thenume

I know what you mean...some of us will need more fills than others. 4.3 of saline is really not a lot for a 10cc band. That is less than 1/2 full. It is not you and you shouldn't have to convince yourself that you are full. I have been banded since October 07' and have had 7 fills AND I still need more( I am actually scheduled for one in two weeks). Ive only lost 44 lbs. My doctor is very conservative with giving fills and sounds like yours is too. So you are not alone. Although I have some restriction I am not at my "sweet spot". I stay full for about 3 hours and the doc would like for me to stay full for 4-5. Well what can you do, I'd rather be a slow loser than overfilled, sick and dehydrated! Look on the bright (because there is one) it will only get better.

Okay everyone listen up! We got the band to lose the weight so that we could feel better about ourselves and be healtheir. So let's do it. Look at old pictures versus what you look like now...that should cheer you up. You may not have met your goal but dammit the weight is coming off.

I was back to feeling "normal in less than a week". I was in minimal amount of pain and was able to come and go without any restrictions, no heavy lifting of course, but hubby shouldn't have a problem with that. I was back to work in a week and driving the next day. I only used 1 or two pain pills (and that was at night). You will be a little tired out in the evenings for awhile (almost a week) but in the long run its ALL worth it. You will cook differently, because we want this to work for us (that effects the family) but for the most part after surgery is a breeze!

GayleTX, How did your doctor know that your band had slipped?

give in!!! Just have small portions of what you crave.

what you also need to understand is 98% of patients need somwhere between 5-8 fills before they hit their "sweet spot". The initial 2-3cc's entered is to "prime the band" if it hasn't been done during surgery. This is a LOOOONNNGGGG journey!

I think it is :- ) !

no...my surgeon was not that strict. 1-2 days clear liquids post-op day 3-10 mushies day 11-14 soft foods 15- solid foods

I didn't wear a binder after my lap band operation.

99% of us have had that problem. I just had fill # 7. Fill number five I started to feel restriction and I noticed I could eat less, but I still can eat more than a cup of food. This journey is truly a process! It is definitely not easy. I won't preach that the band is a tool and you have to make it work for you ...yadda,yadda, yadda, but our journey will be a long one and I am confident that in the end it will be one worth traveling. Good Luck.

So you got the answer to the PB question, so I will answer your 1st fill question. Let's just say I'm on fill #6 going on #7 tomorrow. I do have restriction, but I think maybe I should be just a little tighter, I haven't quite reached that "sweet spot" in restriction land yet. I don't really know many people that have only needed one fill. In fact I only know one person, so it is not impossible. Just remember with good restriction you should be losing 5-10lbs a month.

Okay newbies this is what is affectionately called "Bandster Hell". We have all gone through it! It's the stage that happens between your surgery and the 1st-3rd fill! It does get easier! Good Luck!

Second fill??? Please! I get my 6th on Wednessay. I know I am almost at my sweet spot, because I do get full alot quicker than I used to, and the full felling lasts for up to about 3-4 hours, but I can still eat more than a cup of food. When you get to your sweet spot you should be losing 5-10lbs a month and eating about a cup of food. Believe me..it takes time to get there. If you are lucky the next fill will be your last..that's what I"m hoping for me.

Two months ago I would have said yes, but know the answer is No Can Do! It gets stuck! You will find that after every other fill there will atleast one thing that you will have to cross of your "ok to eat list".

You wanna talk about embarassing...try PB'in in a resturant in the aisle because you couldn't make it to the bathroom. Now THAT's embarassing (and gross)! I'm glad you made it to the bathroom and your secret is safe! OHHH the things we go through, but I wouldn't change being banded for the world!!!

Just finished my 100 calorie smartfood popcorn and I had some at the movies two days ago....never had a problem!

Basically yes...train yourself not to drink during and immediately after meals. Eventually you may not be able to drink during meals as the liquid will sit in your chest and may get stuck. Secondly it pushes the food through the band, which will "wash away" the full feeling. My doc allows me to drink right up until the time I am getting ready to eat and then i can drink a half hour after. The best way to train yourself is not to pour a cup of your Koolaid until after you've eaten and definitely don't have a cup of liquids at the table with you. It works for me.

That's not normal, you should contact your doc ASAP. Vomitting can make your band slip AND it was just put in. Your stomach needs time to heal. Maybe your doc can prescribe anti-nausea medicine.

l also get a lump and slight bruising after getting a fill. It is from the doctor trying to find the spot where the needle should go. When you start to loose weight I think it's harder for them to find "the spot" because he never had a problem until thirty lbs was gone!

Just a note to everyone who is having second thoughts about the band and trying WW... You can couple the two and make them both work for you. WW does help with counting points and such and the band helps you know when to stop eating.

Strangely....it's very hard to actually "vomit" once you are banded. Although I would imagine it would be very uncomfortable.

Hello and thanks for posting! Okay the "bad news" first. Your wife has to want the band before anything remotely succesful happens in that area. I can't tell if she is still unhappy with her weight or are you unhappy with her weight. If the doctor's say that she is the specimen of health then what's wrong? Why does that frustrate you? That is good news. Do you want her back down to 185 or does she want to be down to 185. Now the good news...you got her to exercise with you and you two are doing it together! Her health is fine, I'm sure both you and your wife can see a difference in her physical appearence and endurance. Also how many calories a day does your wife consume? Is she already in the the 1400 calorie a day zone?

JRTMOM, That is so cool...a lab technician that looks at the contents of her rash under a microscope. At least you know exactly what going on down there! I love it!

Hey WhitePants, I was banded by Dr. Shah, Dr. Roslin's partner! I go to the 59th street office for my fills. Small world eh?

I'm from Harlem but I currently reside in the Bronx. Dr. Shah did my surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital.