Sue C Q

Hi Suzanne....How are you doing since your fill? I definately have restriction but have only lost 3 pounds since my first fill on 10-06. I have noticed I've lost about 2 dress sizes so I guess the weight is coming off in inches...hey, I'll take it. Keep us updated with your progress. Good Luck. Sue

Hi Cindi...I was banded on Aug 20th by Dr. Ortiz...I to was in your situation at 4 weeks (after reading lots of postings we have all gone through this)...our band in the beginning is not inflated...the six weeks prior to our first fill is for our body to get used to and heal from having this foreign body implanted. So by week 4 we don't feel the restriction because the swelling has gone down. And yes, we can and do eat the same as before the surgery. Just try to watch what you eat and be aware of your portions. I had my first fill at OBC on Oct 6th and I am definately restricted now. My biggest challenge since the fill is chewing...You would think I would learn my lesson in taking smaller bites and chew chew chew, but it doesn't always work out that way so things get "stuck" quite often and it is very painful. I know what you mean about the "food police"...I had people say to me at work, I thought you couldn't have that...so it is kinda weird to have people be so aware of your eating habits. Hang in there...you are doing great and you will continue to get better as you go through this journey as we learn how to re-adjust our way of eating. I have bought sugar free Jello pudding, low fat fudgescicles and some 100 calorie type of snacks for when I get those sweet attack cravings. As time goes on, and we learn about our new life style we will get better at eating the right foods ect...but for now, for me anyway, it is trial and error. Good luck. Sue =D>

Hey Lauren...I'm so happy for you...loosing 6 pounds since last Saturday...WOW...I have only lost 2 pounds but I can feel the restriction and know that it is working. As you can see from my post to Suzanne, I've had some trouble with food getting stuck, it is very painful. Have you experienced this? I bought those liquid vitamins right after the surgery and was able to take them twice...I just can't seem to make myself continue to take it because it tastes so terrible and makes me feel like I'm going to vomit it up. I'm just gonna try to eat vegetables cooked real mushy and I drink V-8. It is a darn shame that I can't stomach those vitamins because they weren't cheap to buy...Are you feeling like you have a little more energy? At this point I don't have tha much more energy, but with me, from past experience the anestesia seems to take months to work out of my system so I'm blaming it on that right now Keep me posted on your journey and I wish you all good things. Take Care....Sue =D>

My restriction has been very good, I definately can feel the difference...my biggest obsticle I am encountering is that I have not trained myself to CHEW...CHEW CHEW CHEW...I have had several things get "stuck" and I must say it is very painful. We are all so used to taking our food, chewing it a couple of times and swollowing...even when I am trying to chew the food, some of it is slipping down my throat and then gets stuck...so now I'm sorta afraid to eat something that is of a solid consistency such as chicken or pork...the first thing that got stuck was scrambled eggs...I just didn't chew it thoroughly enough. So now I am only having my protein shakes, mashed potatoes, vegetables cooked really mushy and really that is good for now. For desert I have fat free fudgscicles, or Jello 100 calorie fat free chocolate pudding. I figure as I learn to chew my food more which is really a matter of re-training yourself and to be consciencly aware of your chewing, then I can gradually move onto more solid types of foods. I have lost 2 pounds since my fill on 10-06, total weight loss is 23 pounds. As you have probably read, it is normal to have your full appetite back...but beleive me....once you have your fill, you will be restricted like you felt the first 2 or 3 weeks after surgery. Best of luck on your new journey...Sue =D>

I'm going to have to say "DITTO" to your responses you have rec'd...I was banded Aug 20th, 2007 ... I had my first fill done at Dr. Ortiz's office this past Saturday....Dr. Ortiz's office is sparkling clean, the equipment is state of the art and I don't think I would have gotten such great care if I had done this surgery in the U.S. , sad to say but it is the truth. I am so glad that I did this and would do it again in a heartbeat. Good Luck. =D>

Hi Sharon...I had my surgery the same day as Lauren who has also responded to your inquiry...I can't tell you how great the whole staff was at Dr. Ortiz's office...The facility was sparkling clean, the equipment was state of the art and I can't say enough about the nurse that took care of me...she was wonderful and truly made me feel like she cared about me. I just had my first fill done at Dr. Ortiz's office this past Saturday and the whole staff was wonderful even though I had missed my flight and was behind schedule by 1 1/2 hours which put everyone's schedule off. I would have no problem recommending someone to Dr. Ortiz. =D>

Hi Lauren...How did your fill go? My fill went great. No problems at all as far as the fill goes...I did miss my flight from LA to San Diago which put me about 1 1/2 hour behind schedule...I got to the clinic at 2pm but the staff was so nice I could not beleive it....The fill was so easy. Today I will stay on liquids and soft food (like mashed potatoes I'm having for lunch)...then tomorrow they say I can begin eating food again. Tell me how your first fill went. Take Care...Sue

I had my first fill in TJ on Saturday Oct 6th...I missed my connection from LA to San Diago so had to deal with rearranging my flight to San Diago and then back home, calling the clinic to advise them I would be late and then they had to contact the driver who was picking me up at the airport....on the way to the clinic we stopped at the Sheridan Hotel and picked up another girl who had her second fill done the day before but she could not keep anything down so was going back to the clinic to have some saline removed. She was still sick when we left. She was a beautiful young girl, not really overweight but her family was very overweight and she didn't want to end up like them...she had her surgery in March of 07 and to date had only lost 7 pounds and was again on her 2nd fill and obviously very discouraged. They told her it was because she was not really that overweight to begin with. My fill went great....I was aware of what the procedure would be like because of the postings on this site so I was not so scared. The doctor who did my fill I wish I knew his name, but he was wonderful...he had the best bedside manner ever, and when he was talking to me he used my name alot which made it seem very personal. It was so interesting to see the procedure on the monitor and to be assured that everything was in position, and after the fill the flow of the barium and then water went down without any problems. I think Dr. Ortiz and his staff are the best. My appointment was at 12:30 but because I had missed my flight I didn't get to the clinic until 2pm which is when they closed....the staff there could not have been nicer which I really appreciated as I was stressed out by missing my flight etc.... Today I will stick to soft foods and liquids, and I already feel restricted in the amount I can take in. Have a great day everyone....Sue

Hi Lauren...Does the doctor you are seeing for your first fill have the xray machine (fluoroscopy) ? The one bariatric doctor in my city that is on the fill doctor list does not have fluoroscopy so that is why I am going back to TJ...I want to make sure that it is done right...also the doctor just joined the group and he does not have any statistics of his success's with fills. I tell you Lauren....I don't remember hardly anything about being in the clinic for the surgery...I remember the nurse putting on my stockings, asking me to put a pill under my tongue and I think I walked into the surgery room...I do not remember meeting Dr. Ortiz at all, although I did ask the lady that I rode the van back to the airport with if they met him which they did. I do remember walking the hall way with our IV's, but hardly remember leaving the clinic the next day. I hope you don't remember me because of something I did...yikes...lol !! I can't wait to touch bases with you after we both get our first fill....Yippeeeeee!!!! Take Care... Sue

Hi Lauren...I also had my surgery done on Sept 20th, 07...and I will be back in the clinic on Saturday 10-06 for my first fill. I think I rode the van back to the airport with you and your husband and one other guy. At least I think this might be you. Anyway, I completely understand what you are going through as I am experiencing the same thing. I just signed up on this forum and reading all the reply's you received was somewhat comforting to hear as other people have experienced the same thing. So it sounds like a normal step in our journey. I can't wait for the fill. My appointment time is 12:30...I hope to see you there. Sue