camjay

Hi there. Not much comfort but a little advice. As a nurse (and a fellow bandster), in my line of work, I deal with people with or have had MRSA all the time and have never had it or caught it. Do not worry about passing it to family members or partners. As long as you carry out strict hand washing and keep the area covered at all times, they will not pick up the infection. It would be a good idea to buy some alchohol gel too, this is good for disinfecting your hands after washing. Wounds which carry MRSA sometimes heal up alone without any intervention (usually in younger, healthier people). Creams alone do not always work sometimes they need to be given with I.V antibiotics. Here in the UK medics are loathe to give antibiotics unless the patient is really ill as the amount of antibiotics that can treat MRSA are few and far between and this infection is becoming incredibly resistant to nearly all antibiotics!!! Please try not to worry too much. Wounds with MRSA DO heal but can just take a little bit more time. Can I just add, as a health professional, it makes me so mad the way other health professionals stigmatise people with or have had MRSA - there is absolutely nothing to get in a state about as long as people are using precautions!!!!!

When I reach goal .......HELL YEAH!!!! (and I'm nearly 40 - why not)! Going to Spain in 10 days so in the meantime I've got myself some tankinis. :thumbup:

hi. I feel better after reading some of the replies, but can someone tell me - Roughly, how much in food equivelant is 100g of Protein? You know, I really need to make an appointment to see my dietician!! Thanks xx

Patti. I'm sorry, I can't give you much of an answer, but just to let you know, the same thing is happening to me. I'm just about 3 months post-op and I've noticed my hair has started to come out too. Like you my hair is long and thick - so its not noticeable, but its worrying all the same. I'm eating a balanced diet and taking my Vitamins too. Hopefully somone can get back to us and give some advice.

Hi guys. Never been at the sweet spot and wonder if I ever will!! I'm doing well with the weight loss, but have 7cc in a 14 cc band and no restriction yet!!! Had 3 fills so far - have another 20th October! Praying this will be THE ONE!!!!!!!

Hi Thanks for posting the page on the band. This has been really helpful. As I've said before I have an Allergan Large and it would appear the average "sweet spot" fill in this band is 7.8 - great cos i'm at 7 and although I'm getting there - I've not quite hit it yet!! (I know everyone is different though)!!

Hi also have the Allergan 14cc - 7 mls so far - still waiting for restriction!!

Hi guys. Thanks for the replies. Today I think I may have more restriction. I ate fish for my lunch (ate it far too quickly though) and boy - did I suddenly feel restriction. I haven't had anything since and still don't feel hungry (that was about 1pm - its now 5.15pm here) so I feel so much better. I'll take my time in eating my dinner tonight and hopefully will have the same "full" feeling. Finger crossed!! :biggrin:

Hi guys - I need some advice before I scream. I am getting so frustrated with the whole "fills" thing. Although I've done really well and lost a lot of weigh I feel its been through dieting and exercise. I know that the band is a tool, but I feel like I might have wasted a lot of money! I went for fill number 3 yesterday - now have 7mls in my 14ml band. I've stuck to a soft diet today only because the surgeon told me to, but I really need to stop myself from eating - I don't get the feeling from the band. However, once I stop, in a little while I do feel full and seem to be able to go about 3 hours without feeling hungry. Am I restricted? Please someone get back to me because I'm getting really worried that there's something wrong with me that I'm at 7mls and no "sweet spot" yet! THANKS

Hi. I was banded on 25th June 2008 and have very very little restriction. Bread is the only thing I struggle with. I've already had 2 fills with no success! (going back for no.3 Monday). So I know how you feel! The problem is I feel hungry too - well at least I think I do?? I actually think I'm craving more than I'm actually hungry! I put on a couple of pounds a few weeks ago and it shocked me into cutting back on what I was eating. I'm by no means an expert, but it sounds like definately need another fill. In saying that - you really need to change your eating habits. I've decided that I don't want to be fat anymore and its been sheer willpower this past few weeks that has seen me through because at the moment, the band isn't doing terribly much!!!! IT IS SO HARD THOUGH!!!! Just stick with it and, as our more experienced bansters will tell you - the band is only a tool - we need to put a lot of work in ourselves. It is difficult though, but until you can get some more restriction try your best to cut down and you will start to lose!! GOOD LUCK. xx

