Hi Stormgirl,
I was banded by Dr. Ortiz on 8/26/05.
I am 5'4" and on surgery day weighed around 183.5. My BMI was almost 31, if I recall correctly.
The most I can tell you about the band is that everybody is different.
I have read on some of the boards that there are a few who never need or get a fill. That seems to be pretty uncommon though.
You're not supposed to have carbonated drinks. If you're really thinking you'll miss them, go look at all the flavored waters out there now that are sweetened with Splenda. I thought I'd really miss soda, but I don't even think about it any more.
I eat really small bites and chew them up well. I don't experiment with any new foods while out at a restaurant with other people, just in case it won't go down. I have gotten the golf ball feeling and just excused myself to the Ladies room until the feeling passed. Nobody has noticed anything about the way I eat. I've come to the conclusion that people are MUCH more interested in what THEY are eating than in how you are eating. And, if somebody comments, just tell them you're trying to take dainty bites and chew well in an effort to eat more slowly so that you'll feel full before you're too full. It's not lying. Also, if they notice you're not eating bread, pasta and rice, just tell them your knocking off the starchy, processed carbs because they're so bad for you.
If you find yourself in a pickle, like you need to PB or throw up, or something, in the middle of a social occassion, just excuse yourself and tell people you don't feel well. There are lots of ways to navigate the social stuff. And, if they're not close enough friends to be able to tell about the band, then you shouldn't worry too much about what they think about your eating habits. So what if they think you've gotten a little strange with food? When the weight comes off, they'll be begging you for your secret!
As for my success, here's my journey so far:
When filling out the paper work a month or two before surgery, I weighed in at 180. By surgery day, I was 183.5. I was supposed to have lost weight in the mean time. Oops. Just couldn't do it. I spent the summer having this long goodbye to all the foods I loved. The funny thing is, I can still eat those foods, just in smaller quantities.
After I got banded, I was starving by week three. I barely made it on full liquids through week four. By the time I was allowed to eat solids I had absolutely zero restriction. I went to Dr. Martinez for my first fill six or seven weeks after surgery. He gave me 2.2cc. Got no restriction from that.
I couldn't keep flying to TJ every two weeks (I live outside of Boston), so I found a fantastic bariatric practice who will do fills for Mexico patients. She is in Manhattan every other Friday. So, I've gone to her a few times. Still no restriction. I got so frtustrated that by early December (and having gained to 191 pounds) I went back on the Atkins diet to dim my appetite. I got a fill in early December that finally had a little effect. I went back on 2/3/06, weighed 175, for another fill, still could eat more than I should. Went back again this past friday 2/17/06 and got some more. FINALLY, I have restriction!!! I am at 170.4 pounds and hoping this will last me for many many pounds. If not, I'll go back and get some more.
So, I'm at around somewhere between 3.5cc and 3.7cc (sometimes up to .2cc can just sort of disappear). I've been assured that the band can be over filled up to 5.0cc without any problem.
I suspect I needed so many fills because I started out at a weight that many have as a goal. I got pretty frustrated there for a while, but figured this is a life long process that I bought into, so it wasn't going to happen overnight. It's only been a few days, but I finally feel what everybody else posts about so often: the golf ball feeling, the PB (yes, it finally happened to me), the feeling full for hours with no desire to nibble, etc.
I hope I haven't discouraged you with my slow progress. I'm content with it, and I just wanted to let you know that, if starting out with a lower BMI means more fill, slower losing and more frustration, try to stick with it. It really does start to work eventually. If it does happen to you, you might think about going back to TJ for fills. The Mex docs tend to be a little more aggressive with the amount of fill they will give at one time. I have three little kids, so I just couldn't. Plus, it's really important to have local after care lined up before you go. Have you done that yet? What part of the country do you live in?
Sorry this turned into War and Peace. Hope it helped.
Good luck with your surgery. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. I don't check this board too often so email is more efficient.
LizzyD
