Karen0604

Is my stomach just re getting used to the band all over again? I had my fill under flouro and it looked great! When I drink fluids it feels weird also like it sits there for a second. I had my fill done with Dr. Lee in NJ

Hey there! I just posted about being a little overfilled by Dr. Lee! He is agressive! I had my second fill on around 8-20 and I'm still on liquids/mushy foods. I emailed him because I was happy with the loss but I didn't want to be in any danger. He told me as long as I don't force food and liquids and that I am having no cpmplications, I should be ok.

Check in with him! Let him know exactly whats going on. He responds right away!

Hope that helps.

My first fill was 2.7 cc's! Crazy I know but it was done under Fluoro.. His name is Dr. Lee through fill centers USA. He fills you until he sees how long it takes the liquids to pass through the pouch.. for my second fill he only filled me until I felt the restriction with water.. then he backs liquid out to make sure I could drink it and pass it with ease.. he made me drink 2 cups to be safe. He has been doing fills a long time and is wonderful. He responded right away to my questions today.

Dr. said I'm good. As long as I'm passing mushy foods and theres no heartburn, pain, vomiting, irritation, sliming, etc. then there is no need to rush in for an unfill. He said that he will see me right away if I get any symptoms. He said I will loosen in the next week or so because I will lose organ fat and I should be able to add more food. Thanks everyone.. I'm proceeding with caution...

Thank you all for the advise. I emailed my fill Dr. with the all concerns and warnings you all shared with me. Also my weight loss. I think there is a small difference between being a little overfilled and being too tight. I'm going to let my dr. decide. I'm not sliming, or throwing up. I'm not in pain. I can eat a whole can of tomato or vegetable soup and/or veggies. I'm not up at night sliming anymore. I'm sure I am overfilled but I'm not sure that I'm too tight and in danger.

Thank you thank you everytone for the suport. I will let you know what my dr. says!!!

You made goal thats wonderful! Way to go! Thanks for the TOM warning.. I'm hoping it won't be so bad. So, the doctor said since we have so much internal organ fat that when we lose weight the band loosens.. so I'm thinking I will continue to be able to add solids earlier in the day as I continue to lose. That was my thought process.

I also read too too many threads with no restriction complaints... I don't want that either! I'm loving this restriction and the solid food restriction. Don't get me wrong.. I can eat egg drop soup and tomato soup.. some veggies so I'm doing ok wih calories. I'm not over stuffing myself with liquids either. I let the band tell me how much I can have and when I can have it.

I just broke into the 160's and my doctor specifically told me that a pound a week is great! A pound every other week would be normal at my size. My body loves to be at 174... LOVES it. Hates to move. I always remember being in the 180's and dieting and getting stuck and giving up at that marker. It's funny cause I got my fill at 174 and now I'm like HA! I finally gotcha! ha ha

I'm sure you will all think I'm crazy... but I am most certainly overfilled and I am most certainly NOT going for an unfill. The first few days were hell.. I was sliming at night.. I couldn't pass any liquids until lunch time and forget food. It's gotten a little better. It's been 2 weeks and I can drink slow in the morning and by 7pm I can have a few bites of mushy vegetables.

I take my vitamins.

I drink my protein.

I do not miss the food at all!

I feel wonderful!

So, is that so bad? I know the purpose of the band is food and not liquids but I'm enjoying the liquids and loving the weight loss!

Is there any harm?

Thanks!!

Oh my goodness this thread is hilarious! The NOISES!!! My son looks at me when it starts to groan and I just tell him the band is alive! lol And its complaining because it has to work very hard to pass the food through!

My sign is some pain.. usually right after I start to eat something.. so I have to take a bite and stop... if it passes ok, I continue.. if I start to salivate I have to pass on the meal.

Shelby,

You look a whole new person by the way.

And I so sgree about the hit or miss at lunch!!! Oh my goodness.. I can only have a little fruit or luiquids for breakfast and some solids at lunch. It depends.. I don't know what it depends on.. lol but you are so right.

