Banded 8 wks/1 st fill tomorrow...advise?

[miminms 0]

I was banded 8 weeks ago and tomorrow (8:00 a.m.) is my first scheduled fill in a large VG (10cc) band. (no saline was put in at time of banding) My doctor told me he would be putting in 3cc's. I'm not worried....to the contrary!!....I'm very excited!!! I just don't know what to expect. I realize all Dr.'s are different, but can anyone please tell me your experiences??

l. Should I eat even lighter today to prepare for the fill?

2. Do I eat Breakfast in the morning or would it be better if I didn't?

3. Were you put on a liquid or mushy diet for a day or two afterwards?

4. Does it hurt or is it just uncomfortable?

5. Any possible problems with "finding" the port?

6. What is the possibility of feeling some "restriction" with 1st. fill?

So many questions! LOL To date I've lost 34 lbs. and I'm so happy with my band. I've had no problems at all. I have been living on "will power" the past few weeks, so I will be thrilled when I can actually "feel" the restriction again. Thanks to anyone sharing their experiences with me. I can't wait for the "fills" to begin!

[TerriDoodle 6]

I was banded 8 weeks ago and tomorrow (8:00 a.m.) is my first scheduled fill in a large VG (10cc) band. (no saline was put in at time of banding) My doctor told me he would be putting in 3cc's. I'm not worried....to the contrary!!....I'm very excited!!! I just don't know what to expect. I realize all Dr.'s are different, but can anyone please tell me your experiences??

l. Should I eat even lighter today to prepare for the fill? No, just your normal diet.

2. Do I eat breakfast in the morning or would it be better if I didn't?My doc advises eating normally. I usually at least try for an empty pouch, so I don't eat right before.

3. Were you put on a liquid or mushy diet for a day or two afterwards? liquids or mushies for 24-48 hours, then on to regular foods. Every doc is different.

4. Does it hurt or is it just uncomfortable? I've had 3 fills. 1st was just uncomfortable, 2nd was painful (had to stick me 3 times) and 3rd was totally painless. So, who knows? Depends on many things.

5. Any possible problems with "finding" the port? That is always a possibility.

6. What is the possibility of feeling some "restriction" with 1st. fill? I have the smaller band, but I'd guess that it's always possible no matter what kind of band you have. My fills (oddly) start out fine, then get tighter and tighter over the next 10 days then gradually go back to a more tolerable level.

So many questions! LOL To date I've lost 34 lbs. and I'm so happy with my band. I've had no problems at all. I have been living on "will power" the past few weeks, so I will be thrilled when I can actually "feel" the restriction again. Thanks to anyone sharing their experiences with me. I can't wait for the "fills" to begin!

Good luck!! You'll love having restriction again!

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

l. Should I eat even lighter today to prepare for the fill?

2. Do I eat breakfast in the morning or would it be better if I didn't?

3. Were you put on a liquid or mushy diet for a day or two afterwards?

4. Does it hurt or is it just uncomfortable?

5. Any possible problems with "finding" the port?

6. What is the possibility of feeling some "restriction" with 1st. fill?

Each doc is different. My doc wants fluids only before and after the fill for the whole day. No soft foods, no solids. But each doc is different.

If you eat solids there will still be food in your pouch (or could be) and he won't get an idea of pouch size without food. So if you are getting a fill with fluoro stick to liquids for the best view possible.

My doc has us do liquids for the day of the fill and the day after. Then soft foods for a day then regular food.

It doesn't hurt at all. Some docs use lidocaine and some don't. I've had it done both ways and it doesn't make a bit of difference to me if they use lidocaine or not. There are fewer nerve endings in your abdomen around the port area so it really doesn't hurt.

No problems at all finding the port under fluoro. Without fluoro a lot depends on belly fat and how experienced the doc is at fills.

3cc in a 10cc band probably won't do a lot for you, but that's okay. If it doesn't, you'll get another fill. It really does have to be taken in stages.

Good luck!

[Paulax 8]

Too lazy to read everything above, but I go on an empty stomach and I make sure i am fully dydrated. The day before I make sure I don't eat salty things and I make sure I drink my 8 glasses of Water. I usually make an appointment in the morining on an empty stomach.

After a fill, I make sure i have a Protein shake for lunch.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Also, there is an excellent post somewhere about just this topic.

[DRIVER 0]

l. Should I eat even lighter today to prepare for the fill?

2. Do I eat breakfast in the morning or would it be better if I didn't?

A. My doctor says nothing after midnight before the fill

3. Were you put on a liquid or mushy diet for a day or two afterwards?

A Day 1 liquids only,

Day 2 soft, mushy, baby food consistancy,

Day3 back to regular foods

4. Does it hurt or is it just uncomfortable?

A.I had no problems, only slight pressure

5. Any possible problems with "finding" the port?

A. My doctor uses flouro so it is easy

6. What is the possibility of feeling some "restriction" with 1st. fill?

A. I have noticed that I eat less with each fill and have to learn to adjust my intake with each fill. I have PBed with each fill! (NOT FUN)

307/238/190ish

Banded 22 Mar 07

Dr.Darren Minkin

Des Peres Hospital

St.Louis, Mo.

3.6cc in a VG band

I'M WITH THE BAND

[miminms 0]

Terri,

Thank you so much for the input. Wow! These bands really have a mind of their own! You are doing great! Very encourging!

Wasabb,

Thank you for the support and info. I'll go liquid for the rest of the day and as most said, nothing in the am. 87 lbs!!! Way to go!!!

Paulax,

Good point about the Water and keeping hydrated. I hadn't thought about that. I'll add some more Water also!

Driver,

Wanting to eat less with each meal was my dream for this lap band, so to hear that is fantastic!!! I've never PB'd or anything close to that, so I'll be curious to see what happens. Doesn't sound like fun, but sounds like it would really keep me in line! LOL

Thank you all again for taking the time to help me with my questions. This board has been such a blessing! It's great to have a place to talk about these issues with folks who've "been there"! Can't wait for tomorrow!!!!!

[jfran 0]

my doc says no food or drink 4 hours before a fill. My fills (2) have been virtually painless. Still don't have good restriction, but I am losing weight so it will come in time. I am enjoying the ride on my band journey.

Good luck!

[miminms 0]

Thanks jfran! Your weight loss has been great! I sure wish you continued success. I'll miss my coffee in the morning! LOL I understand what you mean about no restriction. I just have to tease myself that I'm full...not! Oh well, I certainly don't want to do anything to hurt my band or mess with my weight loss, so I'll hang in there and do what needs doing. I am self-pay like so many others and I CERTAINLY can't throw my money away by not doing my part! Of course, the bottom line is this is my dream and my chance of a "healthier" life. Like you, I am enjoying the ride! Much luck to you!

[miminms 0]

I just wanted to let you guys know how my first fill went. I did the liquid diet yesterday and didn't eat before going as advised by my LB friends. The Dr. did my fill (3cc's) and it was painless! No problems...he found it with no problems also! He said to go to liquids for 24hrs. then mushy then on to regular, but to be careful....what I ate yesterday, I may not be able to eat now. He said I was doing great at 40 lbs.....I could only count 38...I was confused, but I liked his numbers a lot better!! LOL Then he told me the bad news....."Come back in 8 wks. for your next fill"......I thought surely it would be no more than 4 wks. My Dr. is so conservative. I thought about arguing or begging, but I decided not to. I know it wouldn't have changed anything. Guess I gotta trust him to know what's best for me! Anyway----WOOOOOOHOOOOO I'm on my way!!!! Just wanted to share!