OK, I've been whining to myself (and to anyone who isn't already tired of listening) that I don't have much restriction with my 1.2cc fill. I can eat two cups of most foods without any trouble. So I scheduled an appointment for another fill tomorrow (1/21).

Guess what? During the last three days I've had good restriction. Nothing extreme (although I did PB yesterday after not chewing a piece of dry chicken well enough), just what I thought I was supposed to have. No, I'm not in PMS or M mode. Funny, it feels as if my band knows it's going to be messed with tomorrow, so it's behaving itself now!

Tempted as I am to cancel the appointment, I'm going to keep it, just to make sure everything's in place and to get topped off with just a wee bit of saline for good measure. Sheesh!

I just wrote in another thread that I have one of those slow-release fills that works great at lunch, but peters out by dinner. A protein shake is all I can handle in the mornings, and I'm never really hungry by lunch, but I eat anyway. Lunch goes down slow and fills me up fast. Then dinner gets easier. An hour after dinner, I'm wide open for goodies... I think I need a goody vitamin, cuz my body seems to think it's lacking. I could eat a whole pig slop of goodies right this minute, which is why I'm lingering at work and not going home. Home is a dangerous place for me. Nothing like a grown woman being afraid of her own house.

Zoe the same thing has happened to me for my last 2 fills. Prior to me making appointments I have zero restriction but once I hang up the phone from making my fill appointment I have it back ..Strangest thing!

Zoe good luck with your appt. I hope it will help.

So, Michelle and Zoe... are you saying I should make an appointment for a fill? Kinda like smokers who want the bus to come, so they light up?

Hey, DeLarla, that's a brilliant idea! Especially if the appointment is difficult or expensive to cancel, you'll get instant restriction. I had the worst PB of my band journey last night; I had to get off the phone immediately and couldn't even make it to the bathroom before I slimed all over myself. I feel kinda stupid going in for a fill today -- but I know that if I cancelled, I'd be wide open as usual by dinnertime! Make that appointment, D., and let the restriction begin!

OK, I'm off to the doc now. Will report back.

Hey Lisa..it wouldnt hurt to try it!

The mind is a brilliant thing to waste - did I say that right?

That's just the way it is when you've had it with your hair and you're on your way to get the mess cut off and your hair looks better than it has looked in weeks. Don't ya just hate that, then you don't know whether to get it cut or not.

Or like taking your car to the mechanic becasue it is making a funny noise and the minute you pull up to the auto shop the noise is gone

My last fill I mentioned this phenomenon to my Dr. and he says he hears it alot so maybe the mind does play tricks on us or should I say our bands

I'm making an appointment for a fill right this second. I don't even know where or with who, but I need restriction, badly. I have it in the morning and at lunch, but I need Restriction PM, stat.

Wow, so THIS is what restriction feels like! Dr. Baptista (colleague of Dr. Horton's) checked me out yesterday. During the first test, the barium flowed right through my band, which explains why I've been able to eat heaping plates of Thai chicken with peanut sauce and rice. Dr. B tinkered with the port adjustment, asking me to swallow several times (with barium and without). He encouraged me to watch the fluoroscope monitor so I could see for myself how the band was working. So here I am with 1.8cc, on liquids until Sunday afternoon, and feeling some tightness just drinking Water. If solid food is too uncomfortable to swallow, I may get a slight unfill early next week. I am ready to drop some pounds after the sluggish holidays, so I'm ready to be a real bandster now.

Meanwhile, DeLarla, call (312) 255-1900 and set up an appointment in Chicago with Dr. B for vicarious restriction.

Zoe, I'm confused... Did you get a fill sitting up or lying down??? All of my fills have been done lying down, they never tried looking at barium going through after or during a fill. Is my blonde showing or is this just my redneck band again????

Dear Zoe,

Do you know if your doctor will do a lap band for someone like me who does not meet the criteria here? I'm 5'6 and 195. I don't want to gain anymore weight and have been struggling all my life. Any advice would be so helpful..thanks tammy

Hi Blossom -- I won't hold your blondeness against you! I get my fills standing up. I posted notes on the procedure and some pictures of Dr. Horgan's equipment at http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3382 . I've only had two fills, and barium was used both times.

Tammy, I don't know if either Dr. Rumbaut or Dr. Horgan will perform surgery on someone of your size. You might qualify if you have weight-related health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Check the Inamed web site (www.inamed.com) for information on who's a candidate for the band, and how to find a doctor in your area. I can't resist saying that I, for one, would love to weigh 195 again -- but I know there are people reading this who would love to weigh 225, or even my high weight of 273. We're all trying to head in the same direction: down, to healthier, happier bodies. Read some old posts here in the "introductions," "general discusssion" and "doctors and hospitals" forums to help decide if the band is right for you; many posts have great information on the band experience for people of all starting sizes. Good luck in your journey -- hope you find some answers.

Blossom, what Zoe is describing is having a fill under flouroscopy. It sounds as if your doc does them himself without flouro?