I have recently been getting a lot of emails asking me if fills hurt so I have decided to answer that question here. I will also explain what some of the common terms relating to the band mean as well.
First of all, my experiences are obviously going to be differant from other people. We all relate to pain on differant levels. I had my first fill about 6 weeks after surgery. Dr. K is my surgeon and he's the one who fills/unfills me when needed. I was really nervous about my first fill because I didn't really know what to expect. With the band you have to be on liquids for at least 24 hours before a fill and 24 hours after a fill. Dr. K was very kind and sensed my anxiety when I went in for my first fill. He explained every thing that he was going to do, step by step. I held my breath as he began my fill. I felt a tiny little stick and then it was over. I was surprised at how easy and painless it was. Dr. K had me sip water and then sent me on my way with instructions. The few other times I had fills they were also pretty painless. I will say I could feel it a little more as I lost weight but nothing significant.
Unfills, for me, are little more uncomfortable. I'm not sure why but I think it's a little harder to remove the fluid than it is to add it. I'm going to ask Dr. K the next time I see him. Whatever the case, don't be afraid to ask questions if you're nervous. The surgeons will take the time to answers your questions and to ease your concerns.
Now, you may have heard terms such as PBing, sliming, and getting stuck. If you have a band already you may know what these terms mean. If not, I'll give you a brief description. PBing is short for productive burp. It happens after you eat something that may be a little stuck. It's your body's way of trying to move it along. In the beginning I PB'd alot. I don't at all anymore because I have learned a lot about how to eat and chew my food. Getting stuck is when you have food that you may not have chewed very well that is too big to pass through your band. This feeling is uncomfortable and sometimes causes you to vomit. My advice to you is to not take another bite of food when you feel pressure. You'll know what I mean when it happens. Also, don't try to drink anything because the fluid has nowhere to go. Think of it as a clogged sink. If the drain is clogged and you turn the water on, the water doesn't have anywhere to go so it comes back up into the sink. It's the same thing. Also, if you have been getting stuck a few times in one day, give your band a rest. Switch over to liquids for at least 24 hours so you won't irritate your pouch. Believe me, I have made that mistake and have paid for it. If you're unable to keep fluids down for 24 hours, call the surgeons office. This is so important. You're pouch is probably irritated and you may need an unfill. You also run the risk of getting dehydrated and that brings on problems that you don't need. Finally, sliming is what you body does when you have food stuck. You automatically start producing more saliva to move the food along. Sometimes this will pass and you'll feel better and other times this may cause you to vomit. The bottom line is to know when to stop eating. Pay attention to how you're feeling. As soon as you feel pressure it's a pretty good indication that you need to stop eating, even if you're dying for one more bite. It's usually that next bite that does it.
I hope I was helpful. As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions. I am always happy to share my experiences especially if it helps someone else..
Regards,
jenn
