How long should I wait for an unfill?

[Officeslave 0]

I don't know if I am too tight or what. I had my second fill on Monday night and have had trouble since. I was on 24 hrs of liquids and tried eating and have had pain with every food and a TON of sliming to go along with it. I made a huge mistake last night and ate one of those small tortillas with a piece of melted cheese on it (comfort food from childhood I guess) and thought I was going to die from it. I chewed and chewed but it still got STUCK. It was KILLING ME. I finally had to throw up after about 10 sliming sessions. I had a few other things yesterday that were painful but I didn't actually pb, just the slime. I am even tight in the mornings right now that drinks have to go down slowly or they hurt a little.

I am at about 4cc in a 10cc band, so I really shouldn't be that TIGHT should I? Am I just now experiencing restriction and I should just stick it out and learn to eat smaller bites, chew better and make softer choices?

Have any of you had an unfill yet? If so, do they just take a little out or all of it? I REALLY don't want to go back to STARVING because I am totally unfilled again, that was hell, but I can't live on Instant Breakfast shakes either..... ugh.

Should I go on straight liquids for a day or two again to allow my stomach to rest? How long should I wait? I dont' think I have really had ANY restriction before now so I am at a loss.

Help!:party:

Edited May 15, 2008 by Officeslave

[salsa1877 10]

Jumping in from another board, but it sounds like you are VERY tight. I have had this EVERY time I have gotten a fill and because I live 6+ hours away from my doctor, have not been able to get an unfill right away...but that is not a good thing. There are going to be some people that say that as long as you can keep liquids down that you should stay with the fill. However, that is not what my doctor suggests, and not the advice I would give you. If you stay this tight and things keep getting stuck you might end up having a total unfill (I had to!) but if you go in sooner, rather than later, they will most likely take just a bit out.

As for whether or not you should be tight at 4cc's, I had to be completely unfilled because I couldn't handle 1.7cc in a 10 cc band. As I have lost weight I have actually had less and less in the band. Now I am completely unfilled in hopes of maintaining and I have still PB'd on chicken because I ate too quickly. Fill amounts are very different from person to person. My first fill was at 3.6 then I had to be unfilled totally. My second fill was 2.5 followed by a .7 unfill. My third fill brought me back to 2.2 followed by an unfil to 1.7 and then a total unfill. The band is very fickle!

So long story short, I would go back to the doc and have some taken out...sometimes it is as little as .1cc!

[ReadySteadyGo 8]

I totally agree. The band is not a liquid diet. I would get some taken out. I think the amount of fill is VERY individual and from what I see fluctuoates greatly from person to person, from fill to fill. So don't worry about how much you have in, but only how well it is working.

Maybe you should try to stay away from tortillas because they ARE a bread product. I tried that (more than once because I am a slow learner sometimes) I have only had one fill, but I can't eat them really because they expand and get stuck PAINFULLY in my chest.

I think you should call your Doctor and tell him/her what is going on. Take care of yourself.

Edited May 15, 2008 by ReadySteadyGo
clarification

[jnbwilds 0]

Ok, I know I'm offering a different opinion, but this happened to me, EXACTLY as you described. After my second fill, I was getting stuck at least once a day, sliming and throwing up. I called my doctor convinced I needed an unfill. They asked me to stick to soft foods and liquids and chew the daylights out of any solids. If after 4 or 5 days, things hadn't settled down, to come in. About 3 days in, the swelling from the fill went down (and I learned that what they say about chewing - they actually mean that) and I was fine.

Also, a tortilla with cheese - that would turn into a dough ball with glue in your pouch. Eek!

Give it a certain amount of time and try to be very strict about the band rules and if things don't get better - go for the unfill.

[JaxBandster 11]

Every time you get a fill it is like starting over from scratch. You really need to take it very slow and reintroduce all the foods that you might have been comfortable eating before one at a time. What worked prior to your fill may not work afterward.

Having said that, if I were in your shoes I would do liquids and mushies for a couple of days and if you are still too tight then I would request a small unfill. Call your doctor to make sure what they recommend first though.

[ReadySteadyGo 8]

Every time you get a fill it is like starting over from scratch. You really need to take it very slow and reintroduce all the foods that you might have been comfortable eating before one at a time. What worked prior to your fill may not work afterward.

Having said that, if I were in your shoes I would do liquids and mushies for a couple of days and if you are still too tight then I would request a small unfill. Call your doctor to make sure what they recommend first though.

good point Karen.

