going to have to take some getting used to. But I know i can do it.

May God continue to bless you in every way possible. I know that he has blessed me. Cause he has introduced me to you and to B2G. ((hugs))

[kristina]

You've got it Mel. very very careful forever. as much as i would love to be completely discouraged about it...and i was the first slip- trust me! this time around im just kinda sorta like- what good would that do???? this is not a race...and its all the journey right? i went to the gym tonight and i blared the climb the whole work out. put it on repeat and let it go. im giving it all to God. doing what i can do to be safe, and not worrying about the rest. if one day i lose my band- i will still be okay. i will just get the gastric! in the meantime im with u mel. slow and steady wins the race. we can be turtle friends together. :)
i have to say i had some beans and cheese for dinner tonight..and it was the best food ever! the water im drinking now feels a little like heaven. :nod: alls well in my world.

Kristina, I'm beginning to think that you are going to have to be very Very VERY careful with each and every adjustment--like me. It just seems like our stomachs just don't like the band. Although our problems have been very different, we still have one thing in common.. we can't go the normal route with adjustments. I once went as high at 10 in my 14, and now I can barely handle 8.5-9. This is not only a learning experience in how to eat, and how to deal with the head issues, but it is also testing my patience and I could tell that at some point your patience was being tested as well...... h m m mm ??!!!??? Did you pray for patience??? OMG Maybe I prayed for patience.!!! LOL

Well I'm so very glad that you are doing so well and that you aren't in mourning for what your tummy can not handle at this point in time. I kind of feel the way you do right now. I know that I just am going to be one of those that has to take it slowly and remember that this is not a race. I can do it!!! I was a little worried this weekend because I was having such a hard time with my meds. But yesterday and today have been great. I just have to take my meds over a period of time instead of one right after the other. That is going to have to take some getting used to. But I know i can do it.

May God continue to bless you in every way possible. I know that he has blessed me. Cause he has introduced me to you and to B2G. ((hugs))

[gregken77]

...... h m m mm ??!!!??? Did you pray for patience??? OMG Maybe I prayed for patience.!!! LOL
((hugs))


Ok Lord you know I have no patience but lets not use this band of mine as the school teacher--please!!!!

[gregken77]

Greg- this is the real deal love. this surgery is not without complications. i wish you could have heard lulu romans story. don't be afraid...just be smart- follow orders, and baby that band. u will be fine. look at me..with complications i am Still fine. this journey is not moonlight and roses. but its worth it. all of it. i really want to achieve my weightloss goals.

today ed said he wishes i never got the band. that broke my heart. and we talked about it..about how much weight i have lost cause of this slippery little sucker. LOL! i think he is okay now...i really don't want him to feel that way. but i cant control what he thinks. i still love my band! thats all that matters.

Oh Kristina dont beat Ed up to much. I dont think he meant to break your heart. He loves you and probably hates to see you suffer in any form. Yeah this is the real deal like it or not. I know shit happens sometime. I just dont want a mountain of it. :) But if it does Im prepared for that and will cross that bridge when I get to it. You have the right attitude Kristina. I wish I could just fix everything.

[redgrldj]

Ok Girly I really feel for you with your slipped band x2... I am feeling you right now.. With not being able to exercise at all right now I am gaining weight... I have decided that on Monday I am going to start walking no matter what.. I am sooooooooooooo freaking over the whole thing.. I will try to PM you what I am going to do.. LOL I am even looking forward to the weighloss from that yucky test I have to do.. How sick is that...

[alucy1967]

Guys, why does the band slip and is there things that we can do to keep this from happening? Also, Kristina, why does the doctor say it slips easier after the first time. I have been having a few problems with my 4th fill, nothing really major, just some back pain and overall not really feeling good. I really have a lot of restriction now, 5.5cc (over 5 months) in a 10 cc band, so it is tight for me. Does being tight cause slips? Just need some more e-d-u-c-a-t-i-o-n. This is nonstop learning and training, I feel like I am in the military. :wink2: If it keeps easing up a little, I hate to get anything taken out with the holidays coming. Any suggestions??

[MoOrLess]

Kristina...girl - you've definitely been through your share!

