First Fill

[MMDLynn 0]

:thumbup:Okay I got my first fill this morning and I'm down 20lbs officially (that includes 1 wk pre-op diet). I was expecting alot of pain from the injection since I am not needle friendly but it wasn't bad at all!

I received 2cc's and I am stuffed! I could barely drink the cup of Water my doctor gave me. He says he fills the band as tight as possible first then he had me sit up with the needle still sticking out of my stomach. He then gave me water to drink and he removed salin until I could comfortably swallow the water. That left 2 cc's in my band. My initial reaction was immediate burping but not like I had to throw up, it was like I had a huge air bubble in my esophagus.

I couldn't drink another teaspoon until 3pm when he told me to try some Soup and if it went down without any problems I could resume my regular diet. However, if there any PBing or regergitation, I needed to come back immediatly to have some more saline removed.

I think I'm okay though. I hope the weight starts to drop now, I'm so ready to be out of the 3's and into the 2's on my way to 1-derland!:smile:

[debbieperez55 0]

Hey Debbie. I just thought I would stop to say that I went for my fill. It wasn't bad at all. They did my fill under fluro. I have no idea how much they put in. I was not able to look at the needle that the nurse was using so that maybe I could see how much was going in. They made me stand up with the needle in my belly so that I could drink the barium then Water. I was able to get every thing down fine. I am on Clear Liquids until tomorrow. Then full liquids for 1 day, then mushies, and then back to regular food on Sunday if I can tolerate it. I hope that your fill was just as uneventful!

Hey Slim, last night I replied but my computer went wacko. Sorry, but I want you to know that right in the middle of my fill I started telling my Dr that you were having the same thing at the same time.

Small world, I had my under Fluro too. I do know how much they put in because I asked, and I got to see pictures! It was great. Anyway he said that I had minimal restriction before. He put in 5.5cc into my Realize Band. I guess I was his first Realize Band and the ports are slightly different.

Okay, first he asked me where my port was. Seems it is placed slightly lower than usual, but nothing to worry about. They used numbing cream on my port area, thank goodness and then he used a paperclip and the Fluro to find the center of the port. He got the needle to the center, you can see it on the screen but he had trouble getting the needle into the port. I didn't feel a thing, but I am a little sore now. There was a lot of pushing and manulipating to get the sweet spot. Anyway once the needle was in I was told DON"T MOVE. I was frozen. So he injected some saline in and the table was raised. I couldn't move an inch so they had to help me keep my balance. It was weird I felt like I was falling forward on that table when they stood me upright and when they lowered me I thought they had stood me on my head. I drank, what by then was tasting might fine since I was starving, the barium. I even ended up with Barium Lips, but thank goodness the nurse helped me out. The Dr put in a little more saline in and then told me that he doesn't like filling too tight the first time. He said it depends, I might need another fill or this could be it. Once they got the needle in it was very fast. And no pain. None, and that was with a fishing expedition and I am a very nervous person. So trust me, not bad at all.

So after they showed me the pictures and it was cool, the first swallow straight through. After the fill you can see the decreased amount, it looked very little to me, coming out of the band. It was so weird to see the band on my stomach, my big huge stomach with a little tiny band making the little tiny "pouch" area.

Anyway, I went back to work, and I bled on my shirt, I am a bleeder for some reason - for those of you who read this, don't wear a white shirt and check before you get dressed. Anyway I went back to work and had a sugar free Jello. I was full after 1/4 of it. I was shocked!!!

I am on clear liquids today and full liquids for 2 to 4 days after. I can start mushies when I feel ready, I am afraid, but I have to start with very very pureed food, I just love my baby food. He told me to take it slow, my tummy has to get use to the fill.

So here I am, full after a SF Popsicle. AND I FEEL GREAT!!! :smile:

And Slim, you were there with me, but oh how I wish I could have taken a nerve pill first. When they were "fishing" for the sweet spot I got nervous. But I thought of you and then started blabbing. The Dr said I was an excellent patient.

Thanks for being there for me Slim. Debbie

[*slim* 2]

That makes me feel so much better. I talked about you too! How funny is that? I saw my huge stomach, but they didn't put a lot of fill in. They won't tell me how much, which is why I tried to look. The doctor actually came in while I was getting my fill and asked how I was. He doesn't talk much. I had barium lips too! My barium was actually strawberry flavored. I have had two sugar free popsicles since I had it done. I also drank about 20oz of sf kool-aid. I had to go watch my son play soccer (I am officially a soccer mom). I have some sf Jello, but I am scared to eat it. If you ate yours, then I am going to try my jello, too! I am so glad that we were able to have this done the same day!

[debbieperez55 0]

Okay, Jello, I took tiny bites and swished it through my teeth. Yes I am afraid too! It took me an hour and a half to eat one Jello. ONE JELLO.

