littlelove

Why didn't you have a fill earlier? Did you already have restriction from the band? I had my band 9-26-07 and have had my second fill. I am adjusting to this restriction level. Sometimes, I take a bite or two and have to stop. Crazy. and good. :biggrin1:

Hi, I read a lot of other peoples descriptions on different threads, and that provides a lot of information regarding how a good fill should feel. This is a very frequent question, and lots of info is available, just take some time to read peoples threads.

I am starting to get this drinking thing into a routine. In the morning I insist (to myself) that I drink a cup of water before anything else. I have a large watered down combination of espresso/rice milk/ice that takes me through the morning. I drink a cup of water before eating, try to do it at least 15-30 min before eating. So, drink, then my meal is ready, and eat. Wait an hour, that part is hard, I get very thirsty. Then I drink like crazy. repeat.

Hi, after my second fill, I can even feel water (if I drink quickly), so I have to drink reasonably paced, or I feel the "pressure" of it building up. When I eat, if I eat, chew until it is gone, I can eat about 300calories of meat/vegies. Then I can feel myself being topped off, if I were to continue eating it would feel kinda like gagging. I didn't feel this after my first fill, now I truly feel the band is working like the tool it is supposed to be. Thats my input. Before, I could eat a lot lot more. It took mistakes to feel the band, like eating raw veggies too fast, or not chewing well.

I pretty much stopped dealing with scales. I weigh myself the day I start my period and that is it. I don't like the little/and not so little fluctuations. I was weighed the day of my surgery, the day of my first fill, and now the day of my second fill. Thats enough for me. I can tell by how my clothes fit.

My husband has always enjoyed feeling my hipbones, but when I am heavier, he obviously couldn't. I am enjoying the subtle indications that he is enjoying by the lingering of the hands. He is obviously not conscious of it, I've tried to discuss it, but it is obvious.

Thanks for the feedback, pun intended, haha. I think I will learn this very quickly. I almost considered not having the fill, but then I realized, it was just another way of slowing myself down, putting up obstacles to the whole benefit of having the lap band. I just have to continue to listen to others, and adjust. Thanks again.:clap2:

What a difference the band makes! Now, my second week after my first fill, I am noticing how significant restriction is. I used to be able to gulp down a cheeseburger, (or four), in 10-15 minutes.:hungry: Now, I take a bite, and if I don't chew really good, I can only take about two bites, and I have to stop. If I eat slowly, and chew really well, I can eat one, in about 20-30 minutes, and I am very content. Its really awesome. :bounce: Except when I forget, and eat too quickly, then I get that knot in my chest. Takes a little bit, 5-10 minutes for it to pass. So far, I have only had one 'bad' incident. I tried eating some baby carrotts, raw, and they did not want to go down. They got stuck, and eventually forced me to bring 'em back up. Thats definitely something to avoid. Other then my poor little brain trying to catch up to the new process, which is actually no little thing, I think the band is a great tool! Any other happy campers?:eyebrows:

When I made the decision to get banded, I made many future decisions as well. That was the idea. The first month after surgery I slowly recovered, and I could feel the presence of the band, but slowly the eating limitations ease up. I got my first fill, and for this past week have been strangely tired,:notagree I think my mind is trying to say 'oh, you can't eat as much, you need to sleep', I found that I was grateful that my fill wasn't so tight, and I could feel like I can still eat a decent meal. Or my anxiety would be really high. I am very impressed with how I can eat, chew thoroughly, slowly, get full. No drinking. And I am full for several hours. I miss drinking during that time, but I know it's about retraining my habits. It's funny, to set myself up to succeed with the band, and then it strips away some old,familiar,comfortable habits. Thats the part I am feeling, missing. I look forward to hearing if others have similar experiences.:biggrin1:

I was happy to hear the amount you got. I have a 4 cc band, and my first fill was 2cc. I am considering a small fill. But I want to wait a month. It's all good.

Thanks! I am finding that no matter how prepared I might think I am, this is a rollercoaster ride, and I'm on it.:bounce:

I had, for the most part, a great first fill. My band is 9.75, I was hoping to try 2cc for my first fill. The tech who did it was inamed certified, he does, it seems most of the local fills. He averages 130 each month! He had me stand, he palpitated around my port area till he had a good feel for it, one stick, then he leaves the needle/shot in while we play around with the quantity of saline. He put in 2cc. Then he had me drink, and wait for the sensations to change. At 2.5 cc I could feel enough restriction with just water, that he backed it off to 2. The better safe then sorry mentality. He termed one sensation, like 'feeling the water in the back of my throat'. I didn't exactly feel that, but I did feel pressure or some type of sensation in the back of my throat. I know it worked, because I feel very cautious even when drinking. I am not in any hurry to irritate or rush things, and end up throwing up. so I just drank stuff today, my water, coffee, gatorade, v8, had a popsicle for dinner. I was able to take allergy medicine, so pills are ok so far. No port pain. Just an increased awareness of my band. Thats what I wanted.:clap2:

Hi, My mom had the gastric bypass, and wishes she had the band. She lost a dangerous amount of bone density, 60%, now she is on daily injections she does herself to stimulate bone growth. Also, nutrition is a huge problem for gastric bypass. I like the band, I view it just as permanent, but without many of the irreversable issues.

