La_madam

Tellie You are filled too tight is what it sounds like to me.Please call your Dr. and tell him all of this it may be something as simple as haveing .5cc's removed. You do not want to do damage to your esophogus do you? You do not want to be completely unfilled do you? This is what will happen if you do not call your doctor and go in for a slight unfill Please call your doctor. This is not normal and you need to get answers.

Penni Well at least you are in "cute" hands with Dr. Billy and you don't have to go to TJ. and Yor getting two for the price of one...get the protrusion thing fixed and getting your port straightened out which will be a plus for any future fills. Keep us posted and let us know when your surgery date is...

Hi Ann Welcome to LBT This is a very supportive group of women and men. Everyone here is very knowledgable and caring. You will enjoy this group and this site very much wether you are a lurker or a poster. Congrats on your decision to get the band, it is the best thing I have everdone. It takes the "diet" out of losing weight. Good Luck to you and I look forward to seeing you here often

Hi Alex Welcome Back..so glad to hear you had a great time. I've only been to the beaches in New Jersey once sinceI live on the west coast but I was so amazed at how much distance there is from the san to the shore..such wide stretches of sand. it's not like that here on the west coast. A couple of ounces is nothin' I call that fluff weight, it will be off in no time

Hi Pam and welcome! Any freind of Alex's is a friend of ours. Congratulations on your wieght loss and being banded. You will love your band. Keep us posted on your progress ...

Penni I felt restriction with Water after my fill but two days later I could guzzle too but what I found out is when I drink ice ice cold water I tighten up..strangest thing As far as how much to eat..you will know when to stop ..atleast I did. I find myself having to take the smallest bites and eat real slow otherwise I feel like I'm backing up and I get that golf ball feeling in my chest like I'm going to PB..mouth starts watering and it's very painful. I've been lucky though no PB so far. My doctor had different post fill instructions then Dr. Billy. I was just on 3 days of liquids then I could go to solids. my first solid meal after my fill was one chicken thigh (skinless) from El Pollo Loco with about 1/4 can of green Beans and I was satisfied. It has been almost 5 weeks since my fill and I can eat more then that now but I have lost 2 pounds a week since my fill for a total of 10 pounds. It's amazing. Just take it slow going the first couple of days on solids. Good Luck

Well I continue to have the left side pain, its like a sideache from running to much. I did call my Dr. and he said it was normal...do any of you experience this? I'm 3 months post op..when does this go away or does it ever go away? Normalyy with me I notice it once a week but the past 4 days it is constant. Not unbearable but noticeable. Have any of you had your port flip? if so what does it feel like? I know I'm paranoid but if any of you have ever expereinced this please POST about it. I know my doctor tells me it's normal but I do'nt feel normal Thanks

"if you're going through Hell, for God's sake keep on going! Don't stop and get stuck there..." It is really true. What a great saying ! I will have to remember this one

Janie I noticewhenever my calorie intake is low forthe day I get real lethargic and sleepy. I too take my Vitamins and get in all my Protein but I still have days whenI'm real tired. Try tracking your calories for the day and see how many you are consuming.Anything under 1200 is going to make you so tired. Atleastfor me it does. Just a thought..

I have just the opposite feeling on telling everyone. I tell anyone and everyone who aks. For me it makes me want to succeed. I own a restaraunt so I'm always around food. When I'm eating at work and everyone knows I have had surgery I make so much better food choices it actually helps me to stay motivated and want to succeed. Since everyone knows and I am under a microscope I have been very successful so far I think 33 pounds in 3 months. Everyone has their own reason for telling or not telling this is just my story.. People are noticing and I love it!

Becky how did you know your port snapped? what were your symptoms.

I just re read your post...you said this was not happening until your last fill of 3cc's? Becky I bet you are filled to tight. This is what happens when you are filled to tight.....the reflux and the heartburn. Even though you may have had your fill awhile ago, sometimes it can take a week to kick in. Sometimes even though you can eat fine it can still one day change. my fill fluctuates..somedays I have so much restriction and some days I hardlly have any. what was in your band before the 3cc's? what is the total fill ammount now? I can almost guarantee you are filled to tight. You should cal lyour doctor and explain it to him , he may want you to come in and take some of it out. .5 cc's removed can make a huge difference . Dont wait if this continues, you can do damage to you esphogus and have to be completely unfilled fo awhile.

Becky it could be the dairy. For me it causes alot of mucus build up. I have not had ice cream since being banded but I do drink milk and I get a mucus ball in my throat everytime. so if you are eating ice cream at night it could be from that too.

