Every time i go in for a fill lately theyll say.. Your almost to the green zone! They say most people hit it between 5 and 6 ccs. But i dont even feel close? Last night i was eating dinner with friends who eats fast and after i found myself taking normal size bites and eating nearly the same speed as them. It feels like i dont even have the band?

I feel bad telling my dr that i dont feel close to the green zone when everyone is telling me i should be there or almost there

I have a 14cc Allergan band with 6.5cc and I'm very close to the zone. I fill up lots faster than I ever did before. Be patient and remember you still have to make the right choices in food selections. The band will not do this for you. And please chew the food many times before swallowing. I had another "stuck" episode recently and it's not any fun. Only time makes it pass.

Best wishes

well, you still have to be on a diet and follow the rules putting down you fork between bits helps. For band doesn't supply restriction but I feel satisfied after eating my one cup and I don't get hungry in the same way. The best thing I like about it is that I don't think about food all the time and it doesn't seem to call to me. I had a 10 cc band and 6.5cc in it and it was perfect so you just might need a bit more. good luck you can do this

Hi there! I have not had my first fill yet, so I am inexperienced with this, but just wanted to say- only YOU know how your body feels. Being vocal is key...good luk!

Are you feeling any restriction at all? Everybody reaches the green zone at different levels -- they shouldn't be telling you you're almost there; you should be telling them how you feel.

At 5.8 cc's I can understand not being in the green zone, but I think you should feel some restriction, even if it's very limited. The next time you go in for a fill, you might want to ask your doctor if he'll pull all the Fluid out to measure it and then put it back in, that way you can make sure there's not a leak somewhere. Also, it makes a difference whether you have a 10 cc band or a 14 cc band.

I would be very frank with your doctor the next time you see him. Tell him exactly how you are feeling and that you have absolutely NO restriction of any kind. I had the same experience. While "most" people might hit the green zone between 5cc and 6cc of Fluid, I needed 9.25cc (in an 11cc band). That totally freaked me out, because I had been told the same thing, that I should already be there. I spoke to my doctor about it, and she said that even though it is unusual, she has seen people who need more than 10cc to reach the green zone. Everyone is different. Tell your doctor exactly how much you eat at a meal and how long your satiety lasts after each one. If you can't stay satisfied for 4 hours or so on 1 cup of food, you're not in your green zone.

I will tell you, though, that I felt pretty normal when I got filled up to 9cc, but the last 0.25cc fill was like a switch being thrown. 0-60 in 5.3 seconds! So that might be why your surgeon is being cautious. The GZ can sneak up on you!

My first advice would be to stop concentrating on the numbers. Take small bites and chew slowly. it does not matter how much is in your band. What matters is if you feel full. Listen to your body not what others tell your green zone should be. It could be 3, 8, or 5 you decide your green zone not everyone else.

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I had 6ml for the last month I did feel restriction but not what I'd call the green zone so last Thursday I had 1/2 ml put in and it made so much difference I'm now ok

I agree that the green zone can sneak up on you I thought I was still so far away. I felt like I had barely any restriction...then my last fill (went from 4.3cc to 4.8cc) did the trick. All of a sudden I am forced to eat tiny bites, and I feel full really quickly! Be patient it could happen anytime!

Hang in there; unfortunately it's not an exact science. The other posts are right, it's different for everyone. And only you will know when you're there. To be honest, even though I've lost 80 pounds, I'm not sure that I ever hit my zone. I had some good months and then some bad ones.

So...hang in there

Every time i go in for a fill lately theyll say.. Your almost to the green zone! They say most people hit it between 5 and 6 ccs. But i dont even feel close? Last night i was eating dinner with friends who eats fast and after i found myself taking normal size bites and eating nearly the same speed as them. It feels like i dont even have the band?

I feel bad telling my dr that i dont feel close to the green zone when everyone is telling me i should be there or almost there

Hi Blondie,

You mentioned that they say "you are almost to the green zone" so I'm assuming they are doing your fills using fluoro? If not, they don't know how close you are to restriction, they're guessing.

You say you dont even feel like you have a band? From my experience, if you're really that close to proper restriction, you definately know you have a band. If....If, they are guessing, ask for a fill using fluoro, I think you will find it useful. Heres a link describing the process: http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

My first fill was 4 cc....NOTHING

Second was 2 cc, total of 6....Things began to take effect, but definitely still over eating, etc...good and bad days....

Took one more cc for a total of 7....BAM!

After that last fill it was a 2 month roller coaster ride, learning how to live and adjust myself, remembering all the little things, the rules, I would need to live by to cope at this stage....

Be careful for what you wish for.....all the rules you have been practicing since the day you were banded will THEN have to be followed in order to co-exist with the band....

When in the Green, you simply cannot act and do as we did before being banded, and fat....this is where our lives will change.....and I have seen many people who do not want to accept the change.....

I have 8.5 cc in a 9 cc band. I was concerned that it took that many cc's for me to reach my sweet spot. My surgeon said it could be based on my anatomy and Everyone reaches the "Green Zone" at different cc's.

My doctor warned me yesterday not to compare myself to other people. You have however have a smaller band. What does the doctor say?