Fill number 3 came and went without a hitch. Again, I didn’t feel anything at all except a slight tug when they pulled the needle out. One thing to note is that when the nurse told me to lift up my legs (to get a better feel of the port), I guess I was only lifting my butt and hips – so she told me this…which I was unaware of. However, when I tried it again (lifting the legs) I definitely realized what she was talking about and boy oh boy does lifting your legs take a lot of muscles!
She put in 0.5 of a cc and I still really don’t feel anything but I’ll wait and see what happens at dinner.
I asked her what it will feel like when I’m restricted…such as how I will know if I am. She said that when I’m eating – I’ll feel like I need to stop for a minute and take a deep breath and I will just “know”. It’s something that you just feel and your body is unable to take in anymore food or else you know it will come back up. Well, I’ve definitely not had that feeling.
I asked her “what if the band won’t work on me” and if they put in the full 10cc’s and I still don’t feel restriction. She said she hears that from everyone and that I’m just being impatient (well, she said it in a much more diplomatic way but that was the basic message). I agree with her – I am impatient. I told her that I don’t think I’ll ever throw up and she laughed and said “yeahhh right”!
Well – that was the excitement with my fill #3. I’m at 6.5cc’s right now. For those of you who are at restriction and have a 10cc band, how much fill did you have before you felt restriction?
I want to be in the green zone!!!
Your loyal blogger,
Lise
Hello Lise!
Today I went to the Dr. Office for my pre-opt and passed with flying colors.. then went to the hospital and paid them my life’s savings! hahaha but I am ready for next Wed.
Just think, this time next week I will have the worst part behind me. (no pun intended…)
I will be busy the next few days with a HUGE photo shoot…( Did I tell you I was a photographer?) So,… might not hear from me till Monday night. I hope by then your band is just right.
I went to Wal Mart tonight and bought me a blender and slim-fast. I also got broth and tuna and applesauce. I need mushie recipes.
I am very excited.
Here’s to you kiddo…keep your positive attitude- most of the battle is in our heads ya know.
Robbie
@Lise, congrats on your fill. It may take a while to reach the ’sweet spot’. It was difficult for me to find it too. It’s sort of like the three bears: too loose, too tight, just right.
The filler-upper was right on the money: you will definitely hork at some point. It’s not pleasant (or the end of the world), but it will happen.
@Robbie, best of luck with the banding. Keep a photo log of your progress.
Hey Llise. First of all, bravo to you for asserting yourself and demanding another fill when you need one. I think it’s wonderful that you’re being the “squeeky wheel.”
As for the “sweet spot” that we all hope and pray for — I have now had two fills for a total of 3.1 cc’s in my 10 cc band. I think I’m at good restriction right now, but will likely need another fill in a couple of weeks as I lose more weight. Obviously, I have a lot less in my band than you and that’s likely because I have significantly more weight to lose than you. Your stomach is probably already pretty small (comparatively speaking) and so 3.1 cc’s on me is a lot “tighter.”
That being said, I know I need to stop eating when I start to get a feeling that I need to burp. Not belch, but a tiny burp. I don’t get a backed-up kind of feeling, but I do feel a pressure in my stomach and a general fullness. I’ve never eaten to the point where I have to PB, so I don’t know what that’s like.
I know it’s frustrating. Good luck and keep us posted. I love that you post so often and in so much detail.
Ms. Robbie: Well hello there my friend! Congrats on passing the pre-op! Yeah! I know the feeling about putting down your life’s savings. Been there, done that…still paying that off and will be for some time!
I did not know you were a photographer – that is fantastic! I’m a huge photography fan and would love to see your work. Or maybe, you can do the photography for my “book” that is bound to come out someday.
I’m so excited for your big day. And don’t forget the Milk of Magnesia!
BigSean: I want my sweet spot nowwwww! (I sound like that bratty girl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)! Mmmm…chocolate! And honk…I love that word! I’m going to start using it from now on.
Jpet: Thank you for commending my squeek!
Wow – we must all really have different stomach sizes if you are feeling some restriction at 3.1cc’s and I’m at more than double and feel very little. I want your stomach!!! Thanks again for the comment…and I can’t wait for my burping to start!
Hey there….
Love your blog, you seem to be alot like me…even down to the Trader Joe’s affinity.
Anyway, I am 6 months banded and at 8.5cc in a 10cc band. I was like you in the beginning asking for lots of perspective on when I would reach the sweet spot. This obsession replaced my obsession with food for a while, but unfortunately, I am still not there.
During my last fill on Tuesday I asked the Dr about the likelihood that I could get to 10cc and still be in the yellow zone. She suggested a couple of things:
1) Everyone is different, be patient (UGH!)