Karen

Michele,

I was only banded a month and a half ago and I cannot imagine life without the band. So, I cannot imagine what you are going through. I'm so sorry it didn't work out for you. Be proud of yourself. You gave it a try. The right tool is out there for you.. even if it is support from friends and family. Good luck on this new chapter for you.

Karen

Had my first fill on JULY 6th! 2.7 CC's in my 4CC band!!!!

Was 182 on the day of fill.

Am 170.5 today.

That is 11.5 pounds in 15 days... AMAZING.

Cannot wait to break into the 160's.. should only be a few days at this rate!

Was at a work lunch today.

I ate sliced turkey and sliced cheese (from a sandwich without the bread.) No go. ha ha

Had to walk that one off!

Sliced roast beef I did fine.

I also learned I cannot do peanuts. I chewed like crazy.. Pistachio nuts go down fine. WEIRD!!!

Shiney42,

Just wait til you get your second fill... I had an agressive 1st fill of 2.7cc in a 4cc band.

I don't even mind that french fries and noodles (and more) get stuck! It's a reminder that I have a tool and need to abide by its rules!! I hope this thread didn't come off as a complaint... I am enjoying the restriction and enjoying the weight loss so much.. (I'm close to losing 20 lbs.) I just find this discovery period fascinating.. Every "new" food I eat is a maybe. ha ha

I love the band.. so glad I did it.

You are so right! We are all so different... I envy you that you can eat salad few days a week. Within my 3rd bite of heavily chewed lettuce, I start to slime.

I am kinda glad I cannot do noodles and some bread It's helping with my weight loss so much.

Oh how my face needs some balancing.. nose/chin combo. Now that I'm losing weight.. my chin is getting smaller and my nose looks bigger. Does anyone know a good Doctor in Mexico for this type of plastic surgery?

Karen

I forgot about MEAT! I am scared to try.. had a little ground beef and did fine. Too scared to try steak... I miss it.

It's funny how I eat new foods now: chew chew chew.... swallow.... wait wait wait (repeat until I know it isn't going to cause trouble.)

Brocolli and cauliflower I doing fine with! Anyone having trouble with veggies?

Karen

So, since my first fill on July 6th.. I feel like I'm eating foods for the first time! Most foods go down fine with careful chewing but I'm shocked that some foods just won't cooperate! I even tried them again! And, yup! They got stuck and wouldn't pass without a fight!

So far here is what I cannot eat so far.

1. All Lean Cuisines (had 4 different kinds so far.. all 4 made me slime.)

2. LETTUCE!!!! NOOOOOO.. I tried iceberg, romaine, spinach... I love salad.

3. Noodles. Can only eat a bite or 2.

4. French fries

5. Very soft tortilla.. no chance.

Karen

Hi Everyone.. I just wanted to add that some people don't hit their sweet spot until the 3rd or 4th fill. My very first fill was 2.7 cc's!!!! .. under fluoro, of course. I feel a little restriction. I can already tell that I'm gonna need more. So maybe you need some more juice in the band. Aim to hit that sweet spot.. keep trying, and you will get there!

Karen

I think that was pretty accurate!!!!

Funny.. I just had a fill on Monday and last night I challenged my band for the first time.. not intentionally. I wasn't paying attention. MISTAKE. I ate too much and I started to get pain and felt hot. My mouth kept filling up with this slimy, stringy saliva.. omg it was so gross. I started to feel like I was going to puke.. then I spit up tons of that slime. I dry heaved a few times. I thought a drink would help wash it down. BIG MISTAKE. I threw up the drink within minutes.. it was still cold. LOL

I just experienced this all for the first time.. was pretty scary. LESSON LEARNED. And now I know my food capacity. It was more than I thought.. but I will never eat that much again EVER. It was the worst feeling in the world. t took me about a half hour for the salivation to stop.

Didn't mean for this post to be so gross. Sorry!