Can I pipe in with my thoughts -- thanks! lol....I think that staying "loose" will just mean that you need TINY adjustments -- the fill/unfill scenario makes an "unfill" sound NEGATIVE-- I learned that in Boise - from a very very very very wise bandster....

"adjustments" makes sense -- you can have an adjustment to loosen the band - or an adjustment to make the band tighter -- think of it as "adjusting" a car...nothing is 'removed' from a car - but adjustments are made --

I don't know if it makes sense but I am working at re-thinking my vocabularly for how much saline is put in my band - from now on I am usng the word adjustment - because let's face it, getting saline taken out is not always a bad thing - it's a good thing-it's fine-tuning our band on our stomach

so...PLEASE consider taking baby steps with EVERY single fill from now on - honestly - I never never ever got more than 1.5ccs - and that was only the 2nd and 3rd fills. Now I only get .5ccs - if I push for that 1cc I end up too tight every single time...and end up going back for an adjustment - every time. Twice was enough times for me to realize slow and steady really does win the race - or the journey as we call it here - since it IS for a lifetime!

I've been quite shocked at just how aggressive doctors have been just this past year - prior to this year no one on the boards EVER got an adjustment larger than 1cc at one time...when we have saline removed - and then put back in again down the road - I honestly don't think we EVER get back to "where we were prior to the removal." Just like a car - our stomach is never quite the same at any given day - or moment. It's a muscle...it can't remain the same - any more than a brand new car that we drive out of the showroom remains "new" -- does that make sense? So when we get saline put in - it's a whole new ballgame EVERY time.

I'm not saying it's easy to get small adjustments - but they are very beneficial because they 1) help us to slowly adjust to new restriction, 2) allow us to work with it and adjust our ways of eating/drinking, 3) give us the confidence to feel our band is perfectly adjusted so our "head" is in the right place too :), and most importantly, 4) small adjustments do not ever (or very rarely) send us back to get some of the saline removed -- and not having removals keeps us in a positive mind frame

We're here for you sweetie -- please know that - in every sense of the word. You just need to pick up the phone - PM - email - whatever you feel comfortable doing. Sometimes B2G IS the first place that bandsters get solutions and answers...

hugs - slow and easy - please.

[Rini]

Hey Girl you have such a great attitude its hard to feel sorry. You are so strong you can overcome anythinhg! glad you have the right perspective on things. I hate to say i haven't educated myself nearly enough about slipped bands. I'm kind of curious how it actually happens and what it looks like....hmmmm time to scour the board for a pic unless you can direct me to a thread! sending you prayers and hugs.rini

[kristina]

Ok Lord you know I have no patience but lets not use this band of mine as the school teacher--please!!!! LOL!


Oh Kristina dont beat Ed up to much. I dont think he meant to break your heart. He loves you and probably hates to see you suffer in any form. Yeah this is the real deal like it or not. I know shit happens sometime. I just dont want a mountain of it. :) But if it does Im prepared for that and will cross that bridge when I get to it. You have the right attitude Kristina. I wish I could just fix everything.
i know, and i appreciate it!

Ok Girly I really feel for you with your slipped band x2... I am feeling you right now.. With not being able to exercise at all right now I am gaining weight... I have decided that on Monday I am going to start walking no matter what.. I am sooooooooooooo freaking over the whole thing.. I will try to PM you what I am going to do.. LOL I am even looking forward to the weighloss from that yucky test I have to do.. How sick is that...
wheres that pm? tell me what ur doing chica!


Guys, why does the band slip and is there things that we can do to keep this from happening? Also, Kristina, why does the doctor say it slips easier after the first time. I have been having a few problems with my 4th fill, nothing really major, just some back pain and overall not really feeling good. I really have a lot of restriction now, 5.5cc (over 5 months) in a 10 cc band, so it is tight for me. Does being tight cause slips? Just need some more e-d-u-c-a-t-i-o-n. This is nonstop learning and training, I feel like I am in the military. :wink2: If it keeps easing up a little, I hate to get anything taken out with the holidays coming. Any suggestions??

i found this online to help answer ur questions...while reading FYI, my prolapse is as minor as they get- thank goodness.



