Is is normal for a doctor to not give a fill? I was banded on 10/27 and have lost about 25lbs from about a week before surgery. I went for my 6 week post op appointment last week and the doctor told me that I was doing great and have been losing on my own so he didn't want to give me a fill. I am able to anything and everything right now and I'm trying to control how much I'm eating because I can eat everything the way I did before surgery except for soda. I don't go back to him until the 2nd week of January and I am afraid that I'm going to gain some weight back now. I was banded and do not have any fill, is it normal for the doctor to do this and make me wait just because I have lost a little more than some of his other patients that had surgery the same time as me.

I've noticed that all doctors are so different in so many ways, from the pre-op diet to the post-op diet, to fills. I was banded 2 weeks ago tomorrow and had my staples removed 10 days post -op. My first fill wasn't scheduled for 6 weeks post-op, but the nurse rescheduled me for my first fill for 4 weeks post-op and the second fill at the 6 week mark. I have lost 18 lbs and the nurse said I'm doing great also, so I guess doctors are just very different. Keep up the great work

Is is normal for a doctor to not give a fill? I was banded on 10/27 and have lost about 25lbs from about a week before surgery. I went for my 6 week post op appointment last week and the doctor told me that I was doing great and have been losing on my own so he didn't want to give me a fill. I am able to anything and everything right now and I'm trying to control how much I'm eating because I can eat everything the way I did before surgery except for soda. I don't go back to him until the 2nd week of January and I am afraid that I'm going to gain some weight back now. I was banded and do not have any fill, is it normal for the doctor to do this and make me wait just because I have lost a little more than some of his other patients that had surgery the same time as me.

I didn't get a fill until I was 3 or 4 months out. I was losing weight steadily and I wasn't overly hungry. My doctor always asks the questions before you get a fill. It's not automatic. There are people who have restriction without any fills and they do well,. Those people are rare. You really don't want a fill, if you don't need one.

That being said, I think you should let him know how hungry you are at your next appointment and that you are losing this weight by shear willpower. Just because you're a good dieter, doesn't mean that you don't need a fill.

Cindy

I am post op since Aug 27 and have not been filled yet I am down 80lbs

The band is a tool and not a magic wand. Sometimes docs dont give fills if they think the patient is good on their own.

That can be a good thing a fill too soon can hurt your stomach and can cause erosion etc. If you can do well without a fill that is great. The first couple of months are supposed to be a healing period. Losing weight at first is just a bonus.

I know it can be frustrating but this is a good time to get used to having the band and getting ready for a fill. You can do this!

I have had one fill, but at my last appt my doc decided not to give me another because I was losing well without more.

i too can eat "anything" and have never had a bad band experience with getting stuck, etc. I look at this as a positive at the moment. Then again, I'm not crazy hungry either-- I'm a little hungry and I do eat more in volume than I'm supposed to (much much less than before surgery though) but I'm steadily losing so for now that's ok with me.

If you are super hungry and surviving on will power alone, then make sure your doc knows that and gives you a fill. But if you're just thinking that the band should be stopping you from making certain food choices or giving you unpleasant experiences if it's working correctly and it's not, that doesn't mean it isn't working-- it's more about hunger than anything else.

Well call me the voice of dissent but if you're hungry and the doctor is refusing to give you a fill because you're doing 'just fine on your own'...then he's an idiot. It's a bit like selling you a car but then refusing to give you the keys.

My .02...print off the band literature from the web that lists the reasons for getting a fill. One of them is 'hunger'...and then call his office and tell them you need a fill...now.

If you aren't hungry, then his advice is on target. Even with an overfill, there is no guarantee the band will stop you from eating the same way you did pre-band. It didn't for me. While the band *may* physically restrict for some people, it's main purpose is to stop your stomach from producing ghrelin which causes hunger. So don't look for physical restriction. Look for a cessation of hunger.

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Hi all! A few weeks out from surgery I felt as though I was starving!! My nutritionist recommended I increase my calories with Protein and to ensure I was getting the proper amount of protein in. Once I did that, all of a sudden I was not starving any longer. I had surgery in Sept, and have not had a fill yet, I get twinges of hunger. Before surgery I was always hungry, dizzy and lightheaded. The dr. keeps telling me I am doing well on my own. My biggest problem right now is wanting to snack with everyone on holiday food. I have a batch of Cookies to take to work tomorrow, and I really want to eat them, but I can't, because I used to be able to eat them all, I know now they will probably get stuck and we know what happens next....... So not even one cookie for me!

Well call me the voice of dissent but if you're hungry and the doctor is refusing to give you a fill because you're doing 'just fine on your own'...then he's an idiot

I agree. The decision to fill should be based on a couple of criteria, not just the single criterion of whether you are losing weight. It's critical to factor in your subjective experience (hunger) as well.

All of us can lose weight without restriction. But we didn't get banded to do that.

I understand how you feel. Back in June of 2010, I had to get ALL of my saline taken out of my band because it was way too tight and they wanted to give it a break. After that, they only put 2cc's in my band and until last week they refused to put saline in my band because the PA thought it was tight enough. Keep in mind that he also used a a fluro-xray which shows your band and the tightness by swallowing barium and seeing how fast/slow it's going through the band. I was really discouraged because he refused to give me a fill, and I almost swtiched doctors because of it, but I kept my head held high. I'm feeling a lil' bit more restriction, so hopefully that will help!!

I hope you get a fill soon!

I am not anxious at all to get a fill. I think I'm losing correctly without one. Yes, I get hungry and then I eat. I am making good choices for food and have learned the things that fill me up and keep me satisfied. I track every bite I put in my mouth. I have so far been able to control portions, cravings and not had any PBs, but did have one sort of stuck episode, lasted about 10min. I do NOT want another one. I am consistently losing 1lb/week. I like that I do have to use some willpower not to eat a bunch of junk. I haven't had chocolate in like 6 wks, except for Viactiv and Carnation Instant!

Hi all! A few weeks out from surgery I felt as though I was starving!! My nutritionist recommended I increase my calories with Protein and to ensure I was getting the proper amount of protein in. Once I did that, all of a sudden I was not starving any longer.

Excellent advice from your nutritionist. I see a lot of people being told to eat no more than 1/2 'cup' or 600 calories and, as a result, they're always hungry and end up getting fills to the point of overfill. If you can eat 600 calories without being hungry, more power to you...but they seem to be a rarity.

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My fill nurse says she has a client who has never had a fill and met her goal weight in one year! Also, my brother has not yet had a fill, he was banded in March and has lost 90+ pounds. Mindful Eating.

My fill nurse says she has a client who has never had a fill and met her goal weight in one year! Also, my brother has not yet had a fill, he was banded in March and has lost 90+ pounds. Mindful Eating.

WOW that gives me encouragement. I do get some restriction from the band, and if I forget and eat too fast, it does get stuck!

But I am sort of *anal* about my food diary. I am always thinking about food, however. But i plan my meals out and move things around to get some variety, but mostly I eat the same things every day. My f/u with surgeon to ensure my infection is gone is next week, I might ask about a fill while there.

I got brave and put down a deposit on that cruise. So I am committed. I'm terrified I won't be able to eat anything, or will eat everthing. I will (hopefully) need a new wardrobe by then. Today I am at the 41 pound mark. I sill can't believe it.