3/31/06 - The Fill and the Fury

OK - so no fury - but the fill is a good thing...

I went in on the 21st and filled out the paperwork. I asked that I not have to see the needles - so the lovely gals at SCOR covered the tray for me before I went into the room.

I hopped up onto the table under the Flouro machine and they located the band with it. I studiously looked away as they gave me the numbing shot, which I could barely feel at all. I kept studiously looking away as they put the fill needle in - first try, no problem. No pain at all.

I felt an odd sensation as they put the fill in. Almost impossible to describe - but just a tightening sensation in my chest.

They had me drink some lovely barium through a straw from the lying down position and they took a picture of it flowing through the band.

Then, they pulled out the needle and sent me out to the waiting room to drink water.

I sat out there for a couple of minutes and then I went back to Chat with Mary Ann - the Patient Coordinator. We talked about what I was eating and whether I was exercising while I continued to sip my water.

Then I went back out front and finished my drink. Since I had no problems with the water or anything, I went off to work.

Restriction is going to be AWESOME. For the first couple of days, I could really feel restriction - and after that, I had a great effect from the fill. I could still eat anything that I wanted to - but the compulsion to eat was gone. For the first several days after I stopped the liquids, I could really tell I had the band. I actually got FULL and had to stop after only a small plate of food!

Of course, now, I have just the tiniest amount of restriction. I can eat anything - but if I avoid dining out at restaurants and eat what my DH cooks for me, then I still don't have TOO much trouble stopping. I think the 2nd fill I have scheduled when I come back from my April trip is going to be even better. The scale has stabilized at about 321 - which is great.

Now, if I could just get back on board with the exercise, it would all come together. With the new month and the Time Change - I am going to TRY the getting up early thing. Maybe I can just go in the morning... or at least get home early enough to go with DH at night. *sigh* I was doing it before! I should be able to do it now!

Well, no time like the present. I am going to go home and drag DH to the gym!