Hi - I was banded in late October, and have managed to maintain my pre-surgery (and rules for life) intake of 30-35g of protein per meal, and some friut and veggies + supplements and cutting out all (most) additional calories. I have not had a fill yet but will tomorrow! I was able to loose nearly 40 lbs doing this, was a BMI of 40+ , now am a 36.

• After my fist fill - what are the dietary restrictions ?
• Do I have to crush my meds like post-surgery ?
• Or do I just take them and how do they do not get stuck?
• Do I just eat less than what I did pre-surgery?
• How may fills do folks get - before reaching the 'sweet spot' ?
• My band is 12cc - is there a specific 'fill' level to expect ?
• Do 'fills' hurt ? is it an office procedure ?
• I was preparing for Ruen-Y , but learned Lap Band and Ruen Y both produce the same results over 5 years, and opted for the band, Do I still need to seperate fluids and solids while eating ? Or can I eat and srink simultaneously ?

For those of us who have had surgery - and have yet to have the band 'filled' please share your experiences and knowledge - thank you so very much !

I just had my first fill after one year. It didnt hurt at all. Dont eat a big meal 12 hours before the fill and if you have a morning appointment dont eat before you go or just eat light. like a protein shake. I dont agree with those big cc bands 9 to 10 should be the most. Surgeons are pushing those larger cc bands and you will end up getting too restricted. After a fill liquids only for 24 hours and soft food for three days after that is my surgeons guide lines. I dont see why anyone would need a 12 to 14 cc band its just not right. You dont have to crush your meds you should be fine with them. It is an office procedure unless they cant find your port or have trouble accessing it. For those not having surgery yet please do not let your doctor put in a large cc band its not needed. I work in surgery and you know whats happening they are coming back and getting them out.

My fills are done by the nurses at the practice. They do not do a numbing shot but it really does'nt hurt. After the fill do a day of full liquids, and then a day of soft foods ( I do canned chicken mixed with a low fat laughing cow cheese wedge. I highly recommend this food plan. On this site usually when someone writes in having post fill problems it's because they went straight to solids. You may get a constriction like feeling when you first get up off the table. It does'nt hurt just thought I would mention it. It took me 5 fills to really start to feel restriction so I did'nt have any problems eating after my first fill.

After my fist fill - what are the dietary restrictions ?

Varies by doctor. Mine had me on solids 2 weeks after surgery. Some keep their patients on liquids for an entire month post surgery. Some take 30 days to go through the phases of the postop diet.

Do I have to crush my meds like post-surgery ?

Varies by individual. Some can only take liquids or crush pills. At 6cc in a 14cc band, I can still take aspirin sized pills without crushing them, but I do bite them in half...just in case (not willing to try and see what happens if I don't).

Do I just eat less than what I did pre-surgery?

Again, varies by the individual. Some do low carb, some restrict calories, some do Weight Watchers, etc. I try to follow a 1200 calorie low carb diet...something I can do now because I'm not hungry. Impossible to do pre surgery.

How may fills do folks get - before reaching the 'sweet spot' ?

Varies by the individual. Some don't need any fill but it's not the 'number' of fills, it's the amount in your band.

My band is 12cc - is there a specific 'fill' level to expect ?

No.

Do 'fills' hurt ? is it an office procedure ?

If the person knows what they're doing, then it shouldn't hurt. Yes it is an office procedure.

Do I still need to seperate fluids and solids while eating ? Or can I eat and srink simultaneously ?

I do (separate them) because if I drink during my meal, I end up getting stuck, although a 'tiny' sip if I do get stuck on food, will usually resolve the situation.

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For those not having surgery yet please do not let your doctor put in a large cc band its not needed. I work in surgery and you know whats happening they are coming back and getting them out.

I'm not sure where you're getting your information or why you would say this but my surgeon does use a 14cc band and has not had anyone come back in to get one out. I also could not find any reputable statistics showing that you are more likely to have problems with a 14cc band than a smaller one. Please share your reputable resources (not interested in hearsay or anecdotal references).

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I hope your fill went well. I also hope that you asked your doctor these questions and were given good information to use. As was said, all doctors have different guidelines. My surgeon requires a liquid diet for 2 days and then soft/mushy diet for 2 days after a fill. He actually does all adjustments in the hospital so he can see exactly how the band is working. For me, I stood up to an x-ray looking machine and drank a few gulps of barium liquid. He showed me my band and the liquid flowing through. It was neat. He then put some saline in the band and had me drink another gulp. He added a little more and had me do the gulp. When the liquid flowed the way he wanted it to, he said it was enough. It did not hurt at all. I was very nervous but it was a very quick procedure. 5-10 mins. I then had to sit in the lobby and drink 4 oz. of water before leaving to make sure it wasn't too tight. No changes with pills or other things after the fill. My surgeon is very firm about NOT drinking 15 mins before or 60 mins. after meals. He said this defeats the purpose of the band and you will fill hungry too quickly. Good luck!

I'm not sure where you're getting your information or why you would say this but my surgeon does use a 14cc band and has not had anyone come back in to get one out. I also could not find any reputable statistics showing that you are more likely to have problems with a 14cc band than a smaller one. Please share your reputable resources (not interested in hearsay or anecdotal references).

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I agree with Melody. My surgeon says he puts in 14cc bands (when appropriate to the patient) because they just work better. Curious to see Fluffy's info.

Dave

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. After reading some of the initial replies, I did not feel properly prepared (w/ knowledge) to get the fill this AM. I was able to get some details: no solids for 24 hrs after the fill and no changes to the meds, procedure is done in the office. The holiday season had several folks on my medical team out of work for extended periods which is why I was not able to get answers. They are a GREAT team! Fist fill next Monday morning......

I really liked the barrium example one of you posted - that makes the most sense to me. Go once, see whats really going on, get your fill(s), and move on!

Here are 2 things that confuse me: I am on a diet of 4 oz of Protein +veggies, supposedly the stoma (Pouch) is approx 2 oz. , but the diet does not change - HUH?!?!? how does a 2 oz pouch hold 4+ oz of food ?

Secondly - why do I have to seperate liquids from solids ? The liquids flow right through the 'pinch point' where the restriction is ?

Any insight to this ?

thaks again to all of you!

Secondly - why do I have to seperate liquids from solids ? The liquids flow right through the 'pinch point' where the restriction is ?

Any insight to this ?

thaks again to all of you!

Bob, think about your kitchen sink. It has stuff in it. Open the drain, turn on the tap, and Water washes things right down the drain. Your band is similar. food in the pouch can be "washed down the drain" into your lower stomach by drinking during meals. By eating slower, and not drinking during meals, food stays in the pouch longer, and has more time to put pressure on the vagus nerve, resultng in you feeling "full" for a longer period of time. If you drink with meals, you flush things down, and you get hungry sooner.

Everyone is different, but that's my understanding of how it's supposed to work.

Dave

i'm at 5 months out and am at my sweet spot.....if I drink when I eat, I end up urping it right out, you have to wait for that food to settle at least 30 minutes (according to my Dr.). I still take full sized vitamins, but only take them one at a time, where as before I could take them all at once. If you have trouble they do have petite vitamins that you can get anywhere (rite-aid etc.).

i too had to go on two days of clear liqueds, two days of mushies, then back to real food, but usually only lasted one day on each till I got my third fill.

I have a 14 cc band, and on my third fill reached my sweet spot!

Hope this helps!

oh yeah,

as far as the fill goes, my Dr. just inserts the needle, has me sit up, with a drink of water and you drink while he fills....pretty cool because, if it is too tight, the water just stays, then he draws out a little until the water goes down......Easy, peasy, one, two, threesy!