jen043454

Went to the PA and had a slight unfill today. They put 1 CC in on Friday, and took .6 CC out today. I am able to drink fluids with no problem, and the surgeon suggested I get some frozen yogurt (even though it's a slider!) to get some calories in ASAP. I was more than willing to eat some froyo, and thrilled that I am still restricted, but not closed off! Thanks for the support ladies!

I suppose part of the problem could possibly be that I hadn't had liquids after my fill. Because my last 3 fills went so smoothly, I went staight to tomato soup, as I had in the past. I'll certainly switch to strictly liquids, and feel how a day of that goes!

That last bit was supposed to say: I'm not gurgling, I'm able to drink Water, and not in any pain other than the discomfort when I slime.

I was banded 05/11/2012. My insurance is being dropped 11/01/2012 due to being laid off (my warehouse merged with an affiliate). I am covered for band related maintenance until 11/11/2012, since CDPHP covers 6 months at no additional cost. For that, I am grateful. I had a fill appointment on Friday 10/12/12 at 4pm. Up to this point, I had three fills and had lost a total of 50+ pounds since my pre-surgery weight. I've been happy with 50 lbs in 5 months, but realized that lately I've been exceeding the 1 cup portion size, felt physically hungry more often (I'm almost always mentally hungry, but I've been working on determining the difference between the two). The surgeon came in to visit while the PA was getting ready for the fill. He suggested that since I'm only covered for less than 1 more month, that perhaps I should consider a "slightly more aggressive fill". To be honest, I don't know how much is in my band, and I don't care to. Each person reacts differently to how full their band is, and I feel like it's just a number which I don't need to focus on. I digress... I agreed to the "slightly more aggressive fill", as I was told it would be covered by my insurance, and I could always come back for an unfill if need be. If I needed to get an UF over the weekend, I could go to the hospital which did the surgery (which the surgeon and PA work in the hospitals off campus bariatric unit, where I had my fill). I had eaten a cup of food for lunch prior to my visit, as this is my personal way of combating mental hunger. (This way I don't feel like I'm "missing out" with the super restriction from a recent fill.) I was able to get the fill, drink an entire 8 oz of Water, and could touch my toes with no issues. I was not hungry at all Friday. Saturday, I was physically hungry, but couldn't get mushies down. Instead, I had a large orange juice with Calcium and Fiber. Lunch time I was still hungry, and tried a bite of pureed chili. I wasn't stuck, but ended up getting slimy for about an hour, after ONE SPOONFUL. I called my PA, who told me this was "semi-normal" for an aggressive fill. She suggested I "just wait it out" and see how I feel by Monday. (2 1/2 days after the fill.) For the entire day of Saturday, I was able to eat one can of tomatoe Soup, with 5 crackers mushed into it. Today, Sunday - I am not mentally or physically hungry. I do realize the importance of calories and fluids, so tried a bit of milk. Not happening! It made me slime and feel pukey for an hour. Later, I tried iced coffee, crystal lite, and orange juice - all with the same result. I waited until 5.30, (after not eating any food since the day before, which was a can of tomatoe soup, 6 crackers and a spoon of chili) and tried tomatoe soup, which has always been my "go to" food when I'm having issues. I got down two spoonfulls, and started to slime again. The office is closed today, and when I called the hospital and explained the situation, they again told me to "just wait it out". Can anyone tell me if this is normal, or if the surgeon, PA and hospital are all dismissing my concern? I suppose since this was an "aggressive fill" some issues would present themselves for a few days. Perhaps I'm just worried because my other fills were only super restrictive for 24 hours or so? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks! I'm not gurgling, I'm able to drink water, and

