fills

Shadow08 · February 23, 2008

this may sound crazy, but what is a 'fill'? How often do these happen and why? :confused2:

ta337 · February 23, 2008

they stick a needle into the port and put more saline Fluid in your band thereby causing the opening to the bottom of your stomach smaller and restricting the amount of food you can eat. the timing is based on the person. you know when you need a fill because you can eat too much and tolerate food that bandsters can't tolerate.

kbinaz · February 24, 2008

When your band is place around your stomach it is empty. There is a little balloon-like thing inside the band that can be inflated. Attached to the band is a tube that leads to a port (attached to your stomach muscle or thereabouts depending on your doctor) The doctor injects Fluid into your port (it's under your skin)(you probably know that, but it kinda sounds like your doctor didn't give you much information so forgive me if I am being too simplistic) which causes that balloon like thing to expand, making the band tighten around your stomach. The idea of fills is to put small amounts of fluid into the band at regular intervals (once a month, for instance). With each fill the patient notices a bit more restriction. (I didn't feel any until my 4th fill) Eventually the patient reaches their 'sweet spot' - which means they are at the optimal restriction which allows them to eat three small meals a day of regular food (not liquid or mush) and feel satisfied and not hungry until it is time to eat again. Without fills you are not getting the benefit of the band and are depending on willpower alone.

Longhorn · February 24, 2008

they stick a needle into the port and put more saline Fluid in your band thereby causing the opening to the bottom of your stomach smaller and restricting the amount of food you can eat. the timing is based on the person. you know when you need a fill because you can eat too much and tolerate food that bandsters can't tolerate.

There is no food that "bandsters can't tolerate." Yes, some bandsters have trouble with some foods but some bandsters can also eat anything they want and they are at the perfect level of restriction for them. I just wanted to clear this up because that's not a requirement for getting a fill. Several longtime bandsters on this board have said that they can eat bread, chicken, popcorn, etc. without a problem.

Generally, if you are hungry a lot and are eating too much, even though you are following the rules, then you probably need a fill. If you are not hungry and you're losing weight, then you probably don't.

ta337 · February 24, 2008

There is no food that "bandsters can't tolerate."

and I think this is the case for more bandsters than it is the exception to the rule. I think it is very misleading to tell someone that there is no food hat bandsters can't tolerate. Most bandsters would have to give up something, I would imagine, even though that something may vary from person to person.

Hmmm... I was told that some foods would always be a "no no" including bread, rice, and Pasta because it swells in the stomach. I was also told to avoid peanuts because it could get stuck. Being from south Louisiana, we eat rice with almost every meal. Sure, I can eat rice sometimes, but I haven't eaten more than a half of a tablespoon of cooked rice at one time in two years. I can eat rice, but it swells so much that I can't eat anything else for a long time. I suppose my doctor thinks I should concentrate on getting enough Protein. Likewise, I ate peanut successfully on several occastions. I was at a party and literally ate 2, one of which got stuck. I spent the entire night wretching trying to get it up. I was so scared that I would slip or that it would NEVER come out. Finally, it did.

Everyone is different. I can guarantee that, if I were loose enough to be able to tolerate rice and some other foods, would not have enough restriction to loose weight.

Longhorn · February 24, 2008

and I think this is the case for more bandsters than it is the exception to the rule. I think it is very misleading to tell someone that there is no food hat bandsters can't tolerate. Most bandsters would have to give up something, I would imagine, even though that something may vary from person to person.
Hmmm... I was told that some foods would always be a "no no" including bread, rice, and Pasta because it swells in the stomach. I was also told to avoid peanuts because it could get stuck. Being from south Louisiana, we eat rice with almost every meal. Sure, I can eat rice sometimes, but I haven't eaten more than a half of a tablespoon of cooked rice at one time in two years. I can eat rice, but it swells so much that I can't eat anything else for a long time. I suppose my doctor thinks I should concentrate on getting enough Protein. Likewise, I ate peanut successfully on several occastions. I was at a party and literally ate 2, one of which got stuck. I spent the entire night wretching trying to get it up. I was so scared that I would slip or that it would NEVER come out. Finally, it did.

Everyone is different. I can guarantee that, if I were loose enough to be able to tolerate rice and some other foods, would not have enough restriction to loose weight.

I should have said, "There is no single food that bandsters can't tolerate." You said, "You know when you need a fill because you can eat too much and tolerate food that bandsters can't tolerate." I was afraid that your comment made it sound like someone who can eat bread, for example, needs a fill. Maybe he or she does need a fill, but not necessarily because he or she can eat a food that others can't. That may not be what you meant but I wouldn't want anyone to get that impression.

Shadow08 · February 24, 2008

I gather that it is an individual process of what is tolerated and what is not. I come from Wisconsin and brats are to me as rice is to the south. As long as a bite is acceptable to me, I guess I am content with that

ta337 · February 25, 2008

:thumbdown:

I should have said, "There is no single food that bandsters can't tolerate." You said, "You know when you need a fill because you can eat too much and tolerate food that bandsters can't tolerate." I was afraid that your comment made it sound like someone who can eat bread, for example, needs a fill. Maybe he or she does need a fill, but not necessarily because he or she can eat a food that others can't. That may not be what you meant but I wouldn't want anyone to get that impression.

You're right, Longhorn. My apologies!

kjeter · February 26, 2008

I prefer to imagine that there are all SORTS of foods that I won't be able to tolerate... pizza, Pasta, rice, bread... It's a lot easier not to eat those things when I imagine that I'm going to feel sicker than a dog if I do. Pretty strong motivation! I'm terrified of having a "stuck attack" while at work or at a restaurant, so I'm very careful of what I choose to eat. I get my first fill in two days and can't wait!