Okay everyone, I was banded on 2/27/04 and I am having my first fill tomorrow. I am slightly nervous. What am I to expect? Will I be back on Clear liquids again? Does it hurt? Will I feel restriction right away? Right now I have little to no restriction, I basically can eat whatever I want, which I don't like. I have only lost about 15 pounds during this "healing" phase, and sometimes I wonder if it was all worth it. I have read that you really aren't even suppose to be losing weight until you have gotten your first fill, is that true? I just want to be successful with this banding, I would hate to think I went through all of this for nothing!! I guess I am just a bit discouraged, I need to get this fill, and hopefully I will start losing again! Any words of encouragement out there from the banded?? Thanks for the support all, I do appreciate it!!

Dawn

Banded 2/27/04

Dr. Boutt

260/245/160

Originally posted by dawnsunshine35

Okay everyone, I was banded on 2/27/04 and I am having my first fill tomorrow. I am slightly nervous. What am I to expect? Will I be back on clear liquids again?

Some doctors want you to go through the clear-full-puree thing again. Some want a day in each phase, others want one meal in each phase.

Does it hurt?

Shouldn't. Will he use a liquid topical followed by the procedure? If he gives an injection to numb you, the injection will feel like, well...an injection.

Will I feel restriction right away?

Yup.

Right now I have little to no restriction, I basically can eat whatever I want, which I don't like. I have only lost about 15 pounds during this "healing" phase, and sometimes I wonder if it was all worth it. I have read that you really aren't even suppose to be losing weight until you have gotten your first fill, is that true?

Yes, again.

I just want to be successful with this banding, I would hate to think I went through all of this for nothing!! I guess I am just a bit discouraged, I need to get this fill, and hopefully I will start losing again! Any words of encouragement out there from the banded?? Thanks for the support all, I do appreciate it!!

Call and ask them if they want you to eat before the fill. Most do not.

Sue

Hi Dawn,

I just thought I would share my first fill experience since it was a bit different than what Sue described... and as we know, just about every doctor is different.

Will I be back on clear liquids again?

My doctor asked me to eat soft foods for the first 48 hours. I was back on solid foods with no problems after this period.

Does it hurt?

My doctor only uses floro for fills if she is having a problem accessing the patients port. She also does not numb the area first. I had to have 2 sticks before she got my port, but it really wasn't that bad, kind of like getting lab work done. When she missed that was more painful because the needle was hitting tissue and not the port. Once she got the port, I didn't feel anything.

Will I feel restriction right away?

I think this is subjective. My doc was only going to start me with 1/2 cc, but the folks from Inamed had just been out for a visit and told them to start first fills with 1cc. So, I got 1cc and felt a little restriction for the first 1 to 11/2 weeks. Now, I can eat almost the same as preband... my portions are not exactly the same size... but way too much to lose weight. I have actually gained 2lbs and I had only lost 15 in my healing phase. I was told to wait 6 weeks for my second fill and tried to call about going in early, but my doc wants us to work in a consistent plan and told me to try eating about 5 small meals vs. 3 large ones and keep up my exercise. I have 3 more weeks before I can get another fill and it will be a challenge not to gain more weight back.

I just want to be successful with this banding, I would hate to think I went through all of this for nothing!! I guess I am just a bit discouraged, I need to get this fill, and hopefully I will start losing again! Any words of encouragement out there from the banded?? Thanks for the support all, I do appreciate it!!

I hope you are successful and feel great restriction after your first fill, but if you are anything like me... PLEASE don't be discouraged if it disappears after a couple of weeks. Hopefully, if you do have my same experience, your doctor won't make you wait 6 weeks for fill number 2.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Take Care,

Good luck with your first fill!!!

I did feel a restriction with my first fill - but it subsided a little... that's why mostly we need more than one fill to reach our "sweet spot"(right restriction for you). This can be the hardest time for us bandsters... the time between op & sweet spot is a massive learning curve... It took me 4 fills to reach my "sweet spot" - some never need a fill - other's like me need a few. but once it's hit - there'll be no stopping you!

Take a deep breath... this is a long road.... it's a marathon.. not a sprint... I felt like you do now too.... it's hard....

I had no pain at all with any of my fills.... it was over in a few minutes... (I was almost dissapointed lol).

All the best for tomorrow !

Audrey