2nd Fill - only 0.5 cc Disappointed

EmmaWang · April 24, 2009

I just had my second fill this morning. The PA only gave me 0.5 cc, which really disappointed me. She said that she didn't want to hurt me by giving me too much. The port access also went deepter than last time. It took her 4 shots to find the port access. After my first fill, I was able to keep everything down and I was eating larger and larger portion at each meal (7 OZ of meat plus 3 OZ of vege). I felt I could eat more than before the fill. So I was really expecting this fill to be somewhere likes 2.5 cc to 3 cc. Even with 0.5 cc, I am still put on a liquid diet for two days. I could tell right now that there is not that much difference in restriction. I am scheduled to going back again after two weeks. I am going to beg her to give me more next time.

ZiggyLove · April 24, 2009

How funny that they only put in 0.5 cc without allowing you to be the judge of how you feel. My doctor put the needle in, had me sit up, then drink Water to make sure it could pass as he adjusted the amount of saline. He didn't just randomly pick an amount and say "there, that's all you're getting".

Personally I would insist upon getting a bigger fill if you really feel like you need one. Drink Water while the needle is still in and you can tell right away whether or not it's too much or too little.

Jachut · April 24, 2009

How many times have patients insisted on bigger fills only to end up back in the office the next day with egg all over their face (literally).

Good restriction is probably best approached gradually, snuck up on. Having a big fill, geting overfilled and then having an unfill often seems to start a cycle that prevents you from ever reaching the restriction you desire and you can damage your band in the process. Two weeks isnt long to wait.

The trouble is that it costs you guys so much money to have fills! Its bulk billed here so costs me nothing and my surgeon is a few suburbs away so I was quite happy to go in every few weeks.

But even so, its best to be patient and cautious.

nfl1 · April 25, 2009

I got 2.5 first fill, 1.5 2nd and .5 this week for 3rd. I was surprised but he did say if I felt I needed more to schedule an appt. earlier than the 4 weeks that I normally go. So far no difference in restriction, and I do feel like I can eat more than I expected. I have a 14 cc band.

EmmaWang · April 25, 2009

I obiously don't have enough restriction yet. After I drank one and half carton of Protein Shake tonight, I was still a little hungry. Then I ate one sugar free popsicle, but was still not completely satisfied. I wanted to join my husband and parents eating the pork, beef and vege so much. LOL. Finally I ended my dinner tonight with another half carton of Protein shake. I have to go on for another day of liquid diet tomorrow because of this tiny little fill. The liquid diet is really tough especially without enough restricton.

Jachut · April 25, 2009

Like was said in the other thread, its almost impossible to judge restriction by liquids. You could drink 4 Protein shakes and not feel satisfied for long, but half a cup of solid food could do the trick. Give it at least a week to see.

I had a fill the other day myself, thought "yes, this is the restriction I wanted back" and a day or two later am thinking "darn, I might have to go back in for .1 cc more (4 cc band, got 2.9 cc in it, so very tiny fills). But its better than having had to go back in to be unfilled! However I'll give it a couple fo weeks because they do take time to "settle" and give you some idea of what the fill has achieved.