odanielle

Thanks -- yes, I have tried my physician through his assistant -- so far, she's focused on my nutrition and compliance, but not on my bigger worry that I feel I can tolerate too much! So I'll keep pushing.... The "good" news -- I ate 1 turkey meatball (big one) yesterday that was so good, I had to try another one -- but I knew after a bite that I'd be way overfilled if I tried -- so I stopped, and then realized what Tiff was saying -- my belly felt uncomfortably full. FINALLY!! So now I know my limits and what to stay away from....

Tiffy, I just have to say -- you look amazing! Also, you're such an inspiration to so many people on this board (and OH!) Thank you for being there and offering such sound advice. By the way, I couldn't help but laugh at your 12 year old's comments -- my 9 year old keeps telling me that he preferred me fat because I was much cushier! Yesterday we were playing frisbee and he "ran into" my hip bone and complained that the band and now the VSG are giving him blacks and blues all over his body! :lol0: Danielle

What a great post - thanks so much! I guess I never realized how much I was relying on my band to keep me out of trouble! Here it's back to the old will power, and I"m not so good with that! Honestly, if I could have stuck to eating Proteins and veggies first before the sleeve, I wouldn't be here in the first place.... but c'est la vie, and I need to accept this tool for what it is and isn't - and consider myself lucky that I have relatively low restriction, as opposed to too much. The bougie size was 36 -- I had Dr. Aceves and I believe it's pretty standard. He does the folding over the staple line which is why I believe he doesn't do 32. You're probably right on the money about the meat! I was rarely able to eat meat on the band so I was extra careful and chewed until it was total mush. Very interesting about the stomach nerves being cut....I didn't know that, so it makes sense. My whole stomach area is still completely numb to the touch as well.. feels weird. I'm lucky (touch wood) that I've not slimed, foamed or vomitted at all since this surgery, and I'd like to keep it that way as much as possible. I am good with days - but as usual, nights are my challenge...and at the moment, graham crackers are my latest drug of choice. I don't eat many (2) but I think I should just stay away from any non-nutrional carbs until I reach my goal. So anything carbs is being given away, slowly but surely -- soon my 9-year old will have a "Sleeve" diet to contend with, poor guy! Thanks again -- really helpful!! Danielle

Not really -- I tried a burger yesterday, and made it all the way to at least 4 oz without restriction. I don't want to push it -- i think I could have eaten more... I'm feeling kinda bummed - didn't realize how many things are considered "slider" foods? All carbs are sliders? I haven't tried bread, bagels, etc. but I heard those are considered sliders too? :scared0: Thanks for asking... Danielle

Okay, I wrote this friendly happy email, and it got lost in cyberspace :crying: HEre's what it said in a nutshell -- I hope my mail didn't come across as mad at posters! I am grateful, really, just mad at myself -- and to some extent "wishing" I had the restriction of others! But you know, I'll take this over the band -- and definitely over having nothing! I just have to know what to keep away from. The silver lining, as I told my long suffering husband, is that if/when I want to "eat", I know I can! As long as it doesn't become a habit.... Thanks again - really, you're very helpful!! Danielle

Hi - I had a band to sleeve revision a month ago and a large hiatal hernia removed at the same time. Probably same notion? I had my gallbladder removed a little over a year ago - was in the hospital for aspiration pneumonia from a too-tight band and they discovered that I had large gallstones as well. You should probably be able to do it all at once - I'm not a doc, though! danielle

Thanks--- I will try to be more "compliant" -- I never had the band unfilled (except day before surgery) so have had 3 years of hardship then this surgery - just wanted to test limits. Am sobered by the fact that I can actually eat more with the sleeve in one sitting than with the band, even on its loosest days! Still prefer this since it seems less capricious, but man, I do wish I had more tightness like others!

I know what I'm supposed to do. I was just shocked by what I could do. If it were as "easy" as staying away from foods that aren't good for me, I would have done that without having the sleeve. I ate all of it pretty quickly -- again, being the contrarian, I just wanted to test out the sleeve's limits. NEver felt close to full! By the way, I moved from the band to the sleeve when I was already near normal BMI. Am now normal BMI and I'm trying to figure out how this works. Still want to lose some (10-15lbs eventually) but not in a huge hurry. Thanks, Danielle

HI all -- I am worried! So I am one month post-sleeve revision (from the band) and today was my first "food" day. Being the contrarian type, I decided to "test" the waters, as it were, by eating "more than I should"....but I am not feeling restriction!! Here's what I had: Believe me, this will not be a habit, and I've asked hubby to throw away all tempting food items. I started with chicken - about 1.5 oz....went down great - in fact, in my 3 years banded, I was never able to get chicken down. So I was glad. BUt I still felt "hollow" so I went on...had some cherries. WOrked out great. Then had some of my son's salad (with croutons and cherry tomatoes). Still great, a bit hollow. Then, I lost it! I was feeling so "good" -- and worried about it (why can I eat so much!!) that I had a granola bar, graham crackers, little PB cups and mini chocolates my poor son brought back from a birthday party -- and still, not FULL!! I know I'm not "supposed" to eat this stuff, but I thought I'd get restructoin (you know, the negative reinforcement??) WHAT GIVES??? Is this supposed to happen?? It's also my 2nd day of monthlies, and while on band, the monthlies usually triggered total openness and ability to eat (except for chicken). But I Thought the sleeve operated differently? Thanks in advance for your thoughts! I'm really worried.... Danielle

