Ravyn

Rose, all I can say is wow! You get totell your doctor how many CCs to fill your band with? That's pretty awesome! I have to wait for mine to tell me how many he's even going to put in. I must remember to ask next time. Anyway, please let me know how things turn out for you. I go for my 2nd fill on the 28th and so far I have NO restriction. You'll give me hope if you finally get the restriction that you need. Best of Luck!

I've been reading post after post after post, and hearing a variety of instructions, rules, and fill information. My mind is swirling from it all. And in the midst of this chaotic stream of consciousness (information) I find a diamond in the rough. Someone posted that they were banded a week after me, and had already had two fills, and was scheduled for the third in just a few weeks. This person had also suggested being more aggressive with the fills. Well I thought I just had to follow my Docs orders. He told me to come back in two months, I just assumed I'd HAVE to see him in July. But now, I'm re-thinking this strategy because of the variation in information. So, my question is, just how long should I wait to request a fill, if I'm hungry and not feeling restriction? At this point I'm afraid I've waited too long, and should have made the appointment two weeks after I realized that I could eat anything freely. What are others doing? Do you ignore your doctors schedule and make your own if things aren't working out right? What's the best protocol to follow with your doctor and getting fills. How long should you wait to see if there are any changes in your body? At first I thought it was supposed to be a very gradual inflation of the band, so I shouldn't feel anything til the 3rd or 4th fill, but do I really have to wait 6 months before I hit the sweet spot, because at the rate my doctor is going, he thinks I should have a fill every 2 months. Sigh! Any advice for a Realize bander?

Thanks everyone for your posts. I've realized that I need to be more assertive along my journey and in this process with my doctor. I'll need to ask more questions and listen to my body sooner rather than later. I know we're all different and that helps. I think my error was that I listened to the doctor and didn't contact him when I became concerned. I started to internatlize my perceived failure and believed that as usual, this weightloss program was not going to work for me. Fortunately I can come here and get good sound advice to work better with my surgeon. Thanks again everyone. I'm hopeful again and I appreciate every single comment. I'll give you all updates on the success of the second fill.

Roost, Im with you. I had wonderful restriction due to the swelling for about 3 weeks after surgery. Then all of a sudden it vanished. I lost a total of 12 pounds but have since put back on 4 pounds and I too am upset, because I have already had my first fill. Read so many post and so many people are encouraging and supportive and insist that I not give up. So I'm trying to be mentally patient until my 3rd fill, which is scheduled in two weeks. The first fill was uneventful and I've been able to eat anything, even bagels! Bagels are so dense! I'm hopeful that my next fill will give me the restriction I need to cute back and maintain my satiety for 3-4 hours. I loved not thinking about food, but at the moment I'm always hungry and craving stuff. I can't wait to get a move on loosing these 60 pounds! My advice to you is not to wait longer than 2 weeks if your fill doesn't provide you with the restriction you need to really be successful. I waiting almost 2 months and was very discouraged because of it. Best of luck to you!

Being hungry in 3 to 4 hours is optimal! It sounds like you have a good balanced appetite. Don't worry. I'd be concerned if you said you were hungry within the hour. Which seems to be my problem. My first fill was absolutely unsuccessful. I had no restriction at all, and 5 weeks later my weightloss has stalled. I bought this exercise video that I am looking forward to starting to see if that helps me, but I can't wait to get my second fill on 6/28.

Darn it Monkeymama! I'm so envious. I'm starting to think that my Dr. missed my port and put the Fluid into my body instead. I have NOOOOO restriction. I have my second fill scheduled for the28th. I'm starting to get discouraged. Please let the second fill give me some restriction. Post op recovery was GREAT! It took me forever to finish Soup. I want to have that experience again. I need to have a steady decline in weight. I can't count on exercise alone.

I didn't know they had smaller ports. I only know of the Realize port and the lapband port. I have the realize band and the port is pretty flat. I can't see any protusions, but I can definitely feel it. I worry about other people hugging me and feeling it. I'm still at the beginning stages of this process. Haven't had my second fill yet, but I'd love to know more about smaller ports that don't protrude. Thanks for asking the questions. D

Wow, my numbers have stalled :frown: I am fighting the discouragment and the depression. I don't want to give up, but I am so hungry and soooo craving all those comfort foods that do me NO good. My first fill in May was a joke and I even followed the liquids only rule and the next day mushies only. I was starving!! Please let this next fill be more productive. I just need a little more restriction. I'm going to Hawaii in August and am dreading the trip at this point.

