Having a hard time with fills....and losing weight

[blackcherry2002 5]

Ok so my doctor said that if I drop more than 5 lbs a month then I can't get another fill. Well I did go down past 5 lbs but now I'm gaining. I'm exactly where I was before. So I've lost nothing in a month. I'm also able to eat as much as I want. No pb-ing...nothing getting stuck, no restriction even after eating a lot. I haven't thrown up either. I am at 5cc's in an LG 10 band(is there such a thing? they told me it was a 10cc but it's an LG) Anyway I'm scheduled for my second fill and was wondering if you think it's alright if I tell them to be really agressive...because I have a 3 hour-trip to get my fills and have to skip school to go get them so...I want restriction lol. Also how many of you get a numbing shot before a pill? Because my first fill was the worst pain I've ever felt. It was a million times worse than the tatoo I got on my ankle...getting pierced....it was really bad.

[Loseweightin08 0]

Hey there,

My doctor is the same way, he says that if you are losing you do not need a fill. But sound like you need one now. I would not be too agressive. You need to go slow. I also have a 10cc band. When I went from 6 to 7cc's something got stuck. I was miserable. Could not even keep my own saliva down. I had to get an unfill of 1cc. I then had to wait 1 month to get another fill and now he only gives me .5cc's at a time. Which really works, I do not want to get stuck like before. Just see what your Dr. thinks, they really do know best:)

My Dr. always numbs me with Lydocaine first. There is a little sting but not bad....I never feel the needle when he is putting in a fill, I would not have a fill without a numbing agent.....just my opinion:) I hate needles!

Anyway, hope that helped! Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Jodi_620 37]

My doctor will do a fill if I feel I need one. I was banded 3 1/2 months ago, waited 6 weeks for my first fill and will be getting my fourth within a 2 1/2 month period today. You can only handle so much at a time though. Mine gives me a little fill, haves me drink Water asks me how it feels going down and if I want to try a little more. I keep saying yes until I feel the Water gurgling when it goes down.

My last fill gave me good restriction but I lost about six pounds and a lot of my restriction in about two weeks. As soon as I saw the last two pounds come back, I rescheduled my fill appointment and will go in to get another today.

I prefer to be a little aggressive with my weight loss and my doctor has gone along with that. But you have to be careful with the fills too.

I understand your point about having such a long trip to get a fill. I have not needed an unfill after being filled but if I ever do, my surgeon is only five minutes away from my work, 20 minutes from my home. I think your docotor should make sure you have a good fill but if he is too agressive you might not feel it for a while and could end up turning right around and making the long trip again for an unfill. It is not always easy to find that balance especially in the beginning.

Edited September 17, 2008 by Jodi_620

[blackcherry2002 5]

Well I will be down there for two days after I get my fill...for my birthday. But yeah I went down to 240 and now I'm up to 245 again and haven't seen that 240 ever again. I really hope they give me lydocaine because a simple shot doesn't bother me...but the digging into scar tissue with a needle...for almost an hour...yeah...it hurt.

[NY2LAGirl 0]

If your doctor is taking an hour to get the needle into the port something is seriously wrong!!!!

But I do get what your saying, at my previous appt. I had lost 10 lbs between fills so he said no fill then I didn't lose anything for the next 4 weeks so I demanded a fill last visit and lost 3 lbs this week. I would most certainly ask him to be more aggressive since it's a 3 hour drive but is there anyone else in the practice to do the fill so you are not tortured?

[Jodi_620 37]

Oh my, yes...that is way too long to find the port.

Mine doesn't numb but he (both the surgeon and his assistant) gets it in right away. It took ten minutes all together to get my fill today. One poke, drank some Water, Water wouldn't go down very well so he took a hair out, I drank the rest of the water and I was out of there. I have never had any issues with them finding the port. Do they have you do anything to make the port easier to find?

I weighed in with a six pound weight loss since my last fill. I had actually lost eight but I kept gaining and losing that last two pounds all this week. He verified that the reason for this is that I lost a good amount of weight in the first two weeks and my band got loose just like your belt does when you lose weight. So based on the fact that I felt less restriction for the past two weeks and I was gaining and losing he gave me another fill. It would suck if he refused a fill this month because I lost six pounds early on.

How do they determine how much to give you in your fill?

[blackcherry2002 5]

yeah well the it didnt' take exactly an hour...more like 20-25 for the nurse to do it...and she started out in the completely wrong area...And then I waited another 20 min for the doctor to arrive...then he came in felt around and then jabbed it, wiggled once and got it in. So he was much better at it...but yeah it was painful nonetheless...

[NY2LAGirl 0]

I think it's a guessing game for these doctors since being on this site and reading everyones fill experiences and they are all soooo different!

[NY2LAGirl 0]

Did the nurse have you lie down and do a sit up? when I do this my port sticks out so far I could do my own fill;)

[Jodi_620 37]

Mine has me lie down and lift my legs up.

[blackcherry2002 5]

they made me lie down flat with my arms above my head and my legs flat/tilted down a little so it pushed my stomach out for them...it still hurt like a b****