New members

Hello

I wonder if you can offer any advice please? I had a 14ml band fitted in 2012 which has been filled to 10ml. My after care package then expired and I was unable to afford further fills. In the two year period I lost around 6 stone, which I have now regained. I am able to eat large meals regularly but do occasionally have restriction which causes immediate regurgitation. This is usually if I eat too quickly, don’t chew enough, or have dry or doughy food. My band provider has now offered me further fills at a reasonable price, but this does not include any consultation with a medical professional. I am wondering if anyone has been through a similar experience and if so will further fills work, obviously I know I need to change my lifestyle but I can’t afford to spend the money if there is little chance of success. Any comments, advice will be welcomed.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, Liz.

Hi Liz

Firstly welcome to the site.

Unfortunately over time the fluid in your band (sterile water) disperses, which allows your band to loosen slightly and you may find your portions, hunger and weight increasing again… DOH – further fills, will indeed help with this and help get things back on track alongside you making some changes in your lifestyle like you say.

If no further fluid is added at this stage your band will not be working optimal so more emphasis will have to be on healthy eating and exercise to lose/maintain weight.  You can always take a look at Sues 54321 diet plan in the plan section of the site to help you out.

It sure seems like you have some level of control there with the symptoms you have mentioned.  I would advise keeping your meals as textured as possible and applying the 20+ rule (you can read this article in the library on the site) to the meals that you are eating and definitely consider getting some additional fluid into your band (obviously your practitioner will assess and make that decision)

I have seen and witnessed many a long term weight loss with the Band so all is not lost.  Its just about keeping it working optimal and working with it.

Stay positive and hope this helps xx

• This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by Team BandBoozled.

Just a little glimmer of hope, check out our weight mate Ammib

She is 15 years with her band and doing really well xx

Hi Liz

I ve been up the hill and down again with my band over  they years so chin up xxx Ok so you re ll be fed up at having lost then regained 6 stone – bloody good loss that!!! Ok Liz  – not sure where you are based? I could nt afford a private consultation but Manchester Royal Hospital x ray department offer fills at @£100 price. Ring them and they will give the number to book with. The fill is done under x ray so you swallow a white liquid which shows up on the x ray and they can clearly see what’s going on. Its not  a big drama like the usual process for having an xray where they take pics in a radiology room where you are left on your own – your just sitting in a chair which they can tilt clothed, awake, jewellery on etc.  this is just using the x ray machine like a TV screen They do the fill once they see the travel of the liquid – its all in the price – you drink water n see how it goes down n they keep going till you have restriction so it really is a good deal i think. My guess is you just need a top up – if you can gag on bread you still have all the stuff working and in place but you need a fill. Now I’m going to be matron Liz so don’t take offence!!! You are now able to eat large meals again so 1)  go on a diet and and cut down. 2)  Sack off the naughty stuff (we all do it hon 🙂 ) and 3)  shop carefully – in a month you should be able to save the £100 for a fill under x ray. Liz it s too easy to sit back and resign yourself to the regain, become once a gain the prisoner of obesity, the physical and emotional crap that goes with it. But fight back, Liz!!!!! NO NO NO !!!! I had surgery, ok i’m in limbo rght now but i will NOT be beaten!!!! I am a strong woman and I will fight to run this show, not sit on my sofa defeated!!! Liz take charge of this today!!! Keep us posted xxx i care my lovely because i have been thro all this stuff and know how tough it can be xxx You can do this 🙂 xxxxx (((   )))

• This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by ammi b xx.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by ammi b xx.

I have often wondered what happens years down the line. So when I read above the saline disperses. I have a further question. How long does the fluid tend to last until it is dispersed?

What is the shelf life of a band?

I have paid for 2 years aftercare cause I think that is how long it will take to get to where I want to be. So. If say I get to target. Would I be able to get a fill every 6 months after the two years is up for life and keep maintaining or will that not work?

thanks

gail  x

Great question Gail

Fluid disperses slowly over time, this can vary between people so cannot say specifically.

I think your plan seems very realistic, hit your target within the 2 years, then I would say adjust your band further as required.  Its hard to put a time scale on this (like you say 6 monthly) as you may not need a fill at this time, or on the other hand may require it sooner.  It can be years before you see patients back for a further fill, as their band will have been keeping them controlled till then.

Bands do not have a time scale on them as such, and I have a patient who has had her band for 20 years..!!!  how great is this.

Utilise your aftercare well, some people have a band and don’t come to clinic for fills etc…  crazy…!!!!   and 2 years can fly by thats for sure.

Exciting times xx 😊

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Team BandBoozled.