But we did good today! Thanks for thinking of me, it helped me a lot knowing you were there too. Funny how we had the same procedure at the same time all the way across the states. It's a small world.

So about Jello, squish or swish or whatever makes you feel better and I made sure it was mushy before I swallowed.

Yes I am a COWARD :smile: Debbie

[*slim* 2]

Okay, Jello, I took tiny bites and swished it through my teeth. Yes I am afraid too! It took me an hour and a half to eat one Jello. ONE JELLO.

But we did good today! Thanks for thinking of me, it helped me a lot knowing you were there too. Funny how we had the same procedure at the same time all the way across the states. It's a small world.

So about Jello, squish or swish or whatever makes you feel better and I made sure it was mushy before I swallowed.

Yes I am a COWARD :thumbup: Debbie

You are no coward! I think of how brave you were to take control of you health. We did do good!

I will swish, squish, or whatever on the jello. I am starving, so I had better try something. I will let you know how it goes.:smile:

[April PA 0]

I was banded July 30, 2008. In the past, week I am having serious problems with vomiting all of a sudden. I can no longer eat any solid food without vomiting. I still have pain with liquid but for the most part I am able to hold it down.

I am going in to see the Nurse Practitioner tomorrow. Does anyone have any advice?

I had been able to eat pretty regularly. I was still losing weight at a reasonable pace.

I am subsisting on Optifast at the moment, but I even had horrible chest pain from that tonight.

I am frightened. I was finally feeling totally okay so this is not exactly enjoyable.

Anyone else had this experience and it was something other than lap band slippage??

Thank you,

April

[*slim* 2]

I think you are doing the only real thing that can be done by being seen tomorrow. I wish you the best.

[April PA 0]

Thank you!

[*slim* 2]

Debbie, I made it through about half of my cup of Jello. It has taken me this long to eat it. I was too scared to eat any faster. Of course, eating with a baby spoon makes it slow going anyway. I guess the true test will be on some real food. I cringe at the thought of eating.

[debbieperez55 0]

Debbie, I made it through about half of my cup of Jello. It has taken me this long to eat it. I was too scared to eat any faster. Of course, eating with a baby spoon makes it slow going anyway. I guess the true test will be on some real food. I cringe at the thought of eating.

Ok Slim, this is getting spookey. We must be sisters in a previous life. I also use a baby spoon. I have several, got them at Walmart, many pretty colors. I think they are a FANTASTIC tool. Small bites, eat slow, toddler spoons are the best. I even bought those little bathroom cups. Excellent for drinking little tiny amounts. So are you taking little tiny sips too???

What happened to the person who could eat half a cow in one bite? I have become a chewer and a slow poke. Once at work I was eating my chicken, ground fine to a mush of course, with crackers for lunch. I reverted to mindless eating and all of a sudden there was this feeling. I stopped eating and realized I was wolfing. Bad Debbie, bad. :wink_smile:

I am writting this as I eat another SF Popsicle. I had some juice to raise my blood sugar, it was the first thing I had today that was not sugar free. I just picked my husband up a hamber and fries, he is as skinny as a rail, unlike me - but the smell is almost sickening. LOL

It's weird, I don't recall anyone writing that they are almost afraid of food. I told my Mom that I could live off Baby Food for a while longer. I know logically everything is okay, but there is that little twinge. Part of it is "waiting for the other shoe to fall". Everything is going so well.

But Slim, I have changed. I enjoy my walks. I walk at my lunch. 30 to walk and then I eat. My stress level has dropped. My boss doesn't like that I don't sit at my desk for 10 hours a day, but I have to think of my health. Today, I was afraid to walk, but once I started I got into it. It felt good. The other night I wasn't that hungry so I had a cottage cheese and I was satisfied. I know some of it is the band, but a lot of it is me. I am becoming a different person, and I like it.

So enough heavy stuff, we have to get through tonight so we can at least have our protien drinks. I have enough hair falling out... :biggrin:

Let me know how you are doing tomorrow. Debbie

[terilynn112 1]

Well done you two! I won't have mine done under flouro, unless they have issues getting in. I don't think they will, because truth be told if you stand at the right angle from me, you can see the lump where my port is. Weird thing is I've lost a lot of my tummy already. Hips and butt are huge and thunder thighs, but hey they're shrinking slowly.

teri

[nayray13 0]

congrats on fill ladies...how was yours debbie? hey terri...hope the 4th gets here soon 4 ya

[deb333 0]

what does that mean, fill

[terilynn112 1]

It's when the dr adds Fluid to the band, to give you more restriction.

It can't come soon enough. But I'm working tons... I actually did step aerobics for 45 minutes, at high intensity already this morning.

teri

[deb333 0]

can anyone tell me how long it took for the approval of the surgery and then the actual surgery. also, were you big eaters prior to the surgery? I am new here obviously and just getting started.