health1st

brendab, some Docs start agreesive and put in 3ccs some only 1cc. There is a lot of info if you search on Fills and a area just for fills that should help. I also attached something that was useful to me. Emily, I think most get restriction before 10ccs. And I understand that all bands no matter what size are the same size when filled. GOOD FILL Guiidlines.doc

GeezerSue, I though I remembered you getting the DS. I just went to see my Doc, a GP and she thinks I have a sinus infection that is draining into my stomach and might be causing the nausea. I am still trying to reach my band Doc to get his thoughts. I am doing all I can to get down 400-500 calories and Water. Just makes me nauseous. No slime. No vomiting. Thanks for the information. It makes so much sense. Our brain really does have to adjust (or not) to a foreign object wrapped around our stomach. The band has a steep learning curve and changes so much. No matter how sick I've every been pre-band, 99% of the time I can at least eat! The good and the bad of the band. I'm losing weight but man, this is a hard way to do it.

First, congrats to so many, it is an inspiration to hear the good news of success. Quick info: Had my first fill in VG band, 1.55cc Sept 6. 12 days after the fill I get nauseous, couldn't eat solids, so went on liquids, 2 days now. It is better but still some nausea. No pb's or sliming. I thought I was ill but it isn't going away so now I suspect the band. Question: If it is the band, why the constant nausea? It that a symptom of a too tight fill? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I've been feeling SO GOOD, it is hard to go back a few steps and because I had complications with the band early on, I immediately go to another slip or erosion! I'm normally not such a sissy!

Geezer Sue, by the way you are doing fantastic! A BMI of 33, nice!

Geezer Sue, did you have the gastric surgery that is similar to the bypass? I can't remember the name? And I only recall a little of your story. Did you have ongoing problems with the band? I thought I was OK until my first small fill at 17 weeks postop. I either had a delayed reaction to the fill or am ill. I've been nausea for about a week now, on liquids. I've never PB'd or slimmed. Any input on the nausea I am having? It seems most people who have too tight of a fill just vomit not get continuous nausea.

QUESTION: Do you think nausea is a common symptom of a tight fill? I can't believe this is happening to me. After what most would consider a tiny first fill that was long overdue, I am nauseous most of the time and can't eat solids. It took 12 days after the fill to tighten up. I'm going to stay on liquids and then mussies like your Doc told you TIred old Man, I think they are right on. If that doesn't work, I'll get an unfill. I had a slip and nausea was what happened. So this makes me worry.

Kabeerah, how's it going? 12 days after my first fill I started getting nauseous after I ate. It got worse, so it seems for some reason I tightened up! Now I'm doing liquids to see if it settles down. Well, nausea and liquids will probably get me to lose weight again. This is not what I expected!

Geezersue, do you still have your band? I agree with you, there are a lot more challenges to the band than I thought and it doesn't work for everyone. Either I chose not to hear/read about all the problems or the possible problems weren't really provided along with the fantastic glowing positive aspects I focused on. Also agree....is barfing and sliming a way to lose weight? I haven't had either of those but after my recent first fill I am nauseous when I eat. Yeah, that works too!

Need info too! There is much more to managing this "tool" than I had planned. 12 days after my first fill that didn't do much, I got nauseated most of the time but especially when I ate. It got worse. At first I thought it was the flu but 6 days later I suspect a post response to a tight fill, who knows why it was so delayed. I am on liquids for a few days to see if it settles down. QUESTION: is the nausea a common reaction to a tight fill, especially when one eats solids? I had a slip and nausea was definitely a common feeling then, so I get worried. It is probably nothing but I'd love to hear from others who have some experience! THANKS

marmala, you've come to the right place. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience here. It is great to do your homework. May I suggest that you talk to as many people who have had both surgeries as you can. Go to as many support groups as you can. That really helped me decide. I am biased to wards the band but many people like the gastric bypass. My opinion is because of the malobsortion, gastric bypass folks can eat most things and lose weight FAST in the beginning. But at some point that stops and many gain weight back. With the band you have to learn to eat right immediately after surgery and you have to be more involved and responsible. It is just my opinion, but I wanted some "help" to lose weight, I didn't want drastic surgery that reroutes my intestines and does all the work until it doesn't work anymore.

My Doc makes everyone wait 2 weeks between fills because he said that sometimes you can get more restriction even 2 weeks after a fill. AND that is exactly what happened to me. My first fill did very little and I was schedule to get a second fill when I tighten up 2 weeks after the 1st fill. I am still waiting to see if it is a fluke or what. Everyone is different but based on what I read here "slow and easy" is the way to go with fills if we are to manage this "tool" for a lifetime. I have no statistics to prove this but it seems to me that once someone is too tight or has a lot of PBs, etc., they "seem" have ongoing problems longer term.

Sorry it didn't work out for you. Your post brings a lot of questions to mind. What causes problems with the band. . . . . the band or how some people use or abuse their "tool". OR do some people just have problems no matter what the do OR do they overeat, get too aggressive with fills, etc. I don't know. I know I could have never lost this weight without the help of the band. So physically I am so much more healthy, active, and happy. Today, I think the choice was to have the band with potential for risk or stay obese and have health problems for sure. I hope the band keeps working with minimal challenges for me.

Supermodel. also I am going in for my second fill today since my weight loss has stalled, maybe he just needs another fill?

