Very frustrating....I have no restriction whatsoever! It has been two years since I got banded and after losing about 40 pounds, I have gained all of it back. I lost my insurance so I was self-pay and couldn't afford the $150 for every fill. I got insurance now and I cannot wait to go get a fill. I am able to eat anything without any problems. I have never vomited or felt any restriction. I am still struggling with drinking and eating at the same time. My band holds aprox 14cc and I am at 5cc. My surgeon is too conservative on the fills. Any suggestions? When I say I can eat anything..I mean it. I know that the band is just a tool but if no food is off limits because I can eat it, then what's the use?

For alot of people you dont feel anything until after the 2 -3 fill, for me it is the second, it was like night and day what I could eat, and for my friend it is her 3 she is feeling more, I know it can be pricy but worth saving for, and book another fill!! good luck!

I did not get restriction until 10.6 CC's in a 11 CC band.

I plan on making an appointment next week for as soon as possible. I feel frustrated because I hear all these people with their issues of vomiting, heartburn, cannot eat this or that, too full, etc and I have nothing. I know that it is a tool but I feel like I went thru surgery TWICE for nothing. I am also hoping that the surgeon will order a fill thru fluoro so that we can make sure that the band is where it should be.

I had my lapband done in 2001 and its been very poor value for the £13 K it cost me. I paid extra as was in hospital for a week as I blocked up completely post-op.

I am really fighting to keep my weight down. I do not find the lap band helps much and if I eat more than about 1300 C per day clap on weight.

I still get sick if I eat big lumps but of course anything like cakes,sweets,crisps or biscuits go down with no trouble.

I regret having a lapband and wish I had a gastric bypass. I am nearly 65 and too old to go for further surgery. I shall end up a fat,disabled by weight geriatric and probably have a stroke or coronary.

I do not recomment the lap band except for compulsive eaters. It you have been dieting or trying to control your weight the lap band probably will not work for you.

I do regret getting the lap band. I wish I would have done either the sleeve or the bypass...If there is an issue with the band, I plan on getting it removed and paying for the sleeve. But I will give the band a try until the end of the year if there are no issues with it.

No food is supposed to be off limits, and if you think that is what the band is supposed to do, then it's understandable why you're upset. But, that isn't the case. The band is supposed to make you feel satisfied with less food for longer amounts of time. It's job is not to make it impossible to eat certain foods and not to make you feel stuffed full

I can understand if you need a fill to have adequate restriction and I'm glad you're going to be able to do that for yourself. But be realistic about what the band is and is not supposed to do so you can be successful with your weight loss.

Best wishes.

Well, I always heard how you are not supposed to eat bread and certain foods because they have a tendency to get stuck. For example, I just ate a burger with the bun cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and didn't have anything to drink..I was able to eat the whole thing....Let's see when I get hungry again...Thanks..

I plan on getting a fill and asking the surgeon to not be too conservative.

Well, I always heard how you are not supposed to eat bread and certain foods because they have a tendency to get stuck. For example, I just ate a burger with the bun cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and didn't have anything to drink..I was able to eat the whole thing....Let's see when I get hungry again...Thanks..

I plan on getting a fill and asking the surgeon to not be too conservative.

Some people don't eat breads because they are on a low carb diet, and some people do have issue with breads and Pasta getting stuck. However, most of us can still eat all those foods and a lot of us still do.

One more small piece of advice- just because you can eat something doesn't mean you should. Stick to a cup or less of food per meal and healthy food. You will be so glad you did when the weight starts coming off.

Mis73 gave you good advice. I just want to add this. If you feel that your surgeon is too conservative with fills, why not just talk with him/her about it? If he/she won't work with you on that, you could consider changing surgeons if you can find one to accept another surgeon's patient (you might have to pay a non-reimbursable program or patient transfer fee, though).

The reason why I think my surgeon was so conservative with the fills is because I am a self-pay. Once I start using my insurance, he will not get the $150 that I was paying. He will definitely get much less. So, I was thinking that as long as I was self-pay, he didn't have a reason to fill me up. I'm sure my fills will change once I start using my insurance. It's a business...

Hi All. I had my band 2006 and have lost about 30kg till i had it replaced earlier this year. My second band was put in and i gained around 5 kg. I have being having fills every three weeks and am at 7 mls at the moment.i have since lost my 5 kg gained and fit back into the jeans i had not been able to wear. Even if i have had 2 bands i learn something new about it every day. I have not had bread or pasta since my first band and have got used to it, however there are lots of things i can still eat on certain days. If the food sticks i dont try it for a couple of days. I am in Australia so the fills are relatively cheap compared to what you are paying.

I was so upset when i put on that extra 5kg and thought i would never get back to what i was pre 2nd band. I have to tell myself that it took lots of years to put the weight on and i need to be patient it will all come off in time. be patient and I wish you luck

I am self py as well and I don't think my surgeon is conservative due to that...in fact I usually have to get unfills bucause they are too much (no extra moeny for that either): (I agree with above posters stating no food should be off limits..yes we are advised not to eat breads or other high carb foods..but due to their nutritional value not cuz they will automatically get stuck..I don't know your financial situation but my fills are $250...and it seems a small price to pay to make sure i'm getting the full benefit of something I paid over 12K for...yes the band is a lot of maintenance, which is why I think a lot of people shy away from it...I wish you the best

I had my fill two weeks ago feel some restriction but no weight lost, how long I have to wait I know I am eating less and I am less hungry but no weight loss. Please advice if you experience same situation.

I had my fill two weeks ago feel some restriction but no weight lost, how long I have to wait I know I am eating less and I am less hungry but no weight loss. Please advice if you experience same situation.

It usually takes more than one fill to achieve optimal restriction. And there's nothing about a fill that will magically make you lose weight. You lose weight by eating fewer calories than you consume. A good fill level will help you eat less by reducing your physical hunger and by causing early and prolonged satiety when you eat a small amount of food.

Some people don't eat breads because they are on a low carb diet, and some people do have issue with breads and Pasta getting stuck. However, most of us can still eat all those foods and a lot of us still do.

One more small piece of advice- just because you can eat something doesn't mean you should. Stick to a cup or less of food per meal and healthy food. You will be so glad you did when the weight starts coming off.

Thank you! Too many think the band is supposed to lose the weight for them. It is a tool. You have to make healthier choices and develop better eating habits. The band is a lifelong committment. I recently had to have my band revised as well as have tons of scar tissure removed and have a hiatal hernia repair due to a fill that became too tight and caused the band to slip. So be careful with the fills and any doctor that is has my vote.