julie.ann

Read about my first fill. My First Fill....Strange! - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum It isn't about a big or small fill with my doc. It is about filling till restriction. Maybe your doc is the same way. I hope so.

I have a question for those of you about ready for your second fill. After your first fill did you see results that went away? Did you body become adjusted to the fill and then you had less restriction after a few weeks? I started to slime a little and feel a little stuck for the first time today because I forgot to chew a too big of bite of scrambled eggs. If I chew it then no problem. I'm not worried about being too tight because I ate chicken breast yesterday after my fill and had no problems. I will have more solid food for lunch today too. Just wondering if I am back on a honeymoon that wll be over in a few weeks. Swelling after a fill????:thumbup:

HA! I hadn't heard or thought of that. I loved joining the band.:thumbup: I guess tuning the band is perfect wording! Thanks!

I have talked to a few including me that lost 8 lbs the first week after surgery. It went to 3/week then 2/week. I just got a fill, so we will see what happens.

I heard that too. I don't know if it has been released yet. I was worried too. I talked to my doctor and decided that I will welcome that problem when it comes. I know when I get to goal I will need a major tummy tuck. I figure they can reposition it then. The lap band and the realize band had the same weight loss at about 18 - 24 months. I knew I needed results sooner than later for my own psyche. The realize band seems to need more fluid for restriction. Now my doctor doesn't have a problem putting in quite abit for each fill. Some do so it may take more time to feel restriction. I liked a lot about the Realize band. My doctor has a lot of experience with the lap band so I went with that. Either one is a great choice and some with both will lose weight quickly and some will lose weight a little more slowly. I was worried about the port too. Like I said....bring on that problem!

Happy Dance....Down 37 lbs! :thumbup::girl_hug::smile2:

That's awesome! I can't wait!

Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver CO. - $9950 self pay

The girls in the office today recommended this thrift store for cheap in-between jeans. So I look for jeans and I finally see this one pair of petite jeans. There were a size 18P Sonoma brand for $4 so I thought I would get them and they can be a goal. I started in a size 22 and they are baggy, but my only jeans so I wore them today. So I just got home from Denver (7 hr drive) and I hold them up and say to myself that there is NO WAY, but I'll try and see how far I get...they will be my first pair of "goal jeans". Guess what...yep! THEY FIT!!!! Not comfy enough to lounge around the house, but I can wear them out if I want to. WOW! What a day. My first fill and this!

12/5/08 My first fill! Yeah! What a ton of weird feelings. I never had anyone walk me through what it was like to have a fill, so I am going to put it down here. Well first I should say that Dr. Kirshenbaum is the one that did my fill and every doctor is probably different. So I went in and they weighed me. I don’t mind getting on the scale as long as the numbers are going down. I went into the exam room and there was a sonogram machine on one side of the table. So I laid down on the exam table and the doctor came in and felt for my port. No problem. That was easy. He cleaned my tummy with alcohol and then betadine. He asked if I was ready and after I said yes her poked me with the syringe. It didn’t hurt at all. He worked on getting all the air out of the syringe/needle. I had a little stinging sensation a couple of times, but I think that was either the saline hitting the inside of the port or from the needle being in where I’m not used to having a needle. J He had 2 syringes. One had 1.7 of saline in it and the other had like 2.5 of saline. He put the 1.7 in my band and then had me stand up. So now I have a needle sticking out of my tummy. Yeah it was as weird as it seemed! I drank some water without any problem. So now he puts more saline in and says drink some more water. OMG! I it just stayed in my pouch. Just sat there! It felt so strange. I wanted to cough it up or something. He took out about .5cc and then no problem. Now we did the dance. He put in .4cc and I took a drink and there was a definite hesitation in my pouch and then a tiny burp down there and it drained. He took out .2cc and I could drink and a tiny hesitation and then it drained. He took out .1cc and no hesitation now. I can drink and it was just fine. 2.8cc for my first fill. I know the number is arbitrary, but still nice to know. I took food with me so I didn’t have to worry about what I was going to eat. It has been a habit that has been working pretty well. Even if DH and kids eat at McDonalds I have something to eat. So anyway I had some cottage cheese and chicken salad. No problem. I went to TGI Fridays and had a grilled chicken breast. Small mindful bites and no problem. I can’t believe that .10cc more and I would be too tight. That is only a couple of drops of saline. Amazing. I guess the band is much touchier than I thought. I think some doctors have set amounts for fill. (.5 for each one or something.) I’m glad Dr. K isn’t like that. Fill till restriction then pull back just enough. Sounds good to me. Oh then he pulled out the syringe. WEIRD!!!!! No pain though. I will go back January 9th for my second fill. I even got to meet someone from lapbandtalk.com! That was cool too. The girls in the office today recommended this thrift store for cheap in-between jeans. So I look for jeans and I finally see this one pair of petite jeans. There were a size 18P Sonoma brand for $4 so I thought I would get them and they can be a goal. I started in a size 22 and they are baggy, but my only jeans so I wore them today. So I just got home from Denver (7 hr drive) and I hold them up and say to myself that there is NO WAY, but I'll try and see how far I get...they will be my first pair of "goal jeans". Guess what...yep! THEY FIT!!!! Not comfy enough to lounge around the house, but I can wear them out if I want to. WOW! What a day. My first fill and this!

