Thinking about an unfill....

[Alicia521]

This week and today especially I have been thinking I need to get a bit of an unfill. I'm at 3.0 cc in my 4.0 cc band right now. I got my last fill 2/13. I've really been struggling getting this last 20 lbs off. I tried to really really observe my eating habits over the past 2 weeks. Since my 2nd fill I have pretty much given up breakfast, unless it is a late one. My lunches are mushy sometimes and dinner is iffy. Probably 2-3 nights a week I am pretty open at dinner. I have been pretty stressed lately so that may be causing some swelling but quite frankly I am miserable. I also have a lot of sinus and allergy issues this time of year. The bad things are super easy to eat and the good proteins are just really difficult for me. I'm not having any reflux or heartburn but I am sliming more than usual. I've tried all of my surgeon's recommendations about eating...drinking hot liquids to clear the pouch, taking deep breaths, etc. I think I just need to suck it up and have some fluid taken out. If I notice I am gaining, I can just have them add some back. I really want to eat more protein and I can't even get a full serving down. I've been working out a bit so I know that probably need to eat more. I've been looking for my calories in liquids, which I know is bad. So, any one who reads this - do you think it is reasonable I need to have some fluid removed? I will call my surgeon on Monday but thought I'd get some feedback from my banded family. Thanks!

[LindaV]

Alicia - My doctor took me from 2.8 cc to 2.6 cc and it made all the difference in the world! I feel like I can eat healthy portions of very balanced meals and now that I am getting in more calories the weight has started coming off again.

If you're miserable then I say "go for it!" You've got nothing to lose (but weight). I feel so much better now that I am not stressed about getting in enough calories and protein.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Jachut]

I dont think its unreasonable, its the very situation I want to avoid by having another fill. I'm as unsure as you are about it all. Its hard isnt it?

But I guess at the end of the day, you cant just go tighter and tighter, there's a part of this that has to come from you, and that last 20lb is it.

And the thing about fills, well you can try them and see.

[HeatherGurl]

I know what you are going thru girl... I went thru the same thing in December.
The more you stress about it (like I did) the tighter you are going to get. When I am stressed out, I am doing good to get hot cocoa down. I can always tell when it is TOM or me being really stressed.
Let us know what you decide to do.
I really don't think it would hurt for you to go for a small unfill. Good luck girly!

[Alicia521]

I decided to go for an unfill. I go tomorrow at 2:30. I figured I might as well see if it helps. I am just going to have to be very careful about my food choices!

[Kathy]

I'm considering it. I'm so much tighter than normal. I'm as tight all the time as I used to be at that time of the month. I find myself eating easy-to-get-down junk. I get hungry. Real food gets stuck too easily.

Unfortunately, the reason I think I'm too tight is because I have gained 20 pounds. sigh. My band journey is far from over and I'm almost 2 years out. :( I should be done losing and maintaining at this point. I'm not and it's terribly discouraging.

Let us know how it goes, Alicia.

[mizfish]

Alicia,
you made the right decision. You are the best advocate for you and you know your body best!

[Alicia521]

Thanks everyone. I'll let you know how I feel after my unfill tomorrow.

[NotSoFunny]

soooooo? how ya feeling? did you scarf down a cheeseburger on your way home just cause you can? lol

[JDru]

Yeah...how did it go?? Inquiring minds want to know. :)

[Alicia521]

Well, it's official. I went from 3.0 to 2.5 cc. He initially dropped me down to 2.75 (because that is where I was prior to this last fill) but I still burped a lot on the water so he bumped me down to 2.5. He said sometimes you have to take 2 steps back to take a step forward and I was probably pretty inflamed. So anyway, I was famished when I left and although I wanted to scarf down a burger I opted for a baked potato and small chilli from Wendy's. The potato went down great and I ate the entire thing. The moron's didn't give me a spoon for my chilli so I wasn't able to eat much of it. Then tonight when I got home from my cake decorating class I had a handful of mixed nuts, a 100 calorie snack pack and a small bowl of carb smart icecream. I know I can't keep that up but I've been so hungry this past week I had to get it out of my system. Plus I didn't eat today because we have to stay on clear liquids before our fills. I guess I was making up for my lost calories. I can honestly say I feel pretty open right now but I'm okay with that for the time being. I'm going to stay really focused on getting my good protein and probably shoot for 1400 calories a day give or take. I felt almost instant relief when I drank the second glass of water during my fill. Whew! My advice to anyone debating this, do it. You know your body and what it needs. My body has been craving protein and I wasn't able to get it down very well. I am hopeful this will get me back on the losing end again.

[DrewsLou]

I am also thinking about a small unfill Alicia. I find myself struggleing to get in good hard proteins even at dinner time. I'm tired of that stuck feeling! I'm hoping if I can eat a little better I will start losing again. Will call the doc right now!

[HeatherGurl]

So glad to hear that you are happy with your unfill girl! I did the same thing you did after I got mine unfilled... wanted to eat! I was so hungry and that weekend all I did was see what I could eat.
Stay strong and focus on the healthy stuff, it will really help.

[DrewsLou]

I called the doc and am going in for an unfill next Thursday. I am finding myself eating chips, ice cream and cookies with no problems but really struggling with meat, salad, fruits and veggies. I have also PB'd a few times and want nothing more to do with that!

[Alicia521]

I called the doc and am going in for an unfill next Thursday. I am finding myself eating chips, ice cream and cookies with no problems but really struggling with meat, salad, fruits and veggies. I have also PB'd a few times and want nothing more to do with that!


That is exactly what I was doing. Eating crap that went down easily and my body was seriously craving the good stuff. It is totally worth it!

[Alicia521]

Another update on my unfill....again, totally worth it. I feel like I've been eating like a pig and honestly I don't have much restriction now but I am eating good proteins and lots of salads and very well balanced. I'm having an easier time getting my water down. I'm not even really craving my nightly icecream now. I was probably craving it before to get in my calories. I've lost over 2 lbs this week so far and my TOM is about to come! I know I am still not eating nearly what I was pre-banding, but going from a few bites of a few things to eating a small piece of meat and small salad seems like so much. I am really enjoying it right now. I hope I can continue my weightloss with this amount of restriction for awhile.

[Jachut]

Good on you.

On the other hand my fill is working wonders, lol, weights moving but for me I can tell this is short term. I can eat, not having problems with PBing but I am really alarmed by how little I eat at night - this can NOT be long term or I'll be giving myself vitamin deficiencies, osteoporosis etc. Half a lamb loin chop and five peas is not much of a dinner!

Glad you're feeling well again, I think somewhere deep in our psyches we tend to think we can punish ourselves for being fat and we are just NOT going to eat till we're not fat kind of thing, but it doesnt work that way. I think even your mood sounds lifted and happier.

[NotSoFunny]

good for you and really paying attention to your body! i am really impressed! and i am so glad to hear that things went well.