I am so excited! Had my nutritionist meeting, psyche this week, four hour seminar and then can schedule. I am self-pay so don't have to hassle with insurance company - thank goodness. I have a large appetite and so hope the surgery will help. Sort of worried about the pre-op diet, but if others can do it, I feel I can. I am a little competitive so that may help. LOL. I should be able to schedule for May. I am a little confused after reading some posts, when you first get the band does it not have any liquid in it??? Do you lose weight when you first get it or does it have to have a fill? Thanks so much.

A few docs put a little fill in when they place it - but not many. They feel that this isn't the time for restriction, it's time for healing. You'll lose a little the first month with no fills cuz you'll most likely be on a very restrictive diet (mine was liquids for 4 weeks, then soft for a week, then regular). It's kinda hard to gain weight drinking broth, cream Soups, and crystal lite. But after the restrictive part is over, you'll most likely need fills. There's a few people I've heard of that never ned a fill, but I think it's a very small %. I needed 3 to feel any restriction at all - it took about 4 mths. I thought I had failed yet another "diet". I could eat just as much as I did before - and if I could limit my food on my own, I would've never needed surgery! But the 3rd one was magic! Pounds started melting off.

It's now been 2 1/2 yrs and I've kept off 100 lbs. I still have about 15 lbs to go, it's coming off mighty slowly. Most of my weight came off the first year, then the 2nd yr about 20 lbs and this past 6 mths or so another 5 lbs. The closer you get to goal, the harder it is to take off! Now I know what my friends would talk about when they'd complain that they had to lose a WHOLE 20 lbs!

My 4th fill lasted 17 months. I now have 10cc in a 14cc band. I think I'm good now - altho I fight my husband over whether or not I need another fill (he says I don't, I say I do)

Good luck to you. Be patient. It'll happen. It'll just take some time.

Marci