[Officeslave 0]

I knew in the back of my mind that the tortilla was a bad choice but did it anyway....what a dummy - I know. I really don't want an unfill....but I don't want to pb either....grrr...I think I will eat some mushies today and if not feeling at all better by tomorrow, I will call. Thanks for the advice ladies.

[Officeslave 0]

Well I changed my mind. I am calling today to see if they think I need a slight unfill. I couldn't even get down baked potato last night for dinner (I had maybe 2 tiny bites) and I couldn't even keep my refried Beans for lunch yesterday. I would think both of those would be easy to swallow options, but both gave me horrible pains. I haven't lost weight because I have been surviving on Protein Shakes, instant Breakfast shakes and even some of my kids chocolate milk (hey it is thick and felt good!) but I can't keep going with no food. Sigh....so frustrated.

[SuzanneG 1]

I had a similar experience after my thrid fill and am still trying to decide if I need a slight unfill. I've experience my first PBs and sliming and certainly don't want to make a habit of it.

However, after my first bad PB, I went on liquids for a few days and then worked my way back to eating. I've noticed that I can't hurry AT ALL now and for some strange reason, I too can't eat baked potato. But, if I follow all the rules and take my time, I'm fine. So for now, I'm sticking with the fill. I have 7cc in a 10cc band.

[ReadySteadyGo 8]

Good luck to both of you.

[salsa1877 10]

Well I changed my mind. I am calling today to see if they think I need a slight unfill. I couldn't even get down baked potato last night for dinner (I had maybe 2 tiny bites) and I couldn't even keep my refried Beans for lunch yesterday. I would think both of those would be easy to swallow options, but both gave me horrible pains. I haven't lost weight because I have been surviving on Protein shakes, instant Breakfast shakes and even some of my kids chocolate milk (hey it is thick and felt good!) but I can't keep going with no food. Sigh....so frustrated.

This is EXACTLY what happened to me. You are right...you are not going to lose weight by drinking all the Protein Shakes. They are FULL of sugar and other preservatives which is why most of them can be stored without refrigeration! Refried Beans should never hurt...that is what my doc said. Hey I am the first one to jump on poor food choices, but when you are in your situation...chocolate milk is okay. you do need calories, fat and milk has good Vitamins and minerals. Do not feel bad about those choices. Right now you are doing what you need to survive. I really hope your doc suggests a small unfill! It really will make you feel better and the weight will start coming off again...or at least it did for me.

[JaxBandster 11]

Well I changed my mind. I am calling today to see if they think I need a slight unfill. I couldn't even get down baked potato last night for dinner (I had maybe 2 tiny bites) and I couldn't even keep my refried Beans for lunch yesterday. I would think both of those would be easy to swallow options, but both gave me horrible pains. I haven't lost weight because I have been surviving on Protein shakes, instant Breakfast shakes and even some of my kids chocolate milk (hey it is thick and felt good!) but I can't keep going with no food. Sigh....so frustrated.

If you are uncomfortable then you should get an unfill. You probably need just a small one from the sound of it. Protein Shakes are a good source of nutrition as long as they are the low carb ones. I use Atkins Advantage a lot in the morning for breakfast or to supplement a meal when I'm on the run and don't have time to eat. Definitely stay away from the Instant Breakfast shakes and chocolate milk. Way too high in carbs. sugar free Jello and cool whip are extremely yummy as well as sugar free popsicles. There are drinks such as Fuze (again choose the low carb ones) that are very yummy as well. These are things that will help get you through until you can get into the doctor.

[JaxBandster 11]

I had a similar experience after my thrid fill and am still trying to decide if I need a slight unfill. I've experience my first PBs and sliming and certainly don't want to make a habit of it.

However, after my first bad PB, I went on liquids for a few days and then worked my way back to eating. I've noticed that I can't hurry AT ALL now and for some strange reason, I too can't eat baked potato. But, if I follow all the rules and take my time, I'm fine. So for now, I'm sticking with the fill. I have 7cc in a 10cc band.

Suzanne I think you are probably at a good spot. As long as you are able to get down solid food (even though you have to be careful) then you are good to go. Of course, what matters most is where you are comfortable. If you can get by with being more loose then that's good as well. I have found from reading many testimonials that restriction is really a matter of personal preference. Some people want to be so tight they can hardly get anything down (which isn't recommended but some people still do it) and others are happy with the least amount of restriction. Just figure out where your happy place is.

[Angie4b1g 1]

If you were sliming 10 times and PBing, you are probably swollen as hell! My dr recommends 24 hours of Clear Liquids after a PB to let that go down.

[Ezma 2]

How'd it go Office? Did you get an unfill? Been thinking about you today. Hope you're feeling better.