first fill questions

A fill can feel a bit weird the first time.  You should be able to get liquids down, for sure.  If you can't get liquids down (even full liquids like your protein shakes) you may be too full.  If you are only having trouble with solids....MAKE SURE YOU TRUELY ARE CHEWING very well.  Chew until it is liquid in your mouth and make sure the bite is very small.  I have a 19 month old and I cut my meat the same as I do for her.  Also, make sure you take a break between bites.  I find that I may swallow a bite of food and already have another spoon ready to go....this can ALSO cause you to have trouble.  Take breaks between bites to make sure that things go down.  Also, make sure you are NOT drinking while eating.  For me, this has the opposite effect that I thought...it does NOT help food go down.  It just makes it back up worse.  When I get fills, I am on full liquids for 2 days (Thur and Friday) On the 3rd day, I can have soft foods (Saturday) and on Sunday, I can begin a regular diet but must be very careful.  I have now had 4 fills and it is the same now as it was the first time.  I would say that if you can't get liquids down and you have followed all the advice above and you can't keep food down...CALL YOUR DOCTOR.  You don't want the band to slip or any other complications.  I also had no problems until I was actually restricted and that restriction seems to be different for everyone.  It took me several months (about 4) to know what true restriction was all about.  Good luck...take it easy.  It may go away but listen to your body.  If YOU CAN'T EAT ANYTHING IT IS NOT RIGHT...CALL!!  If you think you may have missed something...try that and then CALL YOUR DOCTOR if it doesn't work.  Good luck!! Mimi

thanks Mimi....that has helped a lot and I will definitely follow that advice....