Help - Advice 2bands liz or any other

[Mynewlife]

Dear All
I am in a serious pickle.....:wave_cry:

Here is my problem, I had a band adjustment in November, and ever since then have not lost any weight what so ever. Infact the last week I have gained :sighver 5pounds. I have had my band 18 months and have had 6 adjustments. I am not even close to capacity, 6.2mils in a 10 mil band. I am sick just about every day. I do not eat full meals. I am eating mostly mushy still...soup, yoghurts etc. I have been going to the gym 6 days out of 7 for 3 weeks as I started a new training program. My stomach has been a significant problem since Friday.. It feels as though my bottom stomach (below the stoma) is backed up, I have no end of gas, from both ends. My stomach is bloated. I am going to the loo ok. I drink plenty of water, and with the soups am having enough fibre...any idea as to what could be wrong?? I am at an all time low, my husband is pulling his hair out with my despair... Dont feel well. I woke up, and even before I had attempted to eat anything today, had serious heartburn and burning in my chest and stomach...help me please?? am planning on going to gp tomorrow but any advice would be helpful.
MNL:cry::cry:

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

Dear All
I am in a serious pickle.....:wave_cry:

Here is my problem, I had a band adjustment in November, and ever since then have not lost any weight what so ever. Infact the last week I have gained :sighver 5pounds. I have had my band 18 months and have had 6 adjustments. I am not even close to capacity, 6.2mils in a 10 mil band. I am sick just about every day. I do not eat full meals. I am eating mostly mushy still...soup, yoghurts etc. I have been going to the gym 6 days out of 7 for 3 weeks as I started a new training program. My stomach has been a significant problem since Friday.. It feels as though my bottom stomach (below the stoma) is backed up, I have no end of gas, from both ends. My stomach is bloated. I am going to the loo ok. I drink plenty of water, and with the soups am having enough fibre...any idea as to what could be wrong?? I am at an all time low, my husband is pulling his hair out with my despair... Dont feel well. I woke up, and even before I had attempted to eat anything today, had serious heartburn and burning in my chest and stomach...help me please?? am planning on going to gp tomorrow but any advice would be helpful.
MNL:cry::cry:

Hi MNL 6.2 mil in a 10 mil band and being sick daily is a sign your band is way too tight sweetheart, the heartburn is also another sign of being to tight, you are eating mushies as they are more comftable because restriction is too high am i correct ? if this is so this will be a contributing factor to the lack of weight loss and also weight gains, the exercise side is brilliant and well done with that but your band needs to be able to let you eat certain solid foods that will make you feel full off lesser amount.

Go to thye gp as you said im not medically qualified and i can only advise from my own knowledge but id say they will say you need a de fill to be able to progress forward.

let me know how you get on, i have been thinking about you latley and i was wondering how you have been getting on.

Liz x

 

[Mynewlife]

thank you so much for the reply Liz. I think I have known for a while that the restriction is the problem but didnt want to face the thought of having to admit defeat and have some taken out, as mentally I see this as a step backwards. I have tried hard to work with it, but knew deep down its not right. I have never been sick as much as I have with this fill, my chest gets so painful. I guess I will have to accept that in order to move on, I will have to address the fill issue and see if I can sort out some being taken out. I am seriously disappointed but what can I do?? I cannot continue on in this fashion. I am even struggling to take pills, that have never been an issue before.
This is part of the reason that I have not been on minimins because my weight has been so erratic, that I was embarrassed to come on here and say that I had not done well.
Thank you once again for the swift response. I will let you know how I get on with the gp.
MNL :wave_cry:

 

[Mazza]

Hi - hope you get it sorted soon, you must be feeling rubbish :hug99:

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

thank you so much for the reply Liz. I think I have known for a while that the restriction is the problem but didnt want to face the thought of having to admit defeat and have some taken out, as mentally I see this as a step backwards.

Hun i can understand your way of how you think this would be a step back most banders see a de fill in the same way but its not a step back its just part of the banding journey of fine tuning the fill to get to the "sweet spot" a de fill can be just as good of a thing as a fill in your case a good thing as it will allow you to eat more nutritious foods which will help make a happy balance with the exercise your doing and you will most likley see the weight start to move again after having a de fill and sensible food choices are made x

I have tried hard to work with it, but knew deep down its not right. I have never been sick as much as I have with this fill, my chest gets so painful. I guess I will have to accept that in order to move on, I will have to address the fill issue and see if I can sort out some being taken out. I am seriously disappointed but what can I do?? I cannot continue on in this fashion. I am even struggling to take pills, that have never been an issue before.

