tell me your story, as mine is a little soo big and being monitored.
has anyone had to open their band all the way? or is their an alternative?
thanks

My surgeon and his nurse practitioner explained to me that "stretching the pouch" is erroneous.

This quote by Elizabeth E on obesityhelp.com may help explain things.

"From my understanding the term "pouch" is something that applied to the bypass not the Lap Band. We really have one stomach that is divided like an hour glass into two parts. The upper stomach above the band and the lower stomach below the band. The band functions like a funnel directing food into the lower stomach slowly so that the vagus nerve can be triggered into telling our brain that we're full. Since the food is moving from one part of the stomach to the other "stretching" doesn't really happen for us unless you really binge, which usually results in the food just coming right back up."

Are you sure that your band didn't slip a bit and they loosened it so that it would hopefully repair itself?

I think Tricia is right--there's no such thing as a stretched stoma. The stoma is the opening through the band, the narrow part in the hourglass. It's what's adjusted when the band is filled and unfilled.

My band is currently unfilled, so if you're being told that's needed I'm here to tell you it's NOT the end of the world. I really am only a little bit hungrier than I was with a tight band, and I have to admit it's nice to be able to eat a bit more bulk. I have gained a few pounds, but I certainly haven't experienced the out-of-control feeling some people seem to be afraid of. It's been more than four months since my un-fill and I'm only now starting to think it's time for another fill.

If you have a suspected slip, loosening the band is the first thing to try. I've seen people have things settle back into place once the band is a little looser. Is that what's going on?

Well, it is my doctor looking at an espohogram telling me that the stoma is stretched. . .so i kinda have to go with what she says, and I saw it for myself, and it does look bulg-ee.

alexandria,
why did you have to have your band unfilled. is that normal for people that have the bands for awhile?

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I had extreme pain in the middle of the night. It seemed to be in my upper stomach. The next day I didn't feel any restriction (or at least I didn't think much). You hear about pouch stretching all the time.

I have since felt restricition, but it seems to be mild to moderate. If I get excited (or ride in the car with my husband (alias Mario Adretti), I feel like my band is tightening up like a nut on a bolt.

I still need to learn the difference between head, heart and physical hunger. I'm staying away from fills for now. As long as I continue to lose at least one pound a week, I'll be content. My goal had been for the first fill to last 2 months. I think I'm about 3 weeks out now. The procedure was painless for me, but ohhhhhh those darned liquds and mushies for 3 days!!!! Don't want to do that too often.

Sandra

Sorry--prior post was a reply to a PM.

Excuse me!

hi i was wondering if its normal to eat alot but what is alot 2 you

HI

I been concerned about dilation because of what i have read. I think your mind can work overtime sometimes. I was a little hypo at the begining and being a newie :p i no expert. I be honest i am four weeks post-0p and i begining to worry at the amount i can eat?:hungry: now?
So just be strong if there no pain there probably no problem, my nurse explained i no if there wa a problem. i be in pain? :biggrin1:

Hugs

Lana

You might need a fill already. Check out some of the other's stories. I would also venture to stay your still healing so your stomac shouldn't be stretched at this point.

hi i m stef from england i ve had gastric bypass and wondered if i can be a member as i m currently with a support group called wlsinfo and would love to hear from your weightloss experiences ihave lost 9 stones 3 lbs since february 2006, god bless to you all on the 5th aniversary of 9/11 love stefanie xx