Is it worth it to wait for a fill?

[danaclark2 0]

My doc. will give me a fill at 6 weeks post-op; however, his nurse is really encouraging me to wait until 12 weeks post-op. She says that the longer you can wait, the better.

Do you all think this is true? I'm really getting hungry these days--almost one month out.

[picardy3 0]

Dana,

I'm getting my first fill tomorrow and it's been about 7 weeks since I was banded. I can't imagine waiting another 5 weeks as I'm trying my best to NOT eat everything in sight. I'm hungrier more often now and eating larger quantities, but nothing compared to what it was like before surgery.

My fill will be under flouro tomorrow and I'm getting excited about going. Hope I sleep tonight!

Audra

[Jachut 487]

Sounds like a rather stupid comment to me, if you need a fill at 6, why on earth would you wait till 12. What would you have to gain by that, apart from weight? I wouldnt have a fill I didnt particularly need but it sounds like she's talking crap to me.

[medussa 0]

I dont know but maybe it helps prevent erosion. If you take longer to heal, less likely the fill will irritate the stomache maybe? Just throwing the thought out there

[Alexandra 55]

I've heard my surgeon say that in general, people who are less aggressive with their fills tend to do better. My guess is that this is because they really are better able to control their eating on their own than other people, which of course would tend to lead to better weight loss and maintenance down the line. But that's not to say this approach is right for everyone.

If you need a fill, get one! But be aware that it's not fills alone that will do the job. I think that's what the message is they're trying to get across.

[danaclark2 0]

Alexandra,

I think that is what she was talking about--she said that once your band is filled to the max, that's it. So, if you can lose weight without a fill, do it. Anyway, you explained it how I think she was trying to explain it to me.

I'm going to do my best to wait--BUT if I start gaining, I'll go at 6-9 weeks for my fill.

Good luck, Audra!

[Elisabethsew 50]

My surgeon won't do fills until 8 weeks post-op and I'm scheduled for the first one on 5/25. I have zero restriction and see no point in waiting longer than the 8 weeks. Even if I only feel a LITTLE restriction I feel that's what I need to stay motivated.

[Marimaru 7]

I think if someone is losing weight without a fill, they should ride it out, but if you aren't, I'm not sure there is any sense in waiting.

[swilliams2312 0]

Hello all,

I just wanted to inform the person who wanted to know if it was worth waiting for a fill. Well lets just say that I had my sgy on July 12/2005 and I got my very first fill 7 months after, on 2/17/2006. Keep in mind my starting wt was 247 lbs and time of my first fill I was down to 187 lbs. I just got my second fill on 5/11/06 and my wt before was 172 wt after a couple of days I lost 6 lbs present wt is now 164 lb. You see its not really what people say when should you get your fill. It all comes down to when YOU feell When you should get a fill. Listen to your body and be good to it. I hope this help and hope that I inspired someone today with this. :clap2:

God Bless

ps With thru all my weight loss I never EXERCISED onced. I know you have to work with your band but with my life syle I was quiet busy and getting in natural exercise like lifing boxes, walking up & down stairs, walking back & fourth cleaning, etc. Know I'm in the process of joining a gym to stay healthy and to work up a good cardio exercise to keep my body fit, trim and healthy. :dance:

[tracylou 0]

well done swillimans2312 sounds like your doing GREAT

I had my band done 26th April so its been nearly 3 weeks i have lost 16lbs i am eating a lot more healther than i have ever done which is great, i dont wana sound thick but pls can you tell me if there is a certain amount of carb, sugar, Protein, ect, that i should try to have daily.I am due to have a fill 17th June

Thank you for your help

Tracy

[Andy Liz 0]

There's some debate as to whether an early fill causes erosions and/or slipping. She might believe this to be the case which encouraging you to wait would be in your best interest. I tend to agree with this information and plan to wait as long as possible after being banded (July 13th - Dr. Rumbaut)!

We're all different and will respond individually to the band and the process of being banded so I think there should be plenty of room for some uniqueness of care. Whatever you decide I wish you lots of luck on your weight loss journey!

Andy Liz

[Poodles 0]

My doctor does a fill at 4 weeks post op. Thank God for that! I want this thing to work quickly!!!

[Shontel 3]

I am of the philosophy that if you are following all the 'rules' diet, exercise ect and are not loosing, get one. I just got my first one, but am not in a hurry to get the next, I'm going to see how long it works and I feel restricted and am losing. I think this is entirely individual.

[PhotoNut 7]

I have found this checklist to be very helpful in deciding on a fill. It's been posted before but I'll bring it up here again because it seems to fit well with the thread's topic.

Adjustments

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day

2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber

3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories

a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome”

b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram

(1) It’s also a stomach irritant

c. fruit juice is just sugar Water

4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of

foods?

a. Are you avoiding soft foods

b. You can’t just eat what’s easy

c. cheese is glorified fat

5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of Water a day between meals

6. Are you eating too much junk

a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly

processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a

healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you

feel deprived.

b. Stay out of fast food places

7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily

8. Do you always eat the Protein first

9. Then the vegetables or fruits

a. Five servings a day

b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable

10. Is your portion size appropriate?

a. meat or fish

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need

much

(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta

11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners

a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the

appetite

b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar

c. They teach you to like things too sweet

d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner

than people who don’t

12. Avoid most diet foods

a. Real food usually tastes better

b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes

c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not

that great

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet

margarine

(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats

a. They may go into permanent storage

b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove

hydrolyzed fats from the body

B. You may need a behavior adjustment

1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait.

2. Are you eating three meals a day?

a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks

3. Are you sitting down to eat?

4. Are you eating consciously?

a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper

away, pay attention to your food and your companions

5. Are you eating slowly?

a. Put the fork down between bites

b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal

c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying

6. Are you taking small bites?

a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork

7. Are you chewing well?

8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals?

a. Practice water loading between meals

b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal

9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness?

a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough

b. Hard stop versus soft stop

10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing.

11. Do not eat when you are not hungry

C. You may need an activity adjustment

1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3

times a week?

a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day

b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week?

c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes?

2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your

physical activity?

a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators

b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding

c. Parking your car further away from the entrance

d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through

e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination

f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash

g. Playing with your kids

D. You may need an attitude adjustment

1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey?

2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are

eating and exercising?

a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days

3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional

issues?

a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your

eating?

b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those

emotions?

c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor?

4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?

5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends?

6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically?

7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss

journey?

8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating?

a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) All or none, black and white thinking

c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss

9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards?

10. Have you learned how to take a compliment?

11. Are you giving up diet mentality?

a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day

b. Stop dieting

c. Stop depriving yourself

d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad”

e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food

12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?

E. You may need a band adjustment

1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate

portion sizes but getting hungry between meals?

2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large

portions.

3. You are having to struggle to lose

4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and

having a good mind set.

F. You may need your band loosened

1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down

2. You are vomiting too much

a. How much is too much?

3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night?

a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating

b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime

c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime

d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux:

(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods

(2) Chocolate

(3) Caffeine

(4) Alcohol

(5) Some fruits and vegetables

a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(6) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

(7) Carbonated drinks

e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals

f. If you smoke, quit smoking

g. Reduce stress

h. Exercise promotes digestion

i. Raise the head of your bed

j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist

k. Stress increases reflux

l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning

m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime

(1) Tylenol is OK

n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring

o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications

p. See your health care provider

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you

also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your

stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

e. If your pain is severe