Week 4: Filled and I'm feeling it!

UltraGeek · January 18, 2008

I went in for my first fill today. It has been 4 weeks since my surgery.

At my appointment my doctor said he wanted to get me nice and tight. He wanted to go for an initial 4cc to 5cc and see where my sweet spot would land. He did not want to do flouro/xray fill for the initial load.

He numbed my port site and then hung out and talked for a few minutes. Then out came the 'big' needle. He got it right on the port on the first try. He asked me to get into a crunch like position. He then filled the band with the full 10cc. He wanted to check the functioning of the band. Next he asked me to stand up (with the needle in my port) and drink a cup of Water. He backed out the the Fluid until the water flushed all the way through. He really took his time and slowly backed the fluid out to find my optimal spot.

He got 3.5cc for my finitial fill. I hung out for about 30mins just to make sure I was ok. I drank some more water. He said fluids only for 2 days followed by puree for another 2 days before resuming my regular diet.

I am pretty tight. It took about 1 hour to drink a Protein Shake. I did PB once and I am sliming a little. But I think I am ok. My doctor did say if I needed a 'tune up' to call and come by the office tomorrow.

-UG

jewelee · January 18, 2008

Wow. This is scaring me! LOL I go for my first fill in a little over a week. I'm excited ... and then nervous.

Jaymie72 · January 18, 2008

I am glad to see that your Dr did your first fill in 4 weeks. I go to my Dr on Jan 28th to hopefully get a fill. That will be about 4 1/2 wks for me. How are you eating now? Good luck.

karri68 · January 19, 2008

I just got my first fill about 4 hrs ago, wasn't to bad he numbed the area first now it is kind of hurting a little, he only put in 1 cc wish he would of put in more but he said some back in 2-3 wks. I get free fills the first 90 days so I want to find my sweet spot asap. lol I have lost 20 pds so far banded 12/19 so I think that is pretty good

UltraGeek · January 23, 2008

I am glad to see that your Dr did your first fill in 4 weeks. I go to my Dr on Jan 28th to hopefully get a fill. That will be about 4 1/2 wks for me. How are you eating now? Good luck.

I am eating ok, I guess. My fill seemed a little tight and weird at first. I was pretty tight and good only get liquids down at first. Cottage cheese has been a staple for me from the beginning.

This past Monday, I went to a resturant with my wife and kids. I had some Corn Chowder thinking Soup would be ok. Instant PB. For dinner, my wife made some turkey chilli and of course I had another PB. I have to learn not to inhale my food (bad habit I picked up in the Army) and chew.

Yestarday, was an odd day of sorts. I had a small cup of Turkey Chilli from work and everything went down fine. Also for dinner, my wife made a Pita pizza and that also went down fine (although I was very carefull to chew).

So I am assuming my fill of 3.5cc on Thursday took about 4 days to get back to some sense of normalcy. Even with only 3.5cc, I can feel the difference between being unfilled and having some restriction. I seem to be able to last much longer without the need to eat.

-UG

antsmith101 · January 23, 2008

I got my fill other day so im still on liquid diet and then moving to mushie 2morrow and day after.

I got 3cc fill but I dont really feel tight but im thinking it because im on liquid and havent moved on to regular food. correct?

allheart · January 23, 2008

I was banded on 12/21 and won't get my first fill until 2/14 - my six week point. I am struggling some on mushies - I've been hungry all day. Hope I make it until the fill.

UltraGeek · January 24, 2008

I got my fill other day so im still on liquid diet and then moving to mushie 2morrow and day after.
I got 3cc fill but I dont really feel tight but im thinking it because im on liquid and havent moved on to regular food. correct?

How tall are you? The band does fit differently depending on your height as well as the size of the 'pipe' leading into your stomach. I was supposed to get the 14cc AP large band installed but my doctor at the last minute switched me to a 10cc AP small band. Me typically are better cases for the larger bands because of the size of the 'pipe' as well as the fatty deposits on the upper stomach and GI intersection. After my surgery, he also confided it is much more difficult to perform lap-band surgery on men vs. women.

I have pretty good restriction because of the smaller band. When I was filled, I can tell I have restriction because I cannot drink like I could previously. Now I have to sip otherwise I will for sure PB, even on Water.

-UG

antsmith101 · January 24, 2008

I'm 5-7 Male and have the 10cc band.

Doctor told me that even though he gave me 3cc, that I should account that about 1cc (i think he said that number or 1.5?) is in the port and tubing.

HeavyHeartland · January 24, 2008

I'm a 6'0" male and got the 14cc band. I got a 4.5cc fill earlier this week and really can't tell a difference. In fact I don't feel like I got a fill at all.

Cerrin · January 25, 2008

I'm a 6'0" male and got the 14cc band. I got a 4.5cc fill earlier this week and really can't tell a difference. In fact I don't feel like I got a fill at all.

That is how I kinda feel right now. I am female 5'4" I have the 10cc band I got a fill with 5cc and I can gulp Water down great. I get full alittle quicker but nothing amazingly noticible. I just hope I will lose some weight now.:redface:

Cgailee · January 29, 2008

I had my first fill today. Saw my surgeon for a follow up as well. He told me I have a 10cc band and that he had filled it to 5cc at the time of surgery. I got .8 cc fill today and I am feeling it. I feel fine. I hope that it does good for me. I was pretty shocked to hear that he had already filled it to 5cc at my surgery. I hadnt felt hungry until just this past week which was 4 weeks after surgery. I had my surgery on 12/21 and today is 1/28.