Prolapse
Prolapse, or slippage, of the LapBand occurs when the Lapband slides down the stomach to a lower position. No one is sure how this happens; however, it is likely a consequence of recurrent vomiting, positioning of the band or swelling of the channel due to obstruction. The incidence of this event is approximately 1 out of 30 patients. It is the most common long-term problem that happens to LapBand patients. Unfortunately, a change in the position of the LapBand can cause serious symptoms. A slight prolapse can lead to heartburn, occasional vomiting and weight gain (from a larger pouch). A more profound prolapse causes a greater change in the angle of the band, with more distortion of the now larger stomach pouch. This can result in a complete obstruction of the stomach at the level of the band, or, in extreme cases, compromise of the stomach wall.

Initial treatment of a suspected low grade prolapse is removal of all of the saline from the LapBand System. This may allow the band to assume a more favorable position and allow the patient to take liquids or even solids easier. Occasionally, a patient will have a complete resolution of his/her symptoms and can later have the band re-adjusted. Conversely, a more significant prolapse will require surgery to correct. Usually this can be accomplished by repositioning the band back up to its original, higher location. Removal of the band is rarely required.



Kristina...girl - you've definitely been through your share!

Can I pipe in with my thoughts -- thanks! lol....I think that staying "loose" will just mean that you need TINY adjustments -- the fill/unfill scenario makes an "unfill" sound NEGATIVE-- I learned that in Boise - from a very very very very wise bandster....

"adjustments" makes sense -- you can have an adjustment to loosen the band - or an adjustment to make the band tighter -- think of it as "adjusting" a car...nothing is 'removed' from a car - but adjustments are made --

I don't know if it makes sense but I am working at re-thinking my vocabularly for how much saline is put in my band - from now on I am usng the word adjustment - because let's face it, getting saline taken out is not always a bad thing - it's a good thing-it's fine-tuning our band on our stomach

so...PLEASE consider taking baby steps with EVERY single fill from now on - honestly - I never never ever got more than 1.5ccs - and that was only the 2nd and 3rd fills. Now I only get .5ccs - if I push for that 1cc I end up too tight every single time...and end up going back for an adjustment - every time. Twice was enough times for me to realize slow and steady really does win the race - or the journey as we call it here - since it IS for a lifetime!

I've been quite shocked at just how aggressive doctors have been just this past year - prior to this year no one on the boards EVER got an adjustment larger than 1cc at one time...when we have saline removed - and then put back in again down the road - I honestly don't think we EVER get back to "where we were prior to the removal." Just like a car - our stomach is never quite the same at any given day - or moment. It's a muscle...it can't remain the same - any more than a brand new car that we drive out of the showroom remains "new" -- does that make sense? So when we get saline put in - it's a whole new ballgame EVERY time.

I'm not saying it's easy to get small adjustments - but they are very beneficial because they 1) help us to slowly adjust to new restriction, 2) allow us to work with it and adjust our ways of eating/drinking, 3) give us the confidence to feel our band is perfectly adjusted so our "head" is in the right place too :), and most importantly, 4) small adjustments do not ever (or very rarely) send us back to get some of the saline removed -- and not having removals keeps us in a positive mind frame

We're here for you sweetie -- please know that - in every sense of the word. You just need to pick up the phone - PM - email - whatever you feel comfortable doing. Sometimes B2G IS the first place that bandsters get solutions and answers...

hugs - slow and easy - please.
not to argue the point that i need smaller fills...that has already been determined. and i will prob. always have small fills. in his defence...the last time he gave me 2cc's i had no problems. i think thats why he wasnt worried about it.
i dont think small fills are necessary for everyone. but after a slip...its def. important to take it slow and easy.
i have also read in some places that having a first fill before 6-8 weeks can lead to a slip. my first fill was 2 1/2 weeks after surgery. this doc said u can slip from being sick, or getting stuck. or pbing...not just being too tight. in fact being too tight is often a symptom, and not the cause.

Hey Girl you have such a great attitude its hard to feel sorry. You are so strong you can overcome anythinhg! glad you have the right perspective on things. I hate to say i haven't educated myself nearly enough about slipped bands. I'm kind of curious how it actually happens and what it looks like....hmmmm time to scour the board for a pic unless you can direct me to a thread! sending you prayers and hugs.rini
i posted my pics on one step closer thread...i think it was in september..or the end of august..but i can email them to u if u cant find them..let me know chica!

