AngelaAnn

Hi All, Most of you know what I've been going through with having to get unfilled. Needless to say I've got 1.5 cc's in my band at the moment, no restriction, and 17 more days to go until I can get another fill. Plus side...heartburn/acid is completely gone...downside is I've gained six pounds. I went from 201 back up to 207. I have to stop this maddness but lately, I feel.completely.out.of.control with my eating and don't know how to get back on track. It doesn't help that I'm hungry all of the time and that gassiness is back almost as bad as post-op. It distends my belly and at night can get painful. Anyway, I know I cannot do liquids for another 2.5 weeks so that's out. I tried the lean cuisine thing for a couple of days and realized I can't really stomach those either. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I realize that I can hold off on losing the six pounds until I get filled...I just don't want to gain anymore. I need to maintain until July 15th. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I've been feeling weak and kinda crappy lately so, instead of 5x gym I've only been going 3x for the last two weeks. Sorry if I sound whiney but I don't know where else to turn. Any advice or easy to follow plan would be helpful? Thank you!

I feel your pain...really I do. Anyway, the OCC doc told me to take 2 tablespoons of maalox 3x a day, but if I do that I get the trots so, I've been doing 1 tablespoon 3x daily and now I only get the almost trots. But at this point, eh, What are you going to do?

I went for my 4th fill last week, but was still having heartburn...long story short (if you want to read the story it's under my post about loosening fill + heartburn) I had serious irritation from PBing that had never healed and about 1/4 of the stuff I was eating/drinking was being pushed back into my esophagus so they took half of my fill out and I'm on the liquid/maalox diet...and apparently gaining weight. I have no idea how I survived the 3 wks. on liquids after the surgery 'cause this is only 1/3 of the time and I'm dying and feel weak and lethargic and trying to workout feeling that way is no bueno. I have terrible gas, both up and down like I had post-op. My belly is all bloated.

I know how you feel--I was so close, got to 201, but since my partial unfill last week and this week of liquids...wouldn't you know it...I gained weight? WTF? Back up to 205. It kills me, just kills me and I don't really know what to do. I just started working out again after my unfill last Thursday, so maybe that's part of it. I just have been feeling like crap all week. Well, three more days on liquids then I'm going to have to fight the scale for another three weeks until my fill on July 16th. Ahhhboo. I know that you will make it to the one hundreds. This is your week. I can feel it.

I was also borderline type two diabetes before I had the band. It was one of the reasons I got it. My fasting sugar is down to 92 which is in the normal range now. My main drop has been in body fat. from 49.9% to 31% as of last week. It's amazing how much of a difference just dropping some weight can do.

I got really lucky. Especially since I was sitting on it for six weeks. Anyway, my pouch was thankfully not stretched and the band was fine, but on the flouro, you could see this weird pooch above the band and that's were the irritation came in and the potential for stretching. I'm dying right now on liquids but, I've made it through the second day. 8 more to go...and I've already lost 2 pounds. Sitting right at 201 now. Not too excited because I know I'm going to have to work really hard to keep from gaining while waiting my fill.

I was losing my hair about 3 months after surgery and it was because of not getting enough protein!!!! And vitamins. But mostly PROTEIN!!!!

The whole long story is under the topic I started last week under "Loosening fill + heartburn".

The fill Dr. at the OCC told me yesterday that after PBing, you need to go on liquids for 24 hours to allow the swelling and irritation to subside. If you don't, you'll be in the situation I was in.

You're right. I, too thought that a PB or two wasn't that big of a deal. But it was the fear of doing irreversible damage that made me realize that you really have to be aware while you're eating and that PBing really is BAD! I'm just afraid of the three weeks after liquids. I really don't want to gain weight, but I'll just have to be hungry...or maybe I'll do the pre-op diet for those three weeks and just deal with the head hunger. I'll figure it out. I forgot how hard the liquid phase is!! It's only been a day and I'm already hungry. Tough lesson was definitely learned...and I vow to take better care of the band. Quick question for anyone who can answer this or who has advice. I've been working out 5x a week, but should I do less strenous excercise while on the liquids? I already am starting to feel the fatigue of too few calories, but I've had two protein shakes, my protein coffee, lots o' water, some soup, and a gatorade. My stomach is making crazy noises that I haven't heard in awhile. I just don't know if I should cut my workouts to maybe 2x or 3x this next week. I really don't want to faint from too few calories at the gym.

I love my "protein coffee" in the morning. I still drink it 10 months out every day. And with one scoop you get 26 grams. Pretty good and it really does replace the vanilla creamer. I tried it with the chocolate and don't care for it as much. How was it with the chocolate caramel?

The Dr. didn't mention anything specific but, I think you run the risk of PBing easier if you're guzzling. I have irritation and had to be partially unfilled and I'm back to liquids for a week. And one of the things he told me was to take sips and wait about 7 secs between each sip.

I hate wasting food, too. But I've been looked at funny so, I just take the whole burger and cut it into four pieces. I'll eat half and take the other half home, or give it to someone who's hungry for more burger.

Don't guzzle!! I was just told today at the OCC not to guzzle liquids and to take sips!

