Hi all

Today I went for my first fill. Thank god for bulletin boards and email lists where you can get so much information. I was not at all worried today due to the wonderful support and knowing what to expect from people here.

Well it went fantastically. Firstly I want to say that I am so blessed by having been referred to the Centre I go to as they have the most wonderful staff. I didn't see my surgeon today, but I did see the other surgeon who was there when I was banded. He remembered saying hello to me, but apparently I was drugged up. I honestly don't remember him! He was just wonderful for the fill. He sat me down asked me how I was, then told me about the process. 2ml in today, another 2 in a month, then slowly from there if I still need some. He did tell me that they do put some in during surgery, so I now have 4ml in a 12ml band. He double checked by withdrawing what was in there and then added the whole lot. There was absolutely no pain, no discomfort and he lived up to his name of not hurting anyone. I was really suprised that I felt absolutely nothing, it was wonderful. Then again they do this all the time, so they should be expert at it!

He did mention that I would have the tightness in the chest area much like indigestion and much like what it was like soon after surgery. I have had one 10 second burst of a little bit of discomfort up there, but nothing else. I will stay on liquids until tomorrow lunchtime.

I am ecstatic. This is the fist day of the real life after banding. This is when I hope to feel some restriction and the fun will now begin.

Good to hear things went well Kylie! My first fill is next Friday (18th). Very excited about it. At the moment I feel like I can eat whatever I want which is not good.

Hi all

I am a little disappointed, but not at all suprised. After my fill last week, I can still eat the same amount I had in the past. I was very careful over the weekend not to eat too much, but I didn't feel any restriction. I didn't want to get to the point where I would PB so I took it slowly. But I never felt full. I now just have to wait a month until my next fill and be careful about what I eat.

Mornings are still like most, with indigestion type feeling, so I leave eating anything until about 11am. I survive on Up and Go liquid Breakfast with a cuppachino.

Hope all are well.

I had my first fill a.m. today

I was banded March 14th.

As yet I feel unrestricted, although from reading earlier posts on this topic it may take a day or two to be effective.

I live in hope.

Ok, the first fill does not always give you restriction. I was lucky and got a good restriction on my second fill, but now need more fill cause I can eat anything. You have to remember that finding your perfect restriction is not a scientific process - it's trial and error and everyone's sweet spot is different. I only have 3.5 ml in but I was banded on 3 December. I have a friend that was banded at the end of February, already has 4 mls and needs more. Patience - as the add says - it doesn't happen overnight but it will happen - your weight didn't get to this level overnight so you won't lose it overnight.

1/2 to 1 kg a week is the best level - for your health and for skin elasticity - lose too fast and your skin won't be able to adjust.

keep plugging away - we're all here to support you and always remember that there is someone who has probably gone through the same as you are now and will be willing to offer advice and support.

keep smiling and chew, chew, chewing

Danna

I'm going for my first fill today and really hope to get restriction as I can eat as much as I want! I know it's trial and error but I'm hoping this will give me enough to last to my next fill next month.

I'm going for my first fill today and really hope to get restriction as I can eat as much as I want! I know it's trial and error but I'm hoping this will give me enough to last to my next fill next month.

Good luck hope you get the restriction you are looking for. I am heading to Perth to see Dr Watson for first fill next Thursday. I am starting to find I can eat more than a few weeks ago but Im really trying to keep the eating under control (very hard when your son comes home from work with buckets of KFC) and I have started exercising everyday so thats helping a huge amount with the weight loss.

Yeah I hear ya Nat. We've been exercising machines for the past 10 or 11 days. Only missed 2 days. The fill was no big deal either. Little sting with the local anaesthetic and that's it. My lunch hunger went away straight away! Fingers crossed that it'll do me well. Watson was pretty pleased with how we're going and said to expect the "scallop effect" where you lose a bit... taper off.. lose a bit.. taper off.

Good luck with your fill next week.

Em

Don't worry, restriction will come. It doesn't always come as quick as wanted, but it'll get there eventually.

While it can be frustrating, its best to go slowly so you don't accidentally overfill .. now THAT is no fun hehe.

HI all

I had my first fill on Friday 18th April, 2 1/2 weeks after my op, it doesnt normally get done this early, however my doctor said he would do it as I have to drive in over an hour.

the needle was fine, and I hate needles, so I thought I was really brave. i felt a little restriction after it, as I eat the wrong thing, and it hurt like hell. I have experienced the bringing back up thing, as I tried to have some Water afterwards to ease the pain and it just came straight back up.

My port is still a littlel uncomfortable, great when I am laying down, but not when I am standing up. Seems to sick out a bit and is still a bit tender around this area. It is getting better when i sneeze, dosn't feel like its diving deep into my stomach as much now.

I have lost just over 6 kgs in 3 weeks so I am happy with that, I haven't got into the excercise thing as of yet. But hopefully I will manage that soon.

chow for now

I am two weeks past my first fill and there are times when I feel restriction and times when I don't. The lump in my throat appears some mornings and doesn't on others! Fickle.....

As I do most of my eating in the afternoon/night I obviously feel it most then, but I do know when I have had enough. I haven't had pain, but what I feel is quite bizarre and kind of hard to explain.

I have two weeks until fill #2!

I am two weeks past my first fill and there are times when I feel restriction and times when I don't. The lump in my throat appears some mornings and doesn't on others! Fickle.....

As I do most of my eating in the afternoon/night I obviously feel it most then, but I do know when I have had enough. I haven't had pain, but what I feel is quite bizarre and kind of hard to explain.

I have two weeks until fill #2!

I'm finally due to have my first fill tomorrow, and it can't come soon enough!!!

The past 2 days I have been able to eat more than I have in weeks since the surgery. Whilst not as much as I would have before banding, but more than I feel comfortable with.

I'm interested in hearing anything else on slippage and how it happens, and maybe what we can do to stop it from happening.

Batkitty

Good luck tomorrow. I hope it all goes well.

When do you feel like catching up again for a coffee? My shout!

Batkitty

Good luck tomorrow. I hope it all goes well.

When do you feel like catching up again for a coffee? My shout!

Hey Kylie,

we you might have read the fill didn't go to plan and I now have to have it done with the assistance of X-ray!

Although other than hunger I'm not sure the fill will make a huge ammount of difference, because NOTHING more solid than baked Beans and tuna is making it through this baby at the moment ...

but I'll email you from work re coffee, maybe next week? Friday? I'll call or email you.

Hi all

I have had my second fill and it went just as well as my first.

I asked how much they would put in my band and the surgeon said that he would feel the resistance in my band (via the port as he is filling it) before making that decision. As there was no resistance, he put in another 2ml. I now have 6ml in a 12ml band and I am happy to say that I have felt restriction.

Over the weekend I didn't feel hungry at all, opting to pick if I felt peckish. I was absolutely satisfied with a toasted sandwich for lunch yesterday and didn't feel like much for dinner despite having it cooked for me for mothers' day!

I hope this continues.

I saw my nutritionist on Friday also, and the only thing I need to change is that she wants to see me have a solid Breakfast rather than the Up-and-Go as it slips through the band too easily. So I am to have Cereal or porridge, toast, yoghurt and/or fruit for breaky and to hopefully see if that will do me through until lunchtime!

Even though I only lost 1kg over the last month, my doc was very proud of my progress. Even though I am not, I am counting it as successful nevertheless as it is a loss and at least I didnt' put on!!!

I mentioned to him that I was very concious of how much I ate and that about 15-20 minutes after eating I felt satisfied. I was sort of hoping that I would feel satisfied as I was eating, but he explained to me that it takes that long for the brain to register it is full. He said that if I was still eating and I felt full then, then maybe I would have eaten too much - something I don't really want to feel! So I have to change the way I look at things and approach my eating now. Eat something about 1/2-1 cup then wait 20 minutes to see if I am satisfied. If so, don't have any more!

I continue.....

How's progress with everyone else?