Hi Sasha, I was banded 05/11/12, and just had another fill on Friday of this past week. Friday night I could drink Water, nibbled on a cracker (until it was absolute mush), and that was pretty much it. Yesterday, I had a can of low sodium progress tomatoe soup, a glass of iced coffee, and sips of water all day. I wasn't hungry at all, but had that "mental hunger". I was concerned that I wasn't getting enough calories or fluids, but the DR's office told me to "hang tight for a few days". Today, I've had a glass of orange juice, two nibbles of chocolate (bad, I know, but I'm also PMSing), and two spoonfulls of tomatoe soup. I'm thinking I'm too tight, and need an unfill, but I'm trying to do what my DR's office says, and just wait it out. THIS fill is totally unlike my previous fills. THIS fill feels like "OMG I can't eat/drink/get comfortable". My LAST fill was very similar to what you're experiencing now, just reversed. If it wasn't cold and/or soft - I couldn't eat it. Let me tell you, it took a long time to get used to room temperature soup! That sensation only lasted about a week, thank heavens! Keep us posted on how you're doing, and I'll hope for the best for us both!

I was banded 05/11/2012, and have lost 50 lbs as of today... While I KNOW that's a huge accomplishment which I've worked very hard to achieve... I'm suddenly... depressed? I know that sounds crazy, when I should be throwing myself a party and being super stoked about it, but I guess when I looked at the ticker and saw I still have 80 more lbs to go before I'm at my goal.... it was frustrating to see I wasn't even 1/2 way there! I'm working so hard - making sure I eat correctly, take my time, add in more exercise, stop making excuses for myself and have realistic goals. If you had asked me a year ago if I'd be down 50 lbs by now, I probably would have laughed at you (then thrown something, cried, drank some wine, and hated you forever!). Now? It seems that rather than be proud of myself for how far I've come, I'm fixated on how far I have to go. Ho-hum.

I've had my second fill about two weeks - I'm at 3.8 CC in a 10 CC band. I'm not hungry very often (except around 10 am and again around 5, though I drink lots of Water, eat lots of tomato Soup, and have my Protein for dinner). Am I possibly in the green zone, or am I just getting comfortable (lazy) and thinking "this is enough?" I haven't added exercise back in yet (I know, I know...) so I'm sure that's why my loss hasn't been as substantial as I had hoped. I'm aiming to add the gym back into my routine next week after midterms are over. How do I know when I'm in the "green zone"? Suggestions or comments, please?

I didn't see my surgeon today - I saw a PA because my surgeon was running really behind schedule.... I think next time I'll just reschedule if that's the case. Not because of the issue I'm having, but also because the PA kept "jabbing" at my port and couldn't get the needle in. I actually bled through a bandaid. He kept insinuating it was my fault because of the type of pants I was wearing (they're actually the same pants I wore on my last weigh in / fill. I like to wear the same clothes so I know it's not my uniform weighing me down?). Oh well. I lived through it, and learned. Next fill I'll be sure to stick with liquids. Thanks Shauna <3

Thanks for the suggestion! Im waiting on the kettle now to have some tea. I hope it helps. No more peppers for me

I had my 2nd fill today. (Banded 05/11/12). I'm at 3.8 CC in a 10 CC band. My dr told me to try eating, slowly, as my last fill provided no restriction what so ever. I took one bite of a cooked jalepeno, swollowed it and immediately though it was a bad idea... I PBed up the one bite within second, and have been PBing up "foam" for the last 20 minutes. If I'm not burbing, I'm hiccuping or spitting up foam. It's not painful, but it's a psychological freaky thing. Ideas, suggestions, support?

I'm about 3 weeks in bandland and can honestly say: The first week was simple because I was in too much pain to eat. The second week I was feeling better, but still in the mushies stage. This week, I can eat solids (some) and seem to have remembered my love affair with food. This week I've GAINED two pounds. It wasn't until I stepped on the scale tonight that I realized that I had gained, that I'm neglecting this tool which I'm fortunate enough to have. To me, I need to decide if it's more important to be satisfied by the carbs, or to be healthy. It was an easy choice for me, and I'll be going back to liquids and Soups in an attempt to "reset" myself. I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do!