My second fill is scheduled for next week on the 8th. My surgery was on January 5th and my first fill was about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I am losing solely on willpower right now...I'm keeping a food journal, I'm working out and the weightloss is happening. But I'm hungry and I know it's not the band because I can take big bites and can eat a lot more than a cup of food. I've never had any sliming or stuck episodes or any of that other stuff. Since my last fill I've already lost about 12 pounds (eating about 1200 calories per day with multiple cheats). I'm worried that because I'm losing that they won't fill me next week. Anyone have any information about that? If I tell them that I am able to eat anything and that it's all will power will they give me the fill? I am really really ready for my willpower to have some help...I can't do this forever.

The ultimate goal of having the band is for it to be a helpful tool for you to lose weight. The fact that you are doing it on your own right now is certainly admirable but that will not eliminate you getting fills. It just shows that as you progress in this journey you are going to rock it! Just keep doing what you are doing and when the fills continue and you start to really get the benefits of this tool in your life, you will have certainly gotten to the point where you deserve it!! Congrats to you.

When I needed a fill I just told my doctor I was getting hungry between meals sooner than 3-4 hours recommended by her. I was losing 10-12 pounds per month and I always was able to get a fill. I am now at goal after being banded only 9 months. Down 107 pounds and my doctor would like to take out some saline for maintaining but I like where my band is right now. Good luck. Just be honest about having to use willpower and hopefully you will get the help you need.

If you don't have restriction then they should give you a fill regardless if you are losing or not.

Greg

Not every surgeon uses the same criteria for when to give a fill but I can tell you that I just had my first fill (3 months after being banded) even though I had lost 10 lbs during the previous month. Each time I go in, they have me fill out a questionnaire to see what and how much I'm eating and whether or not i think i need a fill. Then we discuss my answers and determine whether or not I will get a fill.

According to band literature, the criteria for getting a fill is not whether or not you lose weight...it's whether or not you're hungry. If they start making noises about not giving you a fill because you're already losing quite nicely, I'd tell them they need to read the 'Operators Manual' for the band because you're hungry and you want a fill.

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My doctor just goes by my hungar if I call and tell them I am hungry all the time and feel like I have no restriction they trust that I am right and they get me right in for a fill. then again if I call and tell them I am too tight they remove some but for the most part they leave it up to me to decide. The only requirement is that I wait at least 2 weeks in between fills unless I am too tight.

I'm a slow loser so I never had a problem with not getting a fill. They ask me whether I am full from my measured portions (to which I said no), and if I could go 5 hours before being hungry (again No); and they give me a fill.

I would stress that you can eat more than the bandster portions (though I would measure and when you are done no second); and that you are hungry before 5 hours. They should give you a fill.

One thing that might help if you think they might hesitate to adjust your band due to good loss is to take in your food log.

Either write it out by hand or if you log it online, you may be able to print it from the site.

I take in about a weeks worth of my food diary every time. This way the nurses and I can go over what I eat and when; good choices vs bad choices; etc.

I recently turned down a fill because I even though I can still eat lots & lots at night (yes, I know.. just because I can doesn't mean I should...), lunch time is a bit difficult to eat solid dense protein. It's a balancing act. My next appt is in June.. not sure I can make it that long till my next fill, but maybe?

It all worked out! They decided on the fill based on the conversation and my answers to the questions on portions, hunger etc. before they even did the weigh in. So I got my second fill today. Can't wait to get back to real food in a couple of days to see if this was the magic one!

YAY!!! thats great news I am glad you got what you wanted. Good luck hope this is your lucky fill but dont get discouraged if it isnt. I got 4 fills before I got to my sweet spot.