Hi all~ Well, tis Friday, and I'm having my first fill Monday.

Any advice, tips, suggestions, admonitions, wisdom to share? I'm anticipating I'll have that "stuffed" feeling of gas pressure, like I felt the first week or so after surgery....close?

Thanks.

Best to All!

:tt2:

I didn't know this or wasn't told this until after I had my second fill, but it is best to go back to liquids for a day or two after your fill. My doctor didn't tell me this, but I found out at a support group meeting. But it seems like anytime the band is "messed with" there tends to be a little swelling. But your doctor or whoever does your fills may tell you something different. Good Luck!

My doctor suggests liquids for 24, mushies for 24, then solids. The only advice I can give you is don't be surprised if you don't feel better restriction. Generally speaking it takes several fills to reach optimal restriction so be patient. Good luck.

I just had my 1st fill 3 days ago. It is a very different feeling for me in terms of the restriction. Keep in mind, I think I am still a bit swollen in the band area, and still a little irritated from the fill. The first day of the fill, I stuck to liquids. No problem with liquids. The next day when I started soft solids, I started feeling some pressure, and tightness in my chest, near the area where the band is. I never felt that in the weeks post-op. I slowly discovered, that in addition to getting full on much less food (I was getting little restriction before my adjustment), I REALLY have to eat slow, take tiny bites (even of soft foods), and chew each bite about 25 times. Otherwise, I get a sharp pain near my band, in my chest (I guess that is the food getting stuck?).

I am going to stick to soft foods for another few days. I got a pretty large fill for my first one (3cc), so I may need some extra healing time. The fill procedure itself is pretty easy.

I never had that 'gas after surgery' feeling again once it went away the first time, I believe that was from the gas they pump into you to inflate your stomach so they can see inside you. A fill doesn't feel like that. I barely feel anything with a fill. I have to do liquids for three days afterwards and then can eat anything. With my first fill I had virtually no restriction. Didn't really get any until my 4th fill, and am pretty sure I am at my sweet spot after fill #5. So don't be discouraged if fill #1 doesn't work magic for you. The fill itself is very quick, no more painful than any injection,(well, some people have ports that are hard to find so there is more feeling around and sometimes more than one poke)and you can't feel much til you start eating.

My doctor will do another fill gratis within ten days. I've read that sometimes you do not feel the restriction for 2-4 weeks....if I don't feel the restriction within the 10 days, do you think I should go back for more??

I am going in for my first fill in a week and a half. Thank you to all those who responded. It really helps, Shawna

I just had my 4th fill today. Still don't kknow if it's my sweet spot. Liquids, 2 days. My biggest sugggestion would be don't let the Dr. rush you. Ask questions. Everyone says yu'll feel the pressure in your chest. Well, when your chugging that bottle of COLD water, you can get a thigtening in there and get confused. Take your time. Make him fill you good till you truly feel the water is going to come right up out of your nose. Then you will feel what it truly feels like so youll know for sure. They won't let you leave like that, but you'll discover the feeling of REAL restriction so you have something to base all of this on.