obrien3tn

The exact same thing happened to me. I was starving the day after surgery. I tried so hard to just do liquids but after about 5 days after surgery, I would eat some mashed potatos. I had no restriction whatsoever. I lost 7 lbs the 1st week and that was sheer will power because I was starving. The 2nd week I only lost 2 lbs because the mashed pot. and other soft foods won the battle. By the time I got to week 3 with no restriction, it was over. I was starving. I couldnt eat another bite of soup or v8, I felt totally healed as if I never had surgery. I begged them at the OCC to please let me have a fill at 4 weeks ( a dr. in Nashville will give fills after 3 weeks surgery but he is not fond of MX patients and charges a fortune for a fill and it is not under fluro). The OCC would not do a fill sooner. I know the dangers of getting a fill too soon but just a little fill I think would have helped. I finally talked them into a fill at 5 weeks because of the airfares going up for thanksgiving. My surgery was on 10/09 and by the time I had my 1st fill on Nov. 14 I had gained back 4 pounds. Very depressing. 5 weeks after surgery and I was down 5 lbs. The fill went well. I got 4.2 in the vg band. I thought finally this is going to work. The flight home from TJ was miserable. The barium gave me gas so bad I thought I was in labor and they wouldnt turn off the seat belt sign becuase of turb. Not sure what the flight attend could have done about it but I ignored her when she said I couldnt get up. I must have gone to the restroom 15 times during the flight but everytime I got back to my seat my stomach filled up with air again. Because it is a 4 hour flight my next fill is going to be here in my town. I found a dr. who doesnt charge an arm and a leg. Anyway, after the fill, I did the liquids for one day and couldnt eat much for about 5 days. i lost 7 lbs that week and I was so happy. That put me at a total loss of 12 lbs. Then the restriction was gone. The 2nd week after the fill I have gained the 7 lbs back. I struggle with will power daily. My stomach growls so bad it is uncomfortable. I cant deal with the hunger. The dr in my town wants me to wait 2 weeks before coming in. He likes you to wait 4 weeks between fills. This has got to get better. I know they say it will take 2 -3 fills for this to work and I am trying to be patient. i do know that Inamed says that only 1% will feel restriction after surgery. My next fill is Dec 15. I guess we'll see. I hope you will have good luck after your 1st fill. Thanks for letting me vent. Joyce

What is the absolute sooniest you can receive a fill?? My surgery was Oct 9 with no complications whatsoever. Surgery was on Monday and on Tuesday I was starving because I hadnt eaten in two days. I have been fighting hunger ever since. I thought I would starve to death the first week that I even started eating mashed potatos on Thursday after surgery. I lost 7 lbs the first week but am fighting hunger . I have no restriction at all, I can eat anything and it doesnt bother me. I am a very fast healer, I've had 3 c-sections and bounced back after all 3 sooner than most people. I also received the vg band which is bigger. Maybe the band is too big and thats why there is no restriction. Does the band ever get too big, what happens when your stomach shrinks and your filled to the max on a large band? Will this cause the band to slip? Has anyone had a fill sooner than 6 weeks? I need a fill soon or I am afraid I will start eating and gaining. HELP!!! Joyce Dr. Ortiz/ 10/09/06

This is my first reply to the forum after reading for weeks. I live in Hendersonville TN, which is 20 miles north of Nashville. I am flying from Nashville to San Diego on Oct. 8 and will be having surgery on the 9th. Are you flying out of Nash? I am flying southwest. Where is the Southcenter? Is this a restaurant? I will be flying in on Oct 8 for surgery on the 9th.