The Sweet Spot

[ThinnerJemima]

Question for more advanced and longer term Banders!!

How do you know when you are at the magic sweet spot on your band fills?

What does it feel like at the filling appointment with the water drinking?

What does it feel like with eating, appetite and fullness?

Thanks:thankyou:

 

[JO28172]

It's not about the day of the fill but a few weeks after and you feel you are sufficiently restricted to not have any further fills for a while. Portion size is reasonable yet overdo it and the band kicks in!

 

[ThinnerJemima]

I'm weeks after my last fill and am hungry most of the time.

If I had a cat I probably would have eaten it :cry:

I am trying to build a case for going back to my provider to beg for one, but am not sure how I know if I'm at the spot or not.

Current thinking is sod it and upgrade to a bypass :cry:

 

[ThinnerJemima]

Any longer term bandits out there?

 

[Daisy85]

Can I ask how many fills you have had? Xxx

 

[JO28172]

Can I ask how many fills you have had? Xxx

Here's mine

 

[ThinnerJemima]

I've had 3 fills. I can't get any more from my surgeon unless I can work out a way to explain why I ned one (or two or three for that matter)

Wowza Jo, I would give my husband's right arm to have that many fills.

 

[flutterby1966]

It's not necessarily about how many fills you have had ... But how much is in your band, the size of your band, size of your stomach, how much you are eating, what types of food you are eating, etc...personally, i have had 6 fills taking me up to 10.25 mils in a 14 mil band but I am I would think a quarter to half mil still off hitting the optimum level of restriction that I wouldn't need to count my calories any more.

What does your dietician say? It does seem strange that the consultant will not give you more than three fills. Have they said why not specifically? Or is it just their normal policy?

 

[ThinnerJemima]

My surgeon thinks I'm in the red zone and have sufficient/too much in it already.

I know that I am on the border of the yellow/green zone as I'm hungry and it's driving me to beyond the edge of reason.

I have recently seen a dietician who has suggested eating faster & chewing less, plus having a 'big' carbohydrate only meal as a snack in the afternoon.

This is all too new to me and don't quite know how to deal with some bits of it

 

[flutterby1966]

have you followed the dieticians advice yet? Do you use myfitnesspal? It's a great app to track what you're eating/exercising; to look at other banders diets (if you befriend them) for ideas, and if you share your diary we may be able to give you some helpful guidance based on what we can see. (Obviously tho i have to add you must follow your providers guidance first and foremost ) It could just be as simple as ... you are hungry because you aren't eating enough??

 

[Daisy85]

I'm confused why he won't fill you either if your band isn't at maximum and your still hungry it seems a no brainier. But then I'm no expert xxx
Hope you get it sorted xxx

 

[Daisy85]

Wow what a great record to have wish I had one of them xxx

 

[Bella'sBand]

My surgeon thinks I'm in the red zone and have sufficient/too much in it already.

I know that I am on the border of the yellow/green zone as I'm hungry and it's driving me to beyond the edge of reason.

I have recently seen a dietician who has suggested eating faster & chewing less, plus having a 'big' carbohydrate only meal as a snack in the afternoon.

This is all too new to me and don't quite know how to deal with some bits of it

Its not for your surgeon to tell you you are in the red zone, its how YOU feel that determines where in the ''zone'' you are.
Plus I do not know who you got your surgery with my surgeon does not even come into play when I get my fills. Its between me the nurse who does the fills and my dietician (which is minimal input).
My nurse asks me how I feel, do I feel restriction, do I feel full, do I feel hungry. Then she decides how much she is going to put in. Last time it was 1.2mls taking me from 7.5ml to 8.7ml and I still have not felt like I am in ''the zone'' yet. But she certainly will not refuse me if I want more fills because I am the one that feels the restriction or not, not her and certainly not my surgeon.
You can get fills other places I am sure. Get a second opinion with the company you are with, get in touch with the admin who booked you and tell them how you feel. If all else fails you can pay to have a fill privately. I think it is about £50 not that you should because you should be getting it from the provider you have gone with but just saying there are other options. Good luck and do not let anyone push you around. It is YOUR band and YOUR body!

