hmarko

The older ones are 4cc's which would mean at 2 cc's you are half full... the newer ones are 10 cc's and 14 cc's which at 2 cc's you barely have anything in it. I think the AP should have another letter after to indicate whether it is 10 or 14 but I am not sure. So it sounds like the newer one. I think Mexico they use the 4cc one still. Not sure if they do in the states.

PS don't be in a rush to get fluid replaced..... you don't need the fluids right now and by wed you probably won't either. Just focus on getting better. Remember back when you had surgery? Your swelling could be on that level if not worse. I am 3 months post op - and even after surgery w/ no restriction liquids were not a problem but I still had to stay on liquids for 10 days then mushies for 10 days. Remember your in this for the long haul. I'm sure you are still losing so the band is doing its job - in fact it is overdoing its job right now.

Scotty what do you think caused this - I wonder if your doc will have any theories. I did notice you are far Stress causes it to get tighter but I wouldn't think THAT tight. Its hard to believe that with all liquid out and it is still this bad. Keep us posted. Stay on liquids extra long don't rush back to mushies even. I hope you can call the doc soon and at least get some guidance on what you should do to keep this calm and getting better.

I just got one and love it. I am curious Sadie - how many mets do you burn when walking? and what is your resting MET? I always thought I had slow metabolism but it is showing up as 2400 ie when I don't exercise and when I do I get up to 3000 or more. Exercise is usually vigorous (horseback riding) - walking will add a couple hundred tops. The person who got me onto it claims that it can figure out your metabolic rate if you have more muscle it is higher and I can't figure out how it really does this. I've only been using it for 3 days but I keep it on 24/7 except when showering.

It is from eating too fast - it took me 3 months to figure it out and getting really overfilled where I had to be SUPER careful. So to discipline myself I use the stopwatch on my iphone or on the pc. 30 seconds between picking up the fork and chewing 30 times. No problems since. They told me they would need to check my esophagus if this continued so I figured let me keep myself honest and say I really did what I was told; and sure enough it made a difference.

I wouldn't be rushing either you want it at 1 to 2 lbs a week you are doing awesome. I had too much fill on my 3rd one and dropped 10 lbs in two weeks - i've kept it off (after the unfilled). You don't have a 4 cc band do you? Sorry my memory sucks so if its not in your signature I won't remember - LOL. Its so interesting that everyone's mileage varies so much. I'm at 5.6 cc's and I think i am at my sweet spot (after the unfill); Others who had surgery with us are at 7'ish or 6'ish and seem good. I got a Bodybugg present to myself - I am loving it! I have to compare the calories burned w/ my heartrate monitor (soon as I get batteries replaced on it) but its awesome! I horseback ride (train not pleasure though it is fun don't get me wrong)... and as I thought its about 600-800 cals an hour depending. I only do 45 mins usually (i can go longer but my trainer doesn't want the horse going longer). It is really cool though you can see your entire day and what you did or didn't do. I'm sure when i go back to office it will be a flatline LOL.

OMG I just saw this - how scary I'm so sorry... Why did it get worse? Did you not stay on liquids after the unfill? Then again when I got unfilled I didn't have to.... BUT I was able to hold liquids and mushies w/ just some foaming no vomiting. I thought the .5 was better. I probably don't have to tell you but after my last time I learned I will let doc do what they think no negotiating. I am going back Jan 5 and I don't think I want her to fill me at all i'm eating no more than 1000 calories and most days about 700. CNR try this... literally take a stop watch there is one on line or if you have an iphone the clock does it. Chew 30 seconds; wait 30 seconds before you even put anything in your mouth after you swallow - see if that helps. I was having SUCH problems until I started doing this! Scotty how do you feel now w/ no restriction? How did it get like this I am so surprised to read this. Did you have a bad stuck episode or something after that initial fill? Did you try the MOTRIN? I didn't see ur post w/ the Pepto but MOTRIN can help get inflammation down (must be liquid - childrens) - I think we posted that in this thread. For future reference. Even after fills it helps. Someone else suggested it and I think it helps. Also the band reacts better to hot than cold. And alcohol one of our docs actually recommends it and if I have an 'event' i'll always have a glass of wine or two (but I"m told that drinking hot before eating has the same effect) as it opens you up. I'm sorry I hope you are feeling better - what a bummer that you had to deal w/ that over Christmas.

My unproven theory to that was always that the docs who gave no restrictions (ie no liquids) didn't do much in fills so there was no danger of swelling too much etc, but you just negated that because a 2cc fill is pretty big! After my last experience w/ .7 I am afraid to get too much more than .3 increments at this point

Hi all - I am buying myself Christmas presents and one that I got that I heard about in my support group for the Lap band was they bodybugg i LOVE it! I rode it horseback riding and it clocked almost 600 calories for an hour (which is about right!). Its a pretty neat little toy to figure out exactly how many calories your burn - then you add what you eat and the net is what we should be losing!

Minime where did you have your surgery done? I mean I am in NYC in a top hospital (in other words NYC one of the most expensive cities)... and I am pretty sure it was something like in the 50's w/ the hospital, surgeon and ansesthesia (I could be too high be even 10 thousand!). That number is so high even w/ the fills. Did you have anything else done or just the lap band? Hernias? any other complications? I'm stunned! Dee and everyone - Have a great Holiday and Happy New Year!

did they ever cover fills and stopped just curious. I think mine covers them I had previously been under the 3 month post op freebies.

