Re: First fill & 2nd fill & how much fill in the large band???

February 2, 2008

Hi , I have the large band and have had two fills...1st one Aug. 20 was 2.6cc Dr. Aceves did the fill himself. 2nd fill was Oct 5th and was 2.4cc. As you can see, I have 5.0 cc. I still have no trouble eating whatever I want...I do eat much less though. I still haven't reached that "sweet spot" everyone talks about. I really need to go and have another fill soon. Does anyone know what the average fill amount is for the large band? Jane sandra carroll <sassysandic@...> wrote: Hi Dana, Thanks for clarifying. I,m assuming that by productive you mean this burping helps clear the stuck feeling. This part of the banding does concern me as i tend to over eat. Sounds like the uncomfortable remifications will pretty much help you keep control of what and how much you eat. Glad to be learning this all beforehand.Dana Schumacher <danaschumacher> wrote: Hi

,Sorry for the terminology. PB is what can happen when bandsters overeat or get too full. Something is usually stuck (food that doesn't go down well, chicken, bread, etc...) and then they basically throw it back up or Productive Burping (I think that is what it stands for....) So, if you continue to eat and the food isn't going from your small pouch to your big stomach then it just sits in the pouch and then you get the painful feeling of needing to get it out and then you PB. I usually feel better after I PB, but then you run the risk of having your band slip and then if you PB too much your stoma can get swollen and then food still won't go down. It is best to then just go on clears for about 6-12 hours or possibly longer to give your stomach a rest. Gaby has given me specific instructions in the past when this was happening to me. Some may need an adjustment because their band may be too tight. Or, like

myself, I always feel I should eat more and don't want to stop. I've learned that it is much more enjoyable to stop before getting to that horrible point! I've also worked as a nurse for too long so the NPO stands for "nothing by mouth". When you go for a fill they want you to not eat or drink (except water) for 6 hours before the fill.Hope that helps!DanaOn Feb 1, 2008, at 12:20 PM, sandra carroll wrote:> can you explain to me what you mean by getting stuck and what is PB > and NPO?. Thanks >> Dana Schumacher wrote:Thanks ! That > makes sense. I just hope I don't have to go back>> anytime soon. Especially when I know it will probably happen again.>> , Dr. Campos and his team are great though. They wheel me into>> another room and take my blood pressure and put a fan on me and then>> I'm fine 5

min. later! Kind of embarrassing....>>>>>> Dana>>>>>>>>>> On Jan 31, 2008, at 6:10 PM, wrote:>>>> > Dana, the weak feeling is experienced by numerous bandsters during>> > the fill process. One of my friends actually fainted during one of>> > her fills. Her doctor explained that there is a nerve in the>> > abdominal port area that is very sensitive and when touch can cause>> > you to faint. Now my description of this anatomical phenomena is >> not>> > medically accurate for sure!LOL I'll let those with professional>> > training do a better job. However, that was the gist of what she>> > described to me. >> > Take care!>> > C>> > Tampa >> >>> >>>

>>> >>> >> >> >> From: danaschumacher>> >> Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:27:55 -0800>> >> Subject: Re: First fill>> >>>> >> I have gotten 2 fills by Dr. Campos. The first one was about 1.4cc>> >> and I really didn't notice much of a difference. I had kind of>> >> reached a plateau and was able to eat almost anything. I then went>> >> back about 1 1/2 months later in Nov. and got another 1.5 cc. This>> >> was the one that did it. I almost needed an unfill but just >> waited>> >> it out and got used to eating much smaller amounts and picking >> better>> >> foods. I have been losing pretty quickly but feel great so don't>>

>> want to change anything. I do get stuck pretty easily but just >> have>> >> to be really careful and listen to my body tell me its full! If I >> do>> >> get stuck and start to PB I have to put myself on clears for about >> 24>> >> hours and then I seem to be ok after that. This has taught me to >> be>> >> very careful. >> >>>> >> I also have become very faint during each of my fills. I don't >> know>> >> why this is but maybe standing up with a needle in my stomach does>> >> it. I thought maybe being NPO for the 6 hours before may have>> >> something to do with it also. So, if I don't have to get another>> >> fill anytime soon that is good. >> >>>> >> Good Luck!>>

