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Scared of a fill



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I am post op 7.5 weeks. I am still losing about 2lbs per week. I have absolutely no Fluid in my band. They did a prefill at the beginning but do to it being to tight and ending up in the hospital it all had to be removed.

Now is the time I should start getting my fills but I am scared to death, what happens if I get stuck, what happens if I end up in the hospital again.. I am so scared..

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no sense in trying to fix what ain't broke! I too, went at 6 weeks for a fill, assuming that's what we're "supposed" to do. 1.6 CC, too tight. I went back and had it all out. I never never needed a fill for 7 months. If you'r losing 2/week, you don't need a fill. Some people naturally feel the restriction of the band alone, and don't need to be filled. Maybe in a few months, but leave well enough alone.

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no sense in trying to fix what ain't broke! I too, went at 6 weeks for a fill, assuming that's what we're "supposed" to do. 1.6 CC, too tight. I went back and had it all out. I never never needed a fill for 7 months. If you'r losing 2/week, you don't need a fill. Some people naturally feel the restriction of the band alone, and don't need to be filled. Maybe in a few months, but leave well enough alone.

Yeah I agree...you're one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to go through all the fills and frustration. As long as you are losing there is no need for a fill. Why does your doctor think it's time for one?

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You probably don't need a fill. Make an appt for one a month from now, and then just cancel if you are still losing 2 lbs per week without being hungry. If you are staying satisfied for 3-4 hours, don't mess with it. You don't want to get too tight.

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Jillbeme...I wanted to point something out to you, too....they probably should NOT have prefilled you before surgery. Many patients have issues immediately post op and have trouble swallowing Water, even without any fill, because they stomach etc is swollen. Why? Because surgery was just performed on the area and things swell when they are traumatized!

I'm telling you this because once you want a fill, unless your surgeon fills you too aggressively (and that would depend on how big your band is) the odds are SLIM you'll have another such incident.

And some people don't ever even need a fill; just the band alone is sufficient. You may be one of those lucky souls!

So get one when you quit losing or are struggling, and when you do, remind yourself the first time was an odd fluke.

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I just had my first fill today, it was so easy, I was a bit afraid after the stories of being stuck like a pin cushion a number of times before they found the "port" one little prick from a thin needle and it was done in less than 2 minutes. I am on liquid and mushies again for 48 hours. So I will continue my diet that they gave me. 3 oz Protein for each meal, and veggies then starch in that order. I have had real good restriction so far without the fill. So looking forward to seeing what happens. I have never vomited, have had some uncomfortable full feeling and a tad of slime. But then got up and walked it off.

I am losing about 2 lbs. a week and am happy.

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I agree...you don't need a fill unless you are hungry all the time and your weight loss has stalled.

But when the time does come, there's no need to worry or be scared...although I don't know WHY your surgeon filled the band during your op!? Never heard of that! So keep an eye on him and if you have a 4cc band, don't get anymore than 1.5cc for your first fill!

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I had a bad fill experience on my 3nd fill, everthing i tried to eat came up, i felt like there was an elephant crushing my chest everytime I ate, I was so miserable. I went a month later and got unfilled back to my first.

It was around October of last year so I figured I'd enjoy myself during the holidays, then go back, but I was so scared of getting a fill becasue i didn't want to be in the pain and endure the restriction. I didn't go back until March to get re-filled. I learned two things: My fear set me back a whole 6 months in my weight loss, and that I have to take it slow. I need small fills, not big ones. Just get a small fill, and don't be afraid to tell your doctor that you are frightened. He can recommond the right amount for you to allow you time to adjust to it. Don't let that fear keep you from moving forward, and if it doesn't feel right, dont' wait, call them to let them know what's going on.

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I had my 1st fill today. Found out that I already had 3cc in a 10cc band. They put 1cc in today. I did not find it to be very painful. It took them three times to find it and get it in the correct place, but it was not like being poked 3 times. The needle went in once and they had to pull it part way out and go in a little different direction. All in all a very good experience. I was kinda of nervouse but it was really easy. I only said oiey once!! LOL

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:thumbup:Today I had my visit for my first fill. I am now five weeks from surgery. I was very nervous and not sure what to expect from the fill. My doctor (Belott) stuck me once and started with the fill. It was not painful like I expected. No worry.

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I had my first fill on Monday, Sept. 29th, 4 weeks post op and although I was at the point that I felt I could eat a horse, I already had 0.6 cc's in my band and they added 3.2 cc's to give me a total restriction of 3.8 cc's. It didn't hurt at all and was quite cool to see my port on the monitor as I stood in front of the x-ray machine. There is really nothing to worry about. Best of luck to you!!!

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Well no loss in 2 weeks. So today is my first fill and scared out of my mind.. My stomach hurts thinking about it...Wish me luck:ohmy:

Well had my fill didn't go bad.. He started with 3cc's but I ended up with one.. He said that I had to many problems to be aggressive and I agree. When the 3cc's was in I was so tight and the Water kept coming up... I would rather start slow and proceed gracefully... and since I am not paying for the fills there is no reason not too!

Edited by jillbeme
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:) I'm glad I found this thread. I was banded nine weeks ago and still do not have a fill. I have been back to the doc but have requested no fill because I have PLENTY of restriction and I am losing 1-2 pounds/week. I was worried that something was wrong because so many folks don't seem to have restriction until several fills but it's great to know others have found it sooner. :thumbup:

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

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