NYGuy

I started playing in the band (or it started playing in me) June 4 and I got my first fill June 30. Nicest surprise? It didn't hurt at all. I was only on liquids the day after surgery, then limited amounts of pureed foods for 2 weeks. Eating real food is a delight, and eating a lot less of it is an even bigger one! :smile2:

I joined the band on June 4. Had my first fill last week, 4cc's. But I have the newish Realize C band and I've read that it needs a biigger initial fill than either the old Realize or the Lap-Band. I am feeling restriction, I've had to eat and drink more slowly and carefully. For those who aren't feeling restriction and are worried because you think you should.... read what the veterans (and my adjustments specialist) say about fills. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! For the first few weeks I had been able to chow down big mouthfuls and was starting to wonder what all the talk about small bites was all about. The nutritionist assured me, "Don't worry. You'll find out." She, of course, was right. I'm feeling full a good four hours now, though I was told I should eat something every three.... five or six times a day. I wonder if I should force myself or listen to my stoma. Maybe this'll resolve itself over time. And LAWZY that needle is big but GOSH is it ever painless even without numbing. I wasn't given any anesthetic. Maybe that's because my port is so close to the surface. (It actually is a lump on my tum. You could find it in the dark! I hope it goes down or I'll never get those swimsuit modelling contracts I'm anticipating will come pouring in down the road!):smile2:

Way to go! I lost that first ten pounds the first week because I really wasn't hungry either, and had to really work at getting enough protein into me every day.

Way to go! I lost that first ten pounds the first week because I really wasn't hungry either, and had to really work at getting enough protein into me every day.

hey awill, It's normal to be afraid of the unknown, but I assume you have already learned a lot. As Xavier said, you are on track to a new life. A lot of folks around here call it a "journey" and that word is an apt one. You've already taken a bunch of steps and come pretty far. Now you'll probably be asked to go on a limited diet pre-op and after that, eating won't ever be quite the same again. And I mean that in a good way, though initially you'll probably be limited to liquids for a couple days then pureed foods for a couple of weeks. I bought a cheap scale on ebay that was wonderful for working out portions when I was on a strict diet. My surgery was just over a month ago and it really was a piece of cake compared with what I was expecting. I went in around 7am on Thursday, June 4. I was prepped in the pre-op area, walked (yes, walked) into the OR and laid down on the table. less than two hours later I was sitting up, chatting with my daughter and sipping water. By four pm we were on our way home. There was some discomfort in my stomach area and from the small incisions, but it that was no worse than my irritated throat from the intubation. I could handle it all easily with half doses of the meds they prescribed and I filled before going to the hospital. I found I no longer needed the pain meds by Sunday, and went to work Monday, putting in a full day. I had my first fill last week. I hate needles but was surprised that sticking one into my gut never rose to the level of real discomfort and only lasted about a nanosecond! In short, you've started a process that will likely prove to be one of the best things you've ever done!