failing big time at lap band

I was banded Aug 2006 and have gained almost all of the weight back due to non compliance with the band. 

I have struggled with the band since i initially had some of the fluid removed and then had it all taken out and so now have maybe 3cc's in my 4 cc band. 

I have minimal restriction and follow none of the rules, primarily i drink when i eat. 

I am so frustrated as this was not a procedure covered by insurance and has been all self pay. 

I dont think gastric bypass is an alternative as i think they have similar rules for eating??  not for sure though. 

Anyone gained it all back and started over and been successful?  If so give me a shout out please!!!

Simply, I don't think thhe Bypass is gonna work either if you aren't willing to change your dietary habits.  RNY folks, still cannot eat and drink at the same time.  Plus there is the stringent supplementation schedule.

Try getting back to the basics.

I'm struggling too.  See the earlier post of mine "thread for those who are not doing well".
 
Drinking when I eat is my problem too.  Read what others have said - it really inspired me.

I have only lost 24 lbs in 8 months. 

Just wanted to say don't lose hope, hang in there, you're not alone in your struggle.  Those of us *****ally struggle with compliance need to be here for each other.  We can't give up.  We can do this.

I'll post again tomorrow - it's a chance to be honest everyday about where we are.  :)

I'm so glad you posted!

It's not going to work if you feel no restriction.  Maybe a visit to your doctor is in order, time to tweak the fill level.

That being said, you do have to follow the rules about eating, especially the drinking while eating.  All that does is wash everything through the pouch.

And avoid the slider foods as much as possible.

Good luck.  Let us know how you fare.

Jan

I don't think that you can fairly assess whether or not you have restriction if you are drinking while you eat.

No surgery will be successful if you are not willing or able to do your part.

I strongly recommend that you get back in touch with your surgeon and discuss what is going on.

I think that you need to seek the adivce of a therapist who specializes in eating disorders ---- if you cannot abide by your doctor's eating plan, you have a problem.

If you can give up the liquids and get back to a band-friendly way of eating for a week, you should be able to determine if you really are under-restricted --- and schedule a fill.

This is what the funny part is..........i am a therapist.  but I do not specialize in eating disorders.  This is so frustrating to me.  Thats for the feedback thus far. 

You know what??  Forgive yourself and give yourself permission to start over and put the past where it belongs...in the past.  My suggestions are: 1). see your MD and discuss with him/her your struggles  2.) maybe get a fill  and 3.) see someone who specializes in eating disorders.  Sometimes we use food as a way to regulate our emotions instead of naming the emotion and acknowledging it.  We ALL have food issues, and you're not the first one to sabotage your success and you sure won't be the last.  We are ALL on a learning journey and it will come down to who or how many want success more as to who will or will  not succeed

Just determine to get back up and go forward without looking back!!

Good Luck!.

Dunno what kind of therapist you are, but the approaches that have worked best for me are CBT and addictions oriented.  You are behaving as if addicted -- you repeatedly do the same bad things to yourself even though you know better and don't want to -- so perhaps therapy with an addictions approach would be helpful.  It has sure helped me.

If you are a food addict, self-destructive eating is no different than an alcoholic's slugging back a fifth of Scotch, except there's no hangover or law against driving while fat.

Even therapists have problems. So don't feel bad asking for advice and support.

Maybe the kind of help that would be most effective for you is more of a hands-on type of support. A more tangible type. Maybe going to a support meeting and getting involved with the people there will pull you through this. Getting into relationshps with people who are more 'real', and thus have a stronger impact on you, than a support group on the internet. Maybe this forum and that support group combined would be good for you.

                                                        

 

Thankfully, the band gives us more than one chance, as long as we have not damaged our stomach.

but you will have to be very serious about change. There are many things the band requires o us, and it just does not work if we don't make many changes.
Drinking with meals is the least of them, and there are some studies coming out that suggest this doesn't really matter anyway.

It's the food choices, exercise, daily fluids, and more that matter. We also have to do some serious psychological work to find why we sabotage ourselves and make poor choices - and are resistant to doing the things we know are needed. I often call the band "the great equalizer" - no matter if we are a banded doc, nurse, teacher, minister, therapist, housewife,PhD or grade-school only, male, female, black white or green - we all have much to learn and much to change to do well. We all start iff knowing very little and must learn a lot to stay safe, prevent trouble, and reognize problems quickly before they get worse.

your first step is to see your surgeon for an assessment and fluoro, to be sure there is no dilation or other problems. then , start with the basics again. That's all you can do - most are the same as 3 yrs ago.

also see my PM, please.

sandy r
band educator
at goal 5.5 yrs