Okay, basically I guess I am here to vent but also seek some support because I dont know what the heck to do. I was banded on 11/20/06 and at first was doing great then was having a really difficult time due to no restriction and then I went and got a fill just over a week and a half ago...I have now gained 3 lbs, I still have noooo restriction and my doctore told me I wouldnt need to come back for 3 to 4 months. Is this normal? He told me he normally gives people 0.5 cc for a fill and he gave me 1 cc and he told me it would be great.....Well its not and I have just as large of an appetitie now as I did before my band...Now I know it is my fault the food choices I have been making, which have been horrible but I am believeing its been mainly out of stress.....I know this is just a tool and I have to use it but I did shell out $15,000 cash so this would help me control my intake portions right or wrong? I just want to be thin, and I need help, at this point I dont know what to do....Just stop eating bad and deal with having no resstriction, call my doctor even though he said not to call for 3 or 4 months, anyone have any advice for mee please.........

It took me 2 or 2.5 cc to feel any restriction, and even then I wasn't "tight". But my surgeon will take me as I see fit, and I'd wager it's atypical to be told to wait 4 months between fills. My first and second fill were 3 weeks apart, and my third was about a month and a half later.

Anytime a surgeon tells you not to call for X amount of time, start asking questions. You should never be "cut off" or restricted from contacting your surgeon.

If it were me, and I was pretty sure my fill wasn't just suffering from a delayed kick in, I'd call and schedule another.

I would call. 3-4 months after a first fill seems like a long time. And since we are all so different, any such rule would concern me. I've had 5 fills and just today am thinking I may need another one soon.

I feel your pain! I was banded on Oct 18th and have had four fills already because I didn't get any restriction at all with my previous fills. The last fill was last week and I finally have restriction which controls my portions to about a cup at each meal. I went for almost 6 weeks without losing any weight.

The weight is not coming off very fast although I've totally changed my eating habits, and it's been very frustrating to know I've paid 15 grand and worry that it's not going to work, however I tell myself that on a positive note, I am NOT gaining weight any longer and that's a big deal for me.

I'm giving this fill another couple of weeks and if I don't lose any more weight with it, I'll go in and see the doc and see if he can figure out what I'm doing wrong, other than not exercising every day.

I'd say, demand another fill and if you have to go to another doc to do it, I would.

I agree, call for an appointment.

Charming as I am, my surgeon would like not to see me for 3 and 4 months at time, but we ARE all different with different needs.

I call when I feel like I need a fill. period.

Good luck

Sounds like you need another fill. I was at 2.0 before I felt any restriction. We're all different and your doctor should acknowledge that.

Ok...time for some tough love.....

While I might agree that you need another fill....

I also think that your food choices are part of the problem. For me...cookies...ice cream....cake....cheetos...chips...bad stuff does NOT give me restriction. Goes nicely through the band.

But when I eat things like chicken salad...or eggs....or cottage cheese...the band works beautifully and I eat a whole lot less.

You cannot make this work until you are able and ready to do something about how you eat. The band can't do all the work. It was never designed to.

The band helps you feel full when you are eating right. When you eat around the band you are on your own.

It's not that you paid $15,000 for the band to let you down. You paid $15,000 to let yourself down if you keep going down this road.

Get in to see your dr. Get a fill. Ask your dr if he has a nutritionist. See one. If you really do want to be thin, then you really do have to make some life changes. You can't eat bad and be thin. You just can't.

Might also make an appointment with whichever therapist gave you the psychological ok and start exploring your connections to food and perhaps some self sabotage as well (items I'm *quite* familiar with, myself).

You can do this. We're here to help!

Ok, that ends the tough love portion of our show.......

I was banded on 12/6 and I was told to get a fill in 6 weeks and if i kept loosing weight to go in 3 months . every person is diffrent what works for me my not work for you .. over all .. LOVE YOUR SELF .. not because you paid cash just like i did doent mean you have to make your own restriction of you mind hunger and your bad elections .. you know the answers .. to your questions .. you know what to do .. it just a reminder ..

YES its only a TOOL

ITs up to us to make it work ..

Love your self .. we are all in the same journey .. we all want to feel good and look thin .. YOu make the diffence no one else does

good luck to you ,,

clau:clap2:

Hi, Pink,

We were banded the same day and I've already had several fills and even an unfill since that time. Since you're gaining instead of losing, I'd definitely say call and schedule another fill.

My surgeon requires 4 weeks between fills. I'm getting my 4th fill on Monday, and hopefully I'll have some restriction. I would call them and tell them what and how much you can eat and BEG for a fill. From what I've read, around 4 weeks is the average time that most people have to wait between fills.

I was banded 10/19 and had my 4th fill a couple of days ago. When I spoke to my surgeon I told him I felt like I should be doing better and it seemed like I was getting a lot of fills.

His response in a nutshell

"Everyoine is different and everyone loses weight differently. Some need more fills than others. Let's not forget, some have 1 fill, some have 7, don't compare yourself to others"

I also think its funny how people talk about the number of fills. Don't forget, some dr's give tiny fills while others are more aggressive. I've seen people post here who have more in their band after one fill than I have after 4???????????

My dr wants to hear from me every couple of weeks!! Several months is way too long. It takes time to reach your "sweet spot" but the sooner the better.

Good luck,

Maybe you should print off all these comments from people banded all over the country and carry it with you WHEN YOU GO IN FOR YOUR FILL!

I would call your doctor to have another fill. You should be as hungry nor should you have such an appetite. Good luck.

My doctor has told me for the last 2 fills that I probably wouldn't need another fill, that this fill would take me right down to my goal. But, she is just guessing. So if I need a new fill, I call and get one. If you need it, you get it, and it sounds like you need it!

My Dr. tells me to wait two weeks. If I dont feel restriction then he wants me to come in for another fill. It took me 4 fills to get to a good point. You will get there to. I would just tell them that you really do not want to wait for a fill. Good luck and let us know what happens.