A Draining Experience

[KristiR]

I went in for my monthly appointmentlast Thursday, showed that I was going in the wrong direction. I have not had a fill in 2 or three months due to extrem stress in my life. I had not been able to keep food down, drink all of my water or get enough protein in. In December I went in for my Christmas appointment, He told me if things did not get better by my January appointment that he would remove my fill. I did much better that month. The stress was much less and I did not PB or vomit at all. But I did end up gaining. Sooooooooo when I went in last Thursday ( 01/ 17/08 ) Dr. Cahn finally gave me another fill! I drank my water and had a hard time getting it all in and once it was all in I was FULL. Then it started to hurt. He then removed 1/2 of the fill. He said he had given me a double fill.

It was fine at first. Thursday night I had no problems. Friday morning was okay but as time went on I got tighter and tighter. I started getting headaches and heartburn. Then I started PB'ing. Sunday morning I ended up vomiting. I finally called the doctors office Monday afternoon and got an appointment for Tuesday morning. I thought that I was going in to have a tiny bit removed. No problem. BUT.........Dr. Cahn said that my stomach was too irritated and I needed to be emptied.:Cry: Now I am empty, my stomach does not hurt anymore and I can eat anything. Please God, don't let me gain anymore!

I go back in next week to get a fill. I can't wait!

[Dustbunny]

I'm sorry Kristi. Just be careful with what you eat. Eat like you've got a fill. Good luck, hope it goes well for you. Deb

[Robbin261]

oh I feel for you Kristi cuz I am kinda in the same boat,,,,I had surgery august 7th and after a few fills Dec 15th I went in for a unfil cuz I couldnt eat more then a teaspoon or so at a time,,,,then I could eat pretty much anything and besides being the holidays of eating and drinking,,,by Jan I gained 6 lbs,,,he gave me a small fill as to not put me to where I was but I am still eating anything (pretty much) so I go back this friday for more fill,,,not sure how much but I hope it gets me back on track cuz now Im having a hard time again,,,its too easy to eat and gain :o(

[bgrand]

I had similar experiences and finally learned that having small fills more frequently worked better for me. Also, when I was really tight, I had to remind myself to take baby sips and baby bites. I needed to wait about an hour in the morning before I could have anything and made it my mission to drink my protein first, then drink a decent amount of fluids, before I let myself eat anything. If I followed that routine, no PB'ing and was able to eat small amount of protein from about 11am til 6pm, then I started to get tight again in the evening...so pm routine was same as first thing in the morning: drank protein then small sips of liquids til about 8pm, then nothing till bedtime.
On days that I did not get adequate fluids in, i paid for it the next day by being too tight, drained with zero energy and lot's of PB'ing with an irritated stomach.
Hope this helps....just take everything slowwwwww.

[kebsa]

sorry you are having a tough time but in the long term this is probably the best option. Having a ccomplete unfill is a good way to let things settle dow and reset. It sounds like you have been having problems for some time, i know that you are scared abiut gaining weight but don't forget, one cause of gaining or even not losing weight is being over tight. once you let you irritated band settle down you can then have a refill to a level that will not be overtight-in the mean time just hold fast to he band rules, try not eating til you are full but til you are no longer hungry- its a subtle difference but one really does help me

[KristiR]

Thank you all. I have been drinking my protein drink in the morning, I don't usually try to eat anything else in the morning. I either have it as a hot drink ( hot chocolate ) or as a cold drink like a smoothie. I try to drink water all day but some times forget to drink when I get busy. I drink my protein water when ever I have to go out. I bring it with me.

I am planning on eating like I still have a fill. After being so tight I think I am still a little swollen like. At least I am not hungry.

[SheryBery]

Hang in Kristi.....remember what you've lost....you don't want to "find" it again!

[SpookyJulz]

Kristi~

I was banded on April 2nd. Had my back surgery July 2nd. Dr Cahn left me with a tiny fill for back surgery. I had to have Dr Anderson come to the hospital to remove it because I could not eat without PBing.

Dr Cahn made me wait 4 weeks for a fill. I had 2 fills in 2 weeks and he went quit aggressive with them. I was fine for a few days then I started PBing pudding. I went in and he took it all out for a week. We have refilled slowly. I had been down 35, gained back 15+. After my last fill it took awhile to kick in. But I am now down 6 lbs.

It's depressing and really threw me for a loop. But, I've gotten back into and am watching what I eat. Just hang in there it will work eventually.