Hi all: Banded last July and have not had a fill yet. Lost pretty steadily until now at a standstill. Thinking its probably time for a fill, however when I went to my last dr.s visit the PA told me.....since I had a few episodes of not being able to tolerate certain foods such as meats and pasta.....she wanted to remove whatever was in my band since surgery. I protested since overall I have done very well and feel that it is normal to not be able to tolerate everything at this point. Am i correct in my thinking or is she correct? Don't want to remove everything because then I will have no restriction at all.....at least now i do have restriction. I am not missing the foods I cannot tolerate and its keeping me on track. i am eating about 1,000 cal.- 1200 cal a day. i try to get in as much protein as possible. Lost 50 lbs since July.....but at a standstill right now. Do you think its time for a small fill??????

My surgeon left my band empty at surgery, got the first fill 8 weeks later. I'm not up to 6.5cc's in a 10cc band. The way I've determined if I need a fill is if I can eat bread/bun...if I'm hungry sooner than 4-5 hrs after eating...if I'm just not satisfied after eating. Up to you I guess. Depends on how tight you want to be. Due to other surgeries etc in the past 6 months I've had 3 unfills and had to work back up to even a little restriction. Right now, I barely have any restriction at all most of the time but in the mornings I can't eat anything so...depends on what you want to feel like I guess. I've lost 107 lbs in a year so...

I am getting hungry in about 3 hours....PA said b'cause of not enough protein. i am trying to add protein but still feel my appetite is growing. Even after I get done eating I am looking for the sweets....which has not happened in the past. Also starting to think about what I am eating for my next meal.....this did not happen in the past. So, with all this said i think I will venture to get my first fill. Going to the Dr. last week in April. Will be ready for it for sure. Thanks for your in put.....it helped. CHRIS

My last fill was last May. Was doing just fine. Then hit a plateau, as you describe. was loosing and gaining the same 5 lbs for 1-1/2 to months.

Went back to my Dr. a few weeks ago. We both agreed I am doing fine, definitely in that "Green Zone" without any hunger, no cravings, good portion control.

But, just as a experiment to see what would happen, he suggested I get 1/2cc more, not that I needed it, but to see what would happen.

Well that gave me the kick I needed, and started dropping the weight again.

I'm now stalled again, but it is because there is not much more weight I can loose without squeezing every last ounce of fat out of me.

I go back to see him the first week in May, and I am going to ask to have that 1/2cc removed. The experiment is over.

I agree B-52.....I think i will ask for a small fill 1/2 cc.....im comfortable with where I am but afraid of the cravings that are coming back. Good luck you have done great!

I read that the liquid in the band is not constant .... what I mean by that is that the band is not totally impereable, and therefore if you have 5cc for a period of 8 months, at the end of that period you may only have 4.8 ccs left, and that's why it is very important to evaluate your eating habits and visit your doctor regularly for fills - for the rest of our lives ....