This past Thursday I had my second fill.  I was REALLY hoping that Dr. Sudan could do it in the office rather than having to go over to Radiology.  I made an appointment for the office and then 45 minutes later in Radiology in case.  Well Dr. Sudan got the fill done in the office on the first try.  I was soooo excited.  I didn't have any problems from that at all.  

Since the fill, I have really noticed that I can feel how tight it is.  I really have to watch how big of a bite I take, how much I chew it, and how quickly I eat it.  I wasn't doing that Friday night or Saturday morning and boy did I feel it.  It really hurt in my chest about an inch or so below the incision in the middle underneath my bra line.  I am grateful that I figured out what the problem was fairly quickly.

Prior to the fill I had been on a plateau for just over a month with the same pound or two weight loss and gain.  Since the fill I have already lost an additional 5.5 pounds as of this morning.  I am happy with it but I hope that the weight loss continues even at a slow pace.

I also have taken my 4 month pictures.  Perhaps I'll get them on my profile soon.

Today is three months since my surgery.  I had my follow with Dr. Sudan.  He feels that things are going well.  I have only lost .5 pounds since my adjustment (on the scale there).  I feel like I am eating less/not able to eat as much as I could before the fill.  For this reason, Dr. Sudan did not want to do another fill.  He was afraid that I would get sick and not be able to keep liquids and foods down.  Should I need one prior to my next appointment I am to call.  My next appointment is on 05/28/07.  Officially on my 3 months I am down 32.5 pounds.  I have been as much as 35 down but my weight has been see sawing up and down.  I guess we'll see what happens.  I forgot to bring my camera tonight so I'll have to take pictures tomorrow or over the weekend.

...since my first adjustment.  I can tell that it has worked some.  I feel like I am not able to eat as much food as I could before (quantity).  I am grateful for that.  I haven't lost much but like I said it has only been two weeks.  Right now my problems are 1) getting up off my butt to get some exercise and 2) choosing the right foods to not only get in the nutrients that I should be getting but also those without the fat and sugar that I shouldn't be having.  I am down 2.5 pounds since my fill, however my weight has gone up and down but I have not weighed as much as I did that morning.  I must admit though that I have been within a half pound of that weight.  Then again I do think that I am only talking 2.5 pounds.  Its not like I am gaining 10 pounds and taking off 7 and then putting on more.  I do think that even though it is such a little weight that I am going up and down, I am still gaining a little bit.  I am not happy with this.  

So, starting tomorrow I am going to make a conscious effort to get more physical activity and to start making better choices with my food.  I NEED to work my tool better.

The good thing is that I can see the difference in the weight that I have lost and I am feeling good about myself.  For this, I am happy.

Wednesday, Jan 23 I went in to see Dr. Sudan for my first fill.  He doesn't normally do fills this soon after surgery with the thought that your body needs to heal and adjust to the band.  I did explain to him that I had lost any weight in a few weeks but also felt that I could eat much more than I should and faster than I should.  He agreed to do the fill.  So anyway I went in.  He felt that he could feel the end of the port and could do it in the office.  After trying several attempts and uncomfortable minutes of the needle being pushed around he decided that he couldn't get it and that I needed to come back and do it under fluero.  Needless to say I was not all that happy.

Surprisingly I did get in yesterday to have the fill under fluero.  I was kind of nervous with all the big machines around.  This time Dr. Sudan got the right spot right away.  He mentioned that my port is slightly turned, which he attributed to losing weight quicker on one side than the other.  I felt like I was going to be sick though.  I didn't and was able to keep down water.  It was the same feeling as I had after surgery.  I wasn't sure if it was just the feeling of saline in there or if I was really going to be sick.  I did feel kind of nauseated as well.  I was told that I should have liquids the rest of the day and depending on how I felt to graduate to mushy stuff and then back to regular foods.  Throughout the day I was soooooo hungry.  By the time I got home from work and getting gas I thought I was going to die of hunger.  I decided to make some runny mashed potatoes which I also tolerated fine.

I guess it (the fill) is already working as I was 221.5 yesterday morning and 218 this morning.  Yayyyyy.

Well this week has been pretty good.  I was sick last weekend and didn't feel all that well again Tuesday.  As I said in my previous posting I didn't think it was band related.  Well Wednesday I went for my 6 week post-op visit (which was actually at 7 weeks because I didn't have the gas money to get there last week).  He thinks that all is going well.  I don't recall what my starting weight and Wednesday weight were at his office.  On my home scale I am down to 220.5.  I am totally psyched about this.  I haven't weighed this little in years.  Anyway the surgeon thought that my weight loss was good so far and that I didn't need an adjustment yet.  If I need one prior to my 3 month follow up to just call and make an appointment.  Other than this I have just been busy with work and doing this for the neighborhood association that I am president of.  I am looking forward to lunch tomorrow and hopefully meeting some more fellow OH members.

Oh I almost forgot...I sent my mom Christmas pictures and she replied back today that they were good pictures and I looked "so skinny!"  Wow I can't believe she said that.  She wasn't really for the surgery to begin with.  So for her to say that is a big step.