teribowers

Lynn, Glad to hear your first fill went well! It's interesting to see how different it is for everyone. My doctor didn't instruct me to go back on liquids and then mush after my fill. And...then your doctor didn't use any anesthetic before inserting the syringe to fill your band...Did that hurt?...alittle curious! I'm still not feeling hungry at all...infact, I have to remind myself to eat as I know it's not good to skip meals (a bad habit from my past!) I am still really feeling the restriction and have to be real careful to take small bites and really chew my food well. There have been times where the food gets stuck and it doesn't feel good when that happens. So...keep up the good work and know this is going to WORK!!! I can really tell the difference since my second fill. Take care, Teri

I have to tell you I've experienced everything you're tallking about, but hang on because after my second fill I finally can feel the restriction I thought I would have after the placment of the band. This is my second day after that fill and I really have to make an effort to remember to take small bites and chew chew chew, otherwise it can be a little painful and I can feel my food sticking. This will definately keep me from eating too much and so far I am not hungry at all...Hurray...I'm looking for that day where I eat to live and not live to EAT! I didn't like the fact that I COULD eat what ever I wanted and thought this isn't going to work. My will power almost got the best of me at times. I am being faithful with my excercise also and really feel better. Doing something everyday and atleast 4 days a week I go to the gym and do 30 mins/2 miles on the treadmill, then 30 mins of strength training (alternate days of upper body & lower body) and finish with 30 mins/7 miles on a stationary bike. I usually walk 2-3 miles on my off days We all have to remember this is a slow process and for good reason...It's much healthier that way! I would love to have all my excess weight GONE...yesterday, but that's not reality. Let's all pat ourselves on the back for taking that first step and becoming a bandster! We can do this and with eachothers help we will conquer our goals! My email is kbsoysisters@sbcglobal.net if anyone would like to email me also. Looking forward to that SWEET SPOT! Teri

I know exactly what you're thinking at this point...I felt the same way. It's really not as bad as I expected. I'm not sure where your port is, but mine is just below the middle of my breasts or sternum area and the thought of getting an injection there really freaked me out! But my doctor is very good and talks me through the whole process. While laying on my back with my hands behind my head, he first numbs the area with a small injection (which is just a small prick) but the medication does burn a little once he injects it. To me that's the worse part of the whole ordeal. Then he has me do a crunch, I guess that helps him stablize the port and he inserts another syringe with the saline. It doesn't hurt, but you can feel the pressure of the syringe going in and feels kind of weird is all. Once the syringe is in place he has me sit up on the table while he's holding the syringe and has me drink gulps of water. The object is to feel the some restriction and then slowly drain into the lower pouch. The first time I did this I really didn't know what restriction felt like so it was hard for me to tell him. So...he completely filled my ring and had me try it and BOY, there is no doubt the feeling of real restriction after that! The water just sits there between your breasts and is sort of painful. I'm glad he did that so now I know what it feel like having too much. After my first fill I did feel a little restriction the first week and really wasn't hungry between meals, but as my doctor told me, it only lasted about 1 week. After this 2nd fill I just had yesterday, he said it should last longer like 3 weeks and our goal is to get to where it's like that all the time. I definately am not hungry so that's great. Just be sure that take small bites and really chew your food well. I thought I had been good at doing this but for the first time last night I had a piece of soft stew meat get stuck and wouldn't go down. It felt awful and drinking water didn't help at all. It finally came back up before I felt relief. I've heard this happening to people, but I never came close to ever having this before. To be honest, eating anything was just like before surgery. I've learned a big lesson and feel it's really starting to work. Good luck on your first fill and let me know how you do. I'm interested to see if your experience is the same as mind. Keep up the good work Take care, Teri

Yes I agree...you really don't want to loose it too fast! That's great that you are doing this without any fills or feeling any restriction. I just didn't like fighting off the hunger pangs when the restriction was gone. It really does help with that.

Boy can I relate to everyone here. I was banded in May and really didn't feel any restriction until TODAY after my 2nd fill. It was sthe first time that I can honestly say IT WORKS! However, I did have a bit of a scare during my dinner. I was having Cocido Soup...broth with veggies and stew meat. I have never had problems before eating meat of any source until now. Evidently I didn't chew as well as I thought and it actually got stuck and wouldn't go down. I started feeling lilke it was coming back up and barely made it to the bathroon when it did. I felt much better after that. I learned my lesson when it came to chewing and taking smaller bites. I can honestly say I now feel the restriction! I have lost 21 pounds and 21 inches, 7 of which is off my waist...yeah! I have been deligent in getting my excercise done and making sure I eat my protein daily. It has been hard during times when I was getting hungry and had to rely on my will power. But after todays fill, I feel confident that I finally can feel the results I thought I would get from this procedure. I know it's a slow process and will to do what's necessary for my success. I was really starting to worry there for a while if it was going to work....IT WORKS!!!

I am 6 days post-op surgery and doing great. Very happy so far with decision to take this step at success. I live in California and my surgery was done by Dr. Daniel Swartz in Fresno. I am very pleased with his expertise and office staff. I have already lost 8 pounds and starting on my mush diet. I feel great...not hungry much yet. I am scheduled for my first fill in 5 weeks. My biggest concern is getting creative on my meals....I don't want to get bored!

THANK YOU for sharing this information! I will definately check into this book. Good luck on your surgery and great success to you too!