My good old travelling buddy came along for the 2 hour ride there and back; we started the journey together, so I was pleased she came with me.
The Doctor was very nice, went through my data and then said "you were banded on 14th February?" And I said "Yes" etc etc and at first He couldn't understand why I was there as he only does them at 6 weeks, but I explained my problems about being starving nearly all the time now and he said he would only do it if the area was properly healed.
GULP!
He went into great detail about how if I was filled too early there could be all kinds of problems - erosion, vomiting, not being able to swallow your own saliva, death etc!! Then topped it off with how its not wise to go too fast and that I shouldn't hurry it. GOOD GRIEF!
AS IF!!! I was only there because one of his staff told me I should go earlier!!!
He asked me if I had had any problems with vomiting or problems with any foods. I told him I hadn't and he said "Don't just say that because you want a fill today." I was a bit annoyed to be honest. I was telling the flippin' truth!!!
I started to panic that I had driven all that way for nothing. I had driven all the way under the advice of one of his staff, knew others having their first fill the same day as me, who had also had their bands the same day as me, and I was worried that it would all go wrong etc.
I said to him that I didn't want to get sick, or like DIE and that I would not have come up if I hadn't been advised by a member of his staff to do so. I told him I didn't want to rush it and if it was a bad idea I would go home. I would have been well depressed, but I would have rather done that than have what he was describing happen to me!
I mean, who the heck would want that to happen??
Well, he must have realised I wasn't just there chancing my arm on getting an early fill. Or a stupid person who didn't know what they were doing. I told him categorically that if the wound wasn't properly healed and he thought it was not a good idea, then not to do it.
Maybe that was his way of finding out the truth for real... if someone had had real problems and they were fibbing about being hungry and just wanted a quick fix and stuff, they might have gone "OK mate, never mind I will see ya later" or something. I don't know, but I was now a little worried actually! He had a good look, and was like a totally different bloke after I had said about just going home.
Fear over, he got me on the couch and had a good long look at my scars. My port wound is very nicely healed apparently. He really dug deep into my tummy and pushed and prodded (like I have wanted to do but was too afraid to try!).
The port is apparently quite close to the surface, which he said was good news for him, logistically it makes his job easier and less tricky.
He explained that the 1st fill is the hardest because of locating the port under the most layers of fat... (thanks mate!) and that as I shrink it gets closer and closer to the surface. He was very impressed with a 15lb weight loss, and said that that was above average, so that made me feel good. He was talking about all this stuff whilst digging in my guts.
He told me all about what a fill does... that it doesn't stop you feeling hungry, but makes you feel fuller quicker bla bla bla, and all that stuff. He also gave me a sheet about what to do afterwards.
Because he had located the port and decided that the wound had healed right through He went ahead and did the early fill. I am wondering if he was just trying to scare me with how dangerous it all was... I dunno. (Justify the money? I'm such a cynic)
So he got a vial full of saline and a needle. He had the port between two fingers and then went for it. I didn't feel a thing. Not even a tiny prick. He then injected into me and it took a little bit longer than a normal injection... about minute or so, and then said "All done!"
He put 4cc in my band. Some of it is obviously taken up in the tubing. He said they normally fill the band until they feel a restriction, and then add another 0.5cc but he felt restriction quite early on so he continued because he thinks that that was not a normal restriction. Oh I dunno, but I have 4cc in there anyway.
Because he worried me so much before hand, I asked him a couple of questions (like 20) about how I will know if its not right, or gone wrong, or infected etc. I even asked him if it really was in there and he hit the right spot!!! Sauce for the flipping goose and all that!!!
I didn't have an x-ray or a barium meal or anything... he just stabbed it, filled it and bunged a plaster over and that was it.
He asked me to drink a glass of water to make sure everything went through OK, but other than that it was done.
I am back on fluid diet for 3 days, so I cant have a full meal until Sunday.
He also said that the 60g of protein and then veg then carbs is a load of TWONK! He said I can eat whatever I like in line with a healthy diet. I will lose weight, and they look for 1lb a week loss, so this time next year I will be roughly 13 stone!! WOW That's so cool to imagine.
He had also never heard of the phrase "PB" or productive burping. He obviously does not frequent lap band talk or other chat sites.
Anyway, he really took away my anxiety about food, and calories etc. He said that it takes time to get the fill level adjusted, but it works a dream. His wife has a lap band too, so he knows all about it in real life too. I do wonder sometimes when these doctors give us this info whether they actually are basing it on real life, or textbooks, so it was good to have info from someone on both sides of the medical fence. I started to relax after he was talking about all this. I am satisfied I am not going to die anyway!!
So I have a 10cc band ( i checked with him) and I had 4cc inserted today. I think that is quite a lot, but he said that it is often usual to be about 7cc to reach a sweet spot. That's cool.
I am to go back in no less than 6 weeks, and only when my weight loss has slowed right down. However, he said VERY IMPORTANT if weight loss stops, DON'T JUST LEAVE IT. I should come in for an adjustment right away, because there is a window of opportunity when the pouch is tight and working well, which is about 2 years. After this time, the band doesn't work so well, or stops working and your body adapts. This is the same on every diet... after a certain our clever little bodies adapt to the new situation and that's that.
That is why we wont lose too much weight. We wont regain the weight, but we will get to our goal and stay there which is FABULOUS.
See what I mean about complete change of tack. I was scared S**tless before, and after the fill he was sweet as anything and putting me at ease about food etc.
It was a very enlightening meeting.
It was also £75 for 30 minutes. I paid him by paypal in the doctors office.... how cool is that, and how random! I never thought I would be online in a doctors office ever in my life.
So I have had the fill, and I am to take pain killers every 4 hours for the next 3 days and only liquids. Stopped at Tesco on the way home and stocked up on Custard and semolina. Yippee Do.
Anyway, I just took the most cute photo of on of my new kittens Keith. I just had to share it. He was walking up and down on the piano for ages and ages. So funny. What a cutey!
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