Q: When should I come in for my first fill?
A: When you are 6 weeks out from surgery you can come in for your first fill. If you are still losing weight, wait until you have stopped losing 1-2 pounds a week for 2-3 weeks.

Q: How many fills will I need to get?
A: Every person is different. The average is 3-5 fills. Some people need less, some need more. There are 3 types of fill, too much, too little and just right. The band should be tighter in the morning, loosening up as the day goes.

Q: Why do you have to know what size band I have?
A: There are several sizes of bands. Some hold 4cc, others hold 10,11,12 or 14 ccs. If we don’t know what band you have, we fill for the smallest size until we know the actual size. Bringing your OP report from your surgery is the best.

Q: What is reflux?
A: Reflux is heartburn. If you wake up choking, coughing or have burning in your throat, it is probably due to a too full band. Prevention is not getting too tight a fill, use OTC Prilosec twice a day for a week, don’t eat 3 hours prior to bedtime. Drink a cup of water ½ hour before bed to clear out your pouch. If you have reflux, get a small unfill.

Q: What is a slipped band?
A: A slipped band is caused from throwing up too much. You stomach actually come up through the band and flops over. Symptoms are: constant spitting up, not able to eat or drink. You need to get an unfill ASAP. Sometimes the stomach will drop back down through the band. If it doesn’t, you will need to contact your surgeon.

Q: What is Muffin Top or Mushroom band?
A: Muffin topping is when you overeat your band, stretching your small pouch into a larger one that hangs over the band like a mushroom cap or muffin top. We use fluoroscopy to evaluate if this has happened to you. Prevention is easy; do not eat more than your bandster portion. What happens if you have a muffin top? You must get a complete unfill of your band, letting it rest for at least a month. Getting a follow up fluoroscopy will show if your pouch has reset itself. If it has, we start to fill you again. If not, we suggest you contact your surgeon.

Q: How do I deal with constipation?
A: Constipation is a problem that can occur with your dietary changes.
• Check your medications to see if constipation is a side effect.
• Drink 80-100 oz of water per day.
• Take in 25-30 grams of fiber per day.
• Treatment is fiber cereal, stool softeners, eating prunes.

Q: Do I have to exercise?
A: Exercise helps you burn more calories. If you take in 1200 calories per day, you need to burn 1700 calories to lose 1 pound per week. Mixing your exercise up helps burn more calories, cardio one day, weight training the next. You should exercise 3-5 days per week.

Q: Why do I have to drink so much water?
A: You need 64-100 oz of water per day. Not only will it help flush the fat you are burning, you also need it for your body to work. For every cup of coffee, you need 2 cups of water.

Q: Why can’t you just put in 4cc’s or 10cc’s right away if that is what my band holds?
A: Every person has their own fill maximum level. Some are lucky never to need a fill; some have to have it all to feel restriction. We don’t know what your max is until we reach it. As little as .2 cc’s can make a huge difference. You should have small fills, learning how to eat like a bandster along the way. The band is only a tool. Many people “test” their bands. Many times we have heard “I can eat a whole hamburger”. WHY? Testing your bands with larger amounts, breads, rice and pasta does not change your head. Realize that this is a life change. Protein, fruit and veggies is all you really need. Eating more than your pouch holds leads to muffin topping or slippage.

Q: Why do I get left shoulder pain when I eat?
A: If you overeat your pouch, it might press against your diaphragm causing referred pain to your left shoulder.

Q: I get chest pain, am I having a heart attack?
A: Chest pain can be caused by many things. Bandsters having chest pain may be caused from an irritated diaphragm, over eating, eating or drinking too fast, irritated stoma or pouch, too tight of a fill. It can also be related with asthma, pneumonia, muscle strain, ulcers or heart problems.
Call 911 if you have sudden crushing, squeezing, tightness or pressure in your chest. Pain may radiate to your jaw, left arm or between your shoulder blades. Always check with your primary doctor if you have a history or family history of heart problems.

Q: Why can’t I drink with my meals?
A: The band works like this: You eat protein and product, filling up your pouch. The pouch stretches and an enzyme is fired off to your brain telling you that you are full. This takes 20 minutes. If you take a bite of food followed by a drink of something, you have turned that bite into liquid that slides down through your band defeating the purpose of having the band. Drink right before you start eating. Put your glass away. Do not eat for 45 minutes after your last bite.