Where is the swelling you are talking about? Of course the stomach would be irritated from the band becoming tighter, hence the cautious diet for the next couple of days. And, the stomach does settle down, and recover, thus demonstrating if you need more restriction. I could imagine some tenderness around the port from being palpitated by the tech as they push around to get the location, and the actual spot where the needle goes into your skin could get sore. Any soreness, indicates the bodies natural defenses, and swelling is usually just more blood moving in to help with the healing process. Thats all I would figure.

Hi, I had an inamed certified technician do my fill today. I think your wife could definitely do it. And it could be a very lucrative endeavor for her. In our city, the Drs charge about $800. if you didn't use them for the surgeon, but you want them to do the first fill, after that it is less. However, the guy in the Drs office, also works in a small clinic, and he does fills for all the people who used other doctors. He told me he averages 130 fills a month. I believe it. Minus all the overhead he probably deals with, thats a nice little income. Anyway, for the people who were saying they could do their own fills, I mentioned that to him, and he made some good points about how much damage can be done with a needle, puncturing a lung, stomach, all kinds of things. So, it is much preferable to use a RN, who is used to working in controlled, sanitary, healthful conditions...:car: we all find very comforting.

thank you thank you thank you, I will look into him. I can always use a nice day trip.:clap2:

Hi, little love here, I was banded Sept. 26

Hi, I don't know how much yet. I was weighed on surgery day, Sept. 26th, and I know I have not lost like crazy, you guys are amazing, 30lbs, 22lbs!!!! I have my fill on Nov. 1st, and I will get weighed then. I will update then. I am guessing 5-10 lbs.:biggrin1: Meanwhile i want to figure out this weight loss ticker thing-a-ma-jig.

There are lots of good thoughts on this matter. I can understand the concept of not having things in the house, because they are so 'available' but not. I try to keep trader joes lime fruit floes, and one or two other things around that I can chow down on and not feel bad. The fruit floes are great, it satisfies my desire for sweet. My husband and I don't buy too much junk, it does help the kids, and us , to eat less of it. The way I see it, when kids go to school, or most places, everything is packed with sugar, so I don't feel like we need to keep much in the house. I don't do halloween, so I don't deal with all the candy crap. I have noticed now that my appetite goes up, as I have adjusted to the initial band placement. But the lady who said about taking it easy, focus on the positive, think about the good things that are coming, the positive actions you have already taken. Tomorrow has it's own anxiety, eat a snickers, eat some jicama, I love the asian pears. Just take some alone time, nice bath with music, candles, just getting in touch time.

Unfortunately I can understand why you feel the way you do. We experience that in other areas of life, and it can imaginably be that way in this instance. After all, business is business. But, thats an emotional response, to anxiety, fear... In a funny way, that is exactly what you should tell your doctor. This is all new, surely your Dr. has experienced all types of people, and he has had people not be entirely honest, perhaps with a variety of consequences. I think you should tell him your concern, and if he reacts with honesty and appreciation, celebrate, be happy you now have a physician you like and trust. If he gets an attitude, or you don't like him that much after all, go elsewhere. From what I see, there are fill spots all over.

What is WLIAZ? I figured out the AZ part. If I go to the Dr.Shwartz here in Tucson, it will cost me almost $1000. , and no floro. This guy works out of a clinic that services people who had their surgery elsewhere, and he doesn't charge excessively,$200, he uses the ultrasound. I would just love to have the barium security.

I don't call that pessimissm, I call that realism. :tired

Hi, thanks for your suggestion. I had my surgery in Monterrey, 3 weeks ago. I am scheduled for my first fill in two weeks, with a guy that seems to do all the fills in Tucson, at least for the Dr. that is local here. :bounce:

I am getting ready for my first fill, all the places in AZ that do fills, none do it routinely with fluoroscopy. But I was warned by my Dr. (Zapata), to avoid fills that don't use Xray, cause they can puncture, and make leaks in the port tube. My impression is that most people don't have Xray/fleuro when they get fills? Any comment?

This web site has great information, http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/tecmain.html. Did your doctor give you the serial number, or the box your band came in? That would also give you information that could be helpful. I found I have done just as much research post op, now I am willing to see some of the 'process' stuff. Take Care.:eek: