First Fill - Is this Normal

Bret · January 18, 2007

I had my surgery 11 December 2006 and had my first fill this morning (18 Jan 2007). I have the large, 10CC band and this morning's fill was 4 cc's. My doctor gave me a 12 oz bottle of Water and had me wait in the waiting room till I was able to finish it. It took close to an hour and I felt stuffed to overflowing for at least an hour afterward.

Is that the way its supposed to feel? If Water takes so long to go through how will food go through at all?

The doc says its normal, just looking for some reassurance.

Thanks

Bret

prbrooksie · January 18, 2007

I don't know...I had my surgery 11/2 and my first fill 12/13. They only put 1.25cc in in my 10mm band. It doesn't feel like I am restricted at all.

juliegeraci · January 18, 2007

Bret, what you are experiencing is restriction. That is normal. If you have difficulty eating just make sure you really cut down your portions down and chew really well. You will know if u are filled too much believe me. Best of luck.

ralheit · January 18, 2007

I have a 20cc band and I've had about 6 fills and am only at 5.5. That seems like a lot for your first fill. As long as you are comfortable with it and don't PB continuously, good for you. You already have the restriction most of us had to wait for.

Bret · January 20, 2007

Thanks for the input, Its been about a day and half since the fill and it feels better. I can drink and eat, just need to be careful of how much and I have to chew a lot. I did get nervous yesterday when it seemed as Water wasnt even passing well but things have settled down and I think I have a restriction that will work. This is what I paid for and hopefully the weight loss will speed up.

(I travel a lot for work and can't wait to be able to fly without asking for a seat belt extension.....most people have weight loss goals....this is my first goal).

I also never heard of a 20CC band. I have the Inamed VG band which is 10cc and as far as I know that is the largest they make. Maybe another manufacturer makes larger bands.

Bret

Dancing Queen · January 20, 2007

I also had an aggressive "filler"! For my second fill I had to see a new doctor b/c the doc that usually gives my fills got over-booked. This doctor walked in, found my band on the ultrasound and as soon as I asked "Aren't you going to numb that?" the needle went in! I was shocked there was NO pain. I had gotten a local with my first fill but they didn't use ultrasound and had to "poke around" awhile. According to this doctor any doctor that doesn't use ultrasound and flouro is asking for trouble..anyway I had 1.6 cc. in a 4cc band and he put another 1 cc.

Things from that point on have not been the same. I used to be able to take the top bun off of a burger or eat an entire chicken breast with no restriction. NOW I know what restriction is. I had only PB'd once before that fill and it took me a while to learn how to eat so that I don't PB or lose battles with the food caught in my band. It has been tough and I probably should have only gotten .5 cc and learned this process a little slower but a few sips of hot tea before a meal works wonders and I am finally learning what the band has been trying to teach me. SLOW DOWN and chew and think about what I am putting down my band!

Good Luck and hopefully you will learn faster than I did!