[alucy1967]

Thanks Kristina, and glad you are feeling better.

[christie]

You're still the fastest turtle I've ever met!

[MMHarper]

Wow....My surgery date is December 3rd and this is really freaking me out! I am kind of worried about these things...

[Firedoc19]

Hey guys -
Reading about fills and unfills has me wondering something. What happens when you or do you ever get to a maximum amount of fill? Then what happens the rest of your life? Do you lose the restriction and possibly gain the weight back?:crazy:

[christie]

Good question....I *think* that when you're at maximum restriction, you're ideally losing 1-2 pounds per week. When you reach goal, you'll need to get a little bit of an unfill because you don't want to keep losing and disappear on us! Then as life and times and situations change, you'll need to be filled and unfilled periodically. There has to be a green zone for maitenance somewhere. A spot that allows you to eat normally and maintain your weight without binging or losing.

[newlifeat57]

I Agree. Good information, Christie!

IMHO... I also think that as you lose weight your band gets a little looser. As fat starts disappearing from your body it is also disappearing from your stomach and you feel as if you have less restriction. I believe that is why many Dr. prefer to wait for 2-3 wks after an adjustmet, before doing another adjustment. I've read where some people get tighter after 2-3 weeks, and I've read where some seem to lose their restriction after 2-3 weeks. so it really is all an individual thing.

[kristina]

i just read this thread all the way through. this second slip was the first fill after my first slip....
after this: i have never had "good restriction." after this slip, and this fill, my band journey took a nose dive. its good to read through this and see what happened...
every fill i have had after this one, and i think it was only 1 or 2 have resulted in me being too tight and having to get some out.
its been 1 year and two months since i slipped. i am down to 3cc's in my 10cc band. and very little restriction.
i have frequent stomach pain....and really no tolerance to fills.
hmmm. i may need to print this stuff out and keep it documented. thank God for this site!
im losing, but its because im dieting- and working out...not because of my band. i will say that the first 60 pounds were ALL because of the band...not complaining here, just thinking outloud.

what do you think oldies? im kinda sad after reading through all this...and im sad where i am now with my band. i am AFRAID of it now.

[Neal R.]

I don't know. I don't think its anything to be afraid of. Some just have to work harder than others. I know I do. I can pretty much eat anything, just slow. But, if i diet and watch WHAT i eat, then the band keeps me from feeling hungry as often. I'm not one who gets full on a half cup or a cup of food. I eat smaller portions, but in all honesty, when I'm being bad, I can still eat way more than I should. I figure I will be dieting my whole life. I know diet is a bad word, but compared to what I can and used to eat, thats the best word for it. I don't know if thats any help, probably not. Just giving my experiences.

[PhotoNut]

This conversation started in visitor messages on my profile, so they were already public but not as easily seen. Kris and I decided to bring it here to share.

Kristina: hey lovely lady..if u have a minute...can u give me a little advice?
Me: Just finished reading your post and was sitting here thinking about it.. I know there are some who have had the same types of difficulties with fills, not sure why tho. Could be the size of the band, could be the way it was placed, could be your body just reacts instantly to something being messed with in there so it swells up. Have your fills been very conservative? Like less than a cc at a time? Have they tried to "sneak" up on good restriction or are they jumping up and down too much at once?
Me: Want me to take this convo to that thread?
Kristina: u can take it there if you want...but now that i look back i have only had 3 fills since, 2 weeks after my slip and that one was 2cc's. the second was only 1. the third was 1 more. i got up to 4cc's. i had 5.8 when i slipped. i am now down to 3cc's. cause i got too tight. i am that weird one...my tummy does get really swollen over ANYTHING. so now im like why bother with a fill, when it will only get too tight...now when i have any issues, i have restriction! LOL! not too tight, just perfectly filled. so i keep it here. cause i live in fear of being too tight. am i hopeless? LOL!
Me: heck no, never hopeless. when you say you have no restriction.. what does that mean exactly? define good restriction for me. what is it you can eat a lot of? are you following the bandster rules of no drinking when eating, lean protein first, yadda yadda?

Kristina will respond on this thread now....

[kristina]

Neal- of course you helped me. its good to know im not alone. :)
thank you for responding.

