Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Were you unfilled before your PS?



Recommended Posts

Hi everyone!

Congratulations to all of you who have successfully completed your PS journey. I am an avid reader of all of your threads, and the information and pics you have so generously shared have helped to take a lot of the fear and uncertainty out of this whole process for me -- thanks so much to all of you!!!!

I will be starting my PS journey soon, (hopefully in early June) and will post more details in this section once I have them all worked out, but I had a quick question for you in the meantime -- did your Dr. require you to be unfilled prior to surgery?

Since I still have some more weight to lose and because (as we all know) it is often tough and time consuming to get just the right fill, I would prefer not to be unfilled, and I was just wondering what most of you ended up doing.

Thanks again -- you ladies are awesome!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doctor recommends an unfill of .5. I went from 3.2 to 2.7. I did gain about 7 or 8 lbs within a 2 week period. I have taken that off now since my surgery on 4/21. The only advice I would give you is if you do get an unfill wait until the very last minute before surgery. That way you will not gain any weight. Best of luck to you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Julie,

Thank you so much for the feedback -- you are always so helpful!!!!

I've been following your PS thread and I'm so glad to hear that things are progressing so well with your recovery. I'm looking forward to seeing the pics if/when you decide to put them up.

Thanks again!

:thumbup::smile::thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had an "almost" complete unfill. I had 8.5 and he took out all he could find and got 7 out- so I guess theres 1.5 floating around in there. I was worried about gaining prior to surgery so I didnt' get my unfill until 4pm the night before my surgery. Since surgery I havent' had much of an appetite, hardly anything the first 3 days and the last 2 days I've been eating very small portions. I was determined I was going to eat a cheeseburger when I got my unfill so yesterday we went to eat at a local little dive and I was able to eat 1/2 my cheeseburger with everything and a couple zucchini fries. I enjoyed it and was pleased that I was able to stop when I was full.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi. Every bariatric surgeon will have their own preference here, but for the larger PS procedures like LBL I prefer them left open (unfilled) as patients need the extra nutrition after surgery.

John LoMonaco, F.A.C.S.

Plastic Surgery

Houston, Texas

www.BodyLiftHouston.com

www.DrLoMonaco.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My lap band doc did not require an unfill, but my PS did. Because I was too tight to begin with I have been unfilled for the last 2 weeks. I have lost a total of 2 pounds since being unfilled. However I am in training for a half marathon so that helps keeps the pounds down. I am in maintenance phase though so I can have increased calories. Typically I consume 1500 calories a day which if you choose your foods right is actually a LOT of food! My TT is not until July 3 so I will have been unfilled for a total of 2.5 months before I even get my TT. After that we will see when I go in and get another fill. My PS said not until at least 4 weeks after so that there were no nutritional issues.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi. Every bariatric surgeon will have their own preference here, but for the larger PS procedures like LBL I prefer them left open (unfilled) as patients need the extra nutrition after surgery.

John LoMonaco, F.A.C.S.

Plastic Surgery

Houston, Texas

www.BodyLiftHouston.com

www.DrLoMonaco.com

Thank you so much for sharing this information with me, Dr. JLo. It's very helpful to have feedback on this issue from a plastic surgeon.

I have visited your website and looked at your before and after photos and your work is excellent! I had actually considered traveling out your way and consulting with you, but for logistical reasons I decided that it was easier for me to have my LBL and BL procedures done in the Miami area, which is much easier to travel back and forth from where I live (USVI).

Salsa, thanks for letting me know that even if I'm unfilled, I might not have anything to worry about as long as I keep up with my exercise :)!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My Plastic Surgeon did not require that I get an unfill, but I choose to do so. I am so happy I did. I was almost too tight prior to surgery and I tend to vomit following any kind of operation. I woke up from surgery feeling very sore, sick too my stomach - basically like I had been hit by a truck.

It was very re-assuring to know I didn't have to think about my band while I focused on recovery from my Breast Lift. I did not gain any weight and got a fill once I was feeling well.

I would highly recommend a de-fill before any kind of surgery if your have post surgery nausea, so you can take oral pain medication easily and so you can eat lots of good healthy food to help your body heal!!

Best of Luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Lexy,

Thank you for the excellent and insightful feedback. I do tend to vomit after surgery. In fact, I vomited just before and immediately after my Lap Band surgery -- which couldn't have been a good thing, but apparently didn't cause any problems. (Sorry if this is a little gross talking about this.)

Anyhow, you brought up a really good point that I had not considered. Thank you!!!!

:biggrin::smile::thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest JSIL

My doctor so far has not said anything about an unfill. Surgery on 5/14, will let you know for sure!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you so much JSIL! :lol::smile::frown:

Wow, surgery next Wednesday!!! Good luck with that and keep us posted -- what are you having done?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon didn't require and unfill so i didnt get on and I did great, how ever I was afraid of getting to tight after my surgery but everything went great. I went from 158 before my surgery to 165 after and I am back to 158 I am maintaining but I have really had a hard time getting myself motivated to start lossing the last 13 pounds that I want to lose.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest JSIL

I am having a tt done on 5/14, sorry I didn't say that in the original post. My lap-band doctor is coming to surgery to change my port to a lowprofile and then move the port over. He hasn't said anything about an unfill, but as I said I will let you know after surgery. Jenny

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Esmerelda :thumbup:!

I really appreciate all of the helpful feedback I have gotten in this thread.

I just received an email from my bariatric surgeon and he told me that if I don't want an unfill, I might want to consider going on liquids for a few days before the surgery to reduce the risk (very slight according to him) of aspiration while under general anesthesia. But I also think I recall my other surgeon telling me that the anesthesiologist will usually suction out the pouch of his banded patients prior to surgery (???).

JSIL, good luck with all of this. It sounds like you've attended to every last detail. Please keep us updated with your progress. I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday.

Thanks again everyone!

:biggrin::smile::biggrin:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • rinabobina

      I would like to know what questions you wish you had asked prior to your duodenal switch surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×