eat before fill

[Diana57]

My doctor said I didn't need to change my eating before or after the fill.
She's new at this (I was one of the first), so I was wondering if anyone else does not have to restrict their eating either. I'm going tomorrow to get my 3rd fill.
di

[PhotoNut]

My doctor has never had any requirements about not eating prior to a fill. However, you will most likely do a swallow test after the fill (my doc requires me to down a 3oz cup of water) and if you have food in the pouch this could skew the results.

I know of people who have intentionally eaten a lot, prior to a fill. They believed that they were somehow going to keep their band open enough to continue to eat more than if they had been filled on an empty stomach. Needless to say, this is counter-productive thinking. Even if this "trick" did work, the mindset behind it is going to cause slower weight loss and increase the chances of failure.

Personally, I would rather my pouch be empty so I can see how well that water will go thru my band with no obstructions such as lingering food. The key to success is using the tool (the band) correctly, and proper restriction is the key to a pleasant and consistent weight-loss journey.

[little t]

I have never heard of such a thing. My doc would not let me eat or drink before my fill and afterwards if you can still eat as much as you could before, it simply did not work the way it is supposed to. You should be back on liquids for a couple days after a fill.

[Sue's Eye]

My doc says nothing to eat two hours prior to the fill, then liquids for two days, mushies for two days and a gradual add-back of solid foods. I'm not allowed out the door of the hospital until 30 minutes after the fill...I have to sit and drink a cup of apple juice to make sure it goes down and stays down.

[officegirlblues]

I haven't had a fill yet but my doctor says liquids for a day then mushies for a day after the fill. Definitely an empty stomach before the fill. No solid food 2 hours before the fill.

[Teal]

My doc says nothing to eat before a fill. I usually get my fills in the mornings so I just don't have breakfast before going in. After my fills it's 2 days of clear liquids, 2 days of mushies and then on day 5 I start back to regular foods as I am able to tolerate them. I agree with Susan though, sabatoge the band by going in with a full stomach?

[ate2much]

Same here - go in on an empty stomach, then it's clear liquids for 2 days, mushies for 2 days then solids as tolerated after that.

[MoOrLess]

ditto...same here for me -- I definitely start liquids the day of a fill - try to get an afternoon appointment - then do liquids for two days, mushies for two days, then soft foods for two days, it's day 7 or 8 before I am eating "regular" bandster foods, as tolerated

the whole point of a fill is to "restrict" the stomach by putting saline in the band so it tightens up again - since we all stretch our stomach out a bit over time as we eat a little more...what sense would it make to go in with a bulging, stretched out stomach? The fill is not going to give you the restriction that you are looking for if it can't "restrict" the stomach because a lot of food or liquid is in it

[Diana57]

Thanks so much for your response. I'll follow your advice!!!
Susan, what do you eat after the fill?
Diana

["Just" Paul]

I follow the exact same rules as Mo... in fact, that is SPECIFICALLY what my doc Tells us to do!

[munch2much]

Mine doesn't have any restrictions before, but it just makes good sense to not have a big meal. After, she just says "go easy" for a couple days. Last time she said "proceed with caution".

[PhotoNut]

Susan, what do you eat after the fill?
Diana
My doctor has has his patients stay on full liquids for two days, then we can return to solids as tolerated. His theory is that there is usually some swelling around the banded area of the stomach after an adjustment, and that could cause more restriction the first couple of days. Why the swelling? Well I have a few theories of my own on that.

Most people have some degree of anxiousness about going in for an adjustment. Being upset and worried causes a chemical to be released in the body which actually does cause swelling. Many of us have experienced the additional restriction when we have been under stress.

Pain also causes this chemical reaction in the body. Many of us have also seen a marked increase in restriction when we've had headaches, injuries, surgeries, and the like. While most of us experience very little discomfort during an adjustment, there are occassions when that needle does cause some pain. Especially when it's in the hands of someone who isn't that great at giving fills. :ohwell:

In addition, the actual procedure could possibly cause swelling. To verify that the band, most doctors will draw out the saline that is currently in the band before they make any adjustments. This method is also used to remove any existing air bubbles. So, during the procedure the band is loosened and tightened a couple of times. Since this is not a "natural" occurrence in the body, I believe it could trigger some swelling.

Switching back to a liquid or mushy diet during the two days after an adjustment is precautionary step that many doctors take to help prevent PBs (getting stuck). With each PB we increase our chances of causing damage to our bodies or to our bands, so anything we can do to avoid those is a good thing!

This theory about swelling could also explain why some people leave the doctors office feeling like they have great restriction only to find themselves needing more a few days later.

[MoOrLess]

P'nut -- I really think you have something there about:

"So, during the procedure the band is loosened and tightened a couple of times. Since this is not a "natural" occurrence in the body, I believe it could trigger some swelling."

I tend to hurt quite a bit after my fills. My port is 'sore' and my surgeon, although good at fills, tends to have a bit of a time with my slightly tilted port (I remember feeling a really strong OUCH less than a month after surgery and my port area hurt-I bet I actually popped a stitch out of the sucker)...so yeah, I definitely am swollen after fills (or unfills) and can see the swelling on the outside every time - so I can only imagine what my insides are like...and avoiding PBs -- most definitely - I had a long, full out PB last night and would prefer to never have one again...

I don't care what other doctors say - I do liquids 2 days, pureed 2 days and mushies 2 days and then tread carefully after every fill

[LynseyBcat]

Hello, I was told that I could eat before, just maybe not "a lot" (I can't eat alot anyway right....) Anyway, I do mushies the rest of the day then back to normal the next day. My dr. says that I need to eat some real food the next day to see if I'm too tight or not. All these different doctors are nuts...
Lynsey

[spiketvl]

Its strange isn't it how different each doctors advice is. I had my first fill yesterday and my doctor said I could go straight onto normal food. Just eat slowly and chew. Being a bit nervous nelly about it all I just had a nice mushy filling from a shepherds pie for tea. But then last night tried a bit of dense wholegrain bread to see if I could tolerate it and all fine. Also he didnt say anything about not eating before a fill. Tell you what though I finally understand the true feeling of restriction after 7 months of banding lol. I was so nervous about the fill but its just made small amounts of food make me not hungry. I was so scared I just wasnt going to get anything down.

[officegirlblues]

I got my first fill today and I'm on liquids for two days, mushies for two days and then softies for two days. I was on liquids today before my fill. I was really worried but it was a breeze!

[little t]

Yeah! Isn't the band the best! Pre-band, a liquid diet would have mortified me, now I can do it for days!