iluvlongnecks

Okay so I'm not alone. I was banded 4 yrs ago and lost 50lbs. I weigh 185 and have managed to stay around that, all tho I would love to lose more, but have not gone in for another fill in about 3 1/2 yrs due to the restriction that I have already. Considered going in for a fill and know that I would be mostly on mushy foods and liquids, but considered doing it for a few months to drop more weight and get where I'd like to be. My problem is that I have to travel from Sac to SF to get my fill. kaiser has no fill drs in Sac. Ugh! I should just do it!

At first I was able to eat anything, but now that I'm at 5.5cc in a 8cc band, I can no longer eat things that are dry, that includes chicken breast and steak. I can eat some steak that is med well, but hate all the chewing that I have to do to get it to go down and then some times it just has a hard time, so I have found myself avoiding those foods and eat the sides. It's all worth it tho, since I am now finally 189lbs....down 42lbs since starting this process. You learn as you go as to what your band will allow you to eat.

Welcome.......you will be happy with your lapband.....just remember to not get frustrated and be patient. Always remember that it's just a tool and to use as so, it can't lose the weight for you all on it's own, you have to do your part too. Good luck! :smile:

Yeah.....I'm thinking more and more of not getting another fill just yet. I have to be very careful of what and how I'm eating, even then I can feel it having difficulty going thru. I'll play it by ear for the next 2 weeks before making up my mind, but I'm leaning towards not getting another fill even tho it would be only a .5cc fill I think it would really put me in a tight spot. :thumbup: I'd hate to have to drive back down to SSF from Sac. to get an unfill. Thanks for answering me and giving me your input.

I was banded onApril 21st and have had 3 fills so far. I'm suppose to go back for another fill in a few weeks and I'm not sure I should. I have a total of 5 1/2 cc in my 8cc band and I have some restriction at times when I'm eating, depending on what I'm eating. I have to be very careful when eating and make sure I chew very well or I can feel the food having problems going thru. There is times that I have to just stop eating whatever I'm eating cuz it's having difficulty going down. I'm having great weight loss right now, but want it to continue.....sooo should I go in for another .5 fill in a couple weeks or not??????

Ohhhh Yeah....I know that feeling and believe me it only reminds you to chew everything really good and more slowly, It's all about changing bad eating habits. I have noticed that I have the pain in my chest followed by the pbing and sliming when I first sit down to eat, which is telling me it's my fault and that i need to remember the lapband rules of eating. I have to go for a fill next Friday and am a little concerned as to how tight I may be from it.....but I'm going for it since i don't have the restriction that I need. I hope this will put me at my sweet spot!!!!! :biggrin:

Jess Congrats on getting to onelander, I too finally got there. I noticed that you had your surgery on April 11th. I had my surgery on April 22 and it's been slow moving in the weight loss. I have lost a total of 34 lbs, but feel that it's been to slow. I go in for another fill next Friday and I hope it will give me more restriction....my dr keeps telling me to be patient.

Getting a fill doesn't hurt at all, the first time I went my dr numb the port area, but the last one he didn't and I didn't feel the needle at all. As for the question about food getting stuck.....it's just that...food that wasn't chewed well or your band is not allowing to go through. Some times the food is sitting there and trying to make it way through, which can be be very painful until it finally gets through, but there was one time and I'm not trying to scare anyone, I had meatloaf that I didn't chew well and it wouldn't pass, after an hour of pain,pbing, and walking the floor I finally stuck my finger down my throat and had instant relief. This whole experience has taught me to take small bites and to chew my food well, almost to a liquid before swallowing. It's all about breaking the old and bad eating habits.

I go for my 3rd fill next Friday, my dr. only gives 1cc at a fill and I am now at 5cc in a 8cc band.....my concern is that since my last fill I have to really watch my bite size and chew really well otherwise the food gets stuck. I on the other hand don't have the restriction that I'm looking for in regards to how much food I can take in, I remind myself that I don't need to finish everything I have on my plate, but then at times my mouth really wants all of it because I don't have that full feeling and am still hungry. I'm wondering if I should get another 1cc fill next week or should I get .5cc instead.....I'm confused as to what to do. I don't want my food to get more stuck than it has been, but then i have learned these last 3 weeks to change my eating habits and take my time at eating. Is this what it's all about?? I guess I'll go for it and get the full 1cc and get to that sweet spot that everyone is talking about.....but gosh I'll really will have to be careful while eating.....yikes!

pbing = productive burping...... when you have your first pb, you'll say to yourself ...Oh! this is what they call pbing.