 

[BlueDiamond]

Hello there, what size meals & food are you having , also what band size do you have and to what capacity is it filled with???? What does your aftercare ( if any) provide you with - Sorry for all the questions but I do not know your history etc. x

I Been banded since July 2010 and I have had 4 fills so far, 3 mils (17/09/2010) , 1.4 mils (20/11/2010), 0.2 mils ( 28th Jan 2011) & finally 0.4 mils ( 21/03/2011) and have not need another fill since 21st March 2011 , I have 5 mils in a 7 mil band ( I have had 2 de fills as well) . I have been at my sweetspot since my last fill, eating regular meals, feeling satisfied and full on smaller amounts and being kept fuller for longer. When I get filled I am asked to drink water afterwards and the surgeon always times me, so he aims for a 12 second window for clear water to go down, any sooner or longer he adjusts the fill accordingly. When I eat it feels normal for me always has done, I dont get no sickness, pb etc as I have learnt to control how I eat and I know what my band will let me devour lol - hth BD

 

[ThinnerJemima]

I chose my surgeon very carefully and I want to trust his opinion as I don't want the band to migrate by being too tight. I have no idea what the optimal spot is to know if I am there or not?

I have 8mls in a 12 ml band. I have as many fills as I need for 12 months.

I've now seen a dietician and I need to eat faster, chew less and have a repeat breakfast in the afternoon, which I'm going to give it a try.

I am hungry an hour after eating.

Breakfast: weetabix, berries, milk
Snack: 2 ryveta, 2 laughing cow blue triangles
Lunch: 100g protein, 50g veg
Snack: been milk up to now, will be round 2 of breaking
Dinner: 100g protein, 50g veg
Snack: glass of milk

 

[BlueDiamond]

I chose my surgeon very carefully and I want to trust his opinion as I don't want the band to migrate by being too tight. I have no idea what the optimal spot is to know if I am there or not?

I have 8mls in a 12 ml band. I have as many fills as I need for 12 months.

I've now seen a dietician and I need to eat faster, chew less and have a repeat breakfast in the afternoon, which I'm going to give it a try.

I am hungry an hour after eating.

Breakfast: weetabix, berries, milk
Snack: 2 ryveta, 2 laughing cow blue triangles
Lunch: 100g protein, 50g veg
Snack: been milk up to now, will be round 2 of breaking
Dinner: 100g protein, 50g veg
Snack: glass of milk

Hello

Thanks for your response, I would like to offer u a little insight into your menu ( hope u dont take it the wrong way) you really need to change some foods for something more denser/dryer ,. weetabix is known as a slider food and will not stay in your pouch for long, same with cheese triangles, and I wouldnt class milk as a snack, again u need something more solid. Lunch and Dinner no problemo. Hope u dont mind me giving you this advice, dont mean to tell you what to eat etc, just trying to help u xx

 

[ThinnerJemima]

A big YES please to any advice and constructive criticism !!!

What do you suggest instead for breakfast? I'm allergic to eggs and can't eat bread related products.

I have the cheese triangles to make the ryveta a bit more palatable, not because I like them! Any better suggestions?

I have milk in the evening as I like it, and to keep the calcium & protein levels up.:fingerscrossed:

 

[flutterby1966]

I agree with bd, and to be honest 100g of protein and just 50g of veg ... I would still be hungry. Thanks for sharing ... Fingers crossed some more crunchy food will be more satisfying for you ... And if you are struggling to eat the crunchier food it may be you are too tight even

 

[flutterby1966]

Crackers and cheese or ham. Ryvitas and cream cheese/peanut butter? Yoghurt, fruit and granola sticks more than weetabix with milk too. I used to have ryvitas as a snack but with marmite on instead of a cheese triangle as it keeps it crunchier. Good snacks are also chopped fruit/veggies/Ryvita minis for example x

 

[BlueDiamond]

A big YES please to any advice and constructive criticism !!!

What do you suggest instead for breakfast? I'm allergic to eggs and can't eat bread related products.

How about Fruit with Low fat/fat free yogurt


I have the cheese triangles to make the ryveta a bit more palatable, not because I like them! Any better suggestions?

How about trying lettuce with Slices of lean ham, tomatoes ( etc or any Lean meats u like turkey and veggies u like etc) I dont eat bread but I buy the lettuce leaves and use them like u would bread I just wrap the lettuce around the food inside- they are very refreshing and nice to eat)