Hi. I don't think your being unrealistic at all. I haven't weighed myself for a couple of weeks, but I'm sure I've lost a good few pounds more than my ticker says. My goal for Christmas is to lose 56 pounds in total (since my op at the end of June) - I've lost half of it at least. I'd love to got to a Christmas party wearing something nice for a change and not envying the thin girls in their lovely clothes. At one point I put two pounds on and it shocked me into moving my arse and so I've increased my exercise to about 3-4 times a week. Hopefully if I keep doing this I can lose a bit more. PS - I've set myself a mini goal. Going on holiday to Spain in 5 weeks time and would love to lose 14lbs (very ambitious) but I still don't feel quite ready to expose my body on the beach looking the way I do just now!!!! :tongue_smilie:GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER WE'RE ALL IN IT WITH YOU

Hi guys Looking for more advice - thank God for this site. Problem one - first fill was 10 days ago - I don't know if I have restriction or not!!!! I've just ate some bran flakes for Breakfast, and I do feel full, but with other meals, I can eat and eat!!! Am I restricted?? Also, I am terrified of stretching my pouch and am worried I'm eating too much at each meal - although I'm counting about 1200 calories a day. Last night I had a medium sized baked potato with cottage cheese and a little salad - I deliberately didn't eat it all, but I felt I could have gone on! Is this too much? Do I need to make an appointment for another fill???

Guys, forgot to ask - do you think its possible I could have stretched my pouch?? Would this allow me to be able to eat more without restriction?? And, if there are any - what are the symptoms of a stretched pouch. So many questions!!! Thanks n xx

Hi guys I have a 14cc band and my first fill was 6mls with no restriction. I went for my second fill yesterday and whilst I was there my surgeon said he could feel "pressure" so only put another 1ml in the balloon. Today, I do feel slightly fuller than before, but am definately not restricted yet!!:thumbup: He told me to come back as often as needed - the question is - Do you think its too soon to book another appointment? Should I wait a bit longer or should I go see him ASAP? I also put on 2lbs which has really peed me off because I have been sticking to 1200 calories!! xxx :thumbup:

Thanks for that. I must admit, as the week has gone on, I am starting to feel a little fuller,but I'm still finding it hard to reduce my portions. I also feel I'm dieting because having little restriction, means I need to watch my calories. I've made an appointment, but he was so busy, I can't see him til the 8th September. If I feel restriction by then, I can cancel. Oh sweet spot - where are you?????? :biggrin:

Hi. Thanks for the replies. Definatley no restriction, but I'm being really positive and sticking strictly to 1200 cals until Monday. Met my friend for coffee today - long story but her band wasn't working and she's put on 3 stones (42lbs) back on!!!!! It was repaired last week and now she is totally restricted and can't even get half a cup of coffee down!!! I really don't want to be as restricted as that. (she's going back to see her surgeon next week). Just restricted enough to send me the message I'm getting full. :thumbup:

Hi SBlue. Lovely to hear from you. Hope you are well. :wink2: I've actually posted on the some of the American pages - had a couple of questions to ask. I'm struggling too!! No restriction at all since my band was filled! I'm sticking to 1200 calories a day, but I didn't get this band in to be dieting and counting calories!:thumbup: I've got 6mls in my balloon - but I'm able to eat big portions! I've booked in for another fill on 25th August - I don't want to be so restricted I'm starving myself, but I need to get a bit more than I have just now. Don't worry about the weight loss, everyone is different, IT WILL HAPPEN. How are you apart from lack of restriction. Have you recovered well - are you managing to exercise? I definately notice a difference in my clothes and colleagues at work were complimenting me today on my weightloss and I feel really bad because they think I'm dieting (haven't told anyone except my family and close friends). Its all very new and I'm sure in a year's time we'll be posting advice to people going through there journeys. Take care and keep in touch. xx N

