Is Something Wrong with My Band??

[CindyC]

I have 2.8cc's in my 4cc band....I am not at my sweet spot yet...i can still eat way more than 1/2 of food...although i can eat that much i was have a constant problem with getting food stuck, which of course is my fault for not chewing or swallowing too fast...anyways question is this.....for the last 4 days i have not gotten anything stuck and it kinda freaks me out because it feels like i can eat anything right now. Is that a problem? Do I need a fill? Did my band slip? I am really nervous about this...i know i should be happy because i am not having golf balls but i was so use to it and now nothing. I am calling the doc tomorrow just in case i need a fill. My last fill was 3 weeks ago. Anyone else have this or has experienced this i would be soooooooo glad to hear from you..

[Iulizbug]

IMO if you have already waited 3 weeks from your last fill AND you are able to eat properly w/out any golfballs, PB's or sliming and are not losing the recommended 1-2 lbs a week it would be safe to schedule another fill. If you are at your sweet spot you will be full off a small amt of food AND be losing the weight. Of course if you have any problems with what you have now keep in mind it will most likely worsen with more saline added. I know b/c I just went down that road and had to learn the hard way that tighter is not always better. I was filled to 2.7ccs on my 2nd fill and could eat more than I thought I should be able to and only PB'd or slimed every once in a while so I went ahead and got another fill to 3.2cc. I felt pretty tight and at first thought that had to be my sweet spot but I was PBing a lot more. Eventually the vicious cycle of PBing and liquids irritated my esophagus to the point that I wasnt' able to swallow water suddenly after a month a half after my 3rd fill. Very scary, it tightened up on me out of the blue and I was convinced I had a slip. So now I am completely unfiled and it sucks b/c I am starving. I think it is important to learn to use your band as little as possible if to lose the weight--I relied way too much on my band to tell me when to stop instead of exercisng more self-control and making myself stop which is what I have to do now. That being said I cannot wait till I can get a fill again but I think I will get filled to 2.5cc this time and make myself learn to take smaller bites and slow down and to exercise more to get the rest of my weight off. If you aren't losing and you think that its b/c you are eating too much then get a tweak just don't get too much like me--i don't want anyone to experience what I had to go thru. It is just not worth it to get that tight. I feel like I was given a 2nd chance on my band b/c I didn't have a slip. Good luck on whatever you decide and be sure and keep us posted...:happy:

~Liz~
03/10/06
241/166/160
5'7''

[LindaV]

Getting things stuck can cause swelling and you might have been caught in that viscious cycle.

Other than that, I agree with what Iulizbug said.

Just be careful when you get another fill to chew well and take small bites. I know eating quickly and shovelling is a hard habit to break especially when you're hungry.

[mysherrijo]

I'm in the same boat. I was banded 2 months ago. First fill was 1.50 and 2nd fill was one month ago and was .75 which put me at 2.25cc in a 4cc band. I'm scheduled with Dr. C for another fill this week. I don't want to get too tight but I can eat anything right now. Bread is no problem, beef, whatever. I've only lost 38 pounds in the last 2 months.
Should I get another fill? I am not tight right now but I don't want to get too tight? What would you guys do?

[CindyC]

mysherrijo....if you are losing i would not get another fill...wait until your not losing anymore. I am kind of at a stand still. I was banded june 5th and have lost 42 lbs...which i think is pretty ok..(wish for more of course) My problem is that once i can get things down i can eat way more than i should...i can pretty much get anything down too if i am careful to eat small bites and chew. I know i should get another fill because i can eat way too much i am just scared that the PBing and slimming and golf balls will get worse. What would you do in that case?