I'm scheduled for my first fill on Tuesday and am wondering if you can give me some insight on what to expect:

1. What is it like getting the fill?

2. I've been chewing well and no problems with food - will having restriction change that?

3. I've heard that you take two bites and you're full. Is that true?

Thanks!

1- First of all... the worst part for me was the shot to deaden the area. I now do it without the local anisthesthetic. I can't even feel it. The nurses are so good. I honestly don't feel it!

2- If you follow the instructions post fill, i.e. liquids for a day and mushies for the 2nd day, you'll be fine. Do whatever the nurse tells you. If you chew well already you have half the battle won. Restrictions are our friends. In time you will find the perfect restriction for you. The first few fills will not make much difference. At least that was my experience.

3- I am never full after two bites. That wouldn't be my ideal fill.My ideal is eating what I want, just alot less of it. I was pretty tight in the mornings when I got my latest fill. Now I eat a small bowl of cereal. Not everyone can or will eat the same things. Use your band as the tool to regain control of your health. I am not on a diet. I just eat less and don't notice any discomfort there. I love my band!!!

• I didn't get a shot to deaden the area.
  
• I had fluro done for my first fill.
  

First I went into his office and we discussed my weight loss and how much I am eating to determine if I needed a fill. He didn't think so but I ask for one anyway so he agreed to a slight fill.

Went into the fill room and lay down on the table. He had me lift my feet up in the air a few inches-this makes your abdominal muscles push the port forward so it is easier to get to. While I held my feet up, He located the port and put the needle in. It didn't hurt much...no worse than a blood draw. He put in a little saline then had me get up with the needle still inserted and go walk over to the fluoro machine (sounds awful but it isn't). He had me swallow just a bit of barium (the worst part for me...I hate that stuff! but I didn't have to swallow a lot. Then he watched to make sure the barium went down OK. Then he had me drink a glass of Water to make sure I could get it down comfortably. I was fine so I stood in front of him and he removed the needle put on a band-aid and I was on my way. Not a bad experience at all.

I am not sure there was a huge change with my first fill. I had my first fill exactly two weeks ago today. I eat a little less and am very uncomfortable for a long time if I overdo it, I don't get stuck any more than I did before the fill. I haven't lost much weight in these two weeks. My surgeon doesn't make me wait a month so I scehduled my second fill three weeks out and I am glad I did. I go in for fill number two next Thursday and hope to get better results this time.

Chris and Jodi -

Thank you so much for your response with GREAT information! I too love my band. The only way I was able to loose weight in the past was to eat significantly less .... this tool is working and looking forward to getting it revved up in a higher gear! :-)

Chis - so what is T R I -ing? (Is it "trying"?)