Fill or Not to Fill

aneffie53 · September 23, 2005

I'm a month out, and have a fill scheduled at the 6 week mark. The nutritionist was very insistent about the first fill saying "I would want it". But I'm not so sure I do, unless things change in the next two weeks. I am able to eat fairly normally (a whole lot less), still have pain if I eat too much (any about over 3/4 cup). But I can go out to dinner, and eat my left overs for 2 more meals. I can have a taste of wine, half cup of oatmeal for Breakfast, and I've started being able to have a couple of bits of cooked vegetables without pain. I'm still most days under 1000 calories, and I don't want to go back to liquids and not sure I should eat much less than I do right now. I'm starting to feel like I can live like this, still alot of restriction and very small amounts. It would be helpful to get some other views . . .

Jachut · September 23, 2005

I really dont know anything about losing early restriction or any of that as I havent been banded yet. You might need that fill in another week or two. I dont know how it works - if I cancelled a scheduled fill and then decided a week or two later I needed it afterall personally I could ring the surgeon and might have a wait of a few weeks to see him so I couldnt necessarily decide I wanted that fill at the last moment and be in the next day - but what's a few weeks over the course of the whole journey?

But if at any stage I were in that position - nicely restricted but able to eat a wide and varied (read healthy) diet with normal foods just in smaller portions and I'd quite overeating and I was losing at around 1lb a week or so, I would be over the moon about that. And I wouldnt get greedy and want more restriction, faster weight loss.

I think the health side of things has to be considered - the more foods you can eat with just enough restriction to keep losing the better.

I think if you get to the stage where you get your Protein in and a few vegetables and not much else, you're trading off your long term health for short term weight loss. I will gladly lose weight more slowly if it means i get my 2 fruit, 5 veg in every day.

fee · September 23, 2005

I'm a month out, and have a fill scheduled at the 6 week mark. The nutritionist was very insistent about the first fill saying "I would want it". But I'm not so sure I do, unless things change in the next two weeks. I am able to eat fairly normally (a whole lot less), still have pain if I eat too much (any about over 3/4 cup). But I can go out to dinner, and eat my left overs for 2 more meals. I can have a taste of wine, half cup of oatmeal for breakfast, and I've started being able to have a couple of bits of cooked vegetables without pain. I'm still most days under 1000 calories, and I don't want to go back to liquids and not sure I should eat much less than I do right now. I'm starting to feel like I can live like this, still alot of restriction and very small amounts. It would be helpful to get some other views . . .

hey,

maybe just wait a bit closer to your 6 week mark (a cple of days before) and if you dont feel like a fill then ring and cancel it for a cple more weeks later.Atleast that way you have booked in for another fill if you need to. I would do that just incase you cancel and then cant get a fill for a cple more months. Good luck in whatever you choose.

nygrl · September 23, 2005

my girlfriend didnt get a fill for 6 months... she had restriction with out it... everyone is different...i got great restriction on my first fill which is also rare most people need a few... i would say if in 2 weeks you are still eating like you are now you may not need one... things can change very quickly though so i wouldnt cancel just yet.. you may have a little swelling still and once it goes so will your restriction... just wait and cancel the day before if you have to!

donali · September 24, 2005

Although a lot can change in the last two of the six weeks after surgery, the very most important thing to remember is that if you are already at a "perfect" restriction level (which it sounds as though you are), you do NOT want a fill - schedules be dam**D!

You might be surprised though once you're finished healing how it will seem like your band suddenly disappeared! But if it doesn't, put off that fill!

You are very wise for a newly banded person...