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My surgeon was Dr. Ortiz. My band is J&J SAGB VC. It has a 10 cc's capacity. Did Dr. Corvala gave you a card? I got a card with the band model on it... If your band has a 10 cc's capacity maybe 3cc's is not much. Where did you got your fills? You should call Dr. Corvala's office and find out. Good luck!

I want to share my first fill experience... I was banded April 21st 2011. I was having major hunger issues, so last friday I traveled to Tijuana for my first fill. My doctor does it under fluoro. My fill was 7cc's. My Dr. decided to go aggresive since my pre-surgery BMI was 29. He says he's done this with a hand full of patients and works great. He also decided to go this route since I was staying in San Diego for the weekend, so I was close enough to go back if I had any issues. He put me on liquids for 24 hrs... Solids after that... The day of the fill I was scared to death but I toleraded my liquids fine... So it is 6 days after my fill and everything is good; no stuck, no PB... And eating pretty well.... So as far as I'm concerned, going back to Mexico for my fill was worth the travel... My weigth loss has been very slow... 4 lbs a week after surgery and 2 lbs in4 weeks... I hope to start loosing a little more now.

I had surgery 04/21/11... Last friday I traveled to Tijuana for my first fill. My doctor does it under fluoro. My fill was 7cc's. I had nothing in my band to begin with. My Dr. decided to go aggresive since my presurgery BMI was 29. He says he's done this with a hand full of patients and works great. He also decided to go this route since I was staying in San Diego for the weekend, so I was close enough to go back if I had any issues. He put me on liquids for 24 hrs... Solids after that... The day of the fill I was scared to death but I toleraded my liquids fine... So it is 6 days after my fill and everything is good; no stuck, no PB... And eating pretty well....

I drove after 5 days with no problems.

I like this idea!

I'm not loosing weight either. I have been banded for 3 weeks. My doc says it is normal. The firsts weeks are for healing. I feel your frustration...

Many of us experienced similar recovery process, It will get better. Hang in there!

Hi Everybody, I was wondering how soon after surgery you can have your first fill... My surgeon said 6 to 8 weeks. I was banded on 4/21/11 and I feel great, so much that I can eat basically everything (not that I'm doing so). I have been very careful with the quality of food I eat, however I can eat pretty much the same than after sugery, no PB'ing, no vomiting and no stuck episodes. I also have lost maybe 3 lbs... I'm struggling with hunger big time. I don't want to rush things out and screw up my surgery, but I was wondering how soon after surgery you had your first fill. I would like to have mine as soon as possible but safely. Thank you all!

Thank you all for your responses. I live in San Francisco and had surgery done in Tijuana. so I will be going back for my fills, my doctor do it under fluoro. Melissa, you are so right, I am trying to make right choices, but to be honest, I'm not sure I can trust my self for long... I will call my doc tomorrow, I know that after the first fill I may not have enough restriction, but any help would be great.

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz a couple of weeks ago 4/21/11. Everything went great, over all a great experience. I can't wait for my first fill... now I can almos eat normally... no pain, no discomfort, so I'm going on will power and its hard... I live in San Francisco and I'm planing on going back to Tijuana for the fills,

Hi girls! Your support means a lot to me. I do feel really bad about my self already... Teekki, when i read you post I felt less of a failure. I tought about posting about my situation, but after reading how some people feel that if you don't have perfect behavior and self control, you don't deserve to be banded I decided not to. Thank you for starting this thread and being so caring and supportive. That's what I needed. I'm perfectly aware of the do's and don'ts... I also know that I have a disfunctional relationship with food and believe me, I'm trying my best to stay on track. I was self pay... I want this to work... Hearing about your little sister is encouraging!!! Thanks everybody!!!

Dear Lord, I do hear you... I was banded on April 21si, I have been on solids for a few days now and I did eat some doritos too, I can also eat bread with no problem... This morning I had 2 frozen waffles... nothing.... I am so depressed... I know the band is just a tool and so on, however, and don't feel the "tool" is helping me much... basically I'm going on will power and is so darn hard... In top of that, I haven't lost weight so I feel like a complete looser... Just today, reading your post, I'm talking about this... I know every body mean well by giving tough advice... I just don't think I can take it right now... So... from me to to you.... You are not the only one going trough this... me too, and it sucks!!!

Hi dlucia, How are you feeling today? If you think that codeine may be too much, try taking tylenol for a couple of days while the swelling subside. It is a matter of a couple of days. I have been banded for just a few days more than you, and drinking doesn't hurt anymore... I can feel the Water going down my esophagus, but it is alittle better every day.... Keep on drinking dear, you don't want to get dehidrated. I believe that down the road, once we get to our goal we are going to look back and think that all this things bothering us now are so worth it. Keep up the good job!!!

I did experience some thight feeling for the first 2 or 3 days, then it started getting better. Are you taking anything for post surgical pain? I could tell when the analgesic effect was over when drinking became painful... Hang in there, your husband is right, you are still swollen... Try gatorade (the low cal one). Give it a few days and it will get better. Take care

Hello everyone, I got banded April 21 in Tijuana, I think that before surgery I convinced my self that surgery was going to be a brezze... ugghh... Not quite... The first night after surgery I could barely sleep due to pain... The first 3 days I was in a lot of pain y my abdomen was sooo swollen. I went back to work on the 25th... I think it was too soon for me... For a few days my abdomen was actually bigger than before. Is going down now. Is interesting how our post-op diets are so different... I had to stay in clear liquids for 4 days, then full liquids and creamy Soups (strained) until I complete 21 days... No mushies for me... From liquids to solids. I'm reading how excited everyone is about loosing weight already... I have lost maybe 2 lbs, if any... 7 lbs before surgery, but barely anything after. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little dissapointed. Funny thing; I was never a big fan of taco bell, but today it sounds delicious to me!!

Wow!!! Great ideas everyone. I was afraid I was going to get bored with the typical chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors... But you gave me lots of great ideas... Off note.... I'm getting addicted to this forums. Is like finding a bunch of new friends you really like

Hi everyone, I got banded 4/21, I'm still on Clear liquids... (Laast night I dream on hamburguers all night LOL) Does anybody has an advice on brands of Multivitamins, liquid Calcium, B-complex we need to take. I read about someone blendign everything on a shake... Woud you mind sharing your "formula" Also, what's your favorite brand of Protein?

Thank you for starting this topic... We are in the exact same place. It really helped to read all your answers. Let's hang in there!!

Where do you buy the sugar free chocolate syrup (Fox u-bet) ?

Thanks a lot!!! I don't want to show at GNC and spend hours looking at the labels while I'm in pain... How wondeful to have a group of people around you supporting you>

That's good to know.

Wow... I feel much better reading this thead... I got banded 4/21 and the chest pain is BAD... I can't take a deep breath because it hurts. My diets seem a little different than most of yours... I have one week of clear liquids and 3 weeks of shakes and liquid soups. The worst pain i feel is this feeling that air is coming up and I need to burp but nothing comes up. My incision where the pot is also hurts like heck... I'm supposed to go back to work tomorrow. I'll try...

Hello britgirl, I have my surgery scheduled for april 22 in Tijuana, Mexico... I feel less anxious knowing that we are all going trough this together!!!