Hello everyone...I am being banded on April 10th. I am so excited! Seems like it's been forever to get to the countdown, but I think it'll be here before we know it!

Anyone else scheduled in April? We need to come up with a group name!

Carol

I wouldn't wish getting something stuck on anyone! I was overfilled during my fill last week, and when I drank 3 oz of water, had an instant terible pain in chest, burning, and panicky feeling, which didn't go away till it all came up. It was NOT fun!

Since my port was malfunctioning (tubing kinked) I had to have a port revision to get unfilled several hours later.

You will know when you get the right fill....6cc in 9cc balloon was enough to completely occlude me at this point.

Just hang in there!

the only benefit to getting something stuck is that you will be very carefull to NEVER do it again.

I had to have the 1.5cc that was put in at surgery removed on a Sat afternoon (my doctor was really nice about it), but I was in unbearable pain for over two hours. Last week he put (back) in 1.5 cc's and I'm having another fill on Thursday cause I have no restriction, I can eat anything. I'm a little nervous about being filled, but ready to start again!! My scale hasn't moved in almost 3 weeks!

I feel your pain...both the overfill tightness...and the scale not moving x 3 weeks! I hate that!!! :-) I'm controlling my diet, controlling my exercise, why can't I control the scale too! LOL

I am thinking of getting a small unfill. I can't eat breakfast, and lunch is difficult. I don't feel comfortable until the evening. I thought at first it was swelling related to the fill on Friday, but now I'm just not sure.

~Carol

Ah, that stinks! And you waited so long for 'good restriction'! Maybe just a tiny unfill will put you in 'the zone"?

Good luck!

I'm an April bander too. My procedure date was April 27th. I lost 25lbs in the first 3 weeks and then it took me another 3 weeks to lose 5lbs.

I've just had my second fill today and it is tight! The first fill did nothing for me. I was able to eat anything so my doctor said he wouldn't make me wait another 2 weeks to have another one. I'm glad he didn't. I just tried to drink some milk, oops too fast and I knew it immediately! It was the worst pain I think I've had since the surgery. I won't make that mistake again!

I have 75lbs to go and I want to get there! Hope we all do it and soon!

I actually understand what you're saying. I was scared to start experimenting with different foods until I finally said to myself...Okay, something could get stuck..so what...you have to move forward. So I moved forward and ate a little whole wheat bread and different veggies and (I'm Jewish) a little gefilte fish. So, the Gfish was fine the first go around. Then I had a little left over and ate it toooo fast- didn't chew enough. It went down but started popping up a bit and burned a little- reflux. So I went into the bathroom, leaned down and coughed twice and out it popped. Absolutely no biggie, but lesson learned. I could have tried to keep it down but I didn't want the discomfort. I look at it as a signal that I didn't do it right. It's like behavorial conditioning. My BIL, who has lost about 120 since banding, said you have to be willing to try new foods. Your body will let you know if it's working.

I just think its weird that I felt more restriction BEFORE my first fill !

Before the fill, I had a couple of things get a little stuck, but it wasn't terribly painful...not that I'd want to do it all the time or anything. I just thought maybe as a test? I'm supposed to get another fill in 3 weeks (1 month between) and I think I'll call in see if I can at least schedule one sooner. Why the heck would I feel less restriction and have hunger pangs AFTER the first fill???!!!

I thought that as well. At five weeks, just before the fill, I tried sushi. MISTAKE. Where so many others could have it, I was in pain for a couple of hours it stuck so hard and fast. I actually think it was the seaweed,not the rice. So, I had the fill, and it had to be less than usual because nothing went through at the normal cc my doc gives. However, after the first couple of days of liquid/mushies, I find I can eat bread and chicken and things that actually made me feel normal! I eat more and am hungry between meals. So yes, I have that also. There may be a big difference (I'm not doc- this is conjecture) between the feeling from the post-op swelling, and a fill. So, it may throw one off in terms of how it should feel. So, yes, I feel like I can eat more, and am hungrier.

However, if I eat past the first "full" signals, and I do because I'm just not "there" yet mentally about not finishing my food (and now I have very little on the plate to eat anyway) I begin to feel uncomfortable. I don't throw up or anything, but too much (especially liquids) after eating, I get a miserable achy stomach for a couple of hours. It's like one moment it's fine and the next, bang. So I am restricted. In a GOOD way. I don't think restricted has to be not getting food down, or pb'ing, etc.

I realize I'm facing big issues with mental hunger. Is it possible that's what's bothering you as well? It's very very hard for me to tell the difference yet...at least until I hit that wall. When I know it's mental, and I'm not too full, I drink a diet hot choc (25 calories). A hot, sweet drink helps a lot.

I know I have a lot of work to do on this. But I also know that I'm not actually eating more than 800-900 calories, even on the bad days. So, it's cool; it's working.

Things have been better today. For breakfast I was able to eat 4 reduced calorie ritz with peanut butter and felt full. Lunch was some hummus and half a chicken breast stuffed with mushrooms and cheese. I made sure to chew everything completely so no problems but really don't have that "full" feeling. Hope that will come with time and getting know my limits too.

Everyone is different. I told my Dr. that I would LOVE to have the feeling I had right out of surgery. I KNEW when I was full and not but maybe I haven't gotten to my sweet spot yet or it will come within the next few days.

Anyone have any good suggestions on what fills them up best?

Hi momof5

I know how good a good day feels so I'm right there with you. My challenge is always, which full signal is really full? Once I take a couple of bites, I am no longer very hungry and I guess I could stop. But I tend to go longer and hit very full, or really full. Now, it's still not that many calories, but I think learning the truth about full is the hardest lesson.

Is it normal not to feel restriction after the first fill or dose it take a few days?

My next fill is not until July 7th, only because I will be out of town for the next few weeks. I'm not really hungry, but I know I could eat more if I wanted. Any suggestions?

Carol

I felt no restriction after my first fill and feel some now that I've had my second. But what has helped more than anything is eating more protein. If I eat protein first and until I'm full, I get full FAST and stay full longer. So, I would suggest trying to fill yourself up with more protein every chance you get.

Momof5,

What types of protein are you eating?

I eat chicken strips with breading taken off, black beans, refried beans, nuts, cheese and anything that can be grilled. Also, protein powder mixes good with anything!