So I just got me fourth fill making it a total of 4cc in my band and I still have NO restriction

Give it time and stick to your portions. You should be on liquids only after a fill, and sometime you can get delayed swelling. It is hard I know, but hang in there.

What are you eating?

What size band do you have?

I just had my first fill today and I am also at 4cc. now (I was filled to 3cc. in a 10cc. band the day of surgery). I am hoping for some restriction. I am on clear liquids for the rest of the day, then 2 days of protein shakes, then 2 day of soft/mushy food, then solids again. Are you eating food or still on liquids? Liquids will pass right through your band, so maybe that's why you're not feeling any restriction?

I just had my first fill today and I am also at 4cc. now (I was filled to 3cc. in a 10cc. band the day of surgery). I am hoping for some restriction. I am on clear liquids for the rest of the day' date=' then 2 days of Protein shakes, then 2 day of soft/mushy food, then solids again. Are you eating food or still on liquids? Liquids will pass right through your band, so maybe that's why you're not feeling any restriction? <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I only had to do liquids for 24 hours after my first fill. I was starving 2 wks before the fill & it gave me NO restriction so I have been hungry for 6 wks total:/ I go Wed for my 2nd fill. Hoping this one works a little better. I have busted my behind working out & trying not to eat everything in sight. I've maintained my daily protein intake. I am down 4 lbs so I'm holding true to the 1-2lbs per week. Good luck on your fill diet:)

In my opinion, unless your doctor is doing your fills using fluoro, its just a guessing game trying to get you to proper restriction.

It may take one, and it may take several fills to get you to that level of restriction to where you feel satisified on a band portion of food for any length of time. Some doctors are more agressive, some more conservative, and some do fills using fluoro. Until you get to that level of restriction, its a diet. You can get to that level. Just don't lose your determination before you do...

As others have said it takes time and give it time, it took me about 9 fills to get to greenzone, my fills were very small as in .2 cc and every two weeks. This way it personally gave me time to adjust my eating with each fill and guaranteed I didn't blow right past the greenzone and into the redzone.

Personally I don't think having every fill under fluro is necessary. If your fill person is going to be aggressive with fills as you get closer to greenzone you will have issues. Small regular fills are so much better and it gives you time to adjust. I know personally had I have had fills of 1cc or more at a time I would have been back and forth with fills and unfills, not what I wanted so small regular fills worked like a charm for me and have had no issues and then needing an unfill.

Be patient as this process takes months and its for life granted no complications arise.

What size band do you have?

I believe a 10cc

What size band do you have?

10cc band

So I just got me fourth fill making it a total of 4cc in my band and I still have NO restriction

Believe me, I feel your frustration! I was in your exact shoes from 1 month to 6 months after surgery, a total of 6 fills. I have an 11cc band, and I got up to a total fill of 8cc within the first 6 months after banding, and I could not believe that I didn't feel one single cell different from before surgery. But then I made the worst mistake of my life: I gave up on my band. I stopped getting fills, stopped doing follow up, stopped living according to the rules of being banded. And what happened? I gained back half of what I had lost.

Don't make the same mistake I did! I know how rough this is, but have patience. After more than 6 months of being an idiot, I finally got my head back on straight and I went back to my doctor (actually a partner of my original doctor, who had moved) and I learned some really valuable things. 1) Every single banded person is different. You can't compare your experience to others. 2) Some people can lose weight without ever having a fill. They are rare. 3) Some people don't start feeling restricted until they hit 10.5cc in an 11cc band. They are rare, too. 4) The only way to find out what fill level works for you is to keep following up with your surgeon until you hit the right level.

I was banded on 2/1/12. It's more than a year later and I JUST hit the green zone with my last fill. I now have 9.25cc in my band. Even at 9cc, I felt nothing, but that last 0.25cc fill was like magic. I now am totally satisfied after 1 cup of food, and I stay satisfied for about 4 hurs after eating. It seemed to take me forever to get here, but the fact that it took over a year is MY FAULT. If I hadn't given in to frustration, this would have happened a long time ago.

Just please be patient and don't make the same mistake I did. Bandster hell SUCKS. Big time. But no matter how long it takes, it is ALWAYS temporary. Keep your chin up and come here when you need to vent. People like me will totally get what you're saying. You might be like me and need more than the average fill before you hit green, but you may only need another 0.25cc before you're golden. The only way to know is to keep moving forward and to stay optimistic. It WILL work. Just give it time.

Great post Morelgirl!! :wub:

Morelgirl well said!! You pointed out how important it is to keep in regular contact with your support team. They are an important part of being successful with our bands.