Divebadger

Mary, It must be a Connecticut thing! I have lost 115 pounds since April, 2003 and no one really noticed a big difference until I was about 80 to 90 pounds down. Some people did, but I didn't get many comments until the last few months. Even so, I know what I have done....and you do too and that's all that matters....how you feel about your wonderful weight loss. You look great, keep up the good work.:cool:

Making bad food choices is all up to you, but don't fear the fills. Just because you had to be taken back doesn't mean you have to not get another fill...your body will adjust. I had 1.75 cc's and then went to 2.25cc's and had a terrible time. Doc took out .25 cc's and on my last fill, I was really nervous because of what had previously taken place. He put me back at 2.25 cc's and it has gone really well. BUT, each fill requires better and better food choices. You have to be super careful because you can't just continue eating as if it were before the fill. Small bites, quality solids and really small portions is what will get you through the tougher fills...if not, then it's time for a de-fill. Good luck....and don't forget, you didn't go and have major surgery to lose weight in order to eat chips and candy, although don't beat yourself up for eating those things every now and again. Just try to get back on track and then get yourself a fill. Take care.

My doc requires fills on an empty stomach and then it's liquids for a couple of days afterward (and then to mush and then back to solids). The more fills, the longer it seems to take to get back to solids.

Joann, I was also banded by Dr. Valin. It was in April and I had a 1.7 cc fill at about 6 weeks post op. I had some PB'ing, but not every meal. I really stuck to solid Proteins after about 3 to 4 days of liquid and mush after my fill, but I was definitely able to get back to eating 3 ounces of meat, etc. On my second fill, I had a much harder time and was Pb'ing whenever I had solids (or it would take me 3 hours to eat very little (1 to 2 ounces)). I called Debbie and had some of the fill taken out and it made a huge difference. We all have to be able to live with the band, so I suggest you give Debbie a call and see what she thinks. I think you may want to have .1 or .2 cc's taken out (that's all it would take to feel much better and prevent soft food syndrome). Good luck.

This was a hard one for me too. But do not drink for 45 minutes before a meal and until after 45 minutes after a meal. It does wash the food through and if you eat and then drink too quickly it does make you PB....I know from experience. Now I don't ever have a cup near me when I am eating.

I recommend bite sizes about the size of your pinky fingernail and yes, chew, chew, chew. Eat slowly and remember to eat good, healthy solid foods (I also recommend Protein first). Every doc and nutritionist are different, but I do think that the small bites and chewing is universal. I was banded 4/11/03 and have had two fills (and one de-fill). I still ocassionally PB, but for the most part, I know what I can and cannot tolerate. You'll learn what you can and can't do as you go along. For instance, I thought scallops would be an ideal food for me, boy was I wrong and it only took me about five tries to realize it's the scallops and not how I am eating them! Funny thing is, I can do most other shellfish and seafood just fine. So, for now, I avoid the scallops. Good Luck to you.

Hi Mary, That's a tough one. I am very happy that I got some taken out for the simple fact that now I can really drink liquid. I am so afraid that with the unfill that I will start eating more, so I have been super careful not to eat too much, but I am definitely feeling restricted after about 2 to 3 oz. of food, it just takes me less time to eat it (3 hours before versus, 45 minutes to an hour after). If you are ok with how you are eating and can live with it, I think that it is ok to continue as long as you are not dehydrated and not PB'ing. But, if you had just a little bit taken out (.1 or .2 cc's) it may make the difference and allow you to drink better. I know that the goal here is to lose weight, but we also have to live well and feel well, even if it means slowing down our weight loss a little bit. Remember, we can continue to get fill until the band is full. Having some taken out now doesn't mean you'll never feel restriction again, just wait until the next fill! Take Care,

Every doc is different though with the fills. My first fill was 1.75 cc's and my second was .5 cc's and that was too tight. Then he took it back .25 cc's and now I have 2 cc's in the band. My doc told me that some adjustments may only be .1 to .2 cc's and some may be .5 to .75 depending on where you are in your process.

The entire band, including the little line to the port holds 4 cc's. I think we have to stop thinking about what part of the amount of fluid that's in the band is directly restricting us. My doc demonstrated when fluid was in and when fluid was out of the band, the point is, it is restricting. The doc is not measuring the amount directly around the stomach versus the amount that leads to the port; they measure how much is in the total band. And I don't think anyone, except maybe the specs from BioEnterics (if you have the Lapband system), can tell you how much fluid is specifically in the port line (probably not that much).

