So how does this band work? In my previous post I stated it wasn't second stomach. And that is true. It does NOT give me a second stomach. What is does is create a funnel (what the weightloss surgery dietician calls it).
So I am going to break it down for you into parts - and this is where you need to imagine it in your mind. And then I will post a photo - see if you were right.
The band comes in 3 sections, the PORT, the TUBE and the BAND. The port sits on the inside of me just located near my belly button. You cannot see it, you can't really feel it and honestly the only thing you can see is my scar. The Tube is what connects the port to the band. And the band is the vital part. It sits at the top of my stomach. Remember those strict few weeks AFTER my surgery. This was enforced so I have my stomach enough time to mould over the band. The surgeon actually stitches part of my stomach OVER the band, but the resting and strict eating allows that to heal forming a more solid healing process.
So the band itself, like I said sits on the top of my stomach - and it actually sits just above the hunger receptors. I was told in my first dietician appointment that BEFORE the band most people just eat and eat until those receptors scream I AM FULL! In my case my stomach was so large I either ignored those screams or I kept on eating because my brain never triggered that feeling. With the band because it takes a while for food to pass through the funnel the receptors are triggered quicker. Sending that message to the brain - hey I am FULL you can stop eating. And that could happen after 6 mouthfuls of food (that depends on how much fluid is in your band). That's the basics of the band. The port is where the surgeon sticks in a needle and fills my band with fluid. Or saline :)
This is what tightens the band and this is what the tubing is for - it takes the fluid from the needle/port to the band.
There are different size bands - I have a large on that can hold 15mls of fluid. I currently have 7mls (I think LOL).
So here is a diagram of what it is...



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