>>>> >> Dana Schumacher>> >> DOB 8/9/007>> >> 222/175/150>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >> On Jan 30, 2008, at 8:29 PM, Billie Branham wrote:>> >>>> >> Stacie and I went and got our first fills. Unfortunately I was not>> >> able to find reasonable plane tickets so I went to a local NWWLS>> >> center as they provide fills with flouroscopy. Questions about>> >> fluoroscopy....they had us lay down and they pushed a machine over>> >> the top of us that showed the port. Used this machine to assist in>> >> accessing the port and put in 1cc for each of us. That is the set>> >> amount they provide on a first fill. everything went well and it >> was>> >> really uneventful. I don't think they looked at the placement

of >> the>> >> band itself and there was no barium involved. They had us drink >> some>> >> water before we left. Does this sound like the type of fill Dr A's>> >> office provides?>> >> I am determined to go to Dr. A's office for our next fill as I >> would>> >> just feel more comfortable with them but wanted to get established>> >> with someone here in the event we had an "emergency" and needed an>> >> unfill.>> >> Also, the first day back onto solids and I was able to eat way more>> >> than the recommended amount. I ate about a cup of crab meat and>> >> about two cups salad with low-cal dressing. Is this normal after 4>> >> days of the first fill? It seems I have no restriction at all yet.>> >> This worries me.>> >> Any responses would

be greatly appreciated! Thank you!! Billie>> >>>> >> Stacie DOB 12/14/07>> >> 296/275/145>> >> Billie DOB 12/14/07>> >> 209/191/130>> >>>> >> >> >>>> sassysandi > S.A.F.E. Saving Americas Families Everywhere @ www.safe.zoomshare.com> There are none so blind as those who refuse to see!!! > Please be advised that the taking of any of my post, writings, or > material of any sort and transferring them to any other group, > organization, website, etc. without my permission may be in violation > of my personal copywrite and is expressly forbidden.> >> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with > Search.>> > sassysandi S.A.F.E. Saving Americas Families Everywhere @ www.safe.zoomshare.com There are none so blind as those who refuse to see!!! Please be advised that the taking of any of my post, writings, or material of any sort and transferring them to any other group, organization, website, etc. without my permission may be in violation of my personal copywrite and is expressly forbidden. Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search.

February 2, 2008

I need some help. I just went back and had my 2nd fill in Mexico on the

17th of January. My fill was a .5cc. My first was a 1.6 in the smaller

band. Since my 2nd fill, I cannot get much down at all. I can chew

chewchew on a piece of meat and still PB. Even when I drink waterin the

morning...it doesnt want to go down very well. It seems that I can eat

crunchy things, but not solid meat or even mashed potatoes get stuck. I

am really frustrated and dont know what to do. How do you know when yo

need an unfill? I even try getting protein shakes or a milk shake

down..and still, it wants to come back up. I slime at least every day

and PB almost every day...but feel like I am chewing my food well. I

want to eat so bad...I have not been able to much since I got back..and

not enjoying eating anymore. Some say they enjoy food more because they

savor it. I eat a bite and get stuck...no enjoyment in that. If I eat

soup..it has to be clear with no vegies because that gets stuck also.

How long between bites do you need to wait? Cerena, can I get your #

again so I can call you? Biplay? Anyone have any advice? Do I need an

unfill already?

> >> >>

> >> >> Stacie and I went and got our first fills. Unfortunately I was

not

> >> >> able to find reasonable plane tickets so I went to a local NWWLS

> >> >> center as they provide fills with flouroscopy. Questions about

> >> >> fluoroscopy....they had us lay down and they pushed a machine

over

> >> >> the top of us that showed the port. Used this machine to assist

in

> >> >> accessing the port and put in 1cc for each of us. That is the

set

> >> >> amount they provide on a first fill. everything went well and it

> >> was

> >> >> really uneventful. I don't think they looked at the placement of

> >> the

> >> >> band itself and there was no barium involved. They had us drink

> >> some

> >> >> water before we left. Does this sound like the type of fill Dr

A's

> >> >> office provides?

> >> >> I am determined to go to Dr. A's office for our next fill as I

> >> would

> >> >> just feel more comfortable with them but wanted to get

established

> >> >> with someone here in the event we had an " emergency " and needed

an

> >> >> unfill.

> >> >> Also, the first day back onto solids and I was able to eat way

more

> >> >> than the recommended amount. I ate about a cup of crab meat and

> >> >> about two cups salad with low-cal dressing. Is this normal after

4

> >> >> days of the first fill? It seems I have no restriction at all

yet.

> >> >> This worries me.