Penni.. Was Dr Billy cute? I'm looking for a cutie. Dr. Ortiz & Martinez are both hotties in my book.But I'm in between Dr Billy and Dr ortiz so If I ca ngo north rather then south, I would much rather do that. Glad to hear you had an awesome experience with him. How much does he charge for fills? Does he do them under fluoroscopy? It's great to know he takes Mexican patients. 1cc is a good fill for the first one. I had 1.1cc's and can totally tell a difference. it is just enough for me. Thank God you got answers on your tubing, obviously he was correct in his statement that some doctors just have a certain technique since Delarla's did the same thing unfortunately she was'nt as lucky as you to know have it break through the skin.I hope you have it done soon so Vegas is not compromised for you. We need you there Miss Coordinator. I'm happy for you that you got answers and your mind is at ease. Good Luck with your fill...

I was so nervous when I went to solid foods. I had the same questions and fears as you do. Just remember to chew chew chew and take small bites and eat slow. I have not PBed yet and I have had one fill. However there have been timesI though I was going to PB but never did. I just had thatgolf ball feeling in my chest and a bad case of the hiccups too. You have a good attitude, you're right it is a small price to pay. The liquid stage will be over before you know it. I had restriction for 9 weeks post op. Had my first fill 9 weeks out. Some experience restriction without a fill and some don't. Some have gotten to goal without ever having a fill. I just keep saying to myself..."the weight took me 38 years to get like this and it is going to take some time to get it off" I'm very patient and taking things slow. I do not want to ever be filled to tight and experience reflux or heartburn or the dreaded PB . I'm happy if I lose 1-3 pounds a week which is exactly what I have been doing. Dont get discouraged if you see the scale fluctuate 1-2 pounds once you start solid foods. it happened to me and after about 3 days my body had adjusted to the shock of real food ..I started to lose again. Good Luck to you...

Becky What is your fill level? I'm at 1.1cc's and have not experienced anything lkike that so far. One thing I do before I got to bed about an hour after I eat dinner actually is drink 24 oz of Water to make sure nothing is left in my pouch for whenI go to bed, this for me is why I think I have never experienced heartburn or reflux. I was told to do this from other bandsters and it helps. Somebody onnce post about seeds and the band. Check the archives and see if you can locate that post. I was personally never told to not eatseeds. I eat seeds on occassion. I have read that reflux or heartburn is a sign of being filled to much...couldthat be the case for you? When was your last fill and how much? Congrats on your 65 pounds so far. Keep it up!!

30 pounds in 3 months and the Dr. is upset? Wow! I'm 3 months out and I have lost 33 pounds my Dr. is very pleased with my weight loss. 30 pounds in 3 months is great. Your sister is doing just fine. I was told 1-3 pounds a week and thats exactly what I have been losing.. She is doing something right.

Leo. ..you look fantastic! Congratulations on the 80 pounds. I can't wait for that day to come for me . Keep up the great job

I was told by my doctor to not start working out until I was on solid foods wich was 6 weeks post op. I do not exercise much. I do ride my stationary bike 2 miles a day 3x's a week but I'm faithful with my 5lb dumbells and ankle weights. I work my arms and legs every night while I'm watching TV (20 minutes)Every now and then I will go for a walk with my neighboor and I have noticed a big difference just from that. My weight loss is 2 pounds a week so I'm content right now with that pace. I am just 3 months post op so the weight is coming off with minimal effort but I know as I get further out I will have to pick up the pace and exercise more to get the weight off.

Terry, When was your last fill? Could that be why you are not losing right now? I know once I had my fill I started losing again (2 pounds a weeks since my fill) Drinking alot of water is key for me too, the more I drink the more I lose it seems. What about exercise? Sometimes even though were are eating right if we don't exercise we wont lose . I'm fortunate to have only been banded 3 months so the weight is coming off with minimal exercise but I know as I get futher out the weight loss will slow down and I will have to kick in with the exercise more frequently. Just my thoughts.. Good Luck

Oh My 4cc's?? That sounds like an awful lot. When I did the barium I was closed up totally at 3 cc's. I have never heard of anyone getting 4ccs their first fill. Could it of been 0.4cc's? At 4ccs how do you eat? Whatever you do..eat real slow and tiny bites and chew chew chew. 12.1cc's has been tough for me with certain foiods going down. 4cc's I could not eat! I hope it works out for you but if you have heartburn or reflux or can't keep food down make sure you call your doctor. Don't wait

I too was not given any instructions about not to use a straw or eat corn or carrots...I do all of the above and have had no problems

Have a great time..take a few pics for us in your bikini See ya when you get back P.S We would of noticed !!!

Way to go Teresa! You are doing awesome..keep up the good work!

Letha What a great inspirational post!! Thank you for posting it. I'm sure Cindy will appreciate it as much as I just did. This one is going into my inspriational file for when I have those down days.