How to tell if your fill is enough, or too much?

want2bmeagain · October 30, 2007

I had my first fill a couple of weeks ago and had liquids for a couple of days. Since then, any liquid goes down fine, Soups and the well cooked ingredients work, as does fish and refried Beans.

I have had a couple of pb's, and many, many times of food getting stuck (ESPECIALLY meat)~ my eyes want to cross, my mouth waters, and it hurts until the culprit goes down. I notice that the worst stuck episodes are, of course, when I don't chew enough or my bites arent small enough...I am retraining, it is just taking time to smack myself enough to remember. Then, there are times I chew good (at least I think I am), and still feel "stuck".

So, my question is...what does a proper fill feel like to you? I am learning to eat "right", but my big concern is that I don't want my "stuck" episodes to hurt the band....

Am I the only one on the learning curve with small bites? If you forget, does your food usually get stuck? Am I overfilled, or just stupid when I forget the bite guidelines?

Please respond...I need help from other bandsters!

kacee · October 30, 2007

I've been at what I consider "optimum" restriction for well over a month. Yep, there's a heck of a learning curve. Some people might say my band is too tight, but I am WORKING with it and adjusting and listening to what it tells me. Yes, I PB several times a week. It's odd, but a lot of times it happens when I take the first few bites of a meal. Everything gets clogged and that little bit comes up....and then I am FINE for the rest...providing I take it VERY slowly. Don't know if my esophagus clutches up or what. Generally the feeling that I get is after about 4-5 bites I get the tiniest bit nauseated feeling. The hunger goes away BAM and no matter if it's chocolate cake (not) or cottage cheese, I can push it away without a second thought. Some people would consider that too radical for them, but it works great for me. When I got my fill, the nurse said that the idea is to drink some liquid and feel it hesitate just for a "nano-second" and then go down. Then you have optimum restriction (providing it doesn't change). Generally, if you can eat things like bread without problem you probably need a little bit of a fill, or if you feel like you can eat a "large amount" (that is a "post band large amount", not a "preband large amount").

WASaBubbleButt · October 30, 2007

Kacee...

You shouldn't be PBing that much.

Just a suggestion. Take ONE bite, chew well, and walk away from your food. Get a kitchen timer for 20 minutes and when it goes off come back and finish your meal. It can make all the difference in the world.

And remember, food that is no longer heated is GOOD food. HA!

juliegeraci · October 30, 2007

There are 3 types of "tight" Tight to liquid, tight to soft and tight to solid. My doctor said that if you are tight to solids you should stear clear of them and try and stay on a soft diet. That being said, if you feel like you really want to eat solids and are having difficulty I would recommend a slight unfill.

crazycat · October 30, 2007

Want2bemeagain,

I have the same thing happening to me.I'm going give the kitchen timer a try.

kacee · October 30, 2007

Kacee...
You shouldn't be PBing that much.

Just a suggestion. Take ONE bite, chew well, and walk away from your food. Get a kitchen timer for 20 minutes and when it goes off come back and finish your meal. It can make all the difference in the world.

And remember, food that is no longer heated is GOOD food. HA!

Yeah, I've started doing that....I let the first two bites sit a while before I continue. If I can get past the first two bites I am okay, and it does make a huge difference!