> >> >> Any responses would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!! Billie

> >> >>

> >> >> Stacie DOB 12/14/07

> >> >> 296/275/145

> >> >> Billie DOB 12/14/07

> >> >> 209/191/130

> >> >>

> >> >

> >

> > sassysandi@...

> > S.A.F.E. Saving Americas Families Everywhere @

www.safe.zoomshare.com

> > There are none so blind as those who refuse to see!!!

> > Please be advised that the taking of any of my post, writings, or

> > material of any sort and transferring them to any other group,

> > organization, website, etc. without my permission may be in

violation

> > of my personal copywrite and is expressly forbidden.

> >

> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with

> > Search.

> >

>

> sassysandi@...

> S.A.F.E. Saving Americas Families Everywhere @ www.safe.zoomshare.com

> There are none so blind as those who refuse to see!!!

> Please be advised that the taking of any of my post, writings, or

material of any sort and transferring them to any other group,

organization, website, etc. without my permission may be in violation of

my personal copywrite and is expressly forbidden.

>

> ---------------------------------

> Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

>

> ---------------------------------

> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with

Search.

>

February 3, 2008

What if you try going back to the basics. You might have some swelling from the sliming and PBing. When you slime or PB you cause more swelling so you have more restriction.What if you go on clears for 48 hours, then full liquids for 48 hours, then soft foods for 48 hours then gradually reintroduce solids.

When you slime/eat/PB/eat/slime/eat/PB/eat you create a cycle that is hard to break. The more problems you have the more swelling you cause.If you had a blind fill (no fluoro) I'd say a slight unfill. But when it's done under fluoro they can SEE exactly how much restriction you have, that's why I wonder if going back to CLEARS for a couple of days to resolve the swelling might be in order.

Do you know I still can't eat mashed potatoes because of the starch? It gets stuck and I at least slime if not PB. Who would think any banded person cannot eat mashed potatoes? ;o)If you can do crunchy, what if when you go back to solids you try crunchy raw veggies like yellow squash, peeled zucchini, or crunchy fruits such as raw apples? For solid protein what about tuna? Other fish such as Cod, Orange Roughy, fish like that? The thing is, if you can eat cookies, chips, crackers, and assorted crunchy things you can also eat crunchy veggies or dried veggies. Dried veggies are like potato chips but instead of potato they are dried carrots, etc. If you can do broth you can do other liquids such as water, crystal light, protein shakes made with water such as Unjury, Matrix 5.0 made with water, Whey Gourmet made with water, Isopure, etc.

It is totally common to be tight in the AMs. I can't drink much water either with a fill. Not until around 10AM to 1PM. Then I can. If you push it in the morning with liquids before your stoma is open you are setting yourself up for failure for the rest of the day, you are causing stoma swelling right off the bat early in the day. Then you won't be able to get anything down.

For some warm liquids helps to open them up a bit. Coffee, hot tea, S/F hot chocolate, etc.Also, some can't believe the small quantities they eat with a fill. What if you take three bites and walk away from your food for an hour. Don't deprive yourself, don't throw it away and the concept of three meals a day... skip it. For a while just try three bites every hour until you learn to work with the restriction. Some people have a set amount they try to eat and their pouch just isn't that big and they start sliming and PBing. They think (and it feels like) they are stuck, they aren't. They are overeating. So try three bites an hour. If you do well on that have four bites every hour. Then increase it. This way you learn to work with restriction.

Some simply can't do beef anymore, they are stuck with the healthier options such as chicken and fish. I've tried steak four times since banding, it worked twice, twice it did not work AT ALL.Sometimes restriction is like peeing in the wind, it's all over the place. It takes a GREAT deal of practice working with it. It's not nearly as easy as one might think. Chewing... how basic can we get? We learned bad eating choices and bad food choices and huge quantities over a number of years, we don't unlearn those habits in days, it takes months. But it will happen.

Try the three bites an hour. If you find that you cannot do three bites but you are thinking.... ohhh, one more bite won't hurt... there is your problem. You are over eating. You are pushing the limits. With time and experience you will eat larger quantities but with your 2nd fill, I'm here to tell you that you don't have it down yet.

If you do the clears/fulls/soft for six days and then the three bites an hour and you still have problems you might be overfilled. But since your fill was under fluoro, I'm thinking it might be food choices and chewing. It is NOT nearly as easy as we might think! ;o)

On Feb 2, 2008 4:22 PM, mrsdash1966 <krrecruiting@...> wrote: