I was banded on 10/20/09. recovery has gone well.

I've lost 42lbs total.

But that was all before I started eating any "real" foods. My weight loss has kinda stalled since, I expected that so ok...

I'm due for my first fill this Wed.

I'm kinda concerned tho....

I think I may be one of the lucky ones who has restriction before their fills.

Here is what I can/do eat.

approx 3/4cup of food before I'm full, and it holds me for 3-4 hours.

Cannot eat bread, no way no how.

chicken is not my bands friend even when chewed to total mush.

I've slimed a few times, and even been stuck on chicken, not fun!

I'm wondering if I should reschedule my first fill for a few weeks from now...

I want to use this tool (the band) to the fullest, but I do not want to be too tight either!

My Dr is 6 hrs away and thats a factor too...

How would you handle it?

Is it restriction that I have?

Or am I just clueless because I don't know what to expect?

any advise?

It sounds to me like you have good restriction now, and you might want to ask the doctor about postponing your fill. In a few weeks, you might feel like you need one, of course you might not. You want to avoid getting an overfill too, which would require a trip back for an unfill. You're doing great! Sorry about the chicken though. That's a bummer, but a lot bandsters have problems with it, especially if it isn't really moist.

Wow, sounds like you're doing great. My surgery was 10/19 and my doctor isn't doing my first fill until 12/10 (7 weeks out). I wish I had the "restriction" you have. Right now it seems like I can eat just about anything -- I take that back I found out the consequences of eating a turkey burger at my old pace. Sounds like you could be one of the lucky ones!!!!

I was like you and postponed my first fill unti 12 weeks. I had really great restriction in those early weeks and lost tons of weight. In fact it was perfect in that it was restriction but more like restriction that kills appetite, not restriction that makes you stuck or pbing.

Sadly, I've never recreated it with fills, lol. My appetite gradually came back and going tighter doesnt kill it, only makes it hard to eat right. Nonetheless I lost all my weight so dont take that as a negative, just make the most of this honeymoon period that not everybody gets.

This early restriction is explained as swelling, yet strangely, since then I've never been a sweller - dont need to do liquids to mushies after a fill, dont vomit often and when I do dont get irritation and swelling following it, dont have a sensitive stomach, can eat anything, do anything to it.

Bandster hell never existed for me and it sounds like it doesnt for you either.

Sounds like you are one of the lucky ones. I think I'd delay a fill right now - it's early anyway. It sounds like you either have a little swelling still or maybe just restriction. You say your weight loss has stalled - or is it just slower? It sounds like you're eating fine. Too bad about the chicken. You may find changes yet to come in what you can eat.

Great work so far. Sorry about the chicken. I can only eat Roterissie (sp?) chicken. Guess it's more moist. cheese is a huge NO-No for me.

I have a friend that got banded at Easter and she is having her first fill this week! She's lost 78 pounds and is doing great. Maybe you're a lucky one too.

Thanks for the input y'all!

I think I'm gonna call and postpone my fill for now.

I'll keep ya posted!

Dana,

You are doing FANTASTIC... keep up the great work.

I also think that you are lucky that you do have some restriction... I was banded a week after you and I have NO restriction at this point (and feel I really need some).

Keep us updated.. nice job.

OMG--you are definitely one of the lucky ones! I was banded the day after you and I've lost about 19 lbs post op. I'm on soft foods now and have absolutely NO restriction!!! I'm officially in bandster hell now and I don't even have a fill date (need to go for another post-op appt on 12/8 to determine with my surgeon if I need one)! I'm so happy for you that you've lost so much and you have decent restriction! If it wasn't for the will power I learned through all my pre-op classes, I would just keep on eating because I have absolutely no restriction at all!

Keep up the great work!

Dana,

My surgeon is 3 hours away and the total trip takes around 10 hours because I cross over the border into Mexico.

My last fill left me way too tight. I waited 2 weeks to see if it would loosen but it didn't so I had to drive back to Mexico for an unfill. I was so miserable for that 2 week period.

My advice to you is, don't worry about getting a fill if your hunger is tolerable and you are still losing weight. I would postpone the fill for now.

Donna

That is so awesome for you!! Congrats

The weight loss in the beginning is great and a lot of it is water, so it is natural for it to slow down. It would not be good to continue losing that fast. It would be nice but not good for us. Normal is 1 to 2 lbs per week and it is very much healthier!!!! Congrats!!!!

I was like you and postponed my first fill unti 12 weeks. I had really great restriction in those early weeks and lost tons of weight. In fact it was perfect in that it was restriction but more like restriction that kills appetite, not restriction that makes you stuck or pbing.

Sadly, I've never recreated it with fills, lol. My appetite gradually came back and going tighter doesnt kill it, only makes it hard to eat right. Nonetheless I lost all my weight so dont take that as a negative, just make the most of this honeymoon period that not everybody gets.

This early restriction is explained as swelling, yet strangely, since then I've never been a sweller - dont need to do liquids to mushies after a fill, dont vomit often and when I do dont get irritation and swelling following it, dont have a sensitive stomach, can eat anything, do anything to it.

Bandster hell never existed for me and it sounds like it doesnt for you either.

Wow what a great post! I especially enjoyed the highlighted!

I really only wish I’d have known this before wasting so much of my honeymoon phase being too tight.

I really like to stress to the newly banded, if you don’t think you need a fill, or are having to wonder if you do need one...then you most likely don’t need a fill. Do not do what I did!

This post in no way is being negative toward the band either. Just a few words of advice from someone who has been there, done that.

Eat healthy, eat small portions, exercise regularly and you will soon realize this plan really does work. You can't rush a good thing!