Dont be dissapointed look at this as part of your band journey your band is too tight you have tried to live with a tight band and in most case a tight band brings nothing but misery and heartache as well as physical pain and sickness, we all learn new things as we go on our band journeys & getting some fill out does not mean you have failed all it means is the bands to tight mine has been tight before and de fills are just as much of big part of the banding process just as fills are.

This is part of the reason that I have not been on minimins because my weight has been so erratic, that I was embarrassed to come on here and say that I had not done well.
Thank you once again for the swift response. I will let you know how I get on with the gp.
MNL :wave_cry:

MNL never be embarrased to come on to Mini's we are all to help each other as banding is not all roses and a easy ride and this is what this forums for so we can help and support each other thro both the good and bad times of our wls journeys xxx

Liz x

 

[BlueDiamond]

 

[cazbandy]

Hi there,

Sorry you have had this trouble but I agree 100 percent with Liz, the things you are describing means the band is too tight.

It's not failure, not at all and don't ever think that people will think less of you if you are having a period of difficulty. I for one am glad you have posted, as others can learn from it. See there is a positive already.

Basically it is not a race to see how much can fit into the band, the amount can vary sooooo much between bands and what people feel. I know that my sweet spot is around the 5.5 mark (9ml band) any more than that and I would get your troubles.

I think once you have had a defill, get back on track with better choices that keep you fuller and give you optimum nutrition you will feel so different.

You are doing fab with the exercise (better than me LOL) and once the food side is sorted, doing that level will see the weight fly off again.

Big hugs to you and will look forward to seeing how your journey continues

 

[Mynewlife]

Hello people and thank you all for your replies.
I think that for a long time I have thought, there was no way you can gain weight if your band is too tight and you cant eat enough, but I guess I am the "proof in the pudding", so to speak in the fact that even though I have been working hard at my new training program I am now 5 pounds heavier, and yet eating much less. The program I started over three weeks ago, is to get me more into running, so it is not as though I am working with weights and building up my muscles. If that was the case, I could almost say it was muscle that I had built up. But at the end of the day, I have gained 5 pounds in a week, my stomach is not right, I would be suprised if I managed 1,000 calories a day most days. Mentally I have put off going back to have the fill adjusted, even though I knew it was not right. I mentally had it in my head that if my band is deflated, and not tight, I will gain weight...obviously the opposite has happened as well, as in my case. Too tight, cant eat enough and no matter how hard I am working out, the weight is going back on...So very frustrating. Your support truly helps though.
MNL:sigh:

 

[wildthing]

Its so hard to know what to do isn't it, I've had a major stall over Xmas and put weight on and I just can't get into a good mindset at the mo, and yet before Xmas I was so good and going to the gym lots. Who said it was an easy ride eh?

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

Its so hard to know what to do isn't it, I've had a major stall over Xmas and put weight on and I just can't get into a good mindset at the mo, and yet before Xmas I was so good and going to the gym lots. Who said it was an easy ride eh?

Hi Wildthing, banding is difficult yes and is no way an easy way out as some may think, its a constant fight to keep losing the weight or maintain the losses we achieve if we slip up then us banders pay the price for that, we must battle on and try to remain positive as the band cant do the work for us only we can do that xxxx

 

[Mynewlife]

Update:
Went to gp who would not remove any fluid from the band as he was not trained to do so. Suggested I contact my provider. I phoned the radiologists secretrary where I have the adjustments done and she said that she would email the radiologist, my consultant and my dietician, and to phone back tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 19th) if I had not heard anything. Seems as though I cannot get this sorted quickly. I contacted a private supplier and they cannot fit me in till monday 25th. I have to phone back tomorrow with the hope that something can be done sooner than next monday, or I will be shelling out to get it done privately. You think that they would have some kind of emergency plan in place for this sort of thing. I called NHS direct and asked if they felt it would be an option to go to my local A & E to get it done, and they felt that because it is a specialised area, the a&e might not be able to do it anyway....every one so far has suggested that I stick to liquids until I get the deflation done. On top of this, I was told by my gp today that I have a sinus infection, which he has given me liquid anti biotics for, so I am feeling well and truly sorry for myself...anyone out there have any ideas or input?

MNL:needhug:

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

Update:
Went to gp who would not remove any fluid from the band as he was not trained to do so. Suggested I contact my provider.

