NJGirl32

The scale said I gained 4 pounds-really??!! I drank 4 pounds worth? Maybe it's jetlag weight because I know it isn't food weight! I gotta hit the gym and get back into the groove! Oh-forgot to mention that I went through a full bidy scanner at the airport and they pulled me over for a pat down - I can't help but to wonder if it was the band that set it off? That was the first time I ever was pulled to the side and also the first time I went through one of those machines.

I had my 4th fill 3 days before my cruise and it was tight. I thought about an unfill-but I was able to eat food, just not a lot of food. Well I have to say I was tight for the entire cruise (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). I could only eat small amounts of food and only cream of wheat in the mornings. On the 2nd day of my vacation I felt sick all day (probably from a teeny piece of dry chicken I had). Not a pleasant day and I started regretting the fill and thought that perhaps my band may have slipped. I simply could not eat anything without getting sick. After dinner (which I did not really eat) I had to rush back to my stateroom and barely made it in time to puke-not good. But the next day and the remainder of the cruise was good and I selected items I knew I could handle. We sat at a table with 3 other couples from various parts of the South. You learn a few tricks to not look obvious about eating so little. You take small bites, give some to your hubby to "try" and then mash around what's left and scarp it off to the side. Unfortunately those tropical drinks had no problem going down along with other alcholic beverages. Desserts went down fine too (although I didn't over do them at all). The most important thing was to not eat at the airport or before boarding a plane (I can't imagine a worse though then being stuck and beiing on a plane). So tomorrow I'll step on the scale and see what damge my umbrella-type drinks did! I was glad I had the fill because there simply wee way too many temptations!

I would say 4 weeks for your 2nd fill if you don't feel any restriction. I had my first fill 4 weeks after surgery and then 4 weeks later for the 2nd. I still had no restriction and waited 2 weeks after the 2nd fill and then 2 weeks after that. It seems my 4th fill did the trick. In my head I still get hungry, but there is no way I can eat lots of food for fear of being stuck-and I know what foods will get me stuck. It's a real learning process. By my 2nd fill I was getting so frustrated and decided to go every 2 weeks until I felt the band working. Keep in mind however that sometimes it takes a couple of weeks to truly feel results.

Sweatpea- you are doing AMAZING!!! With no fills?!!! Wow!! Congrats-you look great!

Congrats on a successful Vacation!! I just came back from my cruise today-I had a super tight fill before I left. Spent 1 day sick/slimming/vomiting, but I learned my lesson!! It is scary being out of town and wondering if you did some damage! 1 pound doesn't even count-way to go!!!

Last fill was 4.5 total ccs and so far it's amazing. This morning I took a while to eat yogurt and I didn't eat most of the fresh blueberries I storred in with it. I wasn't hungry all day although I knew I should eat, but I was out shopping and running errands. I came home and had a chicken lean cusine...well I couldn't finish it-seriously-couldn'tfinish a lean cusiene? That's insane!! I ate most of the chicken, but couldn't finish the apples. Hopefully, I'll be able to eat a little more on the cruise (but not over do it). I would love to stay at this level for a while, but I am not sure how long it will last!

I agree I think you have some say so in the fill department. Also, you don't have to suffer from an overfill-just get some taken out.

I have been stuck for 2 hours-it sucks so bad! Try Papaya enezmes whcih seem to dissolve proteins like steak and shrimp (not much help with bread). Shrimp did me in a while back-chew, chew, chew and keep it moist. Dry meats tend to stay stuck longer. Something that helped me was having a cup of hot tea afterwards. Someone said warm pineapple juice helps too. I know it's the absolute worst feeling!!

Get the book Bandwagon-it has all these terms described in it! It is a great resource and a very interesting read from a person who actually wentthrough the Lapband-loaded with info!

I am just starting steady weight lost-3 months on the journey and things are finally moving forward. The band does require a lot of patience-it's not a quick fix for sure-but worth the wait!! I haven't weighed this weight in soooo long-it feels great!

