I held out for as long as I think I can. I'm considering going in for my first fill this week. My dr is on vacation nw so that buys me some time to think about it. I honestly was hoping I could get all my weight off without the fill but this week hunger kicked in. I'm wondering if it could be because it is that TOM. My cycle has recently returned after 22 months (pregnant and nursing), but ?I have read the the band usually tightens around that TOM. In my case it has loosened up. I'm still being somewhat good about my choices and I still portion control but now it is taking true effort from me whereas in the past 4 months it was relatively easy.

What do you all think?

Sounds like you could use a fill. Why the reluctance? Your band was designed to work best when it's adjusted precisely for you, and now is when that happens. Go for it!

Yeah, go get a fill! You'll feel better with better restriction. Are you afraid it will hurt? If so, I can honestly say mine didn't hurt one bit!

HI ,

Ditto to what Alex says. Whats the point of having the band if it is empty or its not giving you restriction??? GO get a fill.

Babs in TX

334/180 ish

I agree with the others and are unsure of why you are reluctant to have a fill. That is how the band is designed to work, by getting filled to the optimum restriction so the weight comes off.

Go get a fill gal. Thye don't really hurt. At least not from my band surgeon. I've had mosquito bites that stung more.

Terry

I have read the the band usually tightens around that TOM. In my case it has loosened up.

The pattern for mine with my TOM is this: 3-4 days before, I'm starving - all day. The day my TOM begins, it tightens down like a ratchet on overdrive. Stays that way nearly until the end of my TOM. (which is horrible for me, as my TOM is actually a T-O-Three Weeks (every 21 days)) It all evens out in the end, and I typically end up a few days after it's over having lost a couple pounds.

Get a fill. My weightloss didn't fully kick in until I'd had my second one five months after surgery.

I took me three fills to feel restriction. They are pretty painless, just a small needle prick. Nothing to worry about.

Thanks everyone. I guess I am reluntant because I have lost so much so soon with relative ease. I keep hearing about people eating a couple of bites and being full or even people being upset that they have not met their sweet spot because they can eat more than 1/2 cup of food. Well I have always ate 2 cups of food for lunch and dinner and depending on what I had for Breakfast could be more or less (either two cups of Fiber Cereal w/milk, quakers oat weight control cereal 1 pack, or an egg and cheese grilled sandwich on whole wheat or bran). I chew slowly but not super slow and I eat out of a small desert spoon or a toddler (not baby) spoon...micro bites or pea size bites required with restriction scare me.

Yes I know the band was designed to be adjusted and those were my intentions when I got banded, but since I was doing so well without it I was hoping I could continue that way. I'm not afriad of pain from the fill but I do fear complications from fills or even constantly chasing a sweet spot.

...micro bites or pea size bites required with restriction scare me.

Welcome to Life With a Lap Band!!!

I don't want to generalize, since the band is so different for everyone, but if you don't have any restriction in your band, it may be that you've just lost all your weight by eating sensibly in fear of "ruining" or "hurting" your band.

As someone above mentioned, without restriction, the band isn't very useful. It's designed to be inflated. Don't be scared about that...you paid a lot of money to use that thing!

Fills, in my experience, don't hurt. Sure, things get funky for the first few days, but they work out, and you really won't miss the excess food you had been eating that you won't want after a fill.

BTW...it took me about 4 fills to find my "sweet spot", so be patient if your first fill doesn't feel like much or result in quicker weight loss. Also, my doctor suggests that you go in once every 4-6 weeks for an adjustment. Not sure what your doc recommended, but those were my guidelines.

Good luck!

You know you are prob. feeling wide open becasue You have lot so much that your stomach has lost fat too there fore opening you up more and making the band loser. I would get a fill but try to go easy with it so not to keep you from eating what you want... good luck cragrats on you weight loss so far...

If you haven't had a fill yet, you most likely have no restriction. You went through all of this to have the band work for you. Do it. The first couple of days right after my fills are a little dicey. Sliming, but no pb's. Then I eat too much/fast and have a golf ball. That cures me. I get right back to basics ... small bites, chew chew chew, no liquids and everything is OK again. If I would just do it right after the fill, I wouldn't have these problems. It is up to me, and I don't listen to my gatekeeper.

You do better than I do, ya' hear?

I agree with everyone here. Pick up the phone and schedule the fill.

My Mama always says, I am as stubborn as a bull!

You've lost 71 pounds since the end of March with no fill. If I were you, I would go through this list and see if you really need a fill. Hunger and ability will change a lot during any given month. I got my fill taken out and I'm happier with it now than I have been in a long time. It looks to me like your weight loss is going along at a very good clip, are you in a hurry now? Or have you started gaining? If not, why get a fill?

Anyway, here's that list:

http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm

Whatever you decide, make sure it's because you have given your body and your circumstances lots of consideration. Don't base your decision on what others would or wouldnt do. *hugs*

By the way, grats on that 71 pounds, babe! That rocks!

er.. one more thing.. My band feels like it opens wide and beckons the entire supply of food on the planet into my stomach when its my TOM. I feel ravenous and like nothing can stop me. But reality is, I'm still not eating too much for a reasonable bandster. Are you journaling your food intake? Try it and get a clear picture of what you're eating. Throw in a bit more protein when you get hungry like that. Chicken, tuna, beef.. all great ways to feed that TOM band (fickle bitch that she is) *smiles*