I took MsJoy to Dr Jayaseelan's office in Dallas yesterday, Feb 2, and she received a 6cc fill in her Vanguard band (11cc total, I'm told). They tried it lying down but the needle was too short and they were out of the loooong needles so they had her stand up. More numbing, then the first part of the fill (3cc). That was when she :faint: . She's very needle phobic. So we layed her back down, since the needle was still stuck in there and the PA gave her another 3cc. When she was feeling a bit better they had her drink a few sips of Water to make sure that it would go down. Told her to do liquids for a week and come back in 6 weeks.

We stuck around and attended the support group meeting that evening at 7. The speaker was NOT prepared. What he should have done was sit down and let the oldsters speak. The four ladies right in front of us were all banded the same day, two years ago. They were a hoot.

Joy is now down 16 lbs and ready for some serious weight loss. Wish her luck!

A follow up to yesterday...she's been complaining of some pain in her left breast area...not exactly the breast, but just to the left of the sternum. Any ideas of what it could be?

If she feels it while she's drinking or soon after, she may be drinking too fast. With her new restriction level, she may need to change the rate in which she drinks. I know that is true for me. I have to drink much more slowly when I'm more restricted and if I don't or if I eat something wrong - immediate chest pain.

But with chest pain you have to be careful - check with your doctor.

Wish her well for me - Let us know how she's doing.

Hi Shanna, MsJoy here, it's not really chest pains, back in my shoulder like right after surgery...

Hi Shanna, MsJoy here, it's not really chest pains, back in my shoulder like right after surgery...

Yup, slow down the drinking. No chug-a-lugging. I swell with a fill and need a full day plus some to get a good feel for the restricition I have. You probably just have stoma swelling, so take it easy and as you move on to real foods...be careful! Test the waters and avoid the famous PB.

If you still experience discomfort, call your doc. I know you hate needles but a small unfill may be in order. Time will tell, unless, of course, it's miserable. Then call your doc right away.

Oh, another thought...you are very recently banded, so it seems as if the pain could be referred from the banding area. I know folks say it's the gas but it felt to me (post-op) like my insides hurt...and it showed up in my back. So, now you have a fill, and you have disturbed that healing area and made it sore. Conjecture on my part...take it for what's it's worth. But it still doesn't change the advice I gave above. So...

Here you go! Yippeee! Restriction! It's a GOOD thing!

:update:

Went to lunch yesterday, Sunday, with the family. Joy decided to try some mash potatoes and refried Beans. She managed about two bites of both before she felt it trying to come back up. Afterwards she told me that she guesses that she is going to feel her restriction right about where your breastbone starts, right next to your throat. The rest of the day she resorted to liquids and a little cup of pudding. So far, so good.

She jumped up this morning, got ready for work, did her Carnation/milk/diet ice cream (29 grams Protein, 360 calories), packed up her ISOpure/V8/bottled Water and headed off to work....

She should be able to get a couple of bites of food down after 3-4 days (especially those mushies) and keep it down without trouble. PBing on mashed pots would have me a little worried that I was too tight. Tell her to try eating with a baby spoon and fork to keep bite size down. If she isn't keeping the solid foods down she may need a slight unfill.

Hey, the baby spoon is a good idea, Jenna, thank you. I'll see to it that she gives it a try. I've been a bit concerned because they gave her a 6cc "blind" fill right off the bat. They made sure she could sip a little water and keep it down, but that was it.

So, how is she doing today? Just checking up on her, hope she is doing better.

I was very achey and sore over my left hip after my fill, but it went away within a day or two. It's probably the same type of thing.

Betty, she has really been hurting in her left shoulder. Bad enough she called the Doc today. They told her to get and take some Prilosec. They also advised that she try to avoid extreme cold or hot foods. Her protein shake in the morning and her morning coffee. (And she is going to HATE that. She's one of those people that if it doesn't cause blisters on her tongue, it isn't hot enough (that's a JOKE, people)) Time will tell.....

Tell her to use a heating pad on her shoulder. Make sure she sips slowly too. Sometimes my fill eased up after a few days. If she isn't better in a few days I would get a slight unfill. I'm one of those people that likes my coffee/tea really hot too! And lots ice in my cold drinks! Please keep us posted on how she is doing. :hug:

*salute* will do, Captain! and thanks for the asking Betty.:eek: