What is a good FILL ? vs one too much and unsafe - repost

[Guest guest]

What is a GOOD fill vs a fill that is too much and dangerous ?

It's important to know that, even with a fluoro, a good fill can be

very elusive. A fill that " looks perfect " on a fluoro can still turn

out to be way too tight in a hour, a day, a week. The usual swelling

that is common after a fill occurs in the next few-24 hrs, not

immediately.

The only thing that matters in the end is how well and

safely you can EAT, not what the x-ray " shows. " It also takes some

fills 1-2 weeks to settle in, and we cannot tell how a fill reallyis

until then. this is why at least 4 weeks between fills is very

important, and this is addressed by the band manufacturer in the

professional literature they provide surgeons.

This is why many US docs rarely use a fluoro.They consider it uneeded

radiation (to the ovary area in women) that does not tell enough to

justify it's use. a fluoro DOES have it's place, though, in certain

circumstances.

Since a fluoro is only a clue to a good fill, WE must therefore be

responsible for knowing what a good fill is, and never trying to keep

a too-tight one. Way too many people think that if the doc says " this

fluoro looks great " and sends you home, that the fill IS always good,

and they must put up with any pain or problems. Just not so! I wish

it were that clear-cut.

With a GOOD fill, we can:

1. easily drink fluids from the start, and get the minimum 80-100 oz

a day in

2. be able to eat 1-1.5 cups of good bandster food per meal most of

the time. Less than this will never meet nutrition needs for health

or safe loss

3. with good bandster choices, can meet the daily (on average)

protein, fiber, calcium, good carb, and omega 3 oil needs

4. we never have pain when eating, unless we forget a rule

5. we rarely have barfing, pb's, or sliming

6. With a good band meal, we feel satisfied (not FULL - there is an

important difference) for 3-4 hrs

7. we will be losing, averaged over 4-6 weeks, about 1-2# a week, as

long as we are being reasonable in food choices, exercise, and fluid

needs. we have to do our part too - the band is not a magic cure.

A TOO-TIGHT and dangerous fill is:

1. being unable to swallow your own saliva, and having painful burping

2. being able to eat only a few bites per meal

3. being scared and worried when we eat

4. not being able to eat a variety of foods

5. Struggling to meet fluid needs

6. ANY regular REFLUX

7. ANY regular pain or trouble, including pb's, sliming, barfing

8. Being unable to eat the soid meat/chicken/fish that is the basis

of most good bandster meals.

9. Having to rely on soft foods and liquid foods like protein drinks,

soups, ice cream , etc to get enough to eat and feel satisfied (This

applies only after we are back on regualar foods, of course, not in

the post-op diet phases)

10. a too-tight fill is harmful to the stomach, and the #1 reason for

ALL the major band problems, some requirig more expensive surgery and

even band removal. We have to take very good care of our stomachs if

we want the band to stay safe and last inside us.

One of the hardest things we have to change is the thought that the

less we eat, the more we will lose and the better we will do. this is

very untrue, and very unsafe. when our bodies are deprived of

adequate calories, they refuses to lose well - if at all. When our

calories are too low, the metabolism " et point " is way too low, and

we VERY easily regain. This is a big reason why we all reganed plus

then some after all previous diet.

The " starvation mode " , when we are eating too little for safety and

stop losing as a protective mechanism, is VERY real. We must eat

ENOUGH calories, but still just a bit less than we need, to lose

safely and in a way that will STAY the heck OFF this time!!

We have all lost weight before, and sometimes a lot of weight, but we

did it in an unsafe way that caused deprivation and poor health, and

all the weght plus more just came right back again.

THIS time, we need to learn and follow better ways to be successful

with the Band, maintain lost weight longterm, and regain our health.

c. Sandy s, BSN, MN

Band Educator

at goal 5 yrs as of 1/09

[Guest guest]

Have you heard anyone going to tj mexico for tummy tuck and other plastic

surgery?

What is a good FILL ? vs one too much and unsafe  -

repost

What is a GOOD fill vs a fill that is too much and dangerous ?

It's important to know that, even with a fluoro, a good fill can be

very elusive. A fill that " looks perfect " on a fluoro can still turn

out to be way too tight in a hour, a day, a week. The usual swelling

that is common after a fill occurs in the next few-24 hrs, not

immediately.

The only thing that matters in the end is how well and

safely you can EAT, not what the x-ray " shows. " It also takes some

fills 1-2 weeks to settle in, and we cannot tell how a fill reallyis

until then. this is why at least 4 weeks between fills is very

important, and this is addressed by the band manufacturer in the

professional literature they provide surgeons.

This is why many US docs rarely use a fluoro.They consider it uneeded

radiation (to the ovary area in women) that does not tell enough to

justify it's use. a fluoro DOES have it's place, though, in certain

circumstances.

Since a fluoro is only a clue to a good fill, WE must therefore be

responsible for knowing what a good fill is, and never trying to keep

a too-tight one. Way too many people think that if the doc says " this

fluoro looks great " and sends you home, that the fill IS always good,

and they must put up with any pain or problems. Just not so! I wish

it were that clear-cut.

With a GOOD fill, we can:

1. easily drink fluids from the start, and get the minimum 80-100 oz

a day in

2. be able to eat 1-1.5 cups of good bandster food per meal most of

the time. Less than this will never meet nutrition needs for health

or safe loss

3. with good bandster choices, can meet the daily (on average)

protein, fiber, calcium, good carb, and omega 3 oil needs

4. we never have pain when eating, unless we forget a rule

5. we rarely have barfing, pb's, or sliming

6. With a good band meal, we feel satisfied (not FULL - there is an

important difference) for 3-4 hrs

7. we will be losing, averaged over 4-6 weeks, about 1-2# a week, as

long as we are being reasonable in food choices, exercise, and fluid

needs. we have to do our part too - the band is not a magic cure.

A TOO-TIGHT and dangerous fill is:

1. being unable to swallow your own saliva, and having painful burping

2. being able to eat only a few bites per meal

3. being scared and worried when we eat

4. not being able to eat a variety of foods

5. Struggling to meet fluid needs

6. ANY regular REFLUX

7. ANY regular pain or trouble, including pb's, sliming, barfing

8. Being unable to eat the soid meat/chicken/fish that is the basis

of most good bandster meals.

9. Having to rely on soft foods and liquid foods like protein drinks,

soups, ice cream , etc to get enough to eat and feel satisfied (This

applies only after we are back on regualar foods, of course, not in

the post-op diet phases)

10. a too-tight fill is harmful to the stomach, and the #1 reason for

ALL the major band problems, some requirig more expensive surgery and

even band removal. We have to take very good care of our stomachs if

we want the band to stay safe and last inside us.

One of the hardest things we have to change is the thought that the

less we eat, the more we will lose and the better we will do. this is

very untrue, and very unsafe. when our bodies are deprived of

adequate calories, they refuses to lose well - if at all. When our

calories are too low, the metabolism " et point " is way too low, and

we VERY easily regain. This is a big reason why we all reganed plus

then some after all previous diet.

The " starvation mode " , when we are eating too little for safety and

stop losing as a protective mechanism, is VERY real. We must eat

ENOUGH calories, but still just a bit less than we need, to lose

safely and in a way that will STAY the heck OFF this time!!

We have all lost weight before, and sometimes a lot of weight, but we

did it in an unsafe way that caused deprivation and poor health, and

all the weght plus more just came right back again.

THIS time, we need to learn and follow better ways to be successful

with the Band, maintain lost weight longterm, and regain our health.

c. Sandy s, BSN, MN

Band Educator

at goal 5 yrs as of 1/09