Hello, my name is Morris I am new to this site and I am setting up to schedule my surgery on Monday. I have a few questions about fills. My Cousin did not have to get a fill after surgery until a year. Is this because their Doctor filled them during surgery? Do Doctors always not fill you until a few weeks later? Has anyone been filled during surgery and not had to go back for a while? I know a lot of questions but I need to know lol. I am going to be about 5 hours from my Doctor and not going to want the hassle to have to drive back and forth to get a first fill if it can be done during surgery. Please let me know Guys and Gals! :wink2:

I'd be leary of a surgeon doing a fill during the initial surgery as there is swelling in that area after the surgery. My 1st fill was about 5 weeks after the surgery. I've had around 7 fills in almost 2 years. Everyone is different and it depends on many factors like how much weight has been lost, how much you can eat, etc. Stay in close contact with your coordinator, he/she can help you.

My doctor does fills during the surgery 4-5 cc. I still needed a fill at 5 weeks post-op, though.

That five hour drive is going to be a pain during the first year or more after your surgery. What happens if you need an emergency unfill? I suppose there's the hospital for that? Just be sure to have it all worked out before your surgery so you know what to expect.

Hello, my name is Morris I am new to this site and I am setting up to schedule my surgery on Monday. I have a few questions about fills. My Cousin did not have to get a fill after surgery until a year. Is this because their Doctor filled them during surgery? Do Doctors always not fill you until a few weeks later? Has anyone been filled during surgery and not had to go back for a while? I know a lot of questions but I need to know lol. I am going to be about 5 hours from my Doctor and not going to want the hassle to have to drive back and forth to get a first fill if it can be done during surgery. Please let me know Guys and Gals!

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from what I know...

Some doctors fill the band at surgery b/c they use a larger one size fits all band. If a smaller BMI individual gets the large band, they might need some fill (at surgery), however a larger BMI patient does not. My surgeon uses several different sized bands, depending on the patient. I am a lower BMI (31.4) and have an 11cc band and did NOT get filled at surgery...just as someone mentioned, b/c of the swelling... it would have not been an accurate fill and TOO much restriction. I was banded July 8th and am on 21 day liquids, but i am still not hungry.. MY surgeon (bc each is different) recommended the first fill at weeks 6-8...depending on how I feel. Personally, I have never heard of someone getting there first fill after a whole year? But that'd be wonderful if someone could have enough restriction until then!

Remember..everyone is different, and there are several different bands out there that come in different CC sizes...

def talk to YOUR surgeon and see what HE recommends.

Dont get me wrong, this site is GREAT, but not everyone's advice from their surgeon is the same..not everyone's experiences are the same...& def not everyone's fill experiences are the same....

My doc has me on 21 day liquids...then slowly solids, where as many people on here are eating "mushies" after 3 days and my doc says NO NO to mushies. Not saying one doc is more right then the other, but the advice/recommendation may be... do what YOURS says. :crying:

Hope that helps?

GOOD LUCK!!

Agnes

Agnes,

"My biggest supporter: MY HUSBAND :wub:"

Mine too, I feel very fortunate!!! I am to be banded on August 4th, my honey is as excited for me as I am, because I want this so much!!

~Carol

I've heard of some people having a fill of +/- 4cc done at surgery ... and more than a few of them had to have an unfill shortly thereafter because the fill combined with post-op swelling to be so tight they couldn't swallow liquids.

Most docs wait 4-6 weeks to do the first fill. There may be a very small amount left in the band when the surgeon fully fills it and then drains in before placing it because he wants to make sure it isn't defective. Mine had .6cc in it after surgery. Some doctors are very conservative with fills, only offering 1cc or so at a time. Others are more aggressive (I got 4 cc for my first fill). Since you are so far from your doctor's office, I would suggest that you discuss the first fill on a cost effective basis...that 3-4 ccs as a first fill is better because of ther 10 hours of driving involved for you. I would consider hanging around the area where your doctor is located for a few hours after your first fill (heck, after any fill) just to make sure it doesn't get tighter after you leave the office. I'd hate for you to have to drive back to get an unfill because it suddenly got too tight.

my doctor filled my band during surgery i got 4.25cc at time of surgery. Since the bands come with nothing in them my doctor primes them to fill the tub and get the air out of them and adds a little depending on the thickness of the stomach.

As Agnes pointed out, every situation is different. I've seen quite a few posts where poeple have had a fill at surgery. I didn't, but I've seen posts from people who had the same surgeon as me say they had a fill at surgery. So its not necessarily based on a surgeon's proceedure, but most likely depends more on the patient, and the band.

I had my first fill 4 wks after surgery. It seems most people post that their first fill is 6 or more wks afterward.

I've also seen posts from people who had the band for over a year, NEVER had a fill, and consistently lost weight.

Hopefully, you checked out your surgeon. If you have faith in him/her, trust that they will give you what should work best for YOU.

Good luck on Monday!

good advice from the person who said hang around the doctors office for a few hours. I've learned to do that after having a fill, everything seemed ok, got in my car to go to work and pain started shooting out my shoulders like when something gets stuck. I didn't go back because I could live with it but I lived with it for a week.

I am waiting for my first fill which is 08/07/09. I was banded 06/30/09. My Dr. does fill the band when the surgery is done. Our CMC Obesity center found that when post -op patients came back in 2 weeks they were starving. So they founded by adding alittle fill that helped them. We have 5 diet phases we have to follow. Clear liquids before and after surgery and the day of the fill and after. 2 weeks of liquids puddings, cream of rice, for the 3 meals during the day and cream soups strained. Then 2 weeks of mushies. First week sweet potatoe mashed,oatmeal or grits, pureed chicken or fish, cottage cheese and so on. This week I get get soft chooped food. Our doctor believes you start slow and easy with the stomach so hopefully you will not have issues down the line. I agree with everyone else. Follow your doctors advice. Good Luck Monday!

Banded 06/30/09