Thanks so mucj everyone! I think I just panicked because yesterday and most of today I couldn't eat-but I am feeling better now. I had a protein shake with a banana blended in and managed some pudding. I get a sense that I will be okay with this fill so I am not going to the doc's tomorrow. Of course I am starving now-but I am very careful of what I put into my mouth!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My doc says the day of the fill only liquids, but I really think 2 days is a good policy. I manage to get cream of wheat down so that's a good sign. I really wantto keep this fill because I don't want to gain on vacation and there will be way too much temptation. I guess I'll see how I feel in the morning.

Thanks for the reply! I did call the doc. and I have a 9:45am appointment. They are completely booked but they had to squeeze me in if I can't eat. I will see how I feel in the morning-but if I can't eat anything I'll need a unfill-despite how much I hate the idea of getting one! I haven't eaten anything today (the spoonful of egg doesn't count anymore) and that's not good. I am goingto make a shake and see if I can keep that down.

Okay- I am really thinking this fill is TOO much for me. After 1 friggen spoonful of egg beaters I was sliming like a rabid dog and threw up twice-nothing like standing over a toilet for over an hour. I called my doc for an unfill tomorrow morning. I HATE doing that because I want to lose weight, but I am going on vacation Thursday and won't have my medical team on stand by-plus I don't want my entire vacation memories to be of me paying homage to the porcelain god! I'll be in New Orleans on then a cruise-I do want to be able to eat and drink (yes drink). I don't want to gain weight, but of I do it's not the end of the world. Maybe the swelling will go down tonight and I can skip the unfill-but that's not the way to bet

Yesterday my doc gave me 1cc - I really thought the policy was .5cc after you reached 3ccs. I wasn't expecting the 1cc and it's a big, BIG difference. Today I was able to drink 2 cups of coffe without any problems-so that's good (except the coffe part). I made an egg beater omlette with a teeny piece of cheese. I sat down to eat it and was only able to eat a tablespoon-that's it! Then it happened-the slime, and more slime, the stuck feeling and I knew I had to get it out-vomit! Normally I would just let this ride it's course because I was able to drink coffee. BUT I leave on a plane this THursday for vacation and then a cruise. I don't want to deal with this on vacation-I am thinking of getting an unfill (I never thought I'd ever say those words). I have never been filled to the point of actually it making a big difference-so this is completely new to me. Should I wait it out since I can drink or should I get the unfill? Will I be able to eat food tomorrow? If anyone has ever had a tight fill-how long was it until you could eat food again? I just don't know what to do!

I think it all boils down to your quality of life. Are you happy with where you are at this point? Is the quality of your life greatly reduced due to your weight? Do you think about being overweight constantly and does it hinder you from doing things you really want to do in life? It is a life changing procedure and it's good to think it over. For me, I know I am not happy all all with this excess weight. I would go into department stores and avoid the mirrors-that's no way to live. Only you can decide what's best for you! Good luck with whatever you decide!

My grade school reunion was fun. I did drink, but I also got a lot of walking in! My best friend noticed I lost weight and said I looked good-but no one else did-WTH? I lost 30 pounds and probably 40 since the last time I saw my cousin and she was there with my neice. I looked at the photos and while I do look better I still don't like how I look in pictures (will that ever change I wonder?). The reunion was down the shore-I had a slice of pizza on the boardwalk-BIG mistake!! I was sick for hours afterwards. I threw up twice on the boardwalk -gross I know! Got back and still felt sick with sliming. I really started to question if I should get the fill on Monday-especially with a cruise this week. Monday I got on the scale and I lost 2 pounds! Awesome!! (I only get weighed once a week). I decided that a .5cc fill would be good for my vacation-but the doc gave me 1cc. Wow! I'll say it again...Wow! For those of you who haven't been filled to the point of Wow, your time will come! I could not eat anything afterwards. I know you aren't suppose to eat after a fill-but with my other fills I was still able to nibble-but not this one! I could barely drink anything. Today I can drink, but I haven't tried food yet. I got on the scale and it's another 2 pounds gone! Wow! This entire process is finally kicking in! When I was at the doctor's office I overheard 2 male patients say that they lost 100 pounds and the other had lost 140 pounds!! Another wow! I am feeling positive and my decision and more determined than ever. I also think going to the gym has had a very positive effect on helping me lose weight. I feel like I am doing something very useful when I work out-something for me-something other than sitting on the couch! I even plan to work out on the cruise ship! So it took 3 months for all the elements to come together-but I do feel a forward motion!! I am glad I didn't wait 6 weeks between fills! As a matter of fact I had 3 fills within 6 weeks! I just don't see the sense in waiting if they weren't doing anything. Also I get free fills for the first 90 days after surgery, now I have a copay of $15 and they book the fills 4 weeks apart instead of 6-interesting.

