Hi everyone,

It had been a while since I posted anything related to my surgery. I got banded on May 12th and today (June 3rd) I went in for my Post-Op appointment.

Since the surgery I've been doing okay. I did about 18 days of liquid diets and then switched to pureed food. (I normally pureed about 2 oz. of meat with about .5 - 1 cup of boiled veggies from a chicken Soup I made: Carrots, Spinach, pumpkin, Onion.)

I bought a hand blender and I'm so in-love with it. After 29 days of liquid, puree tasted so fantastic! Although the majority of my Protein still comes from Protein shake (2 a day/ 17g of protein each). Puree was a nice addition to my daily diet.

Enough about the intro... so here's what happened today.

I went in for a Pre-Op around 9AM, my doctor said everything looks good, I have lost a total of 21 lbs since May 1st. He said that he would give me my first fill today (Good thing I only had some protein hot cocoa this morning!).

He had me lay down on the bed with a pillow under the arch of my back. He asked me to flex my stomach by lifting my head up. The fill needle was GIGANTIC. But, I didn't feel a thing at all! After a fill (which took about 20 seconds) he asked me to sit back up and handed me a cup of Water.

The first sip, no problem... second sip... Major problem! I felt like there was a tennis ball is my throat, my chest started hurting, and I kept on burping out air. :eek:

I started getting nausea:confused_smile:, The doctor said he probably put too much in, so he told me to lay back down, he took some fluids out, asked me to get up. I couldn't even take more water. Still not feeling better (Tears are streaming down my face...). I felt like throwing up:drool:, the doctor said he'll take more fluids out, just try to hold it in for like 10 secs. The nurse who was standing close to the bed started backing away (I guess it really looks like I was about to go...).

So we repeated the same routine, Doc took more fluids out, I got up, felt a bit better. My doctor noticed that I was drinking really slow, so he said just to be sure, he'll take a bit more out. After the 3rd try, I was okay.

The first 3 hours, I could feel the tightness. It took me 2 hours to finished 10 oz. of protein shake. Now, (8 hrs later) I feel okay.

My doctor said just to stay on liquid for 2 days then ease into puree, then chopped, and go to regular food...

So yeap, that's my crazy day. Just wanted to share with my bandster family!! :biggrin2:

Thanks for sharing. I really appreciate it as I am going to be filled on July 6. I really felt that this was too early for me as they said that they only fill at 6 weeks.

Wow, he filled you at basically 3 weeks out? Good for you. Between my doc's office only doing fills after the 6th week and me going on vacation right about that 6th week, I have to wait until I get back meaning I probably won't get my first fill until around July 4th (boo-hiss!).

Glad to hear you're doing okay!

My doctor only gives fills at the 6 week mark so I am scheduled for June 10th. Thanks for the insight on what to expect. I am glad the doctor allows you to drink and effectively try it out very going home and encountering the too tight symptoms on your own. I have done well without a restriction and I am really looking forward to the first fill - first time into the land of the unknown!! 8-)

I am freaking dreading that first fill.I hope my Doc does the minimum.

My first fill is July 1st and I've been wondering what to expect. Thanks for the insight.

:cool2:Hi to all , i was banded on the April 10th , got banded after 6 weeks , the experience was very good.But i was asked to be flat on my back to allow the port to be exposed. also i was asked to drink a cup of water , and i felt the same feeling , a lump in my throat , but the dr was not at all worried he filled me with 3 cc , i stayed like that for 3 days after that am feeling normal.since am going to a vacation , he asked me to come back in 3 weeks time to be filled again ! so am waiting !!good luck for u all ! :eek:

Wow, he filled you at basically 3 weeks out? Good for you. Between my doc's office only doing fills after the 6th week and me going on vacation right about that 6th week, I have to wait until I get back meaning I probably won't get my first fill until around July 4th (boo-hiss!).

Glad to hear you're doing okay!

Me too! I'm going on vacation and have to wait for the fill. I'm freaking out because I was zipping along on the liquid diet, but once mushies came in, no weight loss. Plus, I remember what real food tastes like and am getting HUNGRY. I am going to the crabcake/rich food heaven that is my mother-in-law's house for vacation and am very nervous!!!

Hi all,

Thanks so much for stopping by and share your lovely comments with me. I started eating puree food today, I had to wait about an hour before I could drink my Protein shake. I was full from 1/2 cup of puree.

The hardest thing now is to figure out how to get 60g of protein in everyday...

I got some unflavored whey protein and have been sprinkling some in my yogurt and stirring it into my nonfat milk. Every little bit helps.

I got my first fill yesterday. That is only 2 1/2 weeks post-op. It took 3 sticks for my doctor to get it in the port. I think he would have had me wait until the next visit after poking me for the 2nd time, but I told him it was OK to do it again. I was ready to get this going. Afterward, I swigged a drink of water not even thinking to take sips. It felt like a golf ball was in my esophagus. I burped a lot also. It was slow going down, but did go down. It is now 24 hours later, and things are going down easier. I do have restriction and don't think I would want to try anything but liquids right now. I know that will change as I lose.

I was banded on May 13th and went in for my 1st post op visit on June 3rd and got my 1st fill. It was so easy I barely felt a thing other than the initial little pinch. I have 5cc's now, I drank 3 small cups of water right after with no difficulty so he told me liquids till breakfast then he let me start regular food since I was 21 days out. I don't feel I have restriction yet but I am really trying to keep to small portions. For some reason I just thought I would feel different. I am still hungry am trying hard to eat healthy and get all my protein in.

I was banded on 4-22 and had my first fill the end of May. The fill itself was a breeze. The problem is I still don't feel any restriction at all. I feel as if I can basically eat anything, in any quantity. I don't go back until the end of June. The weight loss for me has been VERY slow. I get easily bummed out, so I'm hoping for great things after my next fill!

My first fill required a floroscope, it was somewhat uncomfortable, as the doctor had to do some digging. Although, to me its worth it. All of you other bandsters, please don't worry so much about the fills. Remember to breath through them, oxygen is a natural pain reliever.

My second fill was smooth and easy, he added three cc's to a 14 cc band, for a total of 10 cc's the water he had me drink went down slowly but did not cause me to get sick. However, sometimes if you happen to swallow air it can be incredibly painful.

Tips to not swallow air, given to me by a long-time bandster-

*Don't use a straw, the top 90% of the straw is air.

*don't suck through a expandable top water bottle. take the entire lid off and take small sips.

*try not to breath while swallowing food.

If you do happen to get the stuck feeling, take small sips of water or other no air liquid, and walk around, until the pain subsides. If it does not call your surgeon or EMERGENCY ASAP for an unfill.

When I swallow air, I usually have to dance as I go into panic mode when I get that feeling, its scary. I didn't know that Air could hurt that bad.