Susan- am i following the rules all the time? heck no. most of the time, yes. i drink a ton of water, i dont drink with my meals, and i always and mostly eat just protein and veggies. i work out, and im losing weight.
my problem is what my problem has always been- SUGAR. grrr. i had 5 cookies about an hour ago!!!! and earlier today i had a flippin chocolate covered cherry! (****why?!?!?****)
but for BF i had a cup of joe, and a hard boiled egg.
for lunch i had a big ole honking salad, with no dressing. the salads here are amazing- no dressing required!
for dinner i had 1 1/2 porkchops. i made fried potatoes and biscuits and i didnt eat them. could i have- heck yeah. but i knew i was going to break into the cookies.. and really i didnt want them. i was still kinda full from my salad at lunch. oh what a cycle.
i eat sugar not because im hungry but because i CRAVE it. maybe i should go with heroin. it will be much better for my waist-line.
ONLY KIDDING! :)

so, its not the weight loss. cause i have that. its not fast...and i dont care. its not a marathon. i guess im just sad because i dont feel like i even have a band. i dont think a fill is going to help me, only hurt me. and if im not properly restricted, why did i do this? the first 50 pounds? hey! the first 50 pounds were the HARDEST. the biggest jump start ever. the first 50 pounds, would be worth it all. really. i dont know why i even care. im doing okay. im getting er done without the restriction, and with the stuff i have learned on this journey. i just hope my stomach isnt messed up. for good.

i just read up and i need to answer ur question: restriction: i can drink with my meals. i can eat a dried up chicken breast with no sauce and i wont even feel it go down. i can eat anything and everything i want as much as i want. i just dont. its like i have no band at all.
as far as what good restriction looks like to me? i want to feel full faster. i want to be forced to eat slower. i want to know that if i overeat the band is going to get pissed. but since im not overeating...and i am eating slow, and well...the only thing stopping my serious goal weight is my ridiculous obssession with sugar- why DO i need restriction? good Lawd. im going crazy. friendtervention. please. LMBO!

[PhotoNut]

Thanks for answering all of that Kris. It helped me to come to the same conclusion that you came to on your own. Why do you need more restriction?

You are making good food choices, except for the sugar - which a tighter band is not going to stop. You aren't hungry between meals, and it sounds like you are eating reasonable quantities (everyone can eat huge salads.. they are mostly water!). You are exercising. You are aware of the choices you are making (you even planned ahead of time to eat cookies). You are losing weight. You have the ability to eat a wide variety of foods without getting stuck. Isn't that pretty much perfection?

Now if you were telling me that you're starving all the time - hungry between meals of reasonable quantities. Or that you were out of control eating half a pizza in 15 minutes, then yeah, I would say you need an adjustment. But you're telling me all the things that would indicate perfect restriction... in my book anyway. :)

[kristina]

*sigh* u do know there is one giant mansion in band heaven with your name all over it right?
its a new year..im trying to figure myself out. i think thats what all of the above was...
bottom line: sugar. its not my band its ME. its the chocolate i insist on consuming. i am not hungry in between meals. ever. sugar goes right through the band regardless.
i am my own worst enemy.
can the church say amen? amen. LOL!
love you, and thank you. :)

[PhotoNut]

-- afterthought...

Perhaps you have had so many issues with being too tight and with slippage because you've had a skewed perception of what good restriction. You mentioned that you want your band to "get pissed" if you overeat, but you're not overeating. Perhaps you have learned that it's best NOT to piss off the band. Perhaps the healthy fear you have developed is a GOOD thing. When I was first banded, I was scared to death of getting stuck. In fact, I was determined that I was going to be the one bandster who never did get stuck. I think Jachut accomplished that, but I didn't'. I lost my fear of being stuck. I chose to accept the pain of being stuck as a trade off for having what I wanted. Thankfully, I did get past that stage and maybe you have too. Perhaps these years of going thru this behavior modification process is sticking. I hope that is the case, because if ever I did lose my band I would hope that I had spent my years with my band wisely and made some positive changes in not only what I weighed, but in my behavior that brought me to need a band in the first place.

