Throwing In The Towel...

sleepyjean · August 17, 2006

I understand the reluctance. I felt it before my first fill.

I think when many people first get banded, the weight comes off relatively easily. You gain momentum and feel kind of proud. Once you reach a point where you're not losing so easily and it's time to get a fill, it can make you feel a little bad because - what happened? Two weeks ago, the weight was falling off your body, and now nothing at all is happening. It can make you feel disappointed or even a little ashamed. It reminds you of all the times you've gone on a diet and failed. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just do this?

Getting a fill means admitting and accepting that you can't do this all on your own. And even though we all realize that (otherwise we wouldn't be here) it can take time for that to really sink in. You have to reprogram your brain to know that this is different. It's not a diet. It's less about willpower (or lack thereof) than it's about using the tool.

Embrace it. Get that fill and don't look back.

health1st · September 15, 2006

Sleepyjean, that was really good advice last month. I wish I had listened. I waited too long for a first fill and then when I got one it didn't do much. Now I have to wait 2 weeks before another. (next week now) I was really afraid of an overfill but the fill went fine and provided just a few days of mild restriction. I did talk my Doc into 1.5cc instead of the 2 he wanted t put in. At least I know what to expect now. And I do need help and I do need to use the tool.

Since I got mild restriction with 1.55. I think I'll ask for 1cc. Any thoughts? I have a 10cc VG band.

kabeerah · September 20, 2006

Hi Health1st. Sleepyjeans advice was very precise. It really was how I was feeling. Here is the update I just posted on my OH profile.

I went in for my 2nd fill tonight, one month after my first tweak. When I called my dr last week to ask if I could come in he said he does them every two months...policy. Well after waiting patiently for a week, I decided that I did not have WLS do suggle like this. I mean I wasn't starving or anything and surprise surprise I still managed to lose 2lbs this week, but it was taking more will power than I had.

I now have a total of 3.5cc in my 10cc Swedish Band. Funny thing, was that as soon as I called dr to say that I could not go another month without a fill, and he said come in tonight, then I got this strange tight restriction. I told him when I got there that I felt really tight all of a sudden. He said, not to worry he would check it out on the flouro. He said I was not tight but wide open and laughed when I said that I must just be crazy. I asked him to try a total of 4cc and to go from there. Same as the first time, 4cc was just sitting there and not moving. I said please do not take out so much this time, try .5cc. So he removed .5cc and it started flowing out. I hope this is a good restriction level for me. I'll try to stay on liquids until Ramadan starts, which is less than a week away.

health1st · September 25, 2006

Kabeerah, how's it going?

12 days after my first fill I started getting nauseous after I ate. It got worse, so it seems for some reason I tightened up! Now I'm doing liquids to see if it settles down. Well, nausea and liquids will probably get me to lose weight again. This is not what I expected!