Time for first fill or not?

[HelenC 0]

I know you all have got to be tired of these fill questions, but I'm just not sure.

I was banded 2/14, and I'm still losing at a fairly good rate. I still have PBs from time to time, but I've discovered they're mostly my fault - eating too fast is probably the #1 cause, followed by not chewing well enough. I had one last night trying to eat an egg roll (insides, not the wrapper) and orange chicken. After I thought about it, I took much smaller bites, and chewed chewed chewed and everything was fine.

For the most part, I'm still on mushies, but occasionally, as noted above, I do throw some real food, just trying to find out what I can and cannot eat. In the morning, I'm eating a full package of Instant oatmeal. I'm drinking full cans of Soup at Hand. I can eat a full package of chicken salad and stonewheat crackers with no trouble at all. I guess I'm eating about 1/2 cup of food at a sitting...every two hours. At that 2nd hour point, I'm simply ravenous and my stomach is growling loudly.

I'm currently scheduled for my first fill on 3/15. Should I keep it, or postpone it? Is this kind of hunger every two hours normal?

Edit: I forgot to mention that the other night, I was able to eat tortilla chips and guacamole with no difficulty at all. :cry

[*susan* 1,709]

Like you said, the pb problems sound mostly like an issue with forgetting you have the band and either taking too big of bites or eating too fast. If you are hungry after only two hours, I would say keep your appointment for your fill. Part of the job of the band is to keep us from getting hungry as often.

[HelenC 0]

Thanks Susan

[HelenC 0]

Are you eating a credit card size, 1/2" thick of Protein before eating ANYTHING else? That is sooo important.

Yes, I make sure I eat my Protein first.

[Betsyjane 2]

If you are eating SOLID food...not Soups, and you are still hungry after 2 hours, I think you need a fill. If you are eating liquid/mushie calories, or drinking with or after a meal, your pouch won't feel full...everything will just slide right through.

[bretta717 0]

I was Banded by Dr. B on 02/08/07, and had my first fill last week. I was losing nicely and hesitated getting a fill, to not rush and push to hard. SIGB filled me with 1.3CC in my band. I was on liquid that day, mushes the next and then back to food. I am glad I did go get the fill now, because I can definately tell I feel full much longer then before. I am eating 2.5 or 3 small meals a day, and before the fill I was having to snack on applesauce, or yogrut, or crackers between meals. Not that there is anything wrong with snacking, but it is nice to have that feeling of fullness for much longer. I will tell you I didnt get my first PB until after my fill, so I would take it slow. They will tell you to get off of mushes and Soups as quick as you can, most have too much salt and are carb based. I haven't updated my ticker, but have another 5lb loss since the fill about a week and a half ago.

**** AIGB, if that is where you are getting your fills, doesn't do the fill like what is described on this site or like what others told me it would be like. They do not use and Xray guide or locals, the PA "feel" for the port, and then go for it. Since I was expecting something different and prepared myself for that, I think it freaked me out a bit to think she was going to find something in my body that I wasnt even sure where it was. I promise you it was NOTHING. No pain, 1 stick, she hit the port, no brusing, and I was up and back to doing anything in min. You do have to sip a cup of Water before you go to make sure you are getting liquids down, so plan for 1 1/2 hours at least.