I think you should stop worrying and relax into normal HEALTHY living with a band. *hugs*

[kristina]

wow. thats some deep sh1t. LOL! and wow. maybe your right. maybe i AM learning. maybe i am exactly where i should be, and its time for me to control my own journey. the hardest journey of all- behavior modification. i know the stopping drinking is def something i have mastered. i dont even Want to drink with my meals anymore. (here i couldnt anyway- Everything is carbonated. even the water) i dont want rice, or bread, or carbs really. that was something i could never say before. now if i could just get off this sugar high long enough to keep myself off. if i go a week with no sugar i no longer crave it. if i can quit smoking surely i can quit sugar.
tomorrow. right now. i make a vow to myself. i can have sugar in 1 week if i still want it. :) no more sugar. for the 500th time. ;)

[MoOrLess]

We all have our demons...yours just happens to be sugar (as is mine). I'm SO very thankful for this site. Once more, through sharing and asking ourselves questions (and answers from others) you know where you stand with your band. It's when we do NOT come here and post and ask that the problems begin. Susan hit it on the head - we are changing and re-learning how to live with food. Do I think that in year 4 I have mastered it? nope...but I've done a lot of changing, and that's a good thing. If I lost my band I don't know that I've mastered food, that's a hard one to claim at this moment.

[MommaStone]

Amen sista!

[LabeledTAB]

Its weird to me since I have been banded I haven't craved any of my regular old binge foods like sweets or bread, I hope to never fall of the band wagon but if I did god help me when I have to give them up again. I wish food wasn't such a struggle for us all and we could quit it all together, *shakes fist* darn you food

[Neal R.]

Sounds like we are in the same boat. The band works when we do what we are supposed to do.

[kristina]

thanks for all the encouragment guys! i have had no sugar today at all. day 1 down. im going to bed now cause i really want some! LOL! did an hour on the elliptical, and made very good food choices today. proud of me!
i had at lots of chances for sugar today too. the kids went to a bake sale and got me something. i "pretended" to eat it, and threw it away.
had lunch with friends- they ALL had dessert, but me. and frothy sugar filled coffees, i didnt get any. then the hubby came home with oreos. i passed. so lots of temptation...but i CAN do this! again. :)
thanks to ALL OF YOU.

[Dirextor]

Kristina kicked sugah's ass today! w00t w00t...

**happy dance**

[PhotoNut]

The biggest cause of failure is giving up what we really want, for what we want in the moment. Way to stay focused on what you REALLY want, Kris! I'm proud of you.

[wavydaby]

[QUOTE=PhotoNut;258764 I lost my fear of being stuck. I chose to accept the pain of being stuck as a trade off for having what I wanted. Thankfully, I did get past that stage .....[/QUOTE]


Oh lord. I just read my self in this line.
I need to go think

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Yeahhhh to NO "S" word!!! I know you can do this!! Very very very proud of you!!

[Koroi]

Awesome job Kristina!!!!!! I too am a sweet eater .... Chocolet is like my huge addiction.... My nut told me that alot of people that loved sweets don't after getting the lapband God please let that be me!!!!!

[MoOrLess]

Such enlightenment throughout this thread....page 9 sure hit it on the head!

[kristina]

yes there is Mo- yall are all amazing! i couldnt be this real anywhere else.
day 2 no chocolate here i come. i asked ed and the kids for some help today. no more chocolate in the house. i dont like candy, and lots of other stuff they can have, but keep the chocolate away. :)

[Koroi]

Good for you momma !!!!! I'm sure your kiddo's will help you as much as they can. I know mine do. Keep it up your doing an awesome job girl .....

[kristina]

thaks michelle!!! :)

[chrispygal]

Oh my darling Kristina. This whole "restriction" thing is a tough one to understand. The first thing I want to say is that girl, you have lost 50 pounds and kept it off. YAY! That really is something to be proud of! Especially with all your struggles and slips. I've done a lot of soul searching myself the past two years. I've even seen a counselor to help me deal with the emotions and shame that came from gaining back half the weight I lost will my whole unfill debacle. Here is where my mind is at four years out from getting banded:

The band is not magic. There is no "sweet" spot. There is a place you can get to where the band severely restricts how much you can eat and what you can eat. You will lose weight at this restriction level. Heck, you will lose weight at this restriction level even if you eat crap (I know, I've done it). Eventually you will likely have issues from a PB, or you will get heartburn, or you could slip your band. You could get all of the above. Not worth it. Totally not worth it.