I had great restriction for the first 2-3 weeks after surgery. I thought, "GREAT! I'm on my way." Then the hunger and the cravings returned and I was dying to get my first fill. Well, I got the first fill and a big fat NOTHING! I'm still hungry...even as I type this, I want to snack on something. The good thing is that I experienced the hungerless moments and the fullness after sipping on Soups and I want that back...I just need the right amount of fill and I know I can get it back. I'm scheduled for my second fill at the end of June. Everyone of us is different. Hope you don't need a fill. Best of Luck

Wow, this was a very heated topic. I thoroughly enjoyed all the replies. I have only had one fill since my initial surgery and I have no restriction. However some people report uncomfortable degrees of restriction from their first fill. This whole process is subjective and I have had to come to terms with that. I may not be the wonderful success story like that of the people on the commercials. I may have to exercise harder or use more sheer will power. Unfortunately, if I had the will power, I wouldn't be banded. *sigh* It's so frustrating because I feel like the quick losers expect everyone to have the same experience they are....it reminds me of the many food and exercise conversations I've had with my thin friends. Magically, they just don't crave sugar. However, my body WANTS it, morning, noon and night. It would be so much easier if I didn't crave because then I'd be like my skinny friends. They don't have stronger will power. They simply don't have the same cravings and desires. Our bodies are all different. Our hormone levels are all different. Let's support each other, rather than judge and berate each other. We do better when we can. And for those hours,days, weeks or months that we mess up, we need acceptance to move forward. With that said, I'm scheduled for my second fill at the end of June and I am praying that my doctor puts enough to really give me some restriction, cause I ate 3 quarters of half a bagel before I felt anything....that's a lot of bread!! Oh and my nutritionist said the whole reason they say not to drink carbonated beverages is not because the band may slip, but because it creates so much gas that you will be very uncomfortable, to the point of throwing up...now throwing up is NOT good for the band. At this point, I can drink beer very slowly, but I have a feeling that once I get my second fill, I wont be able to do this anymore. I wish everyone all the best with their weightloss, especially me :frown:

Wow! Diet drinks-huh? Well, I don't drink that often, so I suppose that when I do, I'll just take it straight. One night out would only be two drinks max for me. Let's face it, alcoholic beverages is not my problem. But I know the carbonation in drinks can be very very uncomfortable, so I'd have wine. I love a good, cold Pinot Grigio or a Sangiovese! Red is good for ya, and there's no carbonation ; ) Stay away from artificial sweetners. Bad news.

Thanks dsquared and Monkeymama! I really appreciate the encouragement. Even though I have no restriction, I try to eat on small plates and chew my food extra long. But honestly, even if I gulped it, I don't feel anything at all. I guess I'll get some restriction in July when I get my second fill. I wish everyone a great Memorial Day weekend. Try not to eat too much! Dawn

I've used Phospho Soda. You can get it at a local drug store. But since you've had this surgery, I'd recommend you consult with your physician ASAP! Something could be wrong. Wish you all the best for a pain free BM!

Darn it! I forgot to ask my doctor how much Fluid he put in my band. I have no idea. But he did say that he put a very small amount in at the time of surgery. I need to remember to speak up more the next time I see him, which will be in 2 months :smile2: I'm so hungry! I have another day of soft, mushy foods to eat before I can go back to regular food.

As my doc said, its time to put the band to work! I hope he is right and we scheduled fill #2 in 4 weeks. I started with 3 cc as a prime at surgery and he added 1.5 cc today. OMG! Teachkdz, our doctors are definitely working on different schedules. I didn't get my first fill until 6 weeks after my surgery and then he said NOT to come back for 2 months. Why is he torturing me like this. He barely put anything in, because I drank the Water with NOOOOO problem whatsoever. Sheesh! I don't know what to think. Oh and I just got a 6500.00 bill for the hernia repair that he said they would bill my insurance. That was a little distressing to open up. Now I have to call them and tell them to contact my ppo provider. I can't afford that now!! What a week. I'm starving!! LOL!!

