juliansmom2003

This is how my doc does all his fills. We need to go to the hospital (radiology dept) and have the fills done under fluoroscopy so he can see the barium going down and the restriction level to ensure he puts the right amount in. It really is cool to see your band/pouch and watch the barium going down on the screen.

This is very interesting. I was just thinking the same thing. I got a fill on 1/14 and was so hungry all last week (made an appointment for first available fill which isn't until FEBRUARY 25!) and now it feels different. I never ever get that chest pain people speak of when they're full, but I do feel satisfied (not full) around 9 ounces or so for the past 2 days, which is very odd, since I got my first fill almost 2 weeks ago! I'm still keeping my appointment for my second fill though. I long for the day when I am guaranteed to be full on no more than a cup....

Hmmm, trying to remember: Breakfast I usually had 1/2 cup eggbeaters with some melted cheese or 6 ounce Light N Fit Yogurt lunch (or snack), I had a sugar free Swiss Miss pudding cup with one scoop of chocolate Protein powder and a tbsp of fat free cool whip (YUM!) dinner, I'd have mashed potatoes, pureed green Beans or chicken salad made with canned chicken breast, reduced fat mayo and a little salt and pepper. Of course, Protein shakes were always in there :-)!! Hope this helps!

Hey I will try anything LOL! I also find that if I take a sugar free pudding cup, put in a scoop of chocolate protein powder and a little bit of fat free cool whip, I have a delicious FILLING chocolate mousse with 24 grams of protein and 160 calories :-)!

All these thoughts and feelings are absolutely NORMAL this early on. Honestly, the first couple of weeks for me were the hardest with the meal progression. Not only that, fears of port flipping, band slippage, pouch stretching along with the protein/water requirements--OMG, Calgon LOL! Believe me when they say, this is a lifestyle change, that to me was an understatement even though I had 3 months of nutrition classes, support groups and preparation, until it really happens, I don't think you really know what to expect. Looking back, I would not change a SINGLE thing. I mean, I do not yet have restriction (only had one fill) and am due for my second fill next month, but I am still eating much smaller portions and healthier (like looking at the labels in the grocery store before putting anything in the cart). When you're able to exercise, you will see the scale move and have some great non-scale victories that you can be proud of. It's hard to see now because you're in the thick of it, but my mantra through this whole thing is "keep your eyes on the prize". You can do this and 2-3 months from now you will be telling everyone you would do this again in a heartbeat--it's so worth it. Hang in there and take advantage of the great support this board is!!!!

Signing in for Monday, January 25: Weight at Sign-up: 188 Weight this week: 182 Goal: 15 lbs (173) Lost so far: 6 lbs (9 away from goal) I might come down to the wire, but I'm pushing LOL!!!

Omg is it bad that I bought my Wii fit a year ago and it's still in the box? Lol I am addicted to the Walk for Weightloss on Comcast OnDemand- 2 miles in 30 mins. It's a cardio workout that involves more stepsa than just power walking and I work up a big sweat! Finish that off with about 75 reps on my ab lounge and I'm golden!

Congratulations on your milestone!!! How wonderful! Have a great time!!!

Thanks, Spartan. I am just so bummed that my surgeon seems to be on vacation every other week. I have been so motivated and I know I should be very proud of what I've accomplished so far, but I am so close to my goal I can taste it and it seems like there is always an obstacle in my way. I think I have to get out of my head a little bit to tell you the truth LOL.

Believe me, I attended 3 months worth of nutrition classes, psych and support groups and I was able to lose 47 lbs (17 pre surgery and 30 post without a fill), so I am well aware of the mindset and commitment this requires. I am eating 1000 calories per day of good food and stopping myself at one cup when I'm still hungry and could keep going, but I am paranoid about stretching my pouch. I'm drinking 94 ounces of Water a day, taking in 70 g of Protein and running 2 miles per day. My frustration lies in the fact that I have no restriction and cannot stay full more than 2 hours on a cup of food and can't get in for a stinking fill until the end of February. I am not expecting a miracle and am putting in 150%, but I would just like the band to do at least 10% and help me along to just sustain me to the next meal (and for me to not have to stop myself from eating over a cup of food when I'm still hungry). :biggrin:

I am in the same boat. I had fill #1 last Thursday and I feel hungrier than I did before having the darn thing! I called yesterday to make an appointment for fill #2 and the earliest they have available is freaking FEBRUARY 25! I love my surgeon to the ends of the earth, but it's like he's on vacation every other week. So frustrating that I have to suffer like this for another month...... Hang in there. Let me know if you manage to get an earlier date.

I was told 800-1000 per day but I think that's a little on the low side. I play with my calories though-some days I'll do 800 and others I'll do 1000 just so my body doesn't get used to the 800 and starts holding onto it...

The nutritionist told me 800-1000 per day. That just sounds way low to me though. I'll play with it a little--some days I'll do 8 some days I do 1000 so my body doesn't hold onto calories when I only take in 800.

Posting this here, as I posted initially under general and didn't realize there was a specific "fill" section (sorry!) I think I've driven the post-op section of the board nuts with all my restriction questions LOL! I got my first fill last Thursday and I feel no different than before (which I kind of expected), but in some ways even hungrier than before the fill (which I totally DIDN'T expect). I called the surgeon and they are getting me in for another fill, but we're looking at the second or third week in February :mad: so I am left to deal with this until then. My question is: what signal(s) do you get when you're getting full? Everyone keeps talking about the chest pain, but I've never had that. I did actually have about a 10 ounce lunch and while I had no chest pain, sliming or PBing, my belly is FULL. No pain, no hunger, NOTHING! I haven't felt this way in awhile. Is it going to hurt me eating over 8 ounces? It was good food (6 ounces of chicken from the crockpot, a salad w/ lettuce, tomato and green pepper and a 100 calorie pack--total about 450 calories in all). I just can't take being hungry any more and I need to make it to the next fill... I don't want to stretch my pouch either. Thanks for any advice you can give!

