This thread is for peeps banded or being banded in December of 2009.

Do you have to drink the barium when you have a fluoroscopy? That's the worst thing ever! I just got another 2cc making it a total of 8cc's. I think this month will be the one where we'll lose a little more huh? Great job at losing 2lbs with NO RESTRICTION!!!

Great that you got 2cc, which must give you better restriction. My fingers are crossed that this will be our month! The surgeon said to be really careful, now that I am tighter and to make sure I follow the rules, so I don't have any problems, which so far I have not. So, its back to 3 days of liquids and 2 days of mushes.

I do get a tiny amount of barium with each fluoroscopy, it is just a bit more than a thimble full, so not too bad. I worry more about the amount of radiation I am accumulating this year - 2 chest x-rays, mega dental x-rays, boob scan, bone density test and about 6 fluoros! If you have a power outage just give me a call - I'm a little nuclear reactor - hot stuff!!!

:thumbup:

Too funny.

I have an appt yet again today, i only have 4.5 cc's in a 10cc band. My dr keeps telling me no to fills. Last time was under flouro and he said it looks great I have enough restriction and at 1.5 avg pounds a month I am loosing enough. Problem is I can eat way more than I should be able to. Every pound is such a struggle. So now another month has past and I have only lost 1 pound! Today is under flouro again. I'm do down I could cry. I do most things right, protein, exercise. I am loosing faith in my self, doctors and the surgery it's self. Someone please tell my why they won't give me a fill like everyone else seems to be getting?

Mushsbat,

I would have a fit if my surgeon said 1.5lbs a month is fine. NO WAY JOSE---are you paying a copay to hear that??

Do you see the same dr everytime?? Is that what he told you to expect before surgery??

I would do some serious research and perhaps look into changing doctors.........

Mushsbat,

I would have a fit if my surgeon said 1.5lbs a month is fine. NO WAY JOSE---are you paying a copay to hear that??

Do you see the same dr everytime?? Is that what he told you to expect before surgery??

I would do some serious research and perhaps look into changing doctors.........

Yes 1-2 lbs is what he said before surgery and I pay a copay if I get a fill or if there is flouro....the dr. is the best in the area and is why i chose him...but I am really getting frustrated!

I get a whole spill about the damage it can do if it is too tight...but I see on here how so many people are way tighter. I have no refux, I dont pb or slim unless I have a temp lapse in memory and forget to chew.

Hi Everyone! How are my favorite people?... hanging in there? Staying the course?

I just read that Tracy's having a baby! That's wonderful news!... wow... best I've hard all day. Congrats Tracy!

I was sick for two weeks straight and haven't been online. Except for having a cought that won't go away, I'm a lot better now. The last time I posted I was contemplating getting a fill before Easter with the the in-laws. I ended-up waiting (due, in part, to not feeling great as the appointment day got closer). So I just got my fill yesterday, and it was a pretty aggressive one. He put another 2ccs in my band. And boy, I'm tight. I'm seriouosly thinking about taking the rest of the day off work and going back in for an unfill. I've never felt like this before. I'm not in pain or anything, but I can barely swallow. If I take-in too much fluid (water, coffee, cough medicine) at one time, it stays in my throat for awhile and then some of it never goes down. This is TMI, but I have a spit cup here in case that happens. I know that my esophogus is swollen after getting the fill yesterday (AND because of my cough), so part of me thinks I should wait it out.

Any similar experiences?... and what'd you do??

I went to the doc and no fill. He said I am restricted. He sees that I am having refux although I don't feel it. He suggested I have 5-6 small meals a day. That is suppost to keep me from being so hungry. I've lost 2 lbs by their scales and he thinks that is GREAT! I dont :thumbup:

@ Mushsbat - I am so sorry for you, your doctor sounds as if he would be unmovable on this (my surgeon wants to see a 1 to 2 lb. loss a week!). When you have a flouro can you see the barium stop at the band, or do you see it go straight through? I think I would ask him to explain why you are still feeling so hungry if you have restriction!!! Good restriction should stop you feeling hungry. Do let us know how you do with the 6 small meals and if that helps. Take care.

Hi Everyone! How are my favorite people?... hanging in there? Staying the course?

I just read that Tracy's having a baby! That's wonderful news!... wow... best I've hard all day. Congrats Tracy!

I was sick for two weeks straight and haven't been online. Except for having a cought that won't go away, I'm a lot better now. The last time I posted I was contemplating getting a fill before Easter with the the in-laws. I ended-up waiting (due, in part, to not feeling great as the appointment day got closer). So I just got my fill yesterday, and it was a pretty aggressive one. He put another 2ccs in my band. And boy, I'm tight. I'm seriouosly thinking about taking the rest of the day off work and going back in for an unfill. I've never felt like this before. I'm not in pain or anything, but I can barely swallow. If I take-in too much fluid (water, coffee, cough medicine) at one time, it stays in my throat for awhile and then some of it never goes down. This is TMI, but I have a spit cup here in case that happens. I know that my esophogus is swollen after getting the fill yesterday (AND because of my cough), so part of me thinks I should wait it out.