Karen

I come from Bermuda to have my fills with Fill Centers USA/Dr Lee in Mt Laurel, NJ. He's great and I would highly recommend going to him. if you request Flouro, he will meet you at a Radiology center for your fill. I had both my fills done with flouro and I'm happy with the results (surgery w Dr Ortiz March 2008, 1st fill September 2008, 2nd fill November 2008). Happy to report that I have lost 63lbs since the first fill!

I just saw Dr. Lee in Mount Laurel on Monday July 6th. He mentioned he has a client from Bermuda!!!!!! How Funny! Anyway, he was FANTASTIC. He stuck me quick and accurate.. gave me as much CC's until I felt restricted and I was the very first patient on the new fluoro machine! It's AWESOME! It was a little embarrassing because there were 3 other people in the room (machine techs I think) watching me and the the machine perform. lol

I could see my band, the port everything! Overly pleased with Dr. lee. He is through Fill Centers USA so its $350 to get started and $300 for the 1st fill under fluoro. It was worth it.

Dr. Lee was GREAT!

The soreness was part of my process for 3 weeks... It was bad around my port and incisions. I couldn't bend over, or twist, or sit up from lying down. Ouch!! I was banded exactly one month ago and I woke up the other morning with ZERO discomfort!! I feel no pain now and can do almost everything I used to be able to do!! Hang in there..

Thanks! I will def look into COSMED and do some serious homework. Seems plastic surgery and lapband can go hand in hand. I never really thought about additional surgeries until after I was banded. I guess it could be a reward when I lose the weight!!!

Hummmmmm..... :-? Well, that doesn't make sense b/c I had it done on 6/3 at OCC, and not only was I told that the Lap-Band System by Inamed used, but my Post-Op Report also states specifically that the LB by Inamed was used - Not the Realize Band.... :-?

I was given a LAP BAND System ID card. I was banded on 06-04-09. How do I get a post op-report?

Thanks,

Karen

So I have been reading all these posts about plastic surgery and I'm so very interested!! What is COSMED? Who and where are these doctors from? Is there a doctor that will give discounts for Dr. Ortiz's patients? Please share more of your knowledge! I'd love some doctor names and prices for arm flab removal, breast lift, tummy tuck, etc!

Has anyone done medical tourism in the past for plastic surgery after weight loss? Share!!

Thanks!

Karen

Dear Comrades:

I feel worse today than I did the day after my surgery a week ago. I am starving- bloated and gassy. I am not the gassy type and it is miserable. How can I have so much gas with all clear liquids and only drinkable yogurt. I'm more sore today and the port site looks swollen and new bruises. I feel like shit. Low energy and in pain. Please offer suggestions to help me. I rested for a few days with moderate activity and was feeling ok. Started back to work today and it was very difficult. What should I do?

I read on the forum that the gas can stay permanently- please tell me this is not so!!!

I hope I am not becoming a problem child- I usually recover quickly and have no need for medications. I'm following the diet as instructed. Should I just try and eat full liquid? I had trouble sleeping and the anxiety is creeping in. Do you think Dr. Ortiz could prescribe something for me?

Thanks for listening...

HollyCali

Oh my goodness!!! I had surgery a little over a week ago and I'M GOING THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING!!!!!!! My port is still so sore and swollen. Painful!! I also can't even begin to describe the gassiness. I think I should call the Guiness Book of World Records because I have to breaking some sort of record. It's driving me crazy... I tried Gas-X Thin Strips and they did nothing. Then I tried tthose quick dissolve in your mouth gas tabs and they are helping a little. As for the port pain, tenderness, and swelling... anyone?

Thanks!!

Karen

I believe your flights are broken up a bit so that is good. My flights ended up being back to back due to delays. Ended up running to catch my connection. Made it by the skin of my teeth. Bad weather made for a bumpy flight. I was pooped when I arrived home. Even got emotional when I saw my baby and hubby.

That is what made my flight home a challenge. You should be okay!

You were right! Flight home was torture! Not being able to move for 4 hours was hell. Glad it's over and I'm home with my new friend (the band) and we are recovering nicely! Still pretty sore.. today is day 5.