Wow! It sounds like we all have some very different experiences with weightloss, restriction and hunger. Since my first, very small fill, on the 23rd, I lost two pounds. But my doctor recommended that I go back to liquids for two days and mushies for two days. So I feel as though I was starving myself today. I'm constantly thinking about food and my belly is always growling. At work today, I took an Atkins Protein shake and a Yakult probiotic drink. I was stuck in a meetings for 5 hours and by the time I got out I felt like I could devour anything insight. Yet I held out til I could get some veggie soup. So far this is NOT easy. I feel like I don't even have a band in. My doctor told me to come back in 2 months. I'm so scared that I'll gain all my lost weight back. I'm starting to get discouraged, even though I know I shouldn't! I need encouragement.

By the way I do find this very helpful. I just need to have more will power I suppose. Thanks for all your responses!

Well, my first fill fear is over. I had it this morning, and I have no restriction - again! My journey is going to be a slow one. Im always hungry and have gained back 3 of the 12 pounds that I initially lost. I drink Atkins or Ensure in the morning, then I'm starving by the time lunch comes around. I try to find something decent to eat, but mostly I get Soup. Then I'm starving by the time I get home, so I have another Protein shake (atkins) when I get in and then I eat something like tuna salad, or yogurt, or cottage cheese. I think my body is in stavation mode and is fighting to store the fat! Anyway, my doctor is very conservative with the Fluid. He's going to make me fight my way to 130 pounds. Sigh! Maybe in two months when I get my 2nd fill, I'll have some restriction. *I'm tired of being hungry all the time*

Deb_Ladyrose, I'm so happy to hear that I am not alone. I had my first fill today and he made me drink Water to see how much restriction I had. I kept telling him that I felt fine. But he said, ok and took the needle out and said "see ya in two months." Im supposed to be on liquids only, but I feel fine! I have no restriction. I'm wondering if my band moved. I was so hungry today that I drank a Protein shake, so fast and with NOOOOO problem at all. Then about 30 minutes later, I felt ravenous so I drank tea. Again, no problem. Finally I couldn't take it anymore, so I ate tortilla Soup. I drank most of the broth, and ate a few bits of the chicken in it. I have a feeling that my doctor is very modest with the restriction. This will probably be a very very slow weightloss for me. But at this rate, I've gained 3 pounds. LOL!

Wow, I'm sorry I have no advice for you. I just had my first fill today and wow, I feel like I have absolutely no restriction at all! I'm starting to think my doctor is toying with me. He said to drink only liquids for two days, mushies for the next two days and then back to foods. However, by the time I got home from the his office I was STARVING. I drank a Protein shake and had absolutely no problems drinking the whole thing within a matter of minutes. I don't know how much he put in my band, but I feel fine. I can eat normal and I think I'm going to be in this for a very very long time. I initially lost 12 pounds but have since gained back 3 of them. He told me to come back in 2 months. LOL!~ I think I'll probably gain it all back by then. Did anyone else have NO restriction with the first fill. Maybe Dr. Nazarian is really conservative when he starts out. Well, there is no more fear of never being able to eat. I do have fear that I wont be able to stop eating though. LOL! This is definitely going to require much more will power than I initially thought. Wish you all the best with your success. :tongue2:

Im 5'4 and I'm shooting for 128.

OMG! My doctor wanted me to do two weeks of liquids, and then two weeks of mushies. By the end of the 3rd week I was eating very small pits of steak. I couldn't take it. I was so hungry. My band is probably ruined now - haha! I had a filet-o-fish the other day. I was STUFFED! It took me forever to eat it. I get my first fill tomorrow so I guess fish sandwiches will be out again...GOOD NEWS!!

Wow, I must be weird. I had restriction for bout 3 weeks after surgery due to swelling, and as it started to subside, I was so happy to be able to actually eat again. It's now 6 weeks, and I am totally able to eat whatever I want, and am having second thoughts about getting my fill tomorrow - hahaha! I'm hoping that I am able to be satisfied with the smaller portions that the fill will cause my stomach to take in. I fill so fickled about this whole thing sometimes. In the beginning I actually felt okay sitting at a table watching everyone else eat because I was so full. I'm hoping to experience that again, because I don't think I really missed food, until the swelling really started to subside.

It's still pretty early in your healing process. The typical healing period is 6 weeks. While I normally felt great, occasionally when something brushed against the area just above the port it was an uncomfortable feeling. I think it was pain, but not unbearable. Always air on the side of caution and leave a msg for your doctor, but I bet you're still healing. Remember to take it easy!:thumbup: