Stuck food feeling after fill

[becky]

I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on Feb. 13, 2007. My pre-op weight was 244, and I lost to 240 by the surgery. By the end of my 3 week liquid phase I had lost another 12 pounds. At 8 weeks, I had a fill done at the Farmington, MO Fill Centers USA. I had gained back up to 240. Madonna was GREAT! She made me feel comfortable and got the port right away. I got a 1.4 fill. After the 4 day liquid/mushy food phase, I had no full feeling. Some of the foods I ate would get stuck, even when I chewed and chewed them, but I never felt the full sensation. The only thing that let me know the band was there was the occasional stuck feeling. This past Friday, I had another fill. (I am up to 241.5) She extracted only .8, so the other .6 just disappeared, I guess. She put 2.0 in this time, and while I was only on liquids, it was fine, but now that I am eating mushy foods, I am getting the stuck feeling again, and no sensation of fullness. Is this what being full feels like with a band????? I am really scared that my band is not functioning properly. I am really terrified to eat anything because I have never pb'd (almost once) and don't want to. How am I getting a stuck feeling on mushy foods??????????? Please, any insight?? I am 3 months out of surgery and weigh exactly 2.5 pounds less than my pre-op weight. I am really frustrated and disappointed.

[tombourn]

Hi..

I am still trying to figure that very question out and I 've been banded since Sept2006. I think that yes and no is the right aswer. I think that if you have eating mushies or even liquid to the point where it goes past the top of the small upper stomach it hurts the same way it hurts if don't chew or take a big bite and it it stuc at the enterance of lower stomach ( at the band). Getting something stuck, i thinks makes the body produce the saliva o push it down, if it doesnt go down and the saliva builds up to a point, it causes PBing.. But, then again, this is only a guess.

Tom

[becky]

I think that sounds reasonable. Do you think it is possible that my band was placed too high, and there is very little stomach for what little bit I am eating to go? I just want to have a normal experience with this thing. I am not asking for miracles, just to not be inpain every time I try to eat something.

[tombourn]

Girls:

It wasn't until my 3rd fill that I experience that satisfying full feeling. One reason is until your just right ( sweet spot) you can and more than likely will eat to test your limit. when you are at your sweet spot you wont test it and will feel full mainly because to go any furhter will bring pain/discomfort.. I am two months past my third fill and I need another one...even though I still can eat only 3 chicken strips total for a meal.. thehact that i would even try to eat three tells me I need another one.... but i 'm going to hawaii in 30 days.. so by choice I am waiting...I wont gain weight for the next month, but i probably wont lose any and wil eat to pain more times than not.

Tom

sorry for grammar and typing

[becky]

I don't think I am testing the band, since the very first thing I consume is giving me the stuck feeling. I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach (no pun intended) that there is something not quite right. I am going to call tomorrow and see what they say, however, I had trouble getting the docs to return my calls a couple of days post-op when I was having major pain in the port site.

My husband, who has been very supportive and positive about this whole thing, told me that he is now regretting me getting the band. He sees me starving and sit down to eat and I can't even get 3 bites down.

[GregNE]

She extracted only .8, so the other .6 just disappeared, I guess.

Have you considered getting your fills at OCC? I know it is inconvenient to travel so far for a fill (it is for me), and difficult to schedule, and pay for the travel. But, I think in the course of being banded, it is well worth it. I had considered finding a fill doc closer to my home, but after seeing all the accounts of bad fills with ridiculous fees, I have decided only to get fills in TJ.

I have kept my opinion about this to myself, and some will certainly disagree with me, but from my observations, there are many fill doctors/providers that simply do not have much knowledge about the proper way to do a fill. Most I am sure seem competent, and you may have a good experience at your appointment, but I doubt a fill doctor will admit not having much experience.

Almost all reports of the 'lost fluid syndrome' that I have seen are from non-OCC fills. I talked with Dr. Romero a bit about this, and he simply attributed it to inexperience at fills. Being he has done thousands of fills (40-50 on average per week for the last few years), he knows what he is doing, and he said it is rare for him to find any saline lost from his fills.

There is a proper technique to inserting the needle, and a proper way to remove the needle, and many providers simply do not have the skill or experience. My understanding is that the saline is lost during the withdrawl of the needle. And some providers do fills without flouro. In my opinion, that is dangerous and irresponsible.

Having said that, my other advice is to keep in mind that finding the proper level of restriction can take time, and is very different for everybody. I can't even imagine the added burden of not knowing whether my fills are being done properly.

Just my own opinions, and good luck in your journey.

[FurEllie]

Call the OCC and tell them what's going on. That's what I did with my first fill - seems it was too much and they made room for me immediately to get an unfill. They are EXTREMELY helpful and really your best bet for info.

[Mischievous1]

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