Hello everyone, I had the lapband done on 8/17/06 by Dr. Haag at Bay State Medical. I am going this morning to get my first fill and I am very nervous as I have been reading up on the different side affects that can occur. I was losing weight up until about 2 weeks ago, and now I am on a standstill, hoping that when I get this fill, I will start on my journey again:). Has anyone experienced this before? Is this normal? :help:I will keep you all posted. I enjoyed reading all the forums that are available, they are very helpful and informative. Thanks....

Hi and welcome! Actually, I believe, as you read through posts, you will find that everyone experiences what you are experiencing. The band is not meant to work without a fill. The restriction you felt right after surgery was probably due to swelling. Once the swelling went down, you probably found that you were able to eat pretty much anything again and in larger quantities. Many people do not lose anything, or even gain a bit between the time of the surgery and their first fill. Another thing to remember is that you may or may not reach proper restriction on your first fill. Many require 2-3 to get there.

The fill itself is nothing to be nervous about. Most doctors give you a small shot to numb the area and from there on out, you don't feel a thing.

Just a suggestion, once you have that first fill and you are released back to regular foods again, be very, very careful. Things you were able to eat prior to that may not work well for you anymore. Remember to take baby size bites (yes, I used baby utensils to get used to doing this), chew your food to mush before swallowing and wait a minute before taking your next bite. You don't want to eat too fast and too much only to discover it is not a food that is compatible with your band and end up having an unpleasant experience as a result.

Best of luck to you.