Mimi I 'm thinking it isn't due to blood thinner, because it just started happening and I'm 3.5 months post op - I got back on a horse 4 weeks later. Thanks for the compliment it is such a passion of mine. In fact what got my to the point of getting the surgery was my mare had a baby that I delivered and raised - and he got very sick early this year and I had to put him down (He was not 4 years old yet). It was devastating to me but that got me to that 40 BMI and forced me to take a hard look and do this lap band. (I have been overweight all my life more or less but this was a new high and I wasn't getting it off). I thought the bruises were a one off but they seem to keep happening. I go back to doc on Jan 5 I'll mention it.

Scotty D you probably needed to do that - .2 would have been nice. When this happened to me they gave me a .7 fill and then I too had to negotiate a .3 unfill (from a .4).... funny how we hold on to them. I hung in for 2 weeks but I was getting liqs down. Do you go back soon again for a refill? I'm just months post op so they want us in there every month. So I'm back in Jan 5 and I seriously doubt she will do much maybe put back the .3 they took out. I think now it goes in really small increments (I am guessing??). i don't think i even WANT .5.

Yea I'm glad I got an unfill too. Funny was that the unfill ran RIGHT into PMS and I spiked up to 2000 cals a day instantly -but now I am back down. (weird sometimes I am tight during TOM other times I am ravenous during the PMS part). Don't beat yourself up if we lose 10 lbs a month that is great. I will be happy if I stay here or at 8 lbs. i doubt I will be getting much fill on my next appt now that i guess they are 'honing' in. Aside for the 5 days of 2000 cals a day now I feel its just right. I got back for my monthly on Jan 5. I am getting a lot of bruising I need to mention this i heard something about women getting anemic. I horseback ride religiously and suddenly I am getting marks on my thigh where the stirrup leather may put some pressure. THIS never happened its been going on for about 3 weeks now.

hot liquids also sometimes help loosen things up but not sure if tht helps this situation - good luck

Also there were a few of us in this situation (actually not as bad as you) a few weeks ago - all of us debating an unfill. We all ended up getting it. I actually woke up choking in my sleep 4 times in two weeks. I was always able to keep liquid protein down and water so I hung in there for two weeks but finally gave up as it was not really comfortable and choking at night is dangerous can lead to pneumonia. I am much happier now being unfilled and I actually think I may be at a good point. Out of curiousity what was your fill level before and after? how much did they put in?

btw - don't you have to do liquids after an adjustment? Most of us have to do liquids then mushies after adjusting so maybe that is the problem too. Stay on liquid protein for a couple of days even w/ the motrin if it helps. Then go to mushies for two days. I haven't read much about people eating right after fills as there is swelling but I do know many drs differ. If you can't keep water down its usually an emergency situation where you should go to the ER if your doc can't see you. Keep us posted.

teacher maybe you were dehydrated from being too tight and you just regained back to normal how much did you lose in that 'episode'? I lost 10 lbs in two weeks - I fluctuate sometimes I am up two lbs from that others I am back down to the 10lbs down but its probably just from the original dehydration.

Try the liquid motrin as others have suggested - did you have a pb in this time to cause some swelling? You may need to go for an unfill this is not a good situation as you can dyhydrate quickly

PS the overfill REALLY taught me to eat slowly. AND I have resorted to eating w/ a sstopwatch...... 30 seconds to chew and 30 seconds before another bite goes in my mouth that really really helps!

Bostonlady - My first fill was 4.7 - i was getting the chest pain golfball from eating too fast - had some restriction some days others not. 2nd was 5.2 by then i got used to it and not too much restriction - by the time the month was over i was up to 2000 calories a day. SO because of this my doc took me up to 5.9 WELL i lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks; choked in my sleep 4 times and ended up w/ an unfil to 5.6. Right before my period 1800 calories again but now i'm at about 1000 and I think I'm good. I go back jan 5 but i would be shocked if I even get .5 at that point. Of course in the next two weeks I may loosen up. For this month I lost 10 lbs in those 2 weeks alone and haven't gained any back and if it stays that way my doc will be happy (the month before i lost 2.5 lbs which was another reason for going more aggressive)... in her defense she was on the fence about it and i pushed her over but next time I'll let her do what she wants! MEANWHILE once again at my next fill appt I have work visitors from UK and I had to miss dinner then due to fill and I think I have to yet again! UGH that is annoying me cuz it doesn't look good if I keep bagging it (I did say medical procedure and honestly they all know at work but not EVERY single person globally :tongue:

ps how much of a fill did you have?

cruzlady - what was happening to me in the beginning was this was occurring from eating too fast. When you are eating take 30 seconds to chew and then when you swallow wait another 30 seconds before taking the next bite. Try that. I use either the stop watch on my iphone or one online (it keeps me honest) and today when i didn't already things were coming up).

Seems that way! I go back on Jan 5 so just after the holidays my goal is to not gain back more than 2 lbs of the 10 I lost in the two weeks of the overfill. To be honest I would do it again if I had to get a boost on the weight loss. I dont' care if I am on liquids for a bit (problem is you lose muscle too). Also long as I'm not waiting up choking but that seemed better congtrolled by not eating or drinking anything 2-3 hours before bed (which i find hard to do). When do you go back?

Mimi - same here - they took .3 out of the 5.9 and now I can't stop eating! But yea better than barfing or choking on my own saliva at night - jeez that was messed up!