Why don't I lose with a too-tight fill??

[Guest guest]

Why don't I lose with a too-tight fill??

It's easy to think that we want as tight a fill as possible so we can

eat as little as possible.

Let's look at that.

This is the OPPOSITE of what the band needs, and one of the first

things we have to change about our thinking. it's something our

Facilitators should stress from the first contact, imo.

first, starvation diets never work. Even if we do lose bit, it all

comes right back - plus more. this is what happened countless times

before, for most of us, in previous diet attempts. We starved

ourselves, were miserable and deprived, then stopped the starvation

diet and quickly regained - every time. this is a big part of what

made us fatter and fatter, Wew have to get away from thinking we must

eat as little as possible.

Deprived diets set our metabolism " set point " way too low, and

made/make it impossible to keep weght off. We have to eat much better

with banding to allow our metabolism " set point " to normalize.

We have to eat ENOUGH with the band to not threaten the body. Enough

to meet nutrition and calorie needs, but just enough less than we

need to be able to lose slowly and safely. This is about 1200-1500

cal minimum, and those starting over about 300# need about 1800-2000

cal in the first few months, at least. We can safely decrease a bit

later, after we are thinner.

If the body is threatened with too few calories, it will not lose and

goes into the " starvation mode. " (I prefer call it the " depivation

mode " , since we are not really starving.) the body grabs onto every

calorie within 5 miles and refuses to lose.

Some make the mistake here of running for MORE fill and then can eat

even less. This is where a good pre-fill assessment by the Fill

Practitioner is essential. the patient may well need LESS fill, and

certainly not more. some pactitioners give more fill any time someone

asks for one, sadly, with no asessment.

There are many bad things a too-tight fill does.

1. long-term esophagus damage - the pressure on the esophagus causes

sometimes-permanent damage. more and more studies are coming out on

longterm esophagus damage from the Band. Some require band removal.

This can be minimized or prevented entirely by never keeping a too-

tight fill.

2. immediate esophagus damage - swelling, inability to swallow,

inability to eat enough so we go back to soft easy food - and often

regain.

3. Trying to keep a too-tight fill is just begging for a pouch or

esophagus dilation, slip or erosion.

3. Inability to get the nutrients needed for health.

4. Reflux is common with a too-tight fill - dangerous for a huge of

reasons (see the Reflux document in the files)

5. Then we are sometimes put on acid-reducers to help heal after an

unfill, and these block nutrient absorption - and absorption of some

medications also.

To avoid a too-tight fill, we must know the definition and symptoms

of a too-tight fill! This is our reponsibility, as we cannot take

part in teaching and support groups that a local doc may offer in the

office.

The best we can do for patients far from their surgeons is give

informaton and teaching online in groups like these - and hope people

take part often, read the files, ask questions, and learn what is

needed to stay safe and do well.

Please ask about even the tiniest concern! for every question asked,

there are many many others also reading and learning, and who n share

their experiences.

We want you to do great and avoid the common Band problems! we CAN do

far better than the average 60% excess weight lost, with committtment

and education.

Sandy r

patient educator