I got to tell you that it's wonderful to have a supportive husband while going through this journey. My husband at first told me that he didn't want me to do this and I explained to him that I was'nt doing it for him, but for myself and if I was doing it for him I would be doing it for all the wrong reasons. He has been by my side for every appointment and even stayed in our motorhome in the hospital parking lot when I had surgery. I have to travel from Sac. to South San Fran. for all my appts., including my fills and he hasn't missed a one even tho he has to take time off from work to go. He doesn't have a weight issue what so ever so I feel that I am blessed to have such a supportive partner in helping me go through this. Not that he doesn't love me for who I am, but I'm sure he'll like the end results later. :biggrin:

What I mean is...I have food that is having a problem getting down, but am able to eat as much as I want. I have no restriction as to how much I can take in. I want the restriction of the amount of food I can eat. I know I'm suppose to watch what I eat and I try in so many ways, but I need that full feeling after eating about 1/3 cup of my food like everyone talks about.

My first time pbing and sliming was also on scrabbled eggs, but I have tried them again even after my 2nd fill and you just have to remember to chew really well before you swallow and take small bites. I have learned the hard way to remember to chew everything down to a liquid form before swallowing, especially after my 2nd fill, makes me wonder what it's going to be like when I get my 3rd fill in a couple weeks putting me at 6cc in a 8cc band....YIKS! I hope I'll be at my sweet spot when I get this next fill cuz I don't know if I'll be able to get anything past the band without getting stuck for a 4th fill. I just don't have the restriction that everyone talks about....when will I have that??? I have food getting stuck,but no restriction...WHATS UP WITH THAT???????:biggrin:

I was feeling the same way you were and was getting frustrated with no weight loss thing, even joined a gym. I got my 2nd fill a couple weeks ago, putting me at 5cc in a 8cc band. I'm suppose to go back for a 3rd fill in a couple more weeks and I'm wondering about that since I have had some issues with food getting stuck. I can actuallly feel the food having a problem being able to go through, which reminds me to take small bites and to chew. I feel a bit more restriction with this 2nd fill, but not enough to keep from eating more than I probably should or would like. I'm wondering about me going in for my 3rd fill for another 1cc......if I'm feeling food having a problem getting through right now, then what will it be like with another fill, but then I want the restriction......Gheez what do I do??? I think it's just me needing to break my old habits of eating and learn to take small bites and chew well. If anyone has advice please tell me.....oh what am I saying you all are so great at giving advice and answering questions, that's why I love this site. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!

Boy! Last night I had the worst experience of having something get stuck. I think it may have been my fault, as I sat down to eat and immediately took a bite of my broccoli and meatloaf and before I knew it started feeling the pressure in my chest, telling me that something was stuck. I didn't panic, just was waiting for it to pass as I've done before, only this didn't ass and after about an hour of pbing and sliming, I started getting scared:scared2:....the food just wouldn't pass. I finally put my finger down my throat and up everything came and I had instant relief. I now know that if it happens again, I'm not waiting awhole hour to wait for the food to pass. It was very painful and gross, not to mention my DH was very concerned. I go in for another fill in 3 weeks and I'm concerned as I have had a few things get stuck since my last fill that I got last week, but have not reached that restriction that everyone talks about......I guess I need to just watch the size bites I'm taking in and slow down, as it it seems to always happen when I first sit down to eat, which kinda tells me it's me eating to quickly and taking to big of bites.

Okay... I had a really bad experience tonight with meatloaf and broccoli. I took a bite of broccoli and then a bite of meatloaf and thought I had chewed well, but immediately felt the pressure and pain in my chest, telling me that it was stuck. Not sure if it was the meatloaf or the broccoli. I had a LOT of sliming and pbing and pain for over an hour. I finally put my finger down my throat to be able to throw up since it just wasn't going down. That did it for me and I got relief. Had to make a couple trips to the bathroom to do it tho. I have read on here that broccoli could be the problem. This was my first time eating it so maybe it was. What happened tonight was right down kinda scarey.....I have had stuff get a little stuck and it pass on it's own, but tonight I was actually getting worried when it wouldn't go down.

2 days ago I had my second fill of 1cc, putting me at a total of 5cc in my 8cc band. Today I have had some issues with food getting stuck and me pbing. When I couldn't eat, I decided to drink some hot tea and after doing that I was able to eat no problem, just had to remember to chew alot and of course after you've had something get stuck, believe me you remember to chew. I go back for another 1cc fill in 4 weeks and I'm wondering if I'm getting close to what everyone calls there sweet spot?

