Restriction - Or More Aptly What the HELL have I Got Myself Into!

So after bitching up a storm I did get an alternative sooner than next month for my fill. The catch was I had to go to the main office – which is only another ½ hour away so not a big deal. The problem I had was that that called me so late that I couldn’t get an appointment for the main office’s band fill day. They didn’t seem to care that they keep doing this over and over again without any other options. It is the without options part that I was getting sick of.


They squeezed me into the doctor’s schedule – the last appointment of the day so I could get there. The PA offered to do my fill (so the dr could leave I think) – which I had no problems with I just wanted a fill :) We talked about my concerns – no restriction month after month. He agreed that making me wait a month between fills just wasn’t working and that I could come back in two weeks – what I have been asking for for months!!

Just then the doctor walked in and changed things up! They were talking about giving me .5 ccs and said that I should be sooo close, but after noticing a small discrepancy in my fill numbers (small issue and I knew why) they decided to double check my fill. I started to get really scared when he could only get 7.5 of the 9.5 that I had three weeks ago. LEAK was all I could think about. Damn was the second thing. We started talking about tests for leaks (he still thought it unlikely) and how that it is done under xray. I mentioned that I would love to get a fill under xray.

He agreed thankfully, but he suggested we try something else first - a fill while drinking. He would fill me up all the way and slowly remove fill until I could swallow. He wanted me to feel what restriction was like as well as get me close to restriction. I doesn’t normally like to do it since it gets people really tight really fast – faster than what most people can handle right off the bat.

But of course, after 6 months, I wanted to try. It was a funny sensation that is for sure. He inserted the needle while I was laying down and then had the table put me in a sitting position. Great thing was he “FOUND” my missing 2ccs so NO LEAK! Yippee! He then tightened it right down and had me try to swallow. OMG!!!! It was so strange. I actually broke out in a sweat and he said he was a little worried about me passing out - LOL! He thought it was so funny when we were done – and so did I. He then backed out the fill until I felt ok – and then I had him take a little more out. I thought that would make things better in the long run.

But OMG am I tight. I had no problems last night, but today it is a different story. I am about an hour into my half cup of mashed potatoes. I gulped my shake and pb’ed. I am not sure if I am really too tight or just having a tight day. It could just be the day. I mean he did do a lot inside yesterday and my band is probably sore (well the area around the band). I also cried myself to sleep last night after reading Drazil’s blog. And of course I can’t swallow my allergy pills. I am off to get some liquid allergy meds so I am hoping that will help out a little. Otherwise this could be an interesting weekend.

I love my band, but this is truly the first time it will really be working more part time. In the back of my mind I am starting to wonder what the hell I have got myself into. But one thing is great. I have eaten so little today and honestly I am NOT hungry. I keep trying to eat to get nutrition in, but food is not in my thoughts all the time. My shake even sat next to me for an hour because I forgot all about it. I love not being consumed by hunger, but I just don’t want to collapse from hunger ;)  And I lost 1 pound since yesterday already.