Question about how the fills work

[FutureFitGal 15]

Hi - I was banded on May 24th, 2011 and have already had one fill. I have a few questions about how they work:

1. Does the fill make your pouch smaller (so you feel full with less food) or does it make the hole smaller so that it takes longer for the food to move from you pouch to the rest of your stomach?

2. Right now, a week after my first fill, I definitely eat less at one sitting, but I don't feel satisfied and I'm hungry 2 hours later. I may be stopping myself from getting to the completely satisfied stage because a few times, when I thought I was eating to the "satisfied" level, (not the over-satisfied, stuffed feeling) I had pain in my chest which only started about 1/2 hour after I stopped eating and lasted for about 45 minutes to an hour.

3. My doctor wants me to come in for a fill every two weeks in the beginning and that seems excessive. I thought you were supposed to wait a month before fills to let things settle and give you time to figure out what "spot" you're at.

What were your experiences in first few fills, how you felt, how it worked for you and especially how often you had to get a fill in the very beginning of this process.

Thanks so much for any comments or advice you can give!

[Acadia 20]

1. A fill applies pressure around the stoma (hole) and makes it smaller and applies pressure to the nerves around the stomach which can sometimes include a specific nerve that can dim your hunger.

2. What are you eating? You say you don't feel satisfied, but do you feel not hungry when done eating? Satisfied is irrelevant honestly, you eat for nourishment and to quell hunger. For the pain in your chest, sounds like gall bladder pain, ask your Dr. for an ultrasound of your gallbladder (explain that you sometimes have pains for nearly an hour 30-60 minutes after a meal and that they are in the middle of your chest). Also - write down everything you eat and measure your food. You should be eating 1-2 cups of food per meal.

3. Every two weeks is too fast, a fill can be delayed by up to four weeks. You don't have to go in every two weeks, just tell him you feel more comfortable waiting through a whole month because women's bodies go through different changes throughout the month and you know your body (he won't argue). And keep your fills small - some people talk about 5 cc fills at once, that would have had me in the ER - it sounds like your fill, while small to some, was good start - like mine was.

I was at my sweet spot with a single 1.5 cc fill. Who knew? I didn't, and I went in for another four weeks later for another 1.0 cc because everyone else on here (almost) needed more and I was too full for two months (while billing issues were worked out) and it was hell. I've had that 1 cc removed, and since had my gall bladder removed (last week - my experience is on the board with all the details) and my Dr left my fill in because I'm in the green zone.

FILLS

My first fill (dates in my signature) was easy, over in a few minutes, done under fluoroscopy. Provided great restriction (reduction of how much I could eat and what I could eat) and appetite suppression.

My second fill (dates in signature) was easy as well and also done under fluorscopy, but I did doubt if I needed it and I should have listened to myself but I didn't. It went well, but I could tell the next day I was too full but wanted to give it a bit to see how it settled (some days I could eat some I couldn't - then I started vomiting regularly).

Right now I'm about 0.10 - 0.25 cc from perfect. Only because I get hungry around 3 hours after a proper meal and I'd prefer that be 4-5 hours.

Take it at your speed - there's no rush.

[FutureFitGal 15]

1. A fill applies pressure around the stoma (hole) and makes it smaller and applies pressure to the nerves around the stomach which can sometimes include a specific nerve that can dim your hunger.

2. What are you eating? You say you don't feel satisfied, but do you feel not hungry when done eating? Satisfied is irrelevant honestly, you eat for nourishment and to quell hunger. For the pain in your chest, sounds like gall bladder pain, ask your Dr. for an ultrasound of your gallbladder (explain that you sometimes have pains for nearly an hour 30-60 minutes after a meal and that they are in the middle of your chest). Also - write down everything you eat and measure your food. You should be eating 1-2 cups of food per meal.

3. Every two weeks is too fast, a fill can be delayed by up to four weeks. You don't have to go in every two weeks, just tell him you feel more comfortable waiting through a whole month because women's bodies go through different changes throughout the month and you know your body (he won't argue). And keep your fills small - some people talk about 5 cc fills at once, that would have had me in the ER - it sounds like your fill, while small to some, was good start - like mine was.

I was at my sweet spot with a single 1.5 cc fill. Who knew? I didn't, and I went in for another four weeks later for another 1.0 cc because everyone else on here (almost) needed more and I was too full for two months (while billing issues were worked out) and it was hell. I've had that 1 cc removed, and since had my gall bladder removed (last week - my experience is on the board with all the details) and my Dr left my fill in because I'm in the green zone.

FILLS

My first fill (dates in my signature) was easy, over in a few minutes, done under fluoroscopy. Provided great restriction (reduction of how much I could eat and what I could eat) and appetite suppression.

My second fill (dates in signature) was easy as well and also done under fluorscopy, but I did doubt if I needed it and I should have listened to myself but I didn't. It went well, but I could tell the next day I was too full but wanted to give it a bit to see how it settled (some days I could eat some I couldn't - then I started vomiting regularly).

Right now I'm about 0.10 - 0.25 cc from perfect. Only because I get hungry around 3 hours after a proper meal and I'd prefer that be 4-5 hours.

Take it at your speed - there's no rush.