Today was my third fill, this time with Dr. Ren (she filled me the first time, and her PA, Anne Finger, filled me the second time). All fills, including today, were quick and painless.

On my last (2nd fill), I went up from 3 cc to 5, but it was clearly too tight. So 1/2 cc was removed (a few minutes later, after drinking some water), leaving me at 4.5 cc.

Today I was given 1 cc more, bringing me up to 5.5 cc. I was able to swallow Water just fine, and am now home and having a SlimFast. I notice, however, that I can feel the SlimFast "gurgling" down my esophagus, much like I felt the water last time. However, last fill, even water was being burped up, which is why 1/2 cc was removed at that time. Today, nothing is coming back up, so I guess so far, so good. I'm definitely taking time between sips.

Is this gurgling sensation normal after a fill? Is it a sign of too much? Or will it calm down once any swelling subsides (I understand the swelling is the reason for liquids and mushies following each fill).

I have an appt with Dr. Fielding on 6/17. How was your experience? Did you have to spend the night in the hospital? I still havent decided between lap band and bypass which is why I would like to hear anything you have to say about your surgery...I'm 57 and want to lose the weight quickly..

My experience was great. If you want to lose weight quickly, lap band is definitely not it. It's slow and steady. Gastric, on the other hand, is a faster way. That, too, can be done laparascopically, but the recovery is a bit tougher.

Thanks for the info...one more question...have you been throwing up? It seems everyone on this website is constantly sliming.

Every once in a while, something will get stuck -- usually when I forget to chew thoroughly. The food does come up bit by bit, and yes, there is "slime." It's messy and gross, but so are a lot of things in life.

Anyway, if anyone else reads this thread, would you be so kind as to address my questions? (If a gurgling sensation while drinking is normal after a fill, or if it is a sign of too much? Or if will it calm down once any swelling following a fill subsides?)

Many thanks!

gurgles are good/normal. I take it to mean it was a good fill. Will calm down or you will get used to it.

Every morning with my coffee, I gurgle. Sometimes, I gurgle later in the day when I drink. I feel fine so I assume this is normal.

This morning -- the day after my fill -- I took my usual medications...and my capsules all came back up, out of my mouth, and into the bathroom sink. They were already partially dissolved, but I was able to scoop them up and take them again. This time, they stayed. (Thankfully, my bathroom sink was clean!)

I've heard that one is often tighter in the morning, but this is the first time this has happened. Perhaps I should take my pills/capsules with warm Water.

cheryl ann - i too have difficulty with pills in the am (I do first thing). yes, I am tightest in the am and it eventually loosens a bit. just take a small sip of water - you'll be surprised how little you actually need !

I'm an NYU alumni also. I had my first fill April 17th ....3cc with Dr. Fielding and my 2nd fill May 9th .... 2cc with Ann Finger. So now I have 5 cc's in a 14 cc band.

My first fill was a little uneventful and my 2nd I felt much more restriction and I did initially feel a slight gurgle whenever I drank. The morning's are hard for me to eat or swallow anything, so I usually just have a cup of coffee when I get to work and I don't eat breakfast till after 10 or 11am.

That's when I usually take my thyroid pill (it has to be taken in the morning on an empty stomach) and then I take 2 pills at night after dinner.

I don't feel the gurgle but I do take smaller sips, so I guess it does calm down a lot.

To Leslee:

I too wanted to lose weight quick because I am 55, but after weighing both options I felt so much more comfortable with the band. I don't know how much you want to lose but this seems to really be working for me.

My sister had the gastric almost 6 years ago and she still has so many problems. And there is no adjustment for her it just stays the way it is.

Everyone has their own reasons for choosing which they want....discuss it with Dr. Fielding he is a very kind understanding man and I'm sure together you will make the right choice!!! GOOD LUCK !

I had my third fill today. I feel pretty good. My doctor fills me and has me drink water until I gurgle. Then he backs out a tiny bit until it goes down. He doesn't want me gurgling or backing up. I have yet to PB. I've only been stuck a couple times and slimed a time or two and I'm almost 7 months out. He tends to be conservative with his fills, and personally, I like that. Throwing up all the time is NOT healthy and that's why I did all this in the first place. In answer to the question of gurgling only in the morning..... Before I take my meds or eat breakfast I ALWAYS sip some hot coffe or tea for about 20 minutes first. It helps loosen things up. THEN I take meds and eat. It makes all the difference in the world. It's normal to be tight for a few days after a fill, but not to the point of not being able to drink water. Water should go down fairly easy. Dehydration is a real issue here. Be careful.

If you are continually sliming and having food come back up, you are way to tight. I have been banded for 10 months now and I have only had that happen once or twice and I went back to the office to get a little unfill. I take a small pill every morning and even though it is smaller than an eraser I chew it up a little. It's easier and faster than crushing the pill before hand and then it goes down easier. I'm so good at it now, I can chew up 3 ibuprofen like it's candy. Pills will always be a problem so you should really talk with your doctor about finding a solution. Maybe you can get your medication in a liquid perscription? Or get a pill crusher, or suck it up and chew a little. Good luck.

Today was quite a bit better. I took my pills with tiny sips of warm Water. I had a cup of coffee, and some very thin oatmeal -- and everything went down fine. I took tiny bites, enough to fit the tip of a teaspoon, and chewed even that. I could sense things going down (even liquid), but it was without any discomfort.

At one point I felt a bit of pressure, and slowed things down some. I guess this is my time for figuring things out, now that I have some restriction. Even though I thought I was "practicing well" during the time I experienced little in the way of restriction, nothing prepares you for the real thing. Little by little and more and more, I am sure I will begin to sense the cues my body gives me.