Second Fill - Still on Liquids after one week

[SMAJORS 0]

I had my second fill a week ago tomorrow. I am having a hard time getting more than Water or hot tea down. I have been able to drink a Soup at hand but it has to be at least 8 hours apart. Today I tried to go to Mimi's Cafe and eat a cup of creamy chicken Soup and quiche HOWEVER, even with the smallest of bites, I had the worst PBing episode ever. I think I also actually threw up. I had eaten a soup at hand about 4 hours before. I am now drinking hot tea...seems to go down ok. It has been a week but I am worried that this is not normal. I feel sort of crappy and no energy because I am not getting any calories in really. I usually drink a Protein shake every morning and I have not been able to get one down since this fill so my Protein numbers are not high at all. I even PB'd after drinking some milk albeit after I had had some soup. Will my band loosen up to a reasonable restriction? I at least need to eat something a little more often. I don't feel hungry after the soup but after 5 hours, I was hungry.

What the heck should I do. I have lost 10 pounds so far this week. That is way fast. I started at 290 and now I am 252. I had my surgery on 11/21/08.

Edited February 22, 2009 by SMAJORS

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Get an unfill. The point of the band isnt' to force you to keep on a liquid diet. ... you'll lose your health and do yourself a disservice!

[kiz 1]

It also sounds to me like you need a slight unfill. You definitely don't want to cause more swelling by continuing to PB. You can't even really hold down mushie food.

My doctor's rule is if you can't hold down liquids, you need an some saline removed. If you can get to mushies, but can't move to solid foods within two weeks, you need to come in for a slight unfill. This seems to be pretty standard from what I've read.

Good luck, and I hope you get this resolved quickly.

[mljalways 1]

I have just had my fourth fill and I am at 7.7 in a 10cc band. Up until this point I had some restrition but could eat almost anything. After this fill I AM restricted. I have to be careful with liquids.....not gulping, and I have noticed I can barely eat throughout the day but tonight I was actually able to eat dinner. I think I am at about 800 to 900 calories a day. Is this ok? I hate the thought of an unfill because I only lost 2 lbs last month.

[SMAJORS 0]

Thanks for all the responses. I think what is happening is that it is just taking a really long time for things to pass through. Seriously 8 hours for Soup to pass. Will it loosen up any? Since I had my band done in Mexico, I have the fills done in Dallas and live in Tennessee. Much cheaper in Dallas and visit there regularly for business. I am asking if it loosens up after a couple of weeks. But I will make the trip there if I absolutely have to.

[SMAJORS 0]

Gang, I can not graduate to mushies or solids and this is going on the third week since my second fill. I am miserable and weak and I haven't dropped anymore pounds. I live in Nashville but get my fills done in Dallas. I go there a lot on business and they are more cost-effective. Can my regular doctor do an unfill? I have been trying to reach my regular doctor for a week now with no luck.

[kiz 1]

I really have no idea if a regular doctor can do an unfill, but my guess is they can't. You need to take care of this ASAP, and I know you know that, but I'm afraid you're going to get very sick. I mean sick enough to require a hospital stay to get you hydrated. At this point, you may have to go to the local ER or get to Dallas. Does your local doctor understand that this is an emergency situation? If you haven't improved since your first post, you can't even hold down most liquids. I hope you're able to get help today.