2) There is alot of room between 8.5 and 10…that is she will now give me .2 everytime and that could make all the difference (I can’t get my head around this one)
3) Next fill will be done by the surgeon under fluro to ease my fears of slippage (I imagine daily that my band is just sitting there, freely floating up around my esphogus) I still have never had a PB or throw up incident and I get worked up into thinking that I do not even have a band (can you say placebo?)
I will let you know how things go for me – thanks again for your blog…LOVE it.
Tina
Hi! I just found your blog today. Very cool and congrats on your band!!!
I’ve had mine for almost three years and have lost 120lbs. I have the last stubborn 20lbs to lose and just need to stay focused.
I don’t have the 10cc band, I have the 4cc version. That being said, it can take a LONG time to get “into the zone”.
Please don’t EVER hesitate to get a fill/unfill. I hope you have a fill plan with your surgeon. That means I pay some money up front and get all the fills/unfills I need. My surgeon said “I don’t want you to EVER not get what you need due to money issues”.
I’ve heard the 10cc folks tend to take a while to get to “the sweet spot”, so don’t despair, ok! And remember, it “gets good” when you hit the zone.
Keep up the great blogging. I may be a three year vet but I still have lots to learn!
Oh and…just another comment.
Just cuz you hit the sweet spot doesn’t mean it stays there. As your body shape changes so will your feeling of restriction. Be prepared to continue to fiddle with it.
Also, even with sweet spot restriction, there are days where my band feels too tight, too loose, finicky, off kilter or just fine.
I’ve come to learn that the stomach is a wild and wonderful thing. But it’s not a static thing. It changes.
Again, best luck!
New Me 2008: Thank you my long lost twin!
Boy does it ever sound like we are two peas from the same pod! If I had a quarter for every time I’ve heard the “everyone is different” thing…pfft. I want them to fill it to 10cc and then work backwards – not the other way around! And I agree – I think I’m the test rat and that I have no band and they are simply testing to see if a “mental” band will produce the same effect. Well – I did not pay 17.5K for a mental band! Please please please keep me posted. I definitely want to hear how your fills go and if you ever start to feel restriction. 
Giveyouthemoon: I’m so glad you “found me”! Wow – 3 years and 120 lbs….ahhhh – you are my band-hero! I wish I could snap my heals together and be in your shoes! Yes! I do have a fill plan – I go in every week and now I’m on the 0.5cc’s until I get to restriction. It’s good to know that the 10cc-ers take a while longer to get to restriction – that makes me feel better. Crazy jekyll and hyde stomach!
Mmmm…secret chocolate.
giveyouthemoon is right on the money. Your restriction will change over time. The more I lose, the more saline I need. When I regained, I needed some drawn off because I get too tight.
When you’re really sick, hork really badly, or if you get pregnant, your band doc will probably do a complete unfill for a tiime.
I have 7.75 in my 10ml band and its perfect for me right now. I did apparently once have 8.5ml but when I went back for another fill cos I was too loose, the Doc pulled out about 6.2. Go figure! I think he might have missed my port a couple of times on previous fills. I’ve also have one small unfill from 7ml to 6 ml when I had a stomach bug and couldn’t keep anything down and have built back up to my now 7.75 which I’ve had since December last year. I can still eat a fair bit at times (for a bandster, this flucuates with no rhyme or reason though) but I don’t want to risk PBs (which I have rarely), malnutrition or a slip because I’m super tight and losing tonnes. That also means I that I am currently losing about half a pound a month, but I can’t complain after having lost over 100 pounds already.
BigSean…hork. still laughing! Pregnant….no wayyy – my husband has been fixed.
She Smiles: I don’t get it – you had 8.5ml and the doc pulled out 6.2 because you were too loose??? Ahhh – 100 lbs. Still jealous!
No no I didn’t explain properly, sorry. I was supposed to have 8.5 in there, and went back for another fill cos I was still loose and eating a lot. He thought it was odd that I needed another fill with 8.5 in there (I should have been tight), so he pulled all the liquid out to see what was actually in there. When he did he could only get 6.2 out. So he put that plus anothe0.8 to take me to 7.0 in total. Hope that makes sense now!!
Ahhhh – so how was it that he thought you had 8.5 but only had 6.2? That’s nuts! So you are doing well at 7?
Yep thats right! 2.3 went AWOL somehow!
I’m at 7.75 now (got another 0.75 after that) and have been since ummm Nov, Dec last year, I think. Its PERFECT for me, I very very rarely PB (like twice since I’ve had this level), but still only eat about a cup at each meal. We’ll see what happens when I lose another 10 pounds or so though (that seems to be the magic number for me to need a teeny top up now, but is going to take a while I think at the rate I’m going)!
Wow – the big mystery of the 2.3cc’s! Well I’m going to hope we are similar and I feel like you do when I get my 7.75! You definitely give me hope!