Divebadger

Mary, It must be a Connecticut thing! I have lost 115 pounds since April, 2003 and no one really noticed a big difference until I was about 80 to 90 pounds down. Some people did, but I didn't get many comments until the last few months. Even so, I know what I have done....and you do too and that's all that matters....how you feel about your wonderful weight loss. You look great, keep up the good work.:cool:

Making bad food choices is all up to you, but don't fear the fills. Just because you had to be taken back doesn't mean you have to not get another fill...your body will adjust. I had 1.75 cc's and then went to 2.25cc's and had a terrible time. Doc took out .25 cc's and on my last fill, I was really nervous because of what had previously taken place. He put me back at 2.25 cc's and it has gone really well. BUT, each fill requires better and better food choices. You have to be super careful because you can't just continue eating as if it were before the fill. Small bites, quality solids and really small portions is what will get you through the tougher fills...if not, then it's time for a de-fill. Good luck....and don't forget, you didn't go and have major surgery to lose weight in order to eat chips and candy, although don't beat yourself up for eating those things every now and again. Just try to get back on track and then get yourself a fill. Take care.

My doc requires fills on an empty stomach and then it's liquids for a couple of days afterward (and then to mush and then back to solids). The more fills, the longer it seems to take to get back to solids.

Joann, I was also banded by Dr. Valin. It was in April and I had a 1.7 cc fill at about 6 weeks post op. I had some PB'ing, but not every meal. I really stuck to solid Proteins after about 3 to 4 days of liquid and mush after my fill, but I was definitely able to get back to eating 3 ounces of meat, etc. On my second fill, I had a much harder time and was Pb'ing whenever I had solids (or it would take me 3 hours to eat very little (1 to 2 ounces)). I called Debbie and had some of the fill taken out and it made a huge difference. We all have to be able to live with the band, so I suggest you give Debbie a call and see what she thinks. I think you may want to have .1 or .2 cc's taken out (that's all it would take to feel much better and prevent soft food syndrome). Good luck.

This was a hard one for me too. But do not drink for 45 minutes before a meal and until after 45 minutes after a meal. It does wash the food through and if you eat and then drink too quickly it does make you PB....I know from experience. Now I don't ever have a cup near me when I am eating.

I recommend bite sizes about the size of your pinky fingernail and yes, chew, chew, chew. Eat slowly and remember to eat good, healthy solid foods (I also recommend Protein first). Every doc and nutritionist are different, but I do think that the small bites and chewing is universal. I was banded 4/11/03 and have had two fills (and one de-fill). I still ocassionally PB, but for the most part, I know what I can and cannot tolerate. You'll learn what you can and can't do as you go along. For instance, I thought scallops would be an ideal food for me, boy was I wrong and it only took me about five tries to realize it's the scallops and not how I am eating them! Funny thing is, I can do most other shellfish and seafood just fine. So, for now, I avoid the scallops. Good Luck to you.

Hi Mary, That's a tough one. I am very happy that I got some taken out for the simple fact that now I can really drink liquid. I am so afraid that with the unfill that I will start eating more, so I have been super careful not to eat too much, but I am definitely feeling restricted after about 2 to 3 oz. of food, it just takes me less time to eat it (3 hours before versus, 45 minutes to an hour after). If you are ok with how you are eating and can live with it, I think that it is ok to continue as long as you are not dehydrated and not PB'ing. But, if you had just a little bit taken out (.1 or .2 cc's) it may make the difference and allow you to drink better. I know that the goal here is to lose weight, but we also have to live well and feel well, even if it means slowing down our weight loss a little bit. Remember, we can continue to get fill until the band is full. Having some taken out now doesn't mean you'll never feel restriction again, just wait until the next fill! Take Care,

Every doc is different though with the fills. My first fill was 1.75 cc's and my second was .5 cc's and that was too tight. Then he took it back .25 cc's and now I have 2 cc's in the band. My doc told me that some adjustments may only be .1 to .2 cc's and some may be .5 to .75 depending on where you are in your process.

The entire band, including the little line to the port holds 4 cc's. I think we have to stop thinking about what part of the amount of fluid that's in the band is directly restricting us. My doc demonstrated when fluid was in and when fluid was out of the band, the point is, it is restricting. The doc is not measuring the amount directly around the stomach versus the amount that leads to the port; they measure how much is in the total band. And I don't think anyone, except maybe the specs from BioEnterics (if you have the Lapband system), can tell you how much fluid is specifically in the port line (probably not that much).

The Bio-Enterics Lapband System holds 4 cc's of fluid.

Hi Nicole, pb'ing is "productive burping" or basically regurgitating food back up because it doesn't go down due to tightness. It is NOT something you want to do.

Mary, I had the unfill (.25 cc's taken out) and the difference is astonishing. I can eat more than 1/2 an ounce in an hour! It was taking me 3 hours to eat 1 to 2 ounces of food. I am so much happier. Also, I asked my doc about the gurgling and he told me that alot of gurgling after a fill (I think that may mean for a number of days) may (and he did say may) mean that the band is too tight. Since my un-fill, I haven't gurgled once and I am feeling alot less dehydrated because I can get my water in again. So keep an eye on your fill, it may be worth it to go slow with the fills, but if it's ok for you then more power to you! Take care,

Hi Mary, No, it really has nothing to do with the gurgling. In fact, when I gurgle and make noises, I generally know things are working just fine. I continue to be too restricted and am PB'ing more than I should after just 1/2 oz. of food or liquid. I am following all of the rules my doc has given me (small bites, lots of chewing, protein first, no junk, etc. etc.) and they want to take some of the fluid out of the band. I think the last fill was too agressive (I went from 1.7 cc's to 2.25 cc's) and I am hoping he just takes it back a little (.1 or.2 cc's). Hopefully that will make things better.