Thanks for your response! That's a good idea re: the doctor. I will let him know. I really need a good fill because I can eat anything at the moment - and as much as I try not to, the jekyll/hyde pesonality is returning and the hunger is constant. The good doctor who unfilled me said "just use your self-discipline" -- HAH! If I could do that, I would NOT need the band in the first place! Good luck with your fill/fullness! It really feels amazing to feel free - even though I have 20 lbs, 60 lbs isn't chump change! I just don't want to reverse the trend... Thanks, Danielle

Hi everyone, First of all, I must say how happy I am with the band! With all the "troubles" (pretty bad reflux), I wouldn't change anything for the world. It has changed my life - from a sz 16 pant to a sz 6 - top still needs work (8/10ish). I need some advice, and I know the great people here can help. Here's my fill situation: I received a 3.8 fill on a 4 cc band last Feb (almost a year!?!) - as a result, I lost most of my weight - finally felt the sweet spot. Interestingly though, as I lost weight, I began to feel tighter than I probably should. Some days, I could only have mushies It would come and go, but I loved it because I was so rarely hungry. Unfortunately, I developed pretty bad reflux and after an upper endoscopy plus barium test, it was determined that I was too tight. I should say I have a regular fill doctor in NY (Dr. Ren/Fielding's office) and my band was done by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico - whose office also performed the last barium test. As a result of the test results, Dr. Ortiz' office unfilled me completely! It was interesting, because even after the unfill, the Dr. showed me how swollen I still was after swalloing liquids - the Water would just sit, think about it, then go down in a woosh. the Dr. in Mexico says that I should wait for 3-4 weeks before getting refilled, and then only refilling a bit at a time (e.g., 2 Ccs to start). The problem is that my serious hunger is back! I'm white knuckling it, but it's realy hard. Here's my question: Is the slow refill schedule really all that necessary?? Has anyone gone from a complete unfill to a refill back to one's sweet spot (I imagine mine must be around 3.7 ccs although not sure) The other problem with the slow refill schedule is that I live 2+ hours away from my fill doc - need day off from work and $150 train ride to do it. Thanks for any help!! Danielle

Hi -- I go to Dr. Fielding/Ren's office for Fills! I come from Philly, but it's worth the trek for me. So far, I have gone to almost everyone in the office (except Dr. Fielding) and they are so fabulous! I feel next to nothing, it's fast, and they sure know what they're doing! I had the surgery done Question for the original OPer: This is March 15?? Isn't that a Sat evening? If so, I will DEFINITELY be there! Best, Danielle

I'll add to the comments -- I was banded by Dr. Ortiz on 8/29 (wasn't it great!!) and found a practice in NYC that's very well known for its lap band doctors (Drs Fielding and Dr. Ren). Even though I commute monthly from Philly to NYC, I committed to myself that my first year, I'd go to the best for everything (includng Dr. Ortiz for the operation), and they've been great. Have had several fills to-date, by Dr. Ren, and then 2 different nurse practioners in their office, and they've all been fantastic. You had a quack -- and a greedy dishonest one at that. I hope that you find someone better -- it can only get better, really! Best, Danielle

Hi all! I just wanted to say hi -- I had my band done in Mexico at the end of August (Dr. Ortiz) - great experience -- and for the first year, decided to do my fills in NYC because of Dr. Ren's reputation. So far so good -- the fills are effortless (except for the train ride/cost!), and on my third, then fourth, reached that elusive non-hunger level. It goes away pretty quickly when I lose weight though - so that can get expensive! By Year 2, I will probably start using the Mt. Laurel fill center for convenience and because I've heard a few good things about the doc. Challenge is, the Ren office has support groups which I've found informative -- they include dinners at restaurants where you learn how to eat ( haven't made it to one of those yet!) Has anyone found/started a support group in the Philly area that Mexico bandsters can go to? Nothing heavy -- just going out with folks, even to cafes/restaurants, who can commiserate with the glacially slow pace of eating that we must undertake! Anyhow, glad to meet some other Philly "Phillers"!

That's funny! I've been pbing regularly this week since my 2nd fill (can't seem to get the hang of this and/or am a glutton for punishment) And the most evident physical reaction, even when I try very hard to hide it at work, is a red face. I wonder how common that is! But this is really getting old...every time I eat, I literally have to close my door at work, crawl under my desk over the garbage can, and well -- you know! Ugh. (