Goodness Lily, I cannot believe that they aren't helping you or that they aren't giving you any guidance with regards to moving forward -that's really poor! Did you go private? Or did you go on the NHS - if the NHS contact PALS at the hospital for help and advice explaining to them that you don't feel you're getting the help/service that you need.
With the gas pain, what have you tried to help ease it? Have you or are you able to see your GP for some help in that area?
I saw my provider yesterday for another fill and am at a similar point to you, now being at 10mls, but we had a long conversation about pain and issues with a band, and he was explaining that sometimes people get to a point where the band isn't working as it should be, or the person isn't working with the band and often this can be from having too many fills too quickly, or getting to a level of restriction that they don't realise is there. He was saying sometimes at this point, the patient will benefit from having a considerable defill, allowing the body to settle with the band and then building it back up. We had gotten onto this subject as I physically cannot eat breakfast (or any food really before 12-1pm) unless its a yoghurt, and he was saying that restriction at different times of the day is common, but also, it could suggest that a defill would benefit so that I could eat in the morning and am then not putting pressure on my band when I can then actually eat (which is when my hunger goes through the roof lol). I can see his logic in terms of going back and starting over - but I would certainly reach out to PALS or someone at your provider to get you the help that you need, because suffering like this, isn't how it should be and longer term isn't good for you!