Supermodel, I am no expert but I can tell you what my Doc told me. Your husband can "beat" the band by eating sweets and will not lose weight. I do best when I eat 5-6 small meals a day, mostly Protein. Exercise and drink lots of Water. As for diet pills, my thought is they might work. But what happens when you go off the pills which he would have to at some point. Most likely the weight will just come right back on. Also, I had to do this for me. Did your husband do this for you? I have to want to be healthy more than anything else. (reminding myself here!) I have to be willing to make serious life style changes. Is your husband on this board? If not, he needs to be here asking for help. It is wonderful that you are very supportive and interested, good for you. But he needs to be here getting answers for himself. Hope this helps and I hope I didn't offend. My words are just coming from someone who's been there, done that! And that, and that! I see this as my last chance to get healthy. Thanks for the opportunity to remind ME of why I got this band in the first place, it is so easy to forget and go back to old ways.!!

I have to (or maybe want to?) believe that there is some physical reason for obesity coupled with heredity, emotional, & environmental factors. The obese people I know well are very bright, successful in all aspects of their lives, but not their weight. I can lose weight but then I feel like I'm starving so this research makes sense to me. Tired old Man: I agree with you. I lived in Amsterdam back in 1996 for a short while and at that time there were no advertisements for food anywhere, no TV that I could understand, very few McDonald's, meals in restaurants were savored slowly and I walked everywhere. With NO effort on my part I lost weight because there were no "cues" to EAT junk or just EAT. As soon as I got back stateside and entered the airport, yikes, food advertisements everywhere! And of course, I gained back the weight I'd lost. I take full responsibility for what I put in my mouth, it is my choice. But there are some environments (and cultures) that have less emphasis on food/eating and less advertisements where it is more conducive to eating healthy!

From USA Weekend, September 8-10, 2006 Attached doc has more but here is my summary: Taking a shot at obesity A hormone called ghrelin regulates how we use food energy which includes maintaining weight and appetite stimulation. The problem: Ghrelin levels go up when we diet which then slows down how rapidly your body metabolizes fat and it then stimulates your appetite. It is natures way of preserving stored energy during times of famine. At this time the vaccine has only been used on rats but it raises interesting questions. If this vaccine works as well in humans as it seems to have worked in rats, it may be a turning point in our battle against obesity. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My thoughts: We are not just weak willed slugs! There is really a physical mechanism that makes us feel like we are starving when we try to lose weight even thought we are obese. Yeah! I can relate to the feeling of starving. Also, this research helps explain why the lap band works. it fools the ghrelin into thinking we have enough food for today! Vaccine Help Obesity 9.06.pdf

Seminole, you have done fantastic! You must be doing something right and the band is working. I just got my 1st fill 2 weeks ago, only 1.5cc and I have very mild restriction. My weight loss has slowed and I go for another fill this Thursday. I am not sure what amount to ask for?? I can't eat anything like the amount pre-banding but I can eat a lot more than 3-4 ounces. I am still under 1500 calories a day but need to be at 1000 to lose weight. I exercise a lot so I think that is what is keeping my weight stable.

Teresta, you are doing great and have a fantastic attitude. DAA: How were you before the fill? What kind of restriction did you have the 1st 6 months? I've got 1.5cc is VG with mild restriction and scheduled for a fill 9.21 I am terrified of an overfill. Any thougths would be appreciated!

I called my credit card CO. to have them STOP sending me convenience checks. It took 6 months but they stopped. I shred all the same as you except not magazine addresses. Never thought of that one. They can get my name and address from the phone book. Do I need to shred magazine addresses too? We are executors for my nephew and nieces (small) financial inheritance and bank accounts. They are 15 & 16 and we get credit card offers and convenience checks for them all the time. They don't work and can't even balance their check books. Ghezzzzzzz! We asked the bank to stop that too but they still keep coming!

Sleepyjean, that was really good advice last month. I wish I had listened. I waited too long for a first fill and then when I got one it didn't do much. Now I have to wait 2 weeks before another. (next week now) I was really afraid of an overfill but the fill went fine and provided just a few days of mild restriction. I did talk my Doc into 1.5cc instead of the 2 he wanted t put in. At least I know what to expect now. And I do need help and I do need to use the tool. Since I got mild restriction with 1.55. I think I'll ask for 1cc. Any thoughts? I have a 10cc VG band.

Kirston: Here is a thread on fill reluctance http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22164&highlight=throwing+in+the+towel

My first fill was at 18 weeks, 1.5cc in VG 10cc band. Probably should have done a fill a few weeks sooner as my weight loss has really slowed although I've lost inches. Now I need another fill next week. I'm trying to decide if I go for 1cc or 1.5cc. The last fill did just a little restriction. I just don't want to over-fill. Jack, you are doing really well with 1 fills. Well done. (And I always enjoy your posts.)

lap-montreal I've read on this board that some people get an total unfill for a slipped band and see if that settles things down. Of course it seems you are already almost unfilled. After a complete unfil, it is liquids for a while, then mushies etc. If that doesn't work then they may remove and replace the band. Or they may remove it, let things heal and then get a new band later. I did have to have my replaced due to a slip. There is life after a slipped band. You've done so fantastic! It's been difficult and you've still done great! Sorry about the slip. Keep us posted on how you are doing and what your Doc says.

heresdeb & cath21, you can do a search (at the top of the page) on anything. There is a lot on slippage. Here is one that covers slippage and what if feels like. Just click on it: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23341&highlight=band+slippage

Lapbandit1, welcome. This is a great board, very supportive with lots of information! Glad you found us.