Is two weeks too soon?

drcollier · 11-07-2006, 01:15 AM

Someone suggested to me that I might have scheduled to get my 2nd fill too soon. I've been looking around on the message board to see if someone had asked that question before. I didn't find anything, so I thought I would float this question out to some of the veteran bandsters.

I had my first one on 10/31/2006, and have yet to experience any restriction. I can eat a lot with no problem if I am not careful.

I took it upon myself to call up and schedule a second fill. The receptionist gave me 11/14/2006 for the date. It's not too late for me to reschedule or postpone it.

So far, I am 6 days into my fill. I figured that if the restriction suddenly "kicks in" before the 11/14/2006 appointment, I could just reschedule for a later date.

Is two weeks too soon?

puddin · 11-07-2006, 01:43 AM

I don't think that's too soon. I get fills one week apart if nothing seems to be kicking in for me. It took several fills for me to have any restriction. I had to be at 2.0 cc's in order to eat less than what I was eating before.

**Wheetsin** · 11-07-2006, 09:56 AM

I had my 2nd fill 3 weeks after my first.

DrewsLou · 11-07-2006, 11:23 AM

I don't think it's too soon. If you "suddenly" have restiction from your last fill you could always cancel your appointment! That's the beauty of the band.... you can always get a fill or unfill!

jane73 · 11-11-2006, 07:55 AM

No, I don't think two weeks is too early. Especially if you are going to start to put on weight. Your in control of the band not the doctors or anyone else..Everybody is different...

I felt unsure at the start especially when I kept on ringing the doctors office and changing my fill appointments for sooner. Now after 4 months and 4 fills later I think I have hit my sweet spot. Restriction is good and the scales are going down..

Just see how you go until your next fill appointment, but I'm sure if your anything like me you will be ready by two weeks.

NowNotSoBigGuy · 11-11-2006, 08:33 AM

But that's not gospel. Do you know how many cc's of saline you received on the first fill? Do you know your band's fill capacity (4cc's or 10cc's).

I am told by the folks who did my fills that of the initial 2cc's I received 4 weeks post-op, 1cc had "evaporated" by the time of my second fill, 8 weeks post-op. They said this is normal for first fills and no cause for concern. That missing 1cc was replenished at the second fill, and another 1.5cc's were added, taking me to 3.5cc's in my 4cc band.

My fills were done at a facility that does fluoroscopy (instant x-ray) after each injection of saline (barium swallow to see how well fluid travels through the band). At each of my first three fluoroscopies (1.5cc, 2.0cc and 3.0cc), the physician's assistant and the fluoroscopy technician remarked "You're still pretty wide open"; when my total fill was increased to 3.5cc, the comment was "Now there's some restriction". And they we're right; 3.5 is my initial "sweet spot". I can eat moderately and the sensation of satiety (I love that word) comes much sooner than before.

Read all you can in the Fills section of LBT and err on the side of conservatism. I've been fortunate to avoid any of the dreaded consequences of being overfilled (PBing or worse), but from what I've read, those conditions are best avoided.

Good luck to you.