I have BCBS PPO and I never heard from them-the office dealt directly with them. That's so odd that they would try to talk you out of it. I never heard of such a thing and I would complain about it-it just doesn't seem ethical to have someone who has no medical degree try to sway you away from a surgery that could imporve the quality of your life.

Protein shakes really helped with hunger and the protein aids in healing after surgery. Are you sure you are on clear liquids that long? You really need to take your vitamins at this point because youe body is craving nutrients. Try a protein shake (maybe 1/2) and see how you do. I know it's difficult-but you will be on mushies before you know it!!

Today is much better! I can drink my coffee and plan to have my yogurt and blueberries mixed together (my fav. morning treat!). I really do think I am either in the green zone or at least very close! I am glad I went-even stepped on the scale today to see 2 more pounds gone! I really think the gym has helped with getting my sluggish metabolism going. After a long plateau things are finally starting to kick in! Melissa-I am going to New Orleans on Thursday for 2 nights and then sailing out to Mexico for 4 nights-I can't wait!! I would have preferred to have my fill last week but the doc was on vacation. Where are you cruising too? By Feb. you will be in excellent cruise shape!! Dave- These guys were so proud and they were actaually talkingto a young girl who was filling out a form for the Lapband. I personally don't think she will qualify because she didn't look like she had much to lose. It was really good to hear 2 guys with 100+ weight lost-and you too!! I have heard so many people say it was the best decision of their life-and I really feel like I am beginning to understand why!

I had my 3rd fill 2 weeks ago and I don't feel like it was even worth going for-only.5ccs and really didn't help. I did manage to lose 4 pounds but I sttribute that to my workouts at the gym. Anyway-I debated back and forth about going in for another fill with my original surgeon. He put 1cc in my band for a total of 4.5ccs. Wow-this is SO different than any other fill I have ever had. I was able to drink the water-but I wasn't able to drink much else. I sipped on Soup for a while-and still have most of it left. I was hungry so I tried a little pudding (I know liquids only but with other fills I could do mushies)...well forget that. I went to the gym and could barely drink my Water (actually I spit some up.) I am hoping this is just do to the recent fill/swelling and that by tomorrow I will be better. Has anyone felt extra tight the day of the fill and then it subsided a bit? I am going on a cruise later this week and wanted the fill so I wouldn't gorge but I hope I didn't overdue it. On a bright note I overheard 2 male patients talking about their weight loss. One said it was the best decision of his life and he lost over 100 pounds. The other said he lost 140 pounds!! It was inspiring sitting among such great success stories!

I would have to disagree withe the poster who said it doesn't restrict the amount of food-because with me it does. I have also read the Dr. Simpson article and I don't agree with everything he says. I can't eat food that I once could and it I push it there is a price to pay. Before my 2nd fill I could eat 2 slices of pizza and did it once. AFter the 3rd fill I tried eating one slice and I got so sick. Now that I have my 4th fill forget it- I can barely finished my soup! The tennis ball feeling is a stuck episode-sometimes lots of slime comes up at this point. I agree, the sandpaper feeling might be acide reflux-definitely mention it to your doctor.

I can only suggest you shop around because some docs will cut you a break. The woman at my office ( a patient) knew her friend was paying lots for her fills and ask if he could do them and what would he charge. He said he would charge $50!

You have been offically stuck! Remember to chew the hell out of everything-especially dry items. After being stuck stay on liquids for a while. My throat alwaus hurts he next day.

Fluids they pump into during surgery (IV) plus bloated and swelling from surgery-not to mention gas. I wouldn't worry about it at all. When I went back to work I had to leave my pants unbottoned at the top because my stomach was so bloated. You'll be fine and back to normal in no time!