So I had surgery on 11/19 got my first fill on 1/8 4ccs, I still feel no restriction. I have not lost any weight since the surgery and I am so frustrated that I can cry. How soon after the first fill can I get another one?

Depends on your doc ... But if in 2 weeks you're still hungry and able to eat big portions and bread you may need a bigger fill. FYI - my first banding it took 4 months of incremental fills to get the right one. I lost only 11 lbs tul the right obe, then BAM! There went 100 lbs Many people I was banded with got the right one within 1-2 months....everyone is different but NO you shouldn't be hungry!

You didn't sign up for this surgery and lifestyle to suffer with hunger and lack of weight loss. Your doctor can fix it! This is totally different than how you have probably lived your life up until now.

Call, call, call.

Thanks, I have a call into him now, I just feel like why did I do this? nothing has happened, I am still eating the same and not losing weight, I hope he can fix it. Nutritionist tells me its normal and I cannot see it being normal. 100 lbs that is awesome!!!!!

Actually, it takes most people multiple fills before they have adequate Fluid in their band. Until then, we refer to it as "bandster hell" because your expected to eat like a banded person but still dealing with a lot of hunger.

Plus, keep in mind the band doesn't make hunger disappear. Hunger is the body's natural way of telling you it needs fuel. You'll always experience hunger, just once the band has adequate fluid it's tamed considerably.

As far as fills, how soon you can get another depends on your doctor. Just remember that fills aren't what makes you lose weight, consuming less calories than you burn is what makes you lose weight. The fills simply add fluid to the band to allow you to go much longer without hunger on small amounts of food. That may not sound like much but it really is. When you're not hungry all the time, you're far less likely to graze and over-eat because you're pre-occupied with hunger and food.

Here's a great link: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

Best wishes!

Learning how to eat with your band does not come easy for most of us. A lifetime of glutton, excess, eating too fast, too much at a time does not just evaporate when the band is installed. I too was disappointed when I learned it was going to take me several fills before I would feel any restriction or that the band was doing anything. But it was all for the best. It takes time to re-educate ourselves to eating small, chewing big and taking our time. Not an easy thing to learn in just a few weeks.

tmf

Thanks everyone, I know old habits are hard to change, I am making progress I eat smaller portions but feel hungry within 2 hours or so, I have been exercising so I know that once I feel that restriction and am able to feel satisfied I will eat less and the weight will start to come off, I just feel so frustrated.

I lost 120lbs, and actually had to have the band loosened, after 3 years of not wanting to have it loosened, because I was happy with it, my hubby kept telling me I was too skinny, <imagine that>...I finally had it loosened, and I gained 50lbs!!!!! so needless to say the whole purpose of having the banb, is to keep me from over eating, it wasnt what I ate, I am not a big snacker, I just loved HUGE portions, so the band kept me from over eating, and it was very effective in doing so, dont get discouraged, It took me about 3 fills to finally get that "sweet" spot, and once I did, just as some of the people above posted, the weight came off fast, its the easiest thing Ive ever did...

Lynda

you are to new to wonder why u did this until the fills are just right you will not know...every 2 wks my doctor would do it i have a 10cc band with 6.5 cc in it and its great. Get your fills, eat right and track everyhting you can do this

Kateeryn, thank you for sharing your experience. It's encouraging.

Thanks' date=' I have a call into him now, I just feel like why did I do this? nothing has happened, I am still eating the same and not losing weight, I hope he can fix it. Nutritionist tells me its normal and I cannot see it being normal. 100 lbs that is awesome!!!!![/quote']

Have you been tracking n eating more Protein n less carbs? I'm pretty new here also but doc told me to keep my protein up n it should keep me satisfied longer. At least 60 grams of protein a day

It took me 6 months to get restriction.

My first fill was 4cc, one month after surgery.....after that first fill I gained weight!!

It was not till after my 2nd fill did the band start to do it's job, and then took another fill after that.....

But you have to ease into it! Imagine if the band was not adjustable and right at surgery everyone got a band that is comparable to being filled to 7cc!!

We all would not know what to do.....it would be a disaster...but after 3 fills that is what I have...7cc's, and each fill I HAD TO ADJUST to the band to make it happen!!

And now I have been at the balance point for over 18 months now, where my portions are limited, and I am very rarely ever truly hungry.....

All of you have been so encouraging. I think I was hoping for instant gratification, but patience and watching what you eat are key. I enjoy so much hearing from all of you. I am waiting for the doctor to call me back and see when I can go for a 2nd fill. I have to start eating more protein. I am looking forward to that yes!!!!! feeling. Thank you again.

So I had surgery on 11/19 got my first fill on 1/8 4ccs' date=' I still feel no restriction. I have not lost any weight since the surgery and I am so frustrated that I can cry. How soon after the first fill can I get another one?[/quote']

I was banded on 11/19 also. Including pre op I have lost like 26 lbs. I have not had a full yet, and boy am I struggling!! I go to the dr on Wednesday. Excited for fill #1

Hey Lyd, i was banded 11/10

I lost 10lb from liquids post op but nothing since!

Its very very frustrating and last week i began to panic that this wasnt gonna work, all my family and friends known it didnt work.

Not gonna happen!

Ive come to far to take that as an option,

It'll take time, we'll get there.

Btw ive had 2fills so far, my doc does them every 4weeks.

Im at 4cc's, have slight restriction so im hoping i'll get to a sweet spot very soon.

For now i have to calorie count, as crappy as it is!

Im basically on another bloody diet!!

As the VERY successful bandster above says, It is all about restriction. I couldn't/didnt manage to limit myself to 1 cup of food per meal without proper restriction.

I posted this in response to another bandsters question, but it may be applicable here too.

Oh how I wish every office that gave fills had a fluoroscope machine to give them with. My doctor ( whom I REALLY, REALLY like )never had a problem finding the port, but there are advantages to using one. Heres my story about fills. My Doctor's office got the machine about a year after I had been banded. Only after the first fill using flouro, did he confirm what I had been saying for about 5 months... I had NO restriction. Because my band had come undone. Yes, the band had come unsnapped. I knew when it happened. My Dr's first to have this happen with hundreds of bands placed. Dr fixed it asap! Now all his fills are done using the machine....and now, standing up. Never any trouble finding the port. Never ANY pain. He/You can see the restriction as the adjustment happens. Your Doctor can get you so much closer to restriction by looking at it instead of guessing. My insurance, Aetna, pays for my fills. If your self pay, it is more expensive. BUT SO WORTH IT