Okay I've had 3 fills so far. I'm not quite sure how many cc's though. I think the first one was 1cc and the rest have been .5cs. I'm still eating what I think is more than I should be able. I don't choke on anything. I don' t need to chew overly well. I still gulp my fluids. I can eat an entire lean cuisine with a salad. Granted I feel very satisfied for a long time after that, for hours and hours. But I still feel I should not be able to eat all that. It's very frustrating.

Roxanne

I can eat an entire Lean Cuisine with a salad, too. I've got no problem with that, but I'm losing weight. Have you been losing weight with your current fill? If not, you probably do need another fill.

My doc is very conservative with fills, too. I had my 4th fill yesterday and only have 1.7cc's in my band. But if you're losing weight, why rock the boat?

I can eat an entire Lean Cuisine with a salad, too. I've got no problem with that, but I'm losing weight. Have you been losing weight with your current fill? If not, you probably do need another fill.

My doc is very conservative with fills, too. I had my 4th fill yesterday and only have 1.7cc's in my band. But if you're losing weight, why rock the boat?

Yes I am losing weight. I just thought that I should be eating less and it concerns me beause there are weeks that my scale doesn't move. I had my surgery August 1, 2005 so I'm averaging about 4.5 pds a month which is slower than it should be. I'm scheduled for a fill tomorrow so I have my fingers crossed.

BTW, have you ever wondered if the "conservative fill" is really just a scam to bill as much as possible. My insurance paid my surgery so he's making a killing from my fills especially since I have to go so often.

Rox

My fills are free for the first year. I am very sensitive to them. After 4 fills, I am up to 1.65cc. Last time they put in .15 and that was a struggle for me to handle for a few days. I don't think conservative is a sham just a philosophy that being overfilled has problems and its better to be conservative. Just my $.02 ...Celeste

I've only had 2 fills, and I think the total is .7cc in a 4cc band. I am happy with the conservative philosophy, because it has allowed me time to adjust my "head band." LOL! For me, that is the key to the whole thing...being banded, and knowing in your head that you are banded, can be entirely different. If my dr. had just pumped in the saline to have lots of restriction, and my head wasn't ready...I think it would be disaster. I like the slow adjustment better. Whether insurance pays, or you pay, it doesn't matter to the office. I guess there may be some dr.'s who might do it, but I bet it is a very small number. Mine wouldn't.

Good luck! Cindy

BTW, have you ever wondered if the "conservative fill" is really just a scam to bill as much as possible. My insurance paid my surgery so he's making a killing from my fills especially since I have to go so often.

Ah, somebody as cynical as I am, lol. I think probably. In Australia our system is different and if we go to the doctor, we get 85% of the scheduled fee back from Medicare. Of course most doctors charge above the scheduled fee. But I was really peeved at my surgeon, i went for the initial consult, he made me go away, go to an information evening and then come back for another consultation just to tell him yes or no. I felt if I hadnt decided yes, I wouldnt be there in the first place. My time and my money (even though I get it back) to tell him something I could have told him on the phone. It was completely unecessary.

I find this all the time and it really pees me off.

what exactly do you expect that you should be able to eat? I know that we frequently have our point of view screwed up. We've all read the messages from folks who are freaking out because they can eat an entire 1/4 of food at a time.

You are still losing weight, 4.5 pounds a week is dead average. The band is not about being restricted, it isn't surgically induced bulima. The band is about losing weight, which you are doing a great job.

If you feel like you are eating too much, then STOP EATTING TOO MUCH. There is a lot of head work that goes into the band.

Good luck, and you are doing great!

Hello All,

I am newly banded, 11-21-05, and I am not restricted yet either. I discovered this eating puree Soup this week.. I ate a little, then a little more and 30 minutes later I had the entire bowl gone.

I spoke to my Dr. and he said I will have to have a fill for restiction. In the mean time, I have been enjoying drinking my Water with BIG swallows, and eating my soup and cream of wheat without worry until the 22nd when I get my first fill. Hearing you bring up this topic makes me feel better! I was thinking I was somewhat strange for not knowing the magical "full" signal when I eat or drink.

I agree that it is nice to take some time to let the mind catch up to the new body with a bit of an ajustment period. Hopefully I will keep losing and ease into my life as a banded lady. (o:

Amy

Honestly I think a lean cuisine and a salad is perfectly fine unless your salad is comprised of crazy caloric stuff and the size of Pittsburgh.

I know that I don't intend to eat a 1/2 cup of food 3 times a day because I don't want to ruin my metabolism and lose weight so fast that I have skin issues.

I told my surgeon just that and he said, "Good because I don't know who told you that nutrition info. but they aren't setting you up for success eating that little."

Good luck toots.

I know that I don't intend to eat a 1/2 cup of food 3 times a day because I don't want to ruin my metabolism and lose weight so fast that I have skin issues.

I told my surgeon just that and he said, "Good because I don't know who told you that nutrition info. but they aren't setting you up for success eating that little."

I'm with you on that. I think eating at least 1,200 calories/day might get me to the finish line a little slower (though I doubt it because my plateaus will be shorter), but in the end I'll be able to eat more, have more engery, and have less excess skin. I feel like I NEED at least 1,200 for the energy to do weight training alone. This usually means, for me, eating about 1 cup of food at a time, which often equals out to a Lean Cuisine and a salad (salads get chewed to practically nothing).

You guys are great! Some of these cracked me up!! Thank you all.

I guess the issue is that I've really haven't felt the band. I still gulp my liquids and I chew normally. Nothing has gotten stuck and no PBs. Admittedly, a lean cuisine and a small salad and the resulting satiety that lasts for hours is a vast improvement for me. There are times though, especially at night, that I can eat a lot more or I'm hungry for some reason.

I went to the get my 4th fill today and found out I had 1.25 ccs and with today's fill I am now 1.50. This one felt strange. I actually felt the fill going in. When I drank my Water, I FELT it going down. So maybe this will be the one that will give me my "sweet spot."

As for the head work involved, I love that that the band has given me the ability to exercise enough control to make better food choices. Pre-band, if I was dieting I obsessed so much about the weighing and measuring and the portion size and what the next meal will be that it wore me out. By the time I sat down to eat I had no energy anymore to consider my food choices. I just ate. Then the vicious cyle starts again. I'm so glad that I can hit the circuit breaker now.

Rox

I too am newly banded and don't feel the restriction much. I go to Dr. mid Dec. and then will get an appointment for my first fill, probably not until new year. It's a little frustrating, I was expecting better results.

I had my second fill last monday. I also have not felt any restriction. In the morning I feel as though I might have some slight restriction. I feel as the day goes on the more I can eat. I have felt the presssure in my chest when I eat too fast. By the way, what the hell is a BP. I think it is like a verp (vomit/burp) not to sure though. Anyway, when I saw my surgeon he said that I was at 1.8 cc in a 4cc band and that this should be my last fill because this where he sees the best results in all of his patients. I am still waiting to feel the sweet spot but so far no luck. I go back to his offce 12-22 so I guess we will find out then. I am trying to "diet" again. I guess I thought that I would never have to say that again after the banding. I cannot talk bad about my band because I have lost 70 pounds in the last 3 1/2 months. But, I do feel like I have done most of it by just going hungry. I have increased my exercise to 4-5 times a week so we will see. Thanks for listening (reading) my boo hoo.