HI - I was banded on 4-5-06 and just got my first fill on 5-16-06. So far I have lost almost 25 pounds and I am thrilled with that. They put in 1.8 ccs and told me to be on liquids and soft foods for that day. The next day I felt no restriction and I am worried. Does it take awhile to feel the restriciton or should I have more saline put in? I am trying to be patient but I am going to the Bahamas at the end of June! Any thoughts or similar experiences from anyone?

Thanks:help:

Congratulations on getting your first fill. More often than not, you will not have good restriction after getting your first fill. It may take until the 2nd or 3rd fill to find proper restriction. Plus, it has only been 2 days since you got your fill and it may take up to a few weeks to kick in. Please be patient and listen to your body. :second: Good luck!!

IMO/IME, you need to take your time with fills and not worry about packing it in to try and meet any particular weightloss timeline. This isn't about looking good in the Bahamas, it's about a very long-term committment, right? And that's going to take time to happen safely. Patience serves this procedure very well. :second:

I've found that my fills are most evident a week or so after the fact, and even then have waited until I was *sure* that I wasn't going to have the overnight reaction some report before scheduling another. There's a reason why you start small and work your way up from there.

I'd say give it a minimum of three weeks, if not four, before you decide whether another fill is needed or not. I got my 2nd fill 3 weeks after my first, but ONLY because my first fill was tiny because I was still having good restriction from the band itself. My 2nd fill just brought me up to the point where I would have been if I had a normal first fill.

Mine kick in 1-2 weeks later. And for me, it really goes with my monthly cycle... Just wait a few weeks and see where you are... And for many, it does take a couple of fills to get the right restriction...

25 pounds is GREAT!!! You can keep it up, even if you don't have the perfect restriction.

Alot of people say the first fill does nothing for them at all.That was my experience too.If you were going to feel restriction it would be the day of and a few days after a fill because of the swelling a fill causes.If you don't feel it then,then you won't "2 weeks" later because the initial swelling is gone and the stoma is back to normal so if you don't feel restricted you'll probably need to schedule a 2nd fill.My second fill is barely starting to show me what a restriction could feel like,but still not good enough.I've already scheduled my 3rd.

Mine also take a week or two to kick in. I agree take it slow the last thing you want is to be tight then when the fill kicks in (if your like me) after a few days then you get too tight and need ufill. Better to go slow and learn from it.