Hey can you tell me how to change my ticker weight?? I need to up date it, even tho it's not much more. This is why I want more restriction and will be talking to Dr Le about giving me that 2cc that I want and need. I sure hope he agrees and wil do it. I'm a bit frustrated after hearing that others have gotten fills at time of surgery. I have also read that most of the first time fills are in our port tubing, which makes sense, No wonder I'm not having any restriction, nor will for some time if I'm only getting 1cc at a time. Do you think I can talk Dr Le into a 2cc fill next week???

I had my surgery on April 21st and Dr Le told me that he doesn't put any fills in during surgery......what the heck! You did, so come I don't ? I'm seriously going to talk to him about giving me 2cc this next week. I'd be happy with just 2cc and .5cc after that......I think that's taking it slow enough, wouldn't you say? If he gave me 2cc, then that would put me at 3cc total for now. Your lucky that you haven't had any pbing or food getting stuck. I have due to my own fault and not chewing real well and taking small bites......I have always been a fast eater and I have had to learn to break bad habits....believe me the band will make you break those bad habits after you've had food get stuck a couple times. I have to really watch chicken and scrambled eggs and chew, chew, chew, can't say it enough!!

I had my surgery in SSF Kaiser with Dr. Le, he wouldn't give me a fill till 6 wks after my surgery. So if what your saying is true, then how come I didn't get that kind of fill from the get go......maybe then I'd be at a better spot with losing weight. You say you have 4.5cc in your band....I'm not even half way there!!!! I'm soooo going to ask him to give me more of a fill this July 11th, at least 2cc. I have NO restriction what so ever!!! Isn't this why I got this band is to lose this darn weight! I have joined a gym and I'm still not losing1 I NEED RESTRICTION DARN IT!!!! I know it's a tool and I'm prepared to use it as a tool, only I want it to help me as it should. I want to be where you are now.

I'm with Kaiser and have a good dr, only frustration is the 1cc fills that they give every 4 weeks. I live in Sacramento, but have to travel to the Kaiser in San Francisco. Gosh! I wish he'd give me a 2cc fill this next trip there, I'd be happy with that, since I'm hearing that I may not fill any restriction for awhile in my 8cc band doing it 1cc at a time. I know everyone is different,but when will I have more restriction?.....How many more fills will I need till I have some restriction? This July 11th I'll only have a total of 2cc in my band....UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

You all give me hope!! I was banded in April and have only lost 31 lbs and then gained back a couple, 19 of those lbs were before the surgery. So you can see why I'm a bit frustrated too!:sad: I have had only 1 fill with only 1cc and go back July 11th for another 1cc.My dr only does 1cc at a time. .So I guess it will be awhile before I feel any restriction or get to where you all call my sweet spot......UGH!!! Mean time I just joined a gym and am trying hard to lose more lbs.........I feel like I'm doing this on my own and that I don't even have a band except for the fact that I have chew real well or I have food get stuck. Thanks to all of you for the words of encouragment.......people like us need to hear it's going to get better! :redface:

Wow! and I've been complaining about only getting a 1cc fill. Why does your dr only give a 1/2cc......that's gotta be frustrating!

I too was banded in SF, only mine was done on April 21st. I have lost a total of 31 lbs since starting this whole thing. I have only lost about 12 lbs since surgery and had my first fill on June 10th with only 1cc. I go back for another fill on July 11th for another 1cc fill. I'm not having much restriction in my 8cc band, but I'm trying to patient and hoping that the next fills will give me the restriction that I'm wanting.

Don't feel bad.....I too got banded on April 21st and have not lost a whole lot of weight, even tho all my friends say they can see it I can't. I have lost 12 lbs after surgery and have been struggling with keeping that off. Yes, I've cheated a few times and had to pay for it with working hard to get it back off.:sad: I Have a 8cc band and had my first fill on June10th and my dr only put in 1cc. I go back on July 11th for another 1cc......I too am not feeling much restriction like I'd like. My problem is portions, I have always been a big eater and I wanted this tool to help me control my portions, it's not so much what I eat, it's the portions. I'm now thinking about joining a gym, as the walking isn't doing much for me anymore. Plus I'm not walking as far as I use to. I need to drag out the bike from hanging in the garage also and try doing some bike riding.....I need to get the excercise going more. Everybody keeps telling me to hang in there and the band will start working once I get to my sweet spot, which could be a little while yet...maybe a couple more fills later.