LollyMoe

JoJo1: I love your little dancing duck. He is so cute. He needs a name.

Yep, I feel mine every once in awhile. Especially when I sit in a slumped position or bend over too far.

pliberati: The makers of the band even suggest that you don't drink any carbonated drinks. It can cause band erosion. Of course, there's always someone that will break the rules to suit themselves. It's up to you if you want to run the risk. Also, remember, not all doctors know what they're talking about. Let one of them get sued over this issue and you'll hear a different story from the physicians.

First of all, consult your doctor. You may be a tad overfilled. Another thing you could try is a warm drink (i drink tea) prior to bedtime. It works for me.

I have the same feeling after a fill but it goes away in a couple of days. If you can drink, you're okay.

In the future, if you order a 6" sandwich, cut off what you really need to eat and get a go box for the rest. Put the box out of sight on another chair. If you leave it on your plate you will just keep eating as you have already done. You have to find ways to eat less. Just b/c it's in front of you doesn't mean you should eat it.

As a retired nurse that has worked with many different doctors and interns, I can certainly tell you one fact.....doctors don't always know best. Most of them do the best they can under any given circumstances. The medical field is so huge now, it's hard to keep up even in their own specialty field. Some have the God complex, especially surgeons & neurosurgeons, some have horrible bedside personalities and treat nurses like dirt. However, there are many many physicians that really care about the quality of their work and the comfort of the patient. They want to educate the patient and will take the time to do so, either themselves or with a PAC's help. Some are actually smart enough to listen to a nurse's theory on a matter. Some are just plain dumb too! They are smart with the books but hands-on care is terrible. As a patient, you have rights. The right to ask questions & receive answers. If he/she can't answer your questions, you have the right to ask them to find out the answers for you. Don't assume anything. Educate yourself. In this day & age, the internet is a very valuable tool. Remember, you have rights...it's your body.

What is "normal"? Some people can eat more than others or can eat foods that others cannot. If you start watching the amount that people eat in restaurants, you will be surprised. Skinny or fat, everyone eats different amounts. So will you. As long as you follow orders and work hard, you will be okay. All this liquid/mushies stuff will be over soon. Hang in there.

Make sure you contact the makers of Slim fast. They are refunding your money. Find out the guidelines for getting your money back.

Thanks for posting this link. It's a great reminder and a big help to newbies.

My Realize band is a 11cc band and I have 6.75ccs.

I've had three fills w/o any problems. My doctor uses a portable ultra sound machine. The tech marks the spot and his assistant comes in to do it. I've never had any pain. Maybe you could ask for some lidocaine to deaden the area first. OR better yet, find yourself another doctor.

I suggest that you ask your doctor! You paid too much for this surgery to be taking a risk.

When you first get your band you don't have any saline in your band. That is why you can still eat quite a bit. As you get fills, the band is tighten so that you will be less hungry, need less food and will lose weight. It might take several fills before you get to a "sweet spot" where you are eating smaller amounts and losing weight at the same time. For the first couple of days after a fill, you might have some problems because your stomach is swollen from the fill. Most doctors recommend that you go back on liquids for a day or two before trying solids again. The main thing you need to do is educate yourself on what the band is all about, the hard work you will have to do, and what to expect. Your doctor & your nutritionist should have already done that for you. If not, prepare a list of questions and when you go in for your fill, make sure you ask & get answers. Good luck. Let us hear from you.

If use Gas-X, you should use two of them. I believe the instructions on the box recommend it or my doctor said it, whichever. Gas is an ongoing problem for me but so far, I haven't had a problem in public. My day is probably coming too!

I told my doctor that "yes, I was losing but it was b/c I was starving myself at times" He did a fill b/c he doesn't want me hungry. I've had three fills and am up 6.75cc in a 11cc band. I'm doing fine but not quite to my sweet spot. This Dec 16th, I should be there when I get my 4th fill.

I was not and would not use a heating pad. I was on a blood thinner at the time. Not a good idea. Ask your doctor however. He may feel differently.

They can give you a spinal just like they do for C-sections. Good luck.

That is baloney! Why is your nut giving you advice about fills...she is there to help you with appropriate eating habits....fills are out of her range of training & license. Your doctor or his nurse practice person is the person that should be advising you on fills. You need to have a serious talk with your doctor. If he insists that the nut is qualified to help you, ask to see her certificate of Bariatric training. You are either paying (self-pay) or your insurance is paying, therefore you have the right to know if you are paying for a doctor's consult or not.

From everything I have read on this site and others, I would wait a few days to see if the swelling goes down. I usually go back on liquids for a couple of days after a fill and I sip anything I drink. Just be careful and don't go into the weekend.....you might need your doctor before then and they are hard to find sometimes on the weekend. Good luck.

So sorry to hear this news. I do hope you are feeling better soon. Be careful of what you eat/drink during this time. It will be over before you know it. JUST GET WELL!!!!

Terrific thread! Well written and oh, so true. I too love my band and sometimes it tells me that it's really really there, especially when I eat too fast. I feel so lucky to have it and wouldn't want to give it up for anything.

My doctor reminded me that I didn't gain weight in a steady way and I won't lose weight in a steady ongoing way either. He said it will come in spurts. It's the body's way of dealing with all the changes. Guess that makes sense.

Congrats! Welcome to the banded world. Some days are going to be harder than others but you can do it. You are now on a life time journey to a skinner YOU. Make your plans for food & exercise but do it with doctor's suggestions...not everyone else.

Please don't eat solids yet! Talk with your doctor and your nutritionist. Moms are wonderful but they don't always know what is best. If your doctor says it's okay, you need to ask him WHY so many people are advised against it and he doesn't. The body was filled with gas for the surgery. You are swollen inside. There are sutures inside. You need about 6 weeks healing time. I sure hope you don't pay a large price for those 2 potatoes!