Trouble eating AGAIN!

[blueyedgirl]

HI everyone! I need some advice!

I was banded June, 2007 - I have done great - lost about 95 pounds - went in about 2 1/2 weeks ago and got 1/2 cc put back in my band that I'd had removed on my previous appointment because I couldn't eat - well after having that 1/2 cc removed I could eat just about anything I wanted and I gained 4 pounds - when I went back in 2 1/2 weeks ago - he put it back in and I did liquids for a day and then I could still eat just about as much as before UNTIL this past Thursday when my family and I headed for the mountains of NC for a vacation and it seemed like the banded tightened back up on me! I am having a hard time eating much at all! I've had a little reflux and if I eat much at all I usually have to throw up - I gave up yesterday and bought some slimfast and am going to try and go that route for a few days and see if I can straighten out whatever is going on................................................

Anyone else ever have these same symptoms? When this happened to me before - he did the Upper GI and my band hadn't slipped - everything was flowing good................................he removed the 1/2 cc and everything was great except I gained 4 pounds..................

I want to lose another 10 pounds but not this way!!!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!!

[CaribnQn]

Janie I am struggling with the same issue with the exception that I have not had any saline removed from my band. I have made and cancelled so many apointment within the last month that I can't even keep track anymore. one day I can eat fine and then for the next week I either don't have an appetite or puke everything that I try to put down. I think Stitchy has had the same problem too. I know that the band is fickle but this is crazy. It seems like the closer I get to my goal, the harder it is to keep food down. It's almost like my band is having the opposite effect. You would think that it should be getting looser but it's actually getting tighter at times. I wish I had some advice for you but I don't. I guess it's just a band thing.

[blueyedgirl]

well that makes me feel a little better! Glad I'm not the only one although my doctor seems a little puzzled by me! HAHA

I'm trying not to worry about it but it's hard sometimes especially when you really want to be able to just eat "something"!

Thank you for responding! I really appreciate it!
You have done great! How does it feel to have lost OVER 100 pounds?

[CaribnQn]

It feels great to have lost over 100 pounds and thank you so much for asking. I have ben tying to get to my goal for a few months now but I keep losing and gaining the same 5 pounds. I get so frustrated because I'm thinking that I should be a bag of bones by now with the minimal amount of food I eat. Oh Lord please don't mention the frustration of just wanting to eat something....I get soooo mad sometimes. Band life is all I can say.

[adiase]

I had a fill 2 weeks ago and I have the same problem, for instance this past saturday and sunday i could hardly get solids down, and was even having problems with liquids, I still managed to get enough nutrition down but boy it was hard, then monday came and I was WIDE open, I've been able to eat everything since then including Pizza. It is crazy becuase after you can't eat for a couple of days , you want to eat everything that you find and thats when we get in trouble. Hope this does not last for ever!

[blueyedgirl]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one! I was beginning to think I was crazy!!!!!

I hope this passes too - working 40 hours a week plus having a 3 year old I need all the energy I can get and without being able to eat anything - I get really tired really quick!

Thank you so much for your input and please let me know how you make out!

[Jachut]

I had a period of being very up and down with restriction too, and I had some fill removed, now I'm just down lol. I can eat quite a lot. I havent *really* gained in that I'm within my normal 4 pound range, but I'm right at the top of it. The trouble is when you're a healthy weight, 4lb is enough to make you feel bloated and some of your clothes tightish. Sigh.

I've made and cancelled appointments too. I was going this monday for a teeny tiny fill but I dont WANT to be tight. I am a healthy weight. I dont NEED to lose more, but I cant seem to let go of it. I want to be UNDER 70kg not just over. Yet I should be able to manage 4lb on my own, not need a fill to do it.

[ate2much]

Janie - same thing for me... to tight, loose, too tight, loose.
I had .3cc added recently and I am constantly going back and forth between too tight and loose. Last night I could eat turkey spaghetti (even a bite of the bread) - today I just puked up my Greek Yogurt... sigh... :faint:I never know.
Best wishes - and you're in good company!! LOL

[brwneyedbeauty]

I am having the same problems. If I eat something and 2 hrs later I drink something I'm throwing my guts up....why????? I am waiting at least 2 hrs...this has been going on a lot lately....not sure what to do???


Cheri

[newlifeat57]

oh good, I'm glad to hear that I am not alone on this. i was thinking that going back and forth from loose to tight was due to stress, seasonal weather changes and/or illness. I just can't seem to figure it out.....

[brwneyedbeauty]

I can't figure it out either....
I just know lately I feel to tight. I keep going back to basics slowing down with my food chewing really well. Yesterday nothing I did worked.
I really HATE eating out anymore I'm always running to the bathroom because its coming back up. Does it ever get better??? This "lapband" is hard to figure out!

