Constance

Tricia I am so sorry. We are here for you!

Wow, that sounds like a really tight fill might have aggravated your esophagus -- but I'm no expert. Maybe it was some kind of involuntary reflux? I think the stuck/burping was indicating you were too tight so taking out 1cc was a good thing! Also, I know the 10cc band can actually hold quite a bit more than that -- at least 11cc anyway. Do you have a surgical report or could you ask your surgeon what size band you have? I know that the CM and the CC are sometimes confused. You can have a 10CM band that holds 4CCs. Or 11CM that holds 10CC.

La Madam, that is so great! You are an inspiration!! Thanks so much for being here to support people with AND without the band.

Lisa, thinking of you and wishing you the best. Just relax, the pros will take good care of you! And we're here for you when you return!

At my local support group I met another woman who sees my fill doctor. (He was her surgeon.) She said he told her the same thing! She thinks it's crazy, too, and she is shooting for 1/3 - 1/2 cup of food at each meal. The support group UNANIMOUSLY agreed that any less than a 1/2 cup 3x a day and you'll have a hard time meeting your nutritional needs. I am debating even going back to him for fills now. How can he be so OFF in his nutritional reccomendations? It makes me question his entire approach to banding. I know he did RNY way before he did banding -- but that's no excuse. I am paying this guy to care for me. He needs to get his facts straight!

So I just went in for my second fill. The doctor wasn't my surgeon, but he was reccomended by some local bandsters. This time he asked how much I was eating at a sitting. Not having much restriction, and not knowing EXACTLY how much I eat, I said, "about a cup" And he got really fired up and said "A CUP?! Your surgeon didn't give you any information about this? (mumbles something about MexicoYou should only have 1/4 cup of food. Go home, get a small dish that holds 1/4 cup and eat out of that. If you are eating a cup you will stretch your pouch or have food back up into the espophagus -- that can lead to complications, irritation ans even esophogeal cancer. If you eat a cup of food regularly you WILL lose your band." I'm not exagerrating. He scared the sh!t out of me. At that point, I said, "Honestly, I feel like I've only really overeaten about 3 times and I've never PB'd." Then we went on with the fill. Anyway, then I emailed the dietician at my surgeon's office. She said one cup at each meal was fine (?!) and that the real guide should be to eat 1/3 of what I used to eat. This inconsistency makes me crazy! Can anyone shed some light on this? 2 surgeons, both competent and trustworthy, dispensing totally different advice on food quantities! What gives?

No regrets here. I was self-pay and had endless hoops to jump through to get to surgery. I know there are risks -- soem fo which could be financially draining. But I decided it was worth taking on the risks. Staying morbidly obese and continuing to gain was a far worse option. I take one day at a time and hope I am one of the success stories. (And my support and concern goes out to those who have had complications.) Read and be informed and make the best decision for YOU! There is no rush so take all the time you need toc onsider your options. We are here for support no matter what you decide to do.

Wow, reading about you guys being TOO full makes me feel pretty lucky despite knowing I could use some more restriction. Is it wrong that I wish I knew what being seriously restricted feels like?

Everyone heals at a different pace. Don't feel any pressure to compete with those who are running laps after 2 days! My port and incision site seem to be sore forever. Really it was just bad for 2 weeks, then much less for another 2. After a month, it was non-existent. Don't sweat it, you will feel better in no time. Keep with the TYlenol and take it easy with bending and twisting.

Janiee, I have to tell you that I too was initially denied and told I need the 6mo. supervision. In that time I GAINED weight. I don't know where you're at with your BMI, but I totally regret waiting. In the many months of waiting I gained new stretch marks and felt so bad about myself, continuing to fail at yet another diet. That's just my experience. I know that paying for surgery on your own is no picnic and I really thought by giving up 6months I would save a lot of money. Not the case, I was denied despite my efforts. Some people were successful on the 6 mo. supervision. Me...not so much. Best of luck to you! Keep us posted of your progress

You guys, I'm all frustrated. I had too much lunch today...and no pain or issues. So immediately I went into the food obsession/bad self-esteem mode. "This band isn't working" "I will go broke paying for these fills!" or the worst, "I want to leave work immediately and go eat while I can". Why do I totally equate self-esteem with restriction and feel like a failure as soon as I can eat more than bandster portions? I feel mad and disppointed that I had a fill ONE WEEK ago and now I feel like I need another. And they are 150$. Yet, the lack of retsriction makes me want to get a fill with flouro -- which is 350$! Guys, any advice or words of wisdom? Should I pay up for the flouro? Should I be patient and wait a few more weeks? Am I rushing the restriction?

Drewslou I'm so glad. That is great he is helping you out!