The Bio-Enterics Lapband System holds 4 cc's of fluid.

Hi Nicole, pb'ing is "productive burping" or basically regurgitating food back up because it doesn't go down due to tightness. It is NOT something you want to do.

Mary, I had the unfill (.25 cc's taken out) and the difference is astonishing. I can eat more than 1/2 an ounce in an hour! It was taking me 3 hours to eat 1 to 2 ounces of food. I am so much happier. Also, I asked my doc about the gurgling and he told me that alot of gurgling after a fill (I think that may mean for a number of days) may (and he did say may) mean that the band is too tight. Since my un-fill, I haven't gurgled once and I am feeling alot less dehydrated because I can get my water in again. So keep an eye on your fill, it may be worth it to go slow with the fills, but if it's ok for you then more power to you! Take care,

Hi Mary, No, it really has nothing to do with the gurgling. In fact, when I gurgle and make noises, I generally know things are working just fine. I continue to be too restricted and am PB'ing more than I should after just 1/2 oz. of food or liquid. I am following all of the rules my doc has given me (small bites, lots of chewing, protein first, no junk, etc. etc.) and they want to take some of the fluid out of the band. I think the last fill was too agressive (I went from 1.7 cc's to 2.25 cc's) and I am hoping he just takes it back a little (.1 or.2 cc's). Hopefully that will make things better.

Well, after three and a half weeks of trying and alot of gurgling and noise (my esphogus must be in overdrive!), I need to have fluid taken out of the band.

The Hormel Turkey Chili without beans is excellent, low fat, high protein. I eat about 2 ounces and always add about a 1/2 ounce of low fat Sargento 4 cheese mexican mix and it makes an excellent lunch or dinner (before my second fill, it was about 4 oz. with 1 ounce of cheese). For me, it is easier than making chili (I am terrible at finding time to cook for myself) and I have not found any mice in it!

My fills have been a breeze...my doc uses Lidocaine first so there is no pain at all and an ultrasound to find the port before poking around. He found the port immediately and without pulling or pushing the port at all. On the second fill, the syringe was actually broken and they had the needle in me and had to de-fill the whole band, remeasure and then insert the fluid with the additional fill. I didn't feel a thing and it only took about 5 minutes.

Thanks Mary, Last night I did much better and feel much better. I appreciate your support....still gurgling though, but it's my happy weight loss gurgle!

Mary, Thanks for the advice. I have been eating very little, taking tiny bites and chewing like mad (it can take me almost an hour to eat 1/2 ounce of soft cheese). I have a call into the doc b/c I think I may need to have some taken out...it's been two weeks and solids are not something I can keep down (and I know how important solids are).

jOANNE, I have had two fills with Dr. Valin. The first was at 6 weeks and the second 8 weeks after that. Supposedly I am supposed to get another fill after another 8 weeks. However, I think I am a little too full and have a call into their office about taking some out. Dr. Valin is very careful and doesn't want people to be too full. I have also lost alot of weight and I know he takes everything into consideration when determining when to do fills and how much to do. By the way, most CT docs have huge waiting lists now (for Lapband or Gastric Bypass) so be patient.

I am a CT bandster and I used Dr. Valin. He was terrific and I highly recommend him. I know nothing about Dr. Barba, but if you go to www.obesityhelp.com and go local to CT, you can find out alot of info on all the docs who do the band in CT. I had my surgery in April of this year and it went very well with no complications. Good luck to you.

I have had two fills and have had gurgling and hiccups both times. The second fill was about a week and a half ago and I think it may have been too aggressive. I am gurgling like crazy and I have PB'd a number of times. Do you know if you get used to the tight restriction, or does it just make sense to have some taken out?

Hi Chrissy, Congratulations. I am from West Hartford and had my band surgery in April, 2003. Where did you have your's done, St. Raph's? Keep up the good work.

Hi, I just found this site. I had my Lapband surgery April 11, 2003 and am doing great. I have lost 62 pounds and am feeling great. I've had two fills (had one just last week) and I am just getting back to normal food (the second fill has been tough, but I have lost 6 pounds in 5 days!). Can't wait to keep reading posts! :banana