To fill or not to fill, that is the question?

[skinny minny 0]

Hi folks,

Just looking for some advice from all you experienced banders out there. I was banded on 28th July and have an appointment on 3rd Septemebr for my first fill. At first, I was confident that this date was okay as some days I was finding I was really hungry and could eat more than I wanted to. However, over the past 5-6 days, I am finding that I have good restriction and struggle to finish my meals. For example, tonight for dinner I could only eat one tablespoon of pureed cauliflower cheese, about 1/2 a tablespoon of mashed potato and 1 tablespoon of mashed carrot and suede. I was stuffed for hours after this. I also find that drinking liquids makes me feel stuffed too.

So what do you think guys? Is 3rd September too soon for my next fill or should I wait a few weeks to see how I feel then? I have read on this forum that the need for a fill can come on very quickly, sometimes in 2 to 3 days. I should also mention that although I have lost weight in inches and my clothes are much bigger, I have lost only 1 pound on the scales since my op. I must also confess that I'm scared to have my first fill as I don't want it to be too tight and make this whole experience a thoroughly torturous and unpleasant one:eek:. I still want to enjoy food but just much smaller amounts of it! Any advice would be much appreciated,

thanks in advance

Louise a.k.a skinny minny xx

[kpdgal 0]

Your kind of a mystery, do you stop drinking 30-60 before a meal and not drink again for 60mins after your meal? And what are you drinking to make you so full? Are you sipping or gulping?

Although everyone is different here, most are ready for their fill when the doctor makes the appt. but my Dr. has also said that he has had successful patients who never get a fill and that the band itself is restriction enough. You should have lost more than 1 pound since surgery, have you kept track of the inches you are losing??? Fills are not scaring and you don't leave the office until you have swallowed liquid in front of the doctor or nurse. You won't be sent out of there not being able to drink or eat I promise. You may find after your first fill that pounds will stop dropping for you better..!!! Hope this helps?!

[plain 12]

Hi folks,

Just looking for some advice from all you experienced banders out there. I was banded on 28th July and have an appointment on 3rd Septemebr for my first fill. At first, I was confident that this date was okay as some days I was finding I was really hungry and could eat more than I wanted to. However, over the past 5-6 days, I am finding that I have good restriction and struggle to finish my meals. For example, tonight for dinner I could only eat one tablespoon of pureed cauliflower cheese, about 1/2 a tablespoon of mashed potato and 1 tablespoon of mashed carrot and suede. I was stuffed for hours after this. I also find that drinking liquids makes me feel stuffed too.

So what do you think guys? Is 3rd September too soon for my next fill or should I wait a few weeks to see how I feel then? I have read on this forum that the need for a fill can come on very quickly, sometimes in 2 to 3 days. I should also mention that although I have lost weight in inches and my clothes are much bigger, I have lost only 1 pound on the scales since my op. I must also confess that I'm scared to have my first fill as I don't want it to be too tight and make this whole experience a thoroughly torturous and unpleasant one:eek:. I still want to enjoy food but just much smaller amounts of it! Any advice would be much appreciated,

thanks in advance

Louise a.k.a skinny minny xx

Hi Louise. Full disclosure: I run my band VERY conservatively, so keep that in mind while I opine, lol.

I wouldn't get the fill if, in September, you feel the way you do now. Fills are for when your band-sized meal isn't containing your hunger for 4 hours or so. Over-aggressive filling is (IMO) where a LOT of us bandsters go wrong. Now, having said that, you may find that by the time your fill appt rolls around, you may feel "looser", as your stomach may still be a bit irritated and swollen right now.

Also, it is quite common for people to lose scale weight slowly but to lose inches. I find that I tend to go through a kind of weird "seesaw" thing where I will lose inches (as evidenced by clothes fitting better, or even looser), but the scale won't reflect it for a few weeks.

You don't have to decide right now. Go by how your body feels and have this discussion with your doctor. Good luck!

[greytz 4]

I agree with Plain except to say that I felt exactly like you at first and about 3 to 4 days before my fill appointment, I wanted to eat everything in site and had to struggle to stay focused and not eat too much. I have read threads very similar to this one and most everyone seems to have the same type of experience. Not saying everyone but a lot do. You can always cancel up to 24 hours before hand so I would wait as long as possible and see how you feel. Then make up your mind.

[rosyberg 0]

I think that we should all keep in mind that it is not the number on the scale that always matters. It is the way we feel, the way our clothes are to big, the way that our body looks, numbers don't always count. I had been unfilled for 6 months and did not gain or lose a pound yet my body changed drastically. I just went for a fill a week ago and I am so uncomfortable. I believe that if you don't get a fill but you know your restrictions in your mind and body you will be ok. The doctor is not always right

[Makulafamy 55]

Hi folks,

Just looking for some advice from all you experienced banders out there. I was banded on 28th July and have an appointment on 3rd Septemebr for my first fill. At first, I was confident that this date was okay as some days I was finding I was really hungry and could eat more than I wanted to. However, over the past 5-6 days, I am finding that I have good restriction and struggle to finish my meals. For example, tonight for dinner I could only eat one tablespoon of pureed cauliflower cheese, about 1/2 a tablespoon of mashed potato and 1 tablespoon of mashed carrot and suede. I was stuffed for hours after this. I also find that drinking liquids makes me feel stuffed too.

So what do you think guys? Is 3rd September too soon for my next fill or should I wait a few weeks to see how I feel then? I have read on this forum that the need for a fill can come on very quickly, sometimes in 2 to 3 days. I should also mention that although I have lost weight in inches and my clothes are much bigger, I have lost only 1 pound on the scales since my op. I must also confess that I'm scared to have my first fill as I don't want it to be too tight and make this whole experience a thoroughly torturous and unpleasant one:eek:. I still want to enjoy food but just much smaller amounts of it! Any advice would be much appreciated,

thanks in advance

Louise a.k.a skinny minny xx

Hi Louise,

I would agree with the others. I get to "know" a lot of the other girls who have been banded through bloggin, and so many of them have struggled with "to fill or not to fill", and there seems to be a pretty clear pattern of when they are on the fence, and go ahead and get the fill...they have to go back in to get an unfill bc they are too tight.

If you are still satisfied with 1 cup of food, it sounds like your restriction is pretty good. Sometimes we just talk ourselves into thinking a little tweak might not hurt.