Happy Birthday Jamie! Scorpios Rule! (my b-day was the 7th)

I'm SO sorry to hear about the bad fills. Man, what turkeys! Geez, people, show some respect for the patients! I swear it is because we are overweight. Josette, that doctor is such an ass! YOu couldn't even drink Water. You could have serious emergency dehydration from that condition. Doesn't he have any compassion? And Terry B...good grief, that guys sounds like a complete fool. "she needs to lose weight". yeah, thanks, workin' on it a-hole! Sorry girls. I hope the next oen goes better! :success1:

No flouro here. I've had 2 fills with 2 diff docs and both felt for the port and hit it with one poke. I am curious to see how everything looks with flouro but it is pricey.

I was really trying to eat like a bandster before the band, too. Once yoU have the band it IS much easier to oobey the 'rules'. With drinking, just try to stay hydrated BEFORE you eat. Then work up to delaying drinking by an hour after you eat. Try waiting 20 minutes to have a drink. You'll find you might be thristy for a little while but it passes. The small bites will come more naturally when you have restriction. Honestly, my bites are not that small. They are smaller than before - but I like to chew a little and swallow a little, but there is still food in my mouth. Does that make sense? Then you get to taste the food more with having more in your mouth than just a nibble. Don't worry! It all falls into place! I was really stressed out about it too. But it just becomes second nature after just a few weeks. REALLY!

I'm so happy to hear about the victories from you guys. So far fill #2 has been fine for me. No issues today and eating pretty small portions. Pebbles, you are so beautiful! Your skin is amazing! ladydi and rlittman -- way to go sisters!!

Hi, I've flown several times for work and I've been fine. No change that I can detect.

Bush is a douche. That is all. Carry on.

I thought I would put this in the Bandster Basics as it was a question I really wondered about when I was first banded. For me, I feel it in my chest. It is a slight tightness -- sort of like you have just eaten something dry and you need a drink. I've heard it referred to as the "Bandster Pledge of Alegiance" because as you get full you have a tendency to place your hand on your chest. I also feel a little 'soft stop' when I have had enough. It can be an involuntary sigh or hiccup. How about you? How does "full" feel for you?

I had my second fill today -- although it turns out it was really a "refill". I had lost .5cc so he just added it back. Ok, I know it is totally normal to lose some and the doctor said it is NOT leaking. But WHERE does it go? I just can't wrap my brain around the concept that this sealed thing loses saline. Yet it does not actually leak. Anyone have a good way to explain it? So far I feel good restriction, though I've only been on mushy stuff. PLEASE let it last longer than the first fill. BUG, I'm so sorry. That totally sucks. I only got stuck with the needle once and I am sore - you poor thing! BOO BOO, I found that if I only weigh myself once a week I don't get too obsessed. Ideally, I'd like to get to every 2 weeks. Then I think I could safely say it was a true loss or gain. Even every week can give you a screwy impression of you true progress.

I was totally excited to see the ads! The few people in my life who know think the surgery is so sketchy. Since they've seen the ads they see it as totally legitimate. Tv is so silly that way.

mimIN, I felt very similar after my first fill. I wan't PBing but I would get unexpectedly painfully full/stuck after a few bites...and usually at lunch. For whatever reason (sitting in a chair, being blaoted from sitting, stress, slightly dehydrated, haven't had anything in the stoma for several hours) lunch was giving me some trouble. I started doing some warm mint tea before lunch and it helped a lot. That and really slowing down with the first 3-5 bites. After that I would take a little break and let it move down then start eating again. Usually once I got past the first 5 tiny bites I could eat bigger bites and speed up. Well 'speed' is an overstatement. I guess slow/normal would be the a better description. The first few bites being, 'feeding a baby bird' speed/quantity wise. Hang in there. It can be so scary when you feel like something is wrong. But I think you are fine and normal -- just a little tight perhaps.

Wow, I am feeling the same way right now. I am waiting on my next fill, which is Thursday. I find myself able to eat so much more and taking advantage of it! Oh, and don't even get me started on all the candy i've consumed today. I will make a sincere effort to eat healthier tomorrow, then Thursday I'll be on liquids. I do think even in my moments of over-indulgence it is still SO much less that how I ate before the band. But I do need to work on the quality of my choices. Lapbandit - nicely said. I AM worth it. Sometimes I mix up being worth it as needing to reward myself with food, but it is really the opposite. The reward comes WITH the hard work...not INSTEAD of the hard work!

I'm getting my 2nd fill on Thursday. I totally agree about feeling sort of like a loser when you need another fill. Why!? That is so ridiculous, I know, but I feel the same way. It is crazy how quickly restriction just slipped away. One week I was perfect, eating about 1/3 of what I used to and losing steadily with no 'off limits' foods. Then it seems like overnight I was able to eat and eat and eat. My husband has been getting a little spooked saying 'is this thing gonna work?' 'do you have a leak or something?'. I don't know how to put his fears to rest other than to say it is a flexible band on a flexible organ and things can shift and change and that is to be expected. Anybody else have any pointers on howto explain it? Confession: Since I've lost a lot of restriction I've been drinking with meals. Not to excess, but certainly breaking a rule. I just don't feel restricted when I eat and I'm thirsty so I go for it. I know, I'm bad.