Sometimes you see people back in clinic for a further fill, but after assessment its identified that their band is working optimally and the problem is that they have let a few fundamentals slip slightly i.e, increase more slider foods, so increase in portions,hunger and cals and also not being real with the amount of snacks or even decreased the amount of exercise.  A combination of these can start to see your weight creeping back up.   So sometimes its not a fill thats required to get back on track it can purely be a reality check and education xx

Hi Gill    I pretty much got to goal in 2 years and have been banded for 15 years now. Things are pretty stable with my restriction apart from the odd issue. I tend to tighten up a bit at ‘time of the month’ – i put this down to increased water retention in my body. Also if i get a cold etc i tighten up. I believe these are quite common occurrences. It s not a nightmare, just needs a a day or two of softer foods n a bit of tolerance rather than an adjustment. Same if it slackens off – it tends to right itself in a few days. Id say your plan sounds bob on 🙂 xx

Hi guys I’m new to the site!

I had my gastric band fitted in December of 2017.

I’ve lost over 3 stone so far but now it’s slowed and I’ve started to struggle. I’m a young gastric band patient I had it fitted when I was 19 privately. I’m now 20. It’s so hard to stay focused when the rest of your friendship and age group don’t have a similar struggle and all eat and drink like fishes!

Just really needs some some friends who are gonna motivate me and kick my butt when I need a motivation boost.

How old is everyone? I gotta make some more likeminded friends!

Hi Sheyenne

Welcome to the site – a baby bandit hey

Well done on your weight loss to date, thats fantastic and bet your feeling amazing.  Our members range from 18 upwards so would be great if you can buddy up for motivation

Having a band isn’t the easy option for sure, takes 100% commitment and good for you for making the decision to take control.  I can only imagine how you must feel when your out with your friends and how this must get you down.   But you need to stop and think about how far you have come and the person you are today….  Would you really want to go back to that you of old before your surgery…. Maybe something to remind yourself of when your having a down day… and they do happen, regardless of your age so your not alone on that one.     Try keep things real, you can still be one of the girls and have as much fun…… You are the same old you, just healthier and lighter.

Chin up and keep motivated – nothing tastes better than feeling good about yourself

Are you at your target weight now…??

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Team BandBoozled.

Hey lovely 🙂 welcome aboard 🙂 xx Well how cool is that? so much weight lost in such a short space of time – not everyone can stick with it, Sheyenne as it’s a marathon to get to goal, not a sprint, but you re gonna smash this !!! I totally hear you about the friends eating out n drinking freely etc – i ve been banded for 15 years now and i still sometimes feel a bit ‘left out’, why me? why can’t i just do what everyone else does without all the weight worries?  My own social life revolved a lot around food – either cooking for friends (no waiter to give a bit of portion control when yr eating in!!), or eating out, plus wine n drinks etc, or out on the lash at a rock gig, trollied by hometime and the must-have-kebab in tow 🙂 xx I i loved every minute of it, n every mouthful. But there was always the hangover – and I don’t mean just from booze. Knowing i’d probably added a few more pounds that week to a body which was already morbidly obese – over 20 stone –  i used to want to die inside :/ I d spend most of Sunday in bed, hiding from the world and trying to hide from myself, but ultimately you can’t. So, my lovely, how do i still get my groove on and maintain my goal weight? I got smart. I looked at my overall alcohol consumption for a start. I would never call myself a big drinker – a glass or two of wine of an evening n a bit wilder at weekend – but when i actually sat n reckoned it up, i was having a helluva lot. Just because i wasn’t sloshed i didn’t notice. And of course, a glass in one hand equals a naughty nibble in the other. So i decided i did not want to give up all my fun n social life and made a deal with myself. White wine n soda of an evening or diet lemonade if that’s more your thing. Spirits with a long mixer are easier on the calories too so gin n slimline tonic was my drink or a voddy n diet coke if i was out with friends. .   Eating out ….. i would just have fluids or softer foods on a day when i knew i would be eating later. I didn’t want anything still waiting to pass through the band so i could enjoy my dining out better. Don’t do this on a regular basis but it’s ok to adapt the band lifestyle sometimes or you would just go nuts. I found it helped me to feel less deprived if i gave myself permission to be a bit more relaxed about food n drink at weekends, having been a bit more disciplined in the week. It is crap to feel like the odd one out, you feel deprived and i used to feel sorry for myself, but as some of my friends got fatter and fatter, i got slimmer and slimmer. I emerged like a butterfly with cheekbones n everything, from being a fat caterpillar. I can see from your pic that you already have beauty, n great style in your hair n make up – you will be blossoming every day, so the sacrifices are worth it xxxx You have to walk your own path, babe, n it can be tough one at times, i know cos i still walk it to this very day. And it’s not all about weight – you are young and the time may come when you want babies etc and a healthy bodyweight and a better lifestyle will be in order then 🙂 I have a set of ‘before’ pics at hand n carry one with me in my purse cos i need to rein myself in sometimes . Take a look back at how far you have come already – my weight loss pretty much stalled at 12 stone – it took me as long to lose that last 2 stone as it did to lose the whole other 9 stone!! I just got off my ass n started walking or a gentle jog – that bit of exercise really did help – i lost 4 lbs in one week just from walking a few miles a day and my tummy lifted up like i d had a tummy tuck :):) . Get a step counter – its really motivating to see the steps racking up – and while yr out of the house there s no food to tempt you 🙂 xxx It s not an easy journey this one, that’s why i come on here to try n give a bit of moral support and share my own experiences. You can ask me anything at all, however personal, and i will be happy to share and hopefully help you. And age is just a number – i rocked in at 2 45am this morning in full 1960’s fancy dress, trollied, having danced all night and noshed a tray of potato pie supper 🙂 And you know what??? i don’t regret a minute of it 🙂 But i m having fish and veg for tea and probably just a drop of soup n a few brews during the day as my supper is still in there, fighting it s way through the gin and tonic :):):) xx You don’t need to stay home counting your lettuce leaves – go out, grab your life, but live it your way, run your own life, don’t let anyone run it for you, and I ain’t just talkin bout weight xxxx Always here so don’t feel on your own and remind yourself how brilliant you are and how much you have achieved already 🙂 Once the first big  weight drop has happened, our loss becomes less noticeable to others n the ‘well done’s’ and encouragement dry up. We need these to stay motivated – big yourself up or come on here and we’ll Woo Hoo every pound loss 🙂 xx Keep in touch n good luck :):) xxx