I had my first fill. It went great. My doctor puts in enough until you have resctriction, then pulls back .10 cc. He mad a few adjustments to get to the point where water would go down without restriction. With .10 cc more it would hesitate before running through. What a wierd feeling when he put in too much and the water just sat in my pouch! That was a horrible feeling. That must be something like what it feels like to get something stuck! Yuck. I was able to eat soft food and then a chicken breast with small mindful bites it wasn't a problem. I can't believe with just a few drops more I would be too tight!:thumbup: First Fill 2.8cc

Okay first of all...Jamie, It was great to meet you today in Dr. K's office for our first fill. It went really well! No sweat! Felt wieird though! OKay now my big news. I went the store Unique that Natailie and ...(I can't remember her name right now) It is a thrift store. I needed to kill a little while in town and then go eat to make sure that everything went do well. So I look for jeans and I finally see this one pair of petite jeans. The are a size 18 Sonoma brand for $4 so I thought I would get them and they can be a goal. I started in a size 22 and they are baggy, but my only jeans so I wore them today. So I just got home from Denver (7 hr drive) and I hold them up and say to myself that there is NO WAY, but I'll try and see how far I get...they will be my first pair of "goal jeans". Guess what...yep! THEY FIT!!!! Not comfy enough to lounge around the house, but I can wear them out if I want to. WOW! What a day. My first fill and this!:thumbup:

But when I went to close Mr., Dryer, the tiny piece of metal that sticks out (maybe that’s why it’s a Mr.) to tell it the door is shut broke off (ouch, sorry Mr.). LOL!!!! Oh groupie....I love it! Your the best!

From everyone I've talked to it sounds like you might be a little tight. You might call your doctor. Good luck and keep us posted.

I understand. I think it is great that you have chosen to take this big step. That's what is important...not everone knowing your business! I'm right there with you! I have told my best friend (just 2 weeks ago.) I think she is jealous, but I don't think she would even qualify for wls which is good for her. I don't regret my decision to keep it a secret. You can always change your mind and tell more people, but once people know it is immposible to change that!

11-30-08 I went shopping yesterday. My jeans are getting big. I went to Lane Bryant and I tried on a 5P. They were loose....very comfortable if this was the weight I was staying at. I tried on a 4P and they fit! Then I thought I was trying on a size 22 coat. (I usually would look for a 24 or 26.) I thought it was okay.....just a little tiny bit small, but something I could definitely wear and I could grow into it through the winter. I looked at the tag again and realized that I couldn't afford it...then I realized it was actually a size 18-20! I couldn't believe it! :biggrin3: Then I went to JC Penny's and the 2x was too small...:biggrin:...Oh well I think I'll focus on my NSV at Lane Bryant. I used to love that store and now I can't wait until I can't shop there anymore!!! I only lost a pound for the last week. I shouldn’t complain about only losing 1 pound because I couldn’t go to the gym since last Tuesday and I had Thanksgiving and a trip with “the girls” to the dinner theatre last night. I also can eat anything I want. What I am doing now I am doing almost on my own. I can tell if eat really big bites really fast, but I can eat SO MUCH! I know I shouldn’t. I am eating healthy food and sticking to my calories and such. I am still getting too much protein. I don’t understand why when I called the office and said that I was getting hungry about 3 hours after meals they asked if I was drinking protein shakes. They recommend to drink shakes between meals. I really don’t understand that. I’ll have to ask about in 4 days when I go in for my first fill. I am hoping for restriction just like everyone does, but I know the odds are against that I will get much with the first fill. I’ll let you know how it goes. :thumbup:

I got a little versed before surgery so I don't remember being wheeled in there. No cath for me either. I was wheeled into the OR at 11:00am and discharged at 2:30pm. No sweat. Yes there was some post-op pain waking up. Mainly the taking deep breaths and then the shoulder pain that is reference pain from the air on your diaphram. Over all after it is over the physicial pain doesn't compare to the emotional pain of being obese for so long! Well worth it. Keep your mind of the prize!

Well for the first time since starting my pre-op diet I only lost 1 lbs last week. I am okay with that. It was Thanksgiving and I went to a dinner theatre with some friends. I didn't have alcohol, any desert and I even stayed away from the potatoes and rice that were on the buffet. I know! The dreaded buffet. It is like a dinner table from hell! I did eat too much. I don't have any restriction. I ate small bites and chewed....but I can't wat for my first fill on Friday. 3 MORE DAYS!!!! Going to the gym is getting easier. I don't know how I am going to make it through the next 6 months. My classes are killing me and add to that my job, kids, husband and the gym. Well I am kind of stressed. I better go. Have a great rest of week. Doesn't it seem like our boards for Smashing Pumpkins are kind of slow? Well I know you are still out there. Take care and keep us posted!

11/13/08 I’m really tired today. I only got about 2 ½ hours of sleep last night. I am ready for bed but I thought I would stop by and put some things down. I am so tired I couldn’t even jump up and down. I am down. The scale….or at least the Wii Fit tells me I have lost almost 30lbs. That has been since my pre-op diet. I have to admit I am kind of let down that no one at work has noticed my 30 pound weight loss. I keep telling myself that one day I will be able to say I lost 70 lbs. That’s almost half of my goal. My family lives half way across the country. I haven’t said anything to them. Not even that I have lost any weight. I figure when it really becomes noticeable ( probably after 40 or 50 lbs) it will be hard to keep it from them unless I ask my other family to keep it a secret from them for a surprise. I thought if I could keep it from them until I am in onederland I would celebrate and reward myself with a surprise weekend trip to see them. So I am now trying to concentrate on eating like a bandster. I have to eat my protein first and then my filler of veggies and such. I say I don’t have restriction but I know when I eat too much and I can get full on 3 oz of protein and 1 – 1½ cup of a side dish. My problem has become being bored with what I am eating. I have been eating Jennie-O turkey breast. I just found some Hormel Beef Roast au jus. It is really good and has about 3 servings per package. It is really easy to heat in the microwave. I am going to have to really work on adding variety to my diet so I don’t get bored and stray. My first fill is less than two weeks away. I can’t wait. It would be nice to have this be a least a little easier. Well I better get to sleep. Good night. I wish well to all of my fellow bandsters.

You are nervous because it is a big desicion. You have every right to be nervous. I think everyone's biggest fear is that it won't work for them. You know you will fail if you don't try...but to go for it means it's a whole nother ballgame. Don't worry...we are here for you!

Congrats and welcome to Bandlandia! I know it seems like it would never get here! (BTW the pain medicine was probablly Toradol. )

How did you know that pizza is my BIGGEST weakness! We used to have it at least twice a week! I'd love it and Thanks for the great post! I just can't imagine being in anything smaller than a size 16, but I know that I WILL get there! My 35th birthday is in June...wouldn't it be awesome to get there by then!

You have been through so much. I can't imagine. We are here for you! Come back to us. Talk to us. Vent, Cry, Laugh....because it is still okay to laugh and now you need to more than ever before. I think that this is the easiest place to make friends!

11-30-08 I went shopping yesterday. My jeans are getting big. I went to Lane Bryant and I tried on a 5P. They were loose....very comfortable if this was the weight I was staying at. I tried on a 4P and they fit! Then I thought I was trying on a size 22 coat. (I usually would look for a 24 or 26.) I thought it was okay.....just a little tiny bit small, but something I could definitely wear and I could grow into it through the winter. I looked at the tag again and realized that I couldn't afford it...then I realized it was actually a size 18-20! I couldn't believe it! :confused: Then I went to JC Penny's and the 2x was too small...:glare:...Oh well I think I'll focus on my NSV at Lane Bryant. I used to love that store and now I can't wait until I can't shop there anymore!!! I only lost a pound for the last week. I shouldn’t complain about only losing 1 pound because I couldn’t go to the gym since last Tuesday and I had Thanksgiving and a trip with “the girls” to the dinner theatre last night. I also can eat anything I want. What I am doing now I am doing almost on my own. I can tell if eat really big bites really fast, but I can eat SO MUCH! I know I shouldn’t. I am eating healthy food and sticking to my calories and such. I am still getting too much protein. I don’t understand why when I called the office and said that I was getting hungry about 3 hours after meals they asked if I was drinking protein shakes. They recommend to drink shakes between meals. I really don’t understand that. I’ll have to ask about in 4 days when I go in for my first fill. I am hoping for restriction just like everyone does, but I know the odds are against that I will get much with the first fill. I’ll let you know how it goes. :thumbup: