What is a Good Fill? vs one too much and unsafe

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REpost for the newer people - lots of other Education documents in the Files and

Links in the left blue column.

Sandy r

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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 really

is 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 with routine fills. They consider

it unneeded

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

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

certain other circumstances - assessing possible band/pouch problems, for

instance. WE all need one every 6-12 months, to try to catch any problems

starting to arise.

I personally chose to get only one fluoro a year, to check band

position, pouch size, etc - never with every fill.

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 time of the new fill, 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. we are never trying to at as little as possible.

3. with good bandster choices, we 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 vomiting, pb's, or sliming. this means 1-2x a month, max, imo

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 a month or two, 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 UNSAFE fill is:

1. being unable to swallow your own saliva, and/or 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 wide variety of foods

5. Struggling to meet fluid needs

6. ANY REFLUX. this means ANY! :-) (See the " reflux " document)

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

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

of most good bandster meals. WE need these daily.

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 regular 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 requiring 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 " Set point " is way too low, and

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

extra after all previous diet attempts.

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 weight 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 long-term, and regain our health.

c. Sandy s, BSN, MN

Band Educator

banded March, 2003

At normal BMI goal since Jan 2004