great to hear from you babe xxxx always here for the whole journey xxx go knock em dead, beautiful girl 🙂 xx

Hi Abbie,  I honestly applaud you on getting help to deal with your weight issues at an earlier age, I wish I had done the same instead of shying away from life in general. I missed out on so much and dealing with it sooner means you will not miss out on anything. I’m 20 years old in my mind but I’m 47 , Men never grow up we just get looked after by another mother 😂

Hello Everyone, I’m 7 days post-op now and feeling very positive.. haven’t been on the scales yet but only another week of liquids to go!! Did anyone find the last week harder than the first?

Awwww thats brilliant – Your a woman on a mission..!!!!  Love it

Cannot wait to see how you get on, Don’t forget to use the weigh in section and don’t forget the all important body measurements at this stage – sometimes you can lose crazy inches but it doesn’t show on the scales..!!

Smashing goals left right and centre 😁 haha xx

Hi there,

A very silly question but any advice in going for a poo? Desperate to go but scared to push?

Nothing silly about constipation that for sure – have a read of this article, could be a few hints and tips on this.  Also remember to keep yourself up and mobile will help too.   If things are still a struggle you could speak with your local pharmacy, there are aids to help you go that you can buy over the counter  xx

https://bandboozled.co.uk/suffering-from-constipation/

Hi all, glad your surgery went ok.. oh really I thought the opposite I didn’t feel any pain and I had so much pain after my 3 c-sections.. I thought that part was a breeze lol I’m 31.. I’m on my last 3 days of liquids and I’ve got to be honest I’m finding it so hard I’m missing the texture of food now and having to cook for the children and hubby I just want to eat too.. but I’m fighting it out and in bed by 7 😂😂.. I’m hoping the scales are kind to me come Wednesday when I have the dietarition call.. I went also with the hospital group at Dolan park  xx

I’m on day six today.

Sorry to hear you struggling at moment first time you get band its all new and can be quite frightening give few more days if you only just had surgery an keep in touch with Nicky and Sue they will support you over the next few weeks xx

Totally true Jean everyone heals differently and it really is an individual assessment…Hi Kulmoon, like Sue said if the thicker fluids are giving some discomfort… make sure your doing your 20 seconds between n thin them down… things will settle if not irritated and try not to get yourself worked up and stress can really effect the stomach and may be having an impact on things too….  your doing ok

Most go thru some issues at the start so your not on your own xx

Hey Kulsoom, how are the liquids going now? You feeling ok now?

Hi Kelly,

It was just this evening that things are looking up finally. I was getting very depressed thinking that this would be my life. One of pain and discomfort. So taking pain killers regularly and gaviacon. Hope it gets better from here on in.

Thanks for asking

kay

xx

Hi Kelly,

You are so right. Things are feeling better slowly. It’s been a better day today. Not too much pain. So are we counting calories now in the soft food stage?

kay