Today I go for my first fill.

I've gained every bit of weight I lost from pre and post opp. The band is doing nothing.

Will fills help? I don't regret the surgery, but it certainly doesn't seem to have helped. I just hoped it would help me eat less. I know it can't make decisions for me, but I would love for it to control my portions which I thought was the point.

Just discouraged.

Until you get restriction, it is really up to you to work the Band Diet Plan. Once you start getting restriction, you will not want to eat as much as you once did. I am only starting to get to the point where I feel restriction, I could still eat what I once did, but I choose not to. I hope to get to the green zone soon, but I think I still have a bit to go.

Its a shame that your surgeon didnt explain to you about what to expect post - op. For the most of us post op is all about will power, you normally feel little or no restriction untill you start getting band fills. This is the whole idea of the lap band. It doesnt do much untill there is some fluid in it . It is like expecting a car to run without petrol, it just doesnt go anywhere.

After your first fill or 2 u still may not feel much restriction, everyone is different and all doctors fill at different rates. So in an 11 cc band for example u might feel some restriction after several fills or even 5 fills. Just be patient and keep trying the willpower route until u start to feel what the band was designed for. This will certainly then help with the portion control and hunger, but try measuring your food in accordance with your doctors instructions and behave like u have have some restriction. Dont forget you need to add in some good exercise to get that wieght off..

Can i ask why it has taken a year to get your first fill, as a band without a fill is pretty useless for most of us ?

I had at one time gone over 6 months without a fill. But, I had hit the green zone...so I was losing steadily and had no problems to go into the doctor for. But, when I did finally go in, my doctor was surprized that I was doing so well with my weight loss since I hadnt been in for so long. He said most band patients who stop going in for fills, are not following their diet, are gaining weight, etc. My doctor said that even though I have hit my green zone, I should still come in every 3-4 months...not 6-8 weeks like I did before hitting the green. That way they can monitor my band, check the fluid, address any problems or questions I may have, etc...so my next appointment is in October and I am going to keep it. Unfortunately, I have to pay cash now since my employer changed insurance and the new insurance does not cover fills. Perhaps that is why some people stop going in? Their insurance doesnt cover it? I'm still willing to pay out of pocket, so that I can maitain my lap-band success. But, I know in this economy it is not always easy for people to come up with the money sometimes.

I haven't gone because of time honestly. I can't believe how busy my business has gotten them my office cancelled 3 times. I am not sure about the first 2, but the last was because the needles were back ordered, but going in 2 hours!

I feel like everyone prepared me for the after, but I don't think I believed them. I am kind of lost at this point. I am scared that if I don't have some restriction I will just keep eating. But if I have some restriction I won't. Hopefully that makes sense.

Perhaps you're expecting the band to do something it's not meant to do. It's not supposed to restrict what or how much you eat. It's not even supposed to make you feel full. The only thing the band is supposed to do is help you to feel satisfied with less food for longer periods of time. It will help so you don't feel physically hungry, but it won't stop you from continuing to eat even when you're not hungry.

Too many people expect the band to stop them from eating too much and as a result end up with an over-filled band and slips.

Definitely get back into your doctor and talk to him about everything that's happened. A visit to a nutritionist may help you considerably as well. But don't expect the band the restrict what you eat, that's not what it's meant to do. Learn to listen to your body and it's hunger signals. Also, sticking to a cup or less of food will help you not to over eat as well.

Best wishes to you

I have read what you said over and over on this site when I searched, but that's not what I was told and that's not what's on the lapband website in their videos. So that has me discouraged.

I didn't do this to do a diet. I did it to give me a tool to eat less and that's what I was promised through the lapband website http://www.lapband.com/en/live_healthy_lapband/about_adjustments/

and through my surgeon.

"Without any stomach cutting or stapling, the LAP-BAND^® System reduces your stomach’s capacity, restricting the amount of food you are able to eat at one time. Plus, you feel full faster and stay full longer, so you wind up eating less."

Sounds like it's supposed to restrict the amount you can eat.

Kellysue,

The lapband website is basically an advertisement to sell the band. Don't get me wrong I love my band but my doctor told me going in to this, I had to be willing to make life style changes. The band is only a tool. You have to make the decision not to overeat. There are many patients who have stretched their pouch because they didn't want to be on a "diet".