another fill...VERY nervous!

[lianna 3]

I had problems with my last fill in February. It was done under flouro and I was "supposedly" going from 1.5ccs to 1.9 (adding .4ccs). I swallowed the Water fine and could see it barely trickle through, but by the time I was on my way home I was spitting slime and foam up. I was totally unable to swallow ANYTHING, including my own spit, for 2 days until I could back for an ufill. I went in for the unfill and had 2.3 in my band! I really think the fill doc made a mistake, thinking I was already at 1.9 and adding .4ccs? or something? I was unfilled, again under flouro, to 2.1 and had instant relief, could see the puddle of barium finally go through.

Now I am nervous to get a fill today. My only consolation is that Dr. Sanchez himself is doing it! I have TOTAL confidence in him! I think I am worried because I was swollen shut after surgery requiring an extra night in the hospital, I swell excessively after fills, and I had such a nightmare experience after my last fill. It makes me feel stupid to be so worried though. I guess I just need a pat on the back from someone who understands, lol! My husband doesnt really understand why I am nervous.

[Elisabethsew 50]

Since the MD is doing your second fill you should be OK. Maybe you can have the fill early and then "hang out" for an hour or so to make sure you don't have the problem that you did last time? Just a thought... good luck.

[PhotoNut 7]

Do you feel you NEED a fill? Check this out before deciding:

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.

[legallyKristin 0]

Thanks for reposting that Susan, I remember reading that when I first joined the board but have been unable to find it.

:girl_hug: Kristin

[Morsaille 4]

Lianna, WOW, can I sympathize! I thought I had it bad, but you have it much worse.

I get nervous and have a hard time taking a fill. I can't imagine how scary it would be to swell afterwards...

My last fill was kind of creepy, their documention was off by a full CC (they thought I had a 1.6cc first fill when I had only taken 0.6cc) and my second fill doc may not actually have been in my port to give me the fill I thought I had. Whew! As irked as I am at the recent mistakes, I can only hope that they are mistakes and that I do not have a slow leak.

If you do get the fill, make sure you communicate with them not only during, but about the post-fill swelling. It can be more expensive to sneak up on restriction, but dangerous to jump into it feet first.

Take care and lots of luck!

[Jachut 487]

It sounds like you're very sensitive to fills so I'd be very careful and I'd ONLY have a fill if you're really certain you need it. Good luck, hopefully this one will go smoothly.

[lianna 3]

Thanks for the feedback, I was worried for nothing. He did the fill without flouro and added .2ccs and then I drank my glass of Water. I am home now and drinking a glass of tea. I have never thought getting a fill was a very big deal, which was why I felt so silly for being so apprehensive. I have had several because I preferred to "creep up" to decent restriction and I think its better to err on the side of being a tad too loose rather than too tight.

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

Thanks for posting that Susan, I will save that for future reference. I definitely needed a fill, all 3 of those applied. I always eat pretty good choices because I am diabetic and the crap foods just arent worth it, but I was eating almost "normal" portions again and STILL getting hungry, lol. I could eat bread, steak, scrambled eggs, pineapple, etc... and of course I have lost practically nothing (3-4 lbs) for the past 4-5 weeks. Maybe I can get back to decent portions and get some more of this weight off. I have 10 weeks of summer break, I would like to see a 15-20 lb loss!!!