[sassy46545]

Janie,
I read the entire thread to be sure no one else had mentioned this......you mentioned you had gone into the mountains for a holiday. Is it possible that the elevation has caused your band to tighten? I'm not even sure that can happen but I've heard of people having trouble when they fly so I suppose it's possible. Other than that, the only thing I can suggest is to return to the basics.
My doctor's office says this:
ABSOLUTELY nothing solid for minimum 8 hours after you pb..preferably 24 hours. clear fluids only two hours after a pb and every two hours drink something. Gradually work back up to solids. If you pb again....go back to fluids only for 24 - 48 hours.

This issue is why I say I'm glad I had bariatric surgery...but I wish it had been the sleeve instead of the band.

Tracy

[kristina]

since sassy mentioned elevation i had to say something!
i am in colorado and last weekend we went up to about 14,000 feet for a scenic drive. my stomach felt like it was being squeezed to death! i didnt even try to eat/drink up there..it was very weird.

[newlifeat57]

....My doctor's office says this:
ABSOLUTELY nothing solid for minimum 8 hours after you pb..preferably 24 hours. clear fluids only two hours after a pb and every two hours drink something. Gradually work back up to solids. If you pb again....go back to fluids only for 24 - 48 hours....

Tracy thanks for this information. I have not been given any info on what to do after PBs. I was going to discuss this with my nut. next week when i see her. when I do PB, i usually do mushies. But not always...it just depends on how bad it is.

kristine, I've hear some people say that they were affected by altitude and others not at all. It's an interesting phenomenon....

[ate2much]

Ok - this is working for me this weekend so far - coffee or hot tea about 1/2 cup immediately before attempting to eat - small, small bites, go through the hiccups - then I seem to open up enough to get some real food in. That "sweet spot" is really sweet...!
I'm still too tight in the mornings for any "real" food - but that is ok - because the protein powder in my morning coffee is just perfect!

[Gabrielle]

Sooo funny, this band!! I have been, what I think, in my sweet spot range, only after having to be on liquids for about 2 weeks after my fill about 5 weeks ago, and have been able to eat very little, like 1/2 of chicken tender, or about 1/3 c of chunky soup or whatever, but then last night I was able to eat about 1 cup of salad, with cheese, about 1 tbls of angel hair pasta, and about a 2" in diameter hamburger patty, I ate the whole thing, and without any resistance, so forgot to pace myself, didn't get that full feeling until the very last bite, and then about 1/2 hour later was MISERABLE!!!! Was so happy to not have any problems after the first bite, like I have been, I totally forgot the eat slowly part!! Old habits, right?? Oh the band, gotta love it.

[brwneyedbeauty]

yup sounds just like me!!

[newlifeat57]

This morning, couldn't eat a thing even had trouble with my coffee.... lunch...struggled with the first bite and finally gave up....nada!! Dinner.... I made chicken nuggets and I ate 4 of those suckers and carrot sticks. I just don't understand!!!!
But i still love my band!!!! darndest thing....

[Jachut]

Sigh, it seems like once you start mucking round with it, its endless too.

I cancelled last week's fill appointment - couldnt make it due to other commitments anyway. Didnt reschedule, thought I didnt need to. Made another appointment today after I saw 71.5kg ont he scales this morning. Who knows if I'll go. Could hardly eat this evening.

My band has been so dependable, so text book perfect, and even now, I've hardly got real trouble. But I dont like needing restriction so much. Its obvious to me now that if I lost my band I'd be fat again like yesterday. I've got enough willpower to stay away from bad foods, but the appetite is incredible, I'm trying to limit portions but you simply cant help eating more.

[chrispygal]

Ditto for me Jachut! And I'm really beating myself up over it too. I've been picking at Halloween Candy at work, been able to eat MUCH more than I could before, and I even made an apple pie just for the hell of it. You know what I did? I ate a piece every day because it was there, it was good, and god forbit I wasted it. Ugh.

[Gabrielle]

Yes, so after two days of what felt like very little restriction, could eat about two bites of salmon and about 3 carrot dollars the next day for dinner and was done!! Then yesterday had to excuse myself at lunch to throw up some salad, yes salad, that had been my stand by for the last month, can usually eat salad without any problems, Funny!! Gained a couple of lbs this weekend, am hoping to get rid of them before my next appt on Monday.

[rose815]

Hey Gabby

I went to the gym today and worked out. I got on the scale before I worked out and then also afterwards and gained 1 pound. Go figure?
Rose

[rose815]

Stress also makes me not be able to eat sometimes.
Rose

[blueyedgirl]

Thank you all for the input - makes me feel better that I'm not alone! AND not crazy! I don't think it was the change in altitude though b/c I'm still suffering! I have an appointment Tuesday the 28th - I can't wait - hopefully he will take out 1/4 cc - 1/2 is too much to take out - I can eat the table legs - so maybe 1/4 is my sweet spot - I've pretty much been on liquids with a little bit of food for supper - seem to do much better in the evenings - forget it in the a.m. - can't hardly even drink! That's my main concern - I'm not getting enough fluids in................

[kristina]

tuesday cant come soon enough!!! praying for a perfect level of unfill!