NHS gp's are not wls clued up and do not have band needles in there surgeries so they cant oblige that way, gp's are not wls savvy in general.
I phoned the radiologists secretrary where I have the adjustments done and she said that she would email the radiologist, my consultant and my dietician, and to phone back tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 19th) if I had not heard anything. Seems as though I cannot get this sorted quickly. I contacted a private supplier and they cannot fit me in till monday 25th. I have to phone back tomorrow with the hope that something can be done sooner than next monday, or I will be shelling out to get it done privately.
MNL u have been like this for a while so dont shell out nothing stick to fluids for now and you will be ok till a de fill can be arranged for you ok xxx
you think that they would have some kind of emergency plan in place for this sort of thing. I called NHS direct and asked if they felt it would be an option to go to my local A & E to get it done, and they felt that because it is a specialised area, the a&e might not be able to do it anyway....

most A&e depts wont have a needle to fit the port any way so is a point less wait in waiting room for 6 hrs to be told that they cant help you.

every one so far has suggested that I stick to liquids until I get the deflation done.
yes go back to fluids till they can sort this it shouldnt be too long now x if fluids can go through for now you will be ok till a de fill x
On top of this, I was told by my gp today that I have a sinus infection, which he has given me liquid anti biotics for, so I am feeling well and truly sorry for myself...anyone out there have any ideas or input?

MNL:needhug:

hope this is sorted soon huni xxx

PM MEEEEEEEEEE if you need me ok xxx

Liz x

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

hugs is a always from Liz ok u know that xxxxxxxxx

 

[Mynewlife]

I have phoned the dietician twice and left messages on the answer phone and the radiologist secretary's answer phone and no returned calls....typical NHS:wave_cry: My stomach is distended and uncomfortable and feels as though it is bloating from the bottom part below the stoma, upwards. It is really uncomfortable and I feel like my abdomen looks like I am 6 months pregnant...not a nice feeling at all. Kept to liquids so far today, but am fed up:sigh: with not knowing what is going to happen and when, and how much longer I have to put up with this horrible bloating and uncomfortable feeling.....

mnl:cry:

 

[Mazza]

Its sounding less like you just need a small defill and more like you need to see these people asap to get checked over. Im so sorry youre having to go through this. Keep trying and I hope you get somewhere soon. Take care x

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

MNL keep trying to get through on the phone, is the nhs hospital that provides your care far from where you live ? if not maybe try poping in and see what they have to say about not getting back to you x

 

[Mynewlife]

I live in Northamptonshire but my pct does not provide this service, they have agreed to fund my fills at the closest hospital to me that does do these procedures, which is University Hosptial Coventry and Walsgrave, its about 45 minutes drive away. I have decided to bite the bullet and go privately for help. I am going to see the wonderful Wendy Stubbs tomorrow, she is a god send and I will discuss the situation with her and know that she will give me the best advice. She will not defill or adjust if she feels that it is not right. My husband has agreed to drive me up to see her. She truly cares about the whole wls system and will offer advice free of charge, she is probably more of an expert in the field than some of the people I see at University Hospital Coventry & Warwick. Wendy has managed to slot me in for 1pm, so am looking forward to seeing her and see what she says. She has done fills for me before the NHS agreed to fund my fills. Will let you know how I get on...only hope it does not snow too bad, we are due to be hit in the midlands and I am having to head up north for the appointment..

MNL:wave_cry:

 

[Mazza]

Im so glad you have sorted something out, you will be in very safe hands with Wendy she is a star! WLS Group are my provider and Wendy really does know her stuff. Good luck x

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

MNL im glad you have sorted this wendy will advise you whats best for you hun good luck and let us know how you got on hun xxx

Liz x

 

[Mynewlife]

Well I drove up to Preston today to see Wendy and have a "small" defill. I figured that she would take out about 1/2mil or so, but she took out 2 mils. She said that I was in bad shape, more than likely due to the band being too tight. She said that I was de-hydrated and not looking well at all. She was none too happy about how tight the radiologist had left my band.
Wendy said that I have to start a high protein diet, I must not weigh myself for a month, and I have to go back and see her in a month to see how I am doing. I have to rest the band and my stomach for a month. She said that I will more than likely gain some weight, but I am not to worry about it because it will be "good weight". She believes that I have lost too much muscle. She said that I will have little to no restriction due to the amount she removed. I have to rest, exercise wise for 1 week while I am building up the protein in my diet. My stomach at the moment is sore, but that is just from the needle being put in the port. Anyway, I will let you know how things go, but wanted to update you on how I got on today. Not sure if I am feeling better yet I suppose it will take a day or two to get over it.
MNL