Hi everyone!

I was banded on 2/25/09 and had pretty good restriction in the beginning (like most) and have slowly started losing restriction. Which I hear is normal. I still have some restriction, but I am able to eat most anything. My first fill is coming up on 4/6/09. I am both excited about this and scared. Excited for the obvious reasons, to lose weight! Scared, because I guess it's the unknown. To date I have been able to eat what I want and I know this will change with some restriction. I knew this from the beginning, but this time before restriction has given me some freedom :ohmy:. Are these fears unfounded? I am still losing about 1/2 lb. a week currently and definitely eating less than I used to. Any advice??:tongue_smilie:

First, just count yourself lucky you aren't in bandster hell! Many of us, before our first fills, were so hungry and the only thing that kept us from GAINING was a very, very strong desire to succeed. Go for your fill appointment. They won't just give you a standard amount. They will want to know how much you can eat, how long you feel full after you eat -- and only then will they consider a fill. There are some people who don't get a fill on the first appointment, but most of us do. I had .6 ccs in a 10cc band; they put in 4 ccs which was wayyyy too tight (couldn't swallow water), so they took 1 cc back outo and I was fine. That was 3 weeks ago and now I get hungry in less than 4 hours so I expect to get that 1cc back on Tuesday -- what was too much won't be now. They will do the fill (which does not hurt, just a pinch) and it only takes like less than a minute. Then you will have to drink a cup of water. If you have any problems doing that, then they will adjust it down. But eventually, you will need and very much want the fill. The desired weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week and you aren't there so you probably do need a fill though I would never hazard a guess as to how much. Good luck

I think I was in Bandster Hell for a while, I was really, really hungry and felt like I could eat anything! There were some days that I did eat too much and then felt really bad with some chest pains and hiccups. I have since learned to eat less and not to push it so much. But still, I know I am not feeling the restriction needed to lose the 1-2 lbs. a week that we all want. Don't get me wrong, I am excited about the fill and will be going to my first fill visit. I am not afraid of the process at all, just on how my body might react. I have heard some horror stories about bands being too tight and not being able to get anything down. I know it takes patience to find the "just right spot" or "sweet spot" and I am okay with that. Of note, I am having my "monthly" right now and have noticed that the band feels tighter than it had - any correlation? I don't know?

Hi Shelley,

I was banded on 2/24 and i also have my first fill on 4/6! I'm nervous about it too for so many reasons. But I made the commitment to get the band so now it's time to take it our for a test drive and see how it works.

Since I started eating solids 2 weeks ago, I haven't experienced the described bandster hell many people mention. I was also really sick with what I thought was a flu which landed me straight in the ER to get rehydrated. So maybe that's offset some of the hunger I might have experienced.

Nonetheless, I'm in at 10:15 on Monday and am trying to deal with my feelings, let them swing back and forth like a pendulum from excited to panicked. Let's keep each other posted, OK?

R.

I was also banded on 2/25 and my first fill is on April 6 as well! Yes, I am eating more than I want to, but man, I'm hungry!! Hopefully this fill will help us all out. Good luck to you and let us know how it goes!

Terri

It has a name....Bandster Hell. That time from back to "normal" type foods until your first fill....when the hungries threaten to take control. You WILL make it through!!!!!

Thanks for all your responses and advice! Today is the day and I am feeling really good about it. I weighed this morning and I am still chasing that 1 lb. around! I am essentially the same weight as 1 month ago...so the fill is needed! I am ready! I will let you know how it goes!

Best wishes to you all!

I just got back from my first fill and happy to report all went well. Doc gave me 2cc to start with and back onto the liquid diet for 2 days, then soft foods for 3 days. The actual fill was fine, he did not "numb" me and even then it was totally tolerable. There was a "stick" feeling like when getting a shot and then he had to locate the rubber spot on the port for injection but that wasn't even bad either. I am feeling restriction right now and will see how it goes over the next few days. Good luck to you all!

Hi all,

Back from my first fill as well. I also got 2 ccs and am glad this whole process of finding my sweet spot is going to be handled gradually. I don't feel anything right now other than a bit sore from all the pushing and poking at the port site. The stinky part of the experience was the PA (that's who does the fills at my practice) missed the first time and that hurt like a motherfather (G-rated spelling). But once she found the spot it didn't hurt, even the needle going in. It was a bit odd to sit up to drink Water with the needle still in my stomach but when in Rome...

Anyway, on liquids for a day and mushies for a day. Then the real fun begins.

Hope everyone else had a good first experience!

R.

Hi All!

I got my fill yesterday too! All went well. I also got 2 cc! Now I have a total of 3 cc (apparently I already had 1 cc). They tried 3 cc's first, but after doing the Water test (sitting up and drinking water), it was too much and they backed out 1 cc. After that, the water went down fine! My doctor's office has the nurse and the PA do the fills. They are very good and use ultrasound to find the port, mark the spot, then used a cold spray to the skin before inserting the needle. The most uncomfortable part was the PA pushing around trying to find the spot (my port is slightly tilted, thanks to a ripped stitch the 2nd weekd postop). It was uncomfortable, but not painful. The whole thing took less then 10 minutes and went great. I am on liquids for 24 hours, then back to foods gradually. I can definitely feel restriction though...my Protein shake went down slowly this morning! :lurk5:

So, being nervous was for nothing!! Good luck to you all and let's keep up with each other!!

:hurray::hurray::beer_yum::hurray::biggrin:

I must be in bandster hell. I gained 4#!!!! I am so disgusted with myself. I called the doctor and he wants me in Friday for my first fill. I am very anxious about this. The posts here helped somewhat.