CindyB

I will need the unfill afterall. I haven't slept more than a couple hours even sitting up in three days. I threw up all night last night from just two teaspoons of soup. I was so hungry so I thought I would be able to handle it. I was only able to keep a couple ounces of water down all day yesterday, so I am on my way to becoming dehydrated. I hope I can get it done today. This turned out to be way worse than last time. I wish Dr. Vitello did the fills on a week day other than Friday so I could go back the next day if it was to tight. As it is, I have had my second weekend from hell. In my head I hear myself thinking I never want another fill in my life.

You were ok after that week on liquids as long as you chewed everything really good? This fill doesn't feel quite as tight as the one in January so maybe I can do it. I think the doctor may be ok with it as long as I am able to keep hydrated. I talked to another one of his patients that was very uncomfortable for a week. Iwill see how I do tonight. You look amazing. Are you done? On that note, I have a few more questions if you have the time. How long did it take? How many fills did you end up having? Did you loosen the band up a little once you hit goal for maintenance? I get so frustrated since I haven't lost much. I am so glad I didn't tell anyone at work that I did this because I would be so embarrassed for having lost so little weight in 7 and 1/2 months. That is probably why part of me wants it to try to leave it tight You have been so sweet to help me out today.

WOW, I didn't think of the salty foods thing. #-o I had soup last night when I got back from Chicago so that might have made it worse. I haven't eaten today, but the doc that does my fill said liquids the next day anyway. I was planning on eating out tomorrow with my kids, so I guess that is out. I got an email back from the doctor and he said if it isn't better by Monday that I need to probably come back. Do you think it was worth not going back? I mean would you do it again?

I come out here a lot to read, but have only posted once. Your postings have been a big help, but I want to ask for some additional help. I got my first fill - 1.7 cc in Mexico at OCC, but felt no restriction. I live in Illinois so I couldn't afford to go back to Mexico again so I had my second fill - 1.2 cc (that brought me to 2.9 cc) in Chicago and it was too tight . I had an unfill - .5 which brought it down to 2.4 cc and I felt restriction for a few weeks but I have only lost 10 pounds since January so I thought maybe I needed another fill. These have been done under fluoroscope. I could feel restriction on some things, but not consistantly. so I just went back for my third fill - 1.2 cc and it is also too tight. Not sure if everything stays in, but that puts me at a total of 3.6cc in my 4 cc band. It looked fine on the xray. It is a two hour drive for me to go to Chicago so I waited over an hour after this last fill and drank lots of water to make sure I would be ok. I guess the swelling didn't kick in until later because I am right back in the same situation I was last time. Last night I had to sleep sitting up. I really don't want to drive back to Chicago only to have another unfill. Can anyone tell me if it I hang in there and just eat popsicles like after my surgery will the band settle down and possibly I won't need an unfill? I will make sure I don't get dehydrated. Has anyone waited out a tight fill and ended up with a good restriction?

I am within two hours of Chicago and was interested in doing the fill there. Did Dr. Vitello get it right the first time? I am reading all kinds of horror stories on other doctors. Dr. Ortiz trained Dr. Peter Rantis on the lap-band procedure in Elk Grove Village. Has anyone gone to him and if so do you know how much it costs? My surgery was four weeks ago Friday. I am thinking of waiting until week 9. Does anyone see a problem with waiting that long for the first fill? I do have some restriction, if I could stay away from the mushy foods. I will be going out of town - a 26 hour drive and I was worried about being uncomfortable. I was quite uncomfortable for 3 full weeks after the surgery. (