Hi guys. Well, I've gone and done it. I'll be honest IT IS NOT THE EASY OPTION!!!! The night and next morning after my surgery, I seriously thought "What the hell have I done to myself!". I felt nauseous and very "full", like a pressure was in my diaphram/upper chest area. I felt pretty miserable. However, another woman, who had her op the same time as me felt great, so everyone is different! I found it hard to get fluids over without feeling this "pressure" and slight nausea and I felt really sorry for myself!:tt2: 3 days on - I feel absolutely fine. I'm managing fluids no problem and had some clear Soup yesterday and have been instructed by my dietician to try some build-up or slimfast milkshakes (yuck)!! However, managing them fine. My family (who I think are trying to be nice) can see a difference already!!! My wound sites are a little painful - nippy really but nothing drastic. Managing to get around and about no problem. I'm going to wait to weigh myself - probably when I go for my follow-up appointment which is in a month. Thanks so much to everyone who has left messages of support. It has been very comforting to know there are others out there who have been through the same thing and are doing great. I'll keep everyone posted on my progress!! xx:biggrin2: N

Thanks Julie. Well, there is no way I am near my restriction then, cos I can get much more than that down - thanks. I'll just have to be patient and finally I'll hit the "sweet spot" everyone keeps talking about. xx

Thanks for the advice. Felt yesterday like I could eat and eat and eat. Booked in for August 25th for a second fill. xx

Hiya. Have a 14cc band. First fill 6cc but very little restriction (banded 25th June 08). Returning 25th August for a top up! Hope it works!!

Hi guys. This is probably the thousandth time you've been faced with this scenario, but here's my story (in brief). Visited for my first fill. The clinic was v. busy with fellow bandsters. I felt I was part of a production line actually. When I saw the doc, I felt it was all quite impersonal - a quick hello, how are you? Anyway, he muttered something about 1ml and then filled my band. Afterward I waited outside, drank some Fluid and felt fine. I was then sitting there like an idiot wondering what to do next. I spoke to a nurse and asked both what should I be feeling and what happens next. To cut a long story short, the doc came back, told me I had 6mls in my band, and if it wasn't enough to come back. Now I feel I have no restriction whatsoever, in fact, I feel less restricted now than I did on Wednesday!!!! Is 6 mls a lot in the balloon? and should I make an appointment for another fill straight away or should I wait. Thanks in advance guys!!!!!!!! PS - I wondered if he was getting me mixed up with someone else with the 6ml thing - he definately said 1ml whilst filling the band!!

I just have to say, this site is absolutely fantastic. Instead of reading though the different forum's I posted on the main "post-op" forum today, but have just found this one and I have exactly the same problem. I had my first fill on Wenesday, and although I've had quite good weight loss, I felt more restricted BEFORE I had my fill. I have 6mls (cc's) in my balloon and I'm ashamed to say it - I pigged out terribly last night! This is the first time since my surgery 6 weeks ago. I know its not the end of the world, but I have been feeling s++t all day today, but I now feel so much better reading everyone's experiences. Its great having other people going through exactly the same as you and I now realise that the first fill isn't like magic and it might take a bit of time. So i'm going to hang on in there - its taken me about 19 years to put all this weight on and it aint going to come off straight away!!! So guys - thank you. :tt2: You've made my day! xxxx

Hi Linda. Thanks for that. You could be right - he may well put 1ml in during the surgery. I can't understand though why I feel less restriction than I did before. I don't know if it psychological or not, but I'll use your advice and then wait a bit! xx