Any similar experiences?... and what'd you do??

I just had 2cc's put in a few days ago and have a much more difficult time eating as well. Liquids go down fast but now I finally have to really chew my food or it gets stuck and takes a few minutes to go down. Its somewhat painful and fortunately only my family has seen me stuggle through this learning time.

For you I would say be careful. If you can't even drink you're probably too tight and will get dehydrated.

@ Mushsbat - I am so sorry for you, your doctor sounds as if he would be unmovable on this (my surgeon wants to see a 1 to 2 lb. loss a week!). When you have a flouro can you see the barium stop at the band, or do you see it go straight through? I think I would ask him to explain why you are still feeling so hungry if you have restriction!!! Good restriction should stop you feeling hungry. Do let us know how you do with the 6 small meals and if that helps. Take care.

viv...thanks for you response

There are a lot of bandsters at that practice and are very firm with fills. I can see the barium stop. They have taken their time and showed me everything and I do understand why they don't want to fill me tighter. I just don't understand why other doc's will. If that make any sense. They have explained to me that if I have small meals then I will not be so hungry in between. When I got the band I was told 3 meals. And now they have realized 5-6 small meals is better. I am going to try what they say for the next month. Then who knows?!

mushbat, my doc also says 1-2 lbs. a week. I think I would find a new doctor...

Karyn, I would wait for the swelling to go down then make your decision. In a week you may be just right. I can't eat very much at any one sitting.

Viv...isn't restriction sweet...hey..now I know why they call it your "sweet spot"...lol

New Joy, I had a hysterectomy vaginally. They left my ovaries to still produce estrogen. It was a breeze. If your doc can go that route...do it! It's been sooooooo worth it.

I went to the doctor on Monday. I lost 6 lbs. in 2 weeks. I had gained 5 lbs previously on my vacation. So it was nice to know that that is gone. I did not get a fill however I had her measure my fluid. I have 5.9 in a 10 band. I can eat a little less than a cup of food at a meal. I stay full for 4-5 hours. If I'm careful I don't get stuck. And believe you me, I'm careful. I drink 64+oz. of fluid a day. She said I'm doing good and the doctor high fived me!!! So, all in all I'm doing well. I think of you often and read your posts. Love reading the posts...take care...love, Dottie

okay guys and girls....I have a decision to make.

I am supposed to go back for a fill on Tuesday.

I am at 6.25cc in a 10cc band.

The first 10 days after my last fill I felt restricted..and now I don't. I do stop myself from eating but I have only lost a pound or two ( by my scales). I am not super hungry ( like I was preband) but I don't feel like I am at my sweet spot.

The thing is...I have PB for the first time.....TWICE.

Once was on left over pizza. The second was on a toasted bagel. Both were in the morning and the second bite.

At all other times and all other foods...I am fine. No issues at all.

So...should I get a little fill and be more diligent about my food choices?

Or am I PB because I am already at restriction and I am fighting it???

Edited April 23, 201016 yr by New Joy

viv...thanks for you response

There are a lot of bandsters at that practice and are very firm with fills. I can see the barium stop. They have taken their time and showed me everything and I do understand why they don't want to fill me tighter. I just don't understand why other doc's will. If that make any sense.

Hey Mushmat,

I didn't realize you were doing your fills with the barium. That totally changes things.....if the docs and you can SEE that you are restricted...then maybe you need to fight the head hunger etc? have you journaled everything??

My doc does not do the fills under floro ( or if he does I haven't had that option) so we have to do an assessment each time. I have been getting very small fills as we go. I mean like .50 or .25 at a time. It is a slow process working up to restriction for me....but I am battling the head hunger as we go and fine tuning my skills.

Are you seeing the same doctor each time????

okay guys and girls....I have a decision to make.

I am supposed to go back for a fill on Tuesday.

I am at 6.25cc in a 10cc band.

The first 10 days after my last fill I felt restricted..and now I don't. I do stop myself from eating but I have only lost a pound or two ( by my scales). I am not super hungry ( like I was preband) but I don't feel like I am at my sweet spot.

The thing is...I have PB for the first time.....TWICE.

Once was on left over pizza. The second was on a toasted bagel. Both were in the morning and the second bite.

At all other times and all other foods...I am fine. No issues at all.

So...should I get a little fill and be more diligent about my food choices?

Or am I PB because I am already at restriction and I am fighting it???

Was the PB in the 1st 10 days when you had restriction or recently?

Was the PB in the 1st 10 days when you had restriction or recently?

Both PB have been recently.....NOT in the 10 days that I felt restricted. Monday monrning was the pizza, this morning was the bagel.

I normally don't eat until 9:30 and I usually have yogurt for breakfast.