I think I've driven the post-op section of the board nuts with all my restriction questions LOL! I got my first fill last Thursday and I feel no different than before (which I kind of expected), but in some ways even hungrier than before the fill (which I totally DIDN'T expect). I called the surgeon and they are getting me in for another fill, but we're looking at the second or third week in February :mad: so I am left to deal with this until then. My question is: what signal(s) do you get when you're getting full? Everyone keeps talking about the chest pain, but I've never had that. I did actually have about a 10 ounce lunch and while I had no chest pain, sliming or PBing, my belly is FULL. No pain, no hunger, NOTHING! I haven't felt this way in awhile. Is it going to hurt me eating over 8 ounces? It was good food (6 ounces of chicken from the crockpot, a salad w/ lettuce, tomato and green pepper and a 100 calorie pack--total about 450 calories in all). I just can't take being hungry any more and I need to make it to the next fill... Thanks for any advice you can give!

I know this sounds like a crazy question coming from someone that has been banded for 3 months, but I have never really felt "full" --I've always stopped when I got to 8 or 9 ounces of food. Does everyone get that crazy pain in their chest that signifies fullness or is there another cue? I just heard back from my surgeon's office and there are no fill appointments available until FEBRUARY 25, so I am going to eat a little more at meals (maybe 9 or 10 ounces) until then. I just cannot deal with this constant hunger. Just wondering if everyone gets the chest pain or some kind of cue that they shouldn't take that next bite......

I'd love to join an Easter challenge, but I'm already in the Valentine's Day one and might get confused. I'll join after V-Day :-)! Good luck getting to onederland!

Ack! I seriously feel your frustration, kcg. I have lost about 30 lbs post op (all while starving), and had a fill last week that didn't do anything! I went into support group last night literally scowling because I'm actually pissed at my band that I am doing 150% of the work and it's not doing anything right now! I just want it to do it's job! Are you exercising? Doing cardio on a regular basis? I'd actually check with your nutritionist about doing any kind of diet while banded. I have heard some of these diets can do more harm than good, which is why the results are not typically long-term. Your next fill is 10 days away. Perhaps wait it out to see if the third time really is the charm and if not, you could talk to your surgeon and/or nutrition to get creative on how you can jump start the weight loss again? Please let us know what you decide. Hang in there!

Jess, if you are eating under a cup of food and are still satisfied for at least 4 hours, I'd say that's the restriction most of us are looking for. Like you said, you don't want to be filled so tight. Heck, I've heard of people who got filled so tight they weren't able to swallow their own saliva and had to get an unfill. Everyone is different with the problem foods too. I find I am one of those people who can eat all of the things most people can't (thank God). I have had one fill and am scheduling my second as I don't have real restriction yet, so I'm scared that my ability to eat bread and Pasta will go away, but I honestly need to be able to eat a cup of food and be satisfied. Right now, I stop at a cup and I'm still starving! If I were you, I'd actually hold off on a fill for now. You sound like you're doing great from a restriction point of view and you have a great loss! Congrats on the 20 lbs!

All I can suggest is Protein, protein, protein and lots of water!!! It's the only thing that got me through the first two weeks! I promise it will get easier. And I never hesitated to call my doc with questions or concerns--that's why they make the big bucks! I hope you feel better and get some answers from the doc soon. Hang in there!

Corinne, that's wonderful! What a great start! Water or not, 8 lbs is 8 lbs!!!! Glad you're off to such a wonderful start. Congrats!

Dr. Goldstein in Voorhees, NJ. Absolutely wonderful!!!

So, after much deliberation, I decided to call the surgeon's office about getting scheduled for another fill. What I found out is that if you have your period at the time of the fill, it could cause some extra swelling, which is why I may have looked so tight to the doc. She said it was quite possible that this was the case and assured me I'm not off base by thinking restriction is being full after a cup of food and being satisfied by that cup for a minimum of 4 hours and I told her with complete certainty I'm just not at that point and I'm physically stopping myself at a cup for fear of stretching my pouch. I'm losing the weight which is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but I am doing all of the work right now, and while I don't mind working, I'd like the band to help me a little bit and do it's part in being the tool I signed on for. All that said, the assistant is working on getting me an appointment right away so I can get another fill! Thank you ALL for your supportive comments and insight on this. This was my first fill and I still consider myself a bandster baby, so the advice you guys give me is extremely invaluable and I hope I can be there for you all when you need me as well. I've said it a million times, but I'll say it again. I am SO thankful that I found this place. It has been the best source of info and support for me whenever I need it.

Sounds like you're off to a great start! Glad you're feeling good and congrats on the 13-lb loss! Just awesome! Just remember to take it easy though. At 9 days post op, your body has gone through some major trauma and walking is great for now, but just try not to overdo it with anything too strenuous. Lots of luck to you!!

Sorry for the late post this week. I didn't weigh in until last night. Weight at Sign-up: 188 Weight this week: 184 Goal: 15 lbs Current Lost: 4 lbs (11 away from goal---I can do this!!)