OK, so before i was banded i heard all kinds of stories on how wonderful the band is and it helps so much and if you over eat you will definately know it cause you will be puking. Well, I was banded May 17th and just had my first fill last Thursday. I have lost 4 pounds since surgery and walk walk walk all the time. I have NEVER felt painfully full and never puked!!! I had 5cc in my band from surgery and they put 2 more in so i now have 7cc in my 14cc band!!!! Sad thing is, i dont feel any different!!! I didnt think i would have to work so hard to restrict myself. Yes I undertand i still have to work hard at it but i feel like i am doing it all on my own. People tell me oh just wait til you eat this or eat that, it will come up. WELL, I HAVE YET TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!

I didn't read all the responses to I may be repeating but I feel your frustration. I know I'd have to work at this and I don't have a problem with that BUT I could have done this exact same thing w/o going through surgery! I'm frustrated too. I don't have much of a fill (4cc's in a 11 cc band) BUT there is NOTHING happening.....no difference. I don't want to be throwing up so I don't mind "working" it a little, I don't want it so tight that I'm sick, but, I'm wishing my band was helping a little. IF I could have done this by myself, I would have and I wouldn't be fat. I was hoping for some help with my weight loss but it doesn't seem to be happening. GOod luck....I hope "we" get some help from our band friend soon....

I'm 15 months out and still trying to get my restriction right. When I have restriction, it's wonderful. It DOES help me know when to stop eating. It's like it connects that little signal for me that other people get from their stomach to their brain to tell them that they are no longer hungry. My problem is, I can't seem to maintain restriction. I'm still working on it.

Be patient and persevere. Like I keep telling myself, this is a process.

I don't take your post as saying "oh lord, please help me throw up so I know when to quit eating"....what you are saying is that you don't feel any different and it's just as hard now to control the food intake as it was before surgery. You may be wondering why the heck you got the surgery if it isn't going to assist you in your weight loss journey. I would be frustrated as well. First of all, take a deep breath....Second, never give up. It definitely isn't wise to go on eating what you did before, no matter how hard it is to restrict yourself. If you feel like you need to eat, try to put the right things in your mouth. I know its hard, and a lot of people can empathize with you. Make sure and talk to your doctor and hopefully they will have some answers for you. You made the right decision to change your life, it is a process that takes a long time to perfect!!

This. Couldn't have said it better.

[I would highly recommend the book "Bandwagon". You can get it on Amazon.com for like $25 and it's an excellent book. The lady who wrote it had lap band surgery and she really give you a step by step of everything from deciding on surgery to life after the band. She talks about fills, how much, how little.....how to eat, getting stuck, not getting stuck, results/no results. It's an easy read and it's full of great info. I'm 5 1/2 months out and I've only lost 30 lbs. I've got 6 or 7 cc's in a 14cc band but it's different for everyone. I will take a while for you to get to the right spot and then you'll still have to have adjustments as you lose weight and your body (stomach) changes. I thought I had researched the band in great detail but this book has taught me so much and I'm not half way through yet. Good Luck!

You definitely don't want it too tight! I went through that once and don't ever want to do it again!!! Threw up all night, couldn't sleep, very painful, don't do it!!! Make sure before you leave the dr's office the Water is for sure going down, make sure you drink enough of it to know, cuz you won't know if your pouch doesn't get filled all the way so it's uncomfortable and then if it doesn't go down you'll know.

Now with that being said it took me awhile to get my fill right but even before that I would lose some weight right at first and the thing is all those few pounds do add up after a while. I'm 1 year out and have lost 66 lbs. still need to lose 35-40 but what a difference and I know for sure the rest will come off! And really after all these years of being fat with nothing happening year after year one year is not that long especially when you know it's not coming back on! I have (what I thought were) skinny clothes that I saved for when I lost weight and guess what, they aren't so skinny and are all too big! Really hang in there and make sure you walk or do something cuz it really helps too!