After having all the fill taken out on me, and thinking in my mind for months that I was slipped, my mind went crazy. I ate real food again. OMG it was good. I went on a feeding frenzy like someone who had been starved for months. Guess what, in a way I kind of had been. When I had no fill I was HUNGRY. HUNGRY all the time like I was before banding. It sucked. I got a small fill. No way near close to before, but enough to help curb hunger. It was then and there that I realized HOW MUCH the band does help with hunger, even with just a small amount of restriction. It's not supposed to take it away, like I thought, but it helps keep it at bay. After that experience and realizing how much even a small fill helps, I decided no more messing around with my fill level. I did not want to get overfilled again and risk losing my band. So I am living with a far less than optimal fill. I can eat most foods without issues, and a lot of food if I want to. I try not to overeat because I want to take care of my tool. My tool that has helped me in so many ways beyond the 35 pounds I have lost and kept off four years after my journey began.

The past two years since the whole unfill ordeal have been two of the happiest of my life. I got engaged, my career is wonderful, I am exercising and feeling good. I am deleriously happy and have started to love myself. I love myself right now at 238 pounds to the point where I can finally accept myself as I am. I am a wonderful, beautiful, meaningful person at 238 pounds. My journey with the band has given me that, and THAT is irreplaceable.

I've decided I want to be able to eat and still enjoy food. I don't want to be restricted to the point that I'm afraid to eat. That's not living to me. I want to live life to its fullest and love every second of it! I have enough of a fill to know the band is there if I push eating too much, too quickly, or pork (pork has always been my nemisis), but not enough to prevent me from eating the wrong foods. That has nothing to do with the band. If I'm completely honest, over the past two years I really haven't wanted wanted to try and lose weight. I've wanted to lose weight, but I didn't want to put in the efforts. I was focused on other things and really, other parts of my journey. I'm at the point today where I want to work on eating better so I FEEL better. So I'm healthier. I recently joined Weight Watchers to help me choose better foods and lose the 35 pounds I put back on due to the unfill. I am finally ready to begin working on my weight loss journey again because now I love myself enough to want to improve my health.

So I think there is a moral of this very long story (sorry if I hijacked your thread a bit in the process) and it's that there are others (like me!) who have gone through or are going through the same "restriction" issues/debates. This has not been an easy journey for me, nor has it been for you. I've had bumps. I've had ups and downs. I've wanted more restrition, less restriction, and no restriction. I've felt like a champion and a loser. I've gone through every possible emotion with this little plastic thing inside me and still don't have all the answers, or heck even half of them. But I feel like I am at a better place with my band today than I was 2 years ago, at my lowest weight since banding. Search your soul and keep working on your relationship with the band. Find what works for YOU and what YOUR goals are. And focus on those, even if they are different than what everyone else's goals are. This journey is for you and your family only Kristina. No one else. You answer to no one else. So whatever you do, make sure at the core of it is only love for yourself. You are worth it my love. YOU are worth it. xoxoxoxoxo

[Neal R.]

I've decided I want to be able to eat and still enjoy food. I don't want to be restricted to the point that I'm afraid to eat. That's not living to me. I want to live life to its fullest and love every second of it!


I so get what you're saying. I am in that same place.I have never been real tight. I eat because I love food. I know many eat because of emotional comfort, but that's not me. I simply love eating. It's a curse. I can eat pretty much what I want and I like it that way. For example, I can go to a Chinese buffet. The band makes me eat slow and I can only eat one medium size plate of food, as opposed to the 2, 3, or 4 plates in my pre banded days. That is perfect for me. I have maitained within 10 pounds for the last 2 years. I did decide to try to loose some more and I am doing well, but I still like where i am.