Okay all, Here's the haps--just got back from the OCC for my fill...which turned out to be a partial unfill. I had 3cc's and he took out 1.5. Ahhhboo. I'm on the liquid/maalox diet for 10 days, then 3 days of soft foods, then back to regular eating. I'm going back for another fill in 4 weeks. Here's what the Dr. told me...and for all of you blind fills, the beauty of flouroscopy. First he asked me about the heartburn and I was honest and told him that 2-3x a week I wake up with acid in my throat and that for the last 5 weeks I've been sleeping propped on a pillow, but that I've been super hungry and can eat anything for the last 3 weeks. That's why I didn't come in sooner. He flat out tells me that one should NEVER have heartburn/acid reflux with the band. It's supposed to be one of the benefits to having it. If you do, there's most likely a problem. He does the barium swallow before he removes any of the saline and I can see 3/4 of the liquid go through, but the other 1/4 just sits right above my band and then I can see it back up partially into my esophagus. Crazy, huh? Anyway, turns out that bad PB I had on a tortilla 6 weeks ago really irritated my band and it never healed so, I've got irritation above the band/around the pouch and the Dr. told me that I'm lucky that I didn't stretch anything out or do any damage. The band itself looked fine. Even though I'm sad I lost most of my fill, I learned a hard lesson. Do everything you can not to PB!! You really can mess things up that way. Also, the Dr. told me that if I had just gone for a blind fill, because I could eat everything, they would have just given me another fill without knowing that there was a problem and I would have potentially stretched out my pouch/done irreversible damage. I know that this isn't always an option with the fill centers, but if you can get flouroscopy, do it. It's totally worth the peace of mind. Also, the only charged me $30 which I thought was nice even though they did do a barium swallow.

If you go back to the OCC--just know that they don't do blind fills. Only fills under flouroscopy so, it will always cost you $100. Unfills are $30. Flouroscopy is the way to go in my opinion as the doctor can visualize your band and how fast/slow the liquid moves through it. They can also make sure your pouch is okay and you'll probably need less fills in the first year because since they can see it, they don't have to guess. I'm about to have my 4th and I'm 10 months out so, I consider 4 fills is pretty good for a whole year. There are some people who've had more and some have less...it really all depends on you. Everyone is totally different as far as fills are concerned.

I'll let you all know on Thursday...hopefully they won't want to do an unfill. I don't think it's necessary because I'm having no problems eating or drinking, but we'll see. I just want to be under 200 lbs.! Why are these last 3 lbs. tormenting me so? I'm busting my butt at the gym 5x a week and I know I'm probably eating about 1400-1500 calories a day because I've been so hungry over the last 3 weeks.

Okay, I'm laying it out on the table. I'm pretty sure I need a small fill tweak. I can eat everything and I'm not tight in the mornings anymore and at night I have to talk myself out of eating the house. I have a fill scheduled for Thursday morning at the OCC--the problem is this. I am still having heartburn about 2x a week, but I can eat and liquids go down fine and it's more annoying than anything else. Part of me is thinking I should go for the flouroscopy just so the doctor can check to make sure everything's fine. Another small confession...I quit smoking for a about 8 months and lately I've fallen back into the habit...nothing crazy but maybe about 5 per week. Could this be contributing to the heartburn? (I don't need anyone to berate me for smoking. Yes, I know it's bad.) If it is, then I will quit again 'cause I'd rather live without the heartburn. Does anyone else get heartburn, but your fill is pretty loose? Any advice would be welcome. Thank you!

I never thought I'd say this in my life...but sometimes, once you have good restriction, I feel as though it really is a pain to eat 'cause in this hectic busy day, you've got to find the time and inclination to sit and focus on size and chewing to make sure you get it down in the first place. Sometimes when I'm in a hurry, and I know I can't take the 20 min. I need, I will purposefully drink a protein shake or eat eggs which are things I know will go and stay down with minimal effort. I actually know when it's time for a fill, 'cause when I have really good restriction, I am NEVER hungry and my stomach is quiet. When my fill is loosening (like now, I'm going to the OCC on Thurs.) I get bad hunger pains and I'm really hungry, especially at night. I have to give my third fill credit though, it lasted me 4 months! That's pretty good.

Wow Dana! Your face has totally changed. I did not recognize you! You look great!

Hi Stormy, I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this stress and drama. I know when I get super stressed, I pretty much have to stay on liquids until it passes 'cause ain't no solid food going down. I hope you feel better and everything gets sorted out. Your sister sounds like a real piece of work. Good Luck!

I feel for you but it's not as though this band is a miracle worker. You really do have to work with it. It took me six months to figure that out and I still fight with the head hunger daily. I find that it mainly just helps with the binge eating for me. I still have to exercise and attempt to make the right food choices 'cause you find out very easily that crap food slides down really well. Also, did you get your band done at the OCC? How many cc's does your band hold? You might not have enough of a fill to have restriction. I only got really good restriction once my 4cc band was filled with 3cc's which is a lot. Have you had your band checked for leaks? Have you had your fill doctor actually take out the saline every time you have a fill so that you can see with your eyes how much he/she is taking out or putting in? I actually need another fill. So, I think for those who are successful to offer you any good advice, they need more information than just your band sucks.

Are you taking to max dose of maalox per day? I know my band is definitely looser than last month, but every time my period comes around, the week before I get heartburn and think I may have some irritation going on. I'm going to try the maalox/liquids to see if it helps for a week. How much maalox? I think it said up to eight teaspoons a day, but I just want to make sure. I took one teaspoon this morning and it really did feel nice going down and my heartburn went away within 15 minutes. Thank you and I hope you are feeling better!

I have no helpful advice except to say I'm right there with you! Mine has just started happening over the last two weeks--granted, my third fill did me good but it's been 4 months since I've had a fill and I think I need a little tweak because at night, I can eat the house, including bread!! And I'm hungry again in-between meals.

You look fantastic! That is a great color on you...and you actually outshine all of your friends since there dressed down in jeans and you're looking hot is a flirty number!!