Am I at my "sweet spot"?

[tanderson 3]

Hey everyone,

I had my first fill almost 3 weeks ago (2cc's in a 4cc band). Everything was good the first week after I learned to slow down and take smaller bites. It was taking about 1 to 1.5 cups of food to fill me up. Now I am finding that whenever I begin to eat I feel a tightness usually after the 2nd bite and if I am eating a hard Protein I will actually feel pain. I have tried smaller bites, going slower, even taking minute sips of Water, but the pain stays there sometimes for over an hour. I estimate that I am eating no more than a 1/2 cup of food at a meal. Am I at my "sweet spot" even if I am having this pain? I don't go back to the doctor for 2 weeks, should I call on Monday? Any comments or advice is so needed right about now...

[LapBandit 5]

No, the sweet spot should feel "sweet" and comfy! If you're having pain and can't eat more than a bite or two then you're in the "way too tight" spot! Fills can sometimes feel extra tight at first but if you had your fill 3 weeks ago and it hasn't loosened up then I'd definately say you are too tight and need to call. Good luck and you'll find that sweet spot!

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

Are you chewing until there is nothing left to chew? That is very important.

You need to chew until it's liquid. If you're doing that, and still feeling this pain, you're getting food stuck in your esophagus, and probably do need to have some taken out. Even if you're taking small bites, you have to chew

until you can't possibly chew anymore because there is nothing left to chew.

[tanderson 3]

Thanks guys for the advice. It's wierd, me and my band, because sometimes, like for example this morning, I can eat 2 cups of food with no pain...but that is typically "mushy" types of food. Sometimes I am eating say a salad with grilled chicken and everything is going great and then WHAM, I get a horrible pain! So I am thinking that I am not chewing well enough and need to slow down...I hope because the pain is so bad! I have actually slimed one time when I got the pain (when I was eating the grilled chicken salad) and as soon as the pain stopped, so did the slime...so I really do think that I am not chewing well enough all the time. Thanks for helping me work this out.

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

Yes, you need to stop after a bite and see how well it's going down.

Take very tiny bites of any kind of meat. You'll figure out what foods

you have to chew like crazy and which foods go right through the band.

I can eat a Protein bar and eat it like I don't have a band.

If I am eating salad with chicken in it, I have to take itty bitty bites

of the chicken and make sure I chew it until there is nothing left

to chew.

[countrygirljtl 0]

that sounds so gross.

What I don't understand is right now, I am 4 weeks out from surgery, obviously have not had a fill yet, but I seem to be able to eat soft foods in fairly good size bites, yes its smooth, but will I not have any problems with this "small bite, chew to death" stuff until after my first fill?

[mbanja 1]

Keep in mind too that it takes some people longer for their fill to kick in. My first fill took 3 weeks to kick in. I was at 1.9cc in my 4cc band. You are probably just starting to fill your real restriction and it may be a little too tight. I agree with others that you need to chew more too. If you still feel like you are too tight, try getting the doc to unfill you .1cc at a time and see how it goes. Sometimes that sweet spot is only .1cc away!

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

that sounds so gross.

What I don't understand is right now, I am 4 weeks out from surgery, obviously have not had a fill yet, but I seem to be able to eat soft foods in fairly good size bites, yes its smooth, but will I not have any problems with this "small bite, chew to death" stuff until after my first fill?

Yes, once you get fills, your eating will change dramatically. It might not

be with the first fill, depending on how aggressive your doctor is with fills.

[crazycat 2]

My restriction in just like yours Tanderson. I know I'm pretty tight, but I feel I need this in order to keep losing. I force my self to eat solid foods . I find if I eat Soups or soft foods I wont lose and I will stay the same weight.

[mpatti2007 0]

Im the same as you countrygirl, I can take bigger bites, and I get my first fill on Nov 16th.

[wendy1263 0]

Why does it take longer for your fills to kick in? I get my first fill tommorow.

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

I have never had a fill kick in after the day I got it. I can always tell the day after how it's going to be.