[newlifeat57]

...... there are others (like me!) who have gone through or are going through the same "restriction" issues/debates. This has not been an easy journey for me, nor has it been for you. I've had bumps. I've had ups and downs. I've wanted more restrition, less restriction, and no restriction. I've felt like a champion and a loser. I've gone through every possible emotion with this little plastic thing inside me and still don't have all the answers, or heck even half of them. But I feel like I am at a better place with my band today..... Find what works for YOU and what YOUR goals are. And focus on those, even if they are different than what everyone else's goals are........ So whatever you do, make sure at the core of it is only love for yourself. You are worth it my love. YOU are worth it. xoxoxoxoxo
Oh My.... Chris... you have hit it right on .... I totally agree and completely relate to what you have written. This has not been an easy journey for me either. But, like you said.... I am at a better place.... Now I just need to get back on the band wagon and try what you have done, and get an "easy" fill and cope with that for awhile and be successful with that amount. This weight loss thingy is something I have to do...probably with very little help from my band. (I'm sure that if I follow the rules like I'm supposed to, I will know that my band is there and helping me)
Kris... I love that you are discovering yourself. I think we all go through moments of discovery many times throughout our lifetimes. And I think we will continue discovering ourselves and finding new goals, more and more throughout our journey.
AMEN to Chris' statement. You, my dear Kristina, are most definitely worth it!!!! You are worth it.... now repeat that over and over again. (I'll do the same) EVERYONE... repeat I AM WORTH IT!!!

[MoOrLess]

If I quoted Chris's post I would be repeating over and over what others have quoted lol -- wow girl - you have definitely explained the banded life with clarity and some real inner-understanding. Thank you for saying what I've been thinking for a while now. I'm in that place - less is more when it comes to tightness. I can now eat pretty much everything if I chew well and take my time. I know my band is there and refuse to be too tight anymore.

Kudos Kris - you are finding YOUR band path!

[kristina]

chris. what can i say...how can i say it? i am literally sitting here crying my eyes out. your post touched Home. i have printed it, and its going in my night stand right next to my bed. i have bible verses, and positive self talk stuff in there, when i am down, i read it. i have a whole fear of flying thing in there too, where yall wrote to me before boise. LOL!
girl. i just adore u. always have. and i can see your confidence...you are BEAUTIFUL. inside, and OUT! 238 pounds looks good on you baby!!!!! im at 232! LOL! :)
i just stopped and read your post to Ed...he is in 100% agreement. this band is such a learning experience on so many levels isnt it?
thank you for being here. for always being here...
i had a piece of cake today at Kay's friends bday party. i have spent the Entire day beating myself up for it. sugar is not good, i know. i also know its my demon. but instead of saying i totally screwed up and eat chocolate the entire day, i stopped at one piece. i have got to stop beating myself up emotionally because of food. its absurd. i have got to get moderation into this head of mine, but more importantly, i gotta love me most!
thats the way i have been losing weight since i got here. i havent even thought about the band. just ate healthy cause i wanted too, worked out cause it makes me happy and let the rest go. now im back on here, trying to get my "band and head" straight...and i realize i was right before. LIVE. be healthy. be happy. love myself. love the people around me- including you chris, neil, mo and mel. and the rest will just fall into place.
thank you from the very bottom of my heart for writing in...for taking a moment to reach out and help me-see what really matters!
i love you. and you are worth it too.

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Chris.. you are SO good at expressing thoughts into words!!! Words that everyone can understand.. THANK YOU!! We have to love ourselves enough to do what is best for us.. not anyone else because of the total difference in us all. I've also come to the conclusion that I would rather be this weight that I am now and feel healthy, than to loose weight for the number alone. I don't want the gaunt look over healthy look. I've had a lot of people tell me I look fine where I'm at.. and now I'm agreeing with them.

Kristina.. this truly is a learning experience, one that will be a lifetime, because losing weight is a lifestyle change.. learning to let food and the control it has over us go is the hardest. I don't think banded life is supposed to be controlled by restriction alone, I think life is supposed to be lived to the fullest, and being overly restricted isn't living life to the fullest. I've had to learn to not let the word "restriction" rule my life.. it's not about being restricted, it's about living with a tool. :)

[chrispygal]

LIVE. be healthy. be happy. love myself. love the people around me- and the rest will just fall into place.

I really, honestly believe this Kristina. :sun_smiley: xoxoxoxo

[kristina]

donna- u have it right on. i loved where u said -somewhere, not here, maybe it was ur thread...u are leraning to live with the band instead of the band living u...lol- something like that. its so true.

Chris- u live those words...and im right behind u- running to catch up! :)