Let's see if I can make sense when I ask this question. I'm going for my 2nd fill on 2/1. After I had my 1st last month I felt fairly good restriction for a couple of weeks. Now as I get closer to the 2nd one I can see already that I'm eating a lot more. I know that everyone says sometimes it takes 3, 4 or 5 fills before they reach their sweet spot, but once you reach it how does it not stretch out anymore. I hope you guys understand what I'm trying to say. If I stretch out after the 1st why won't I stretch out after the 4th?

Good question! Unless a doctor actually tells you that you've stretched your pouch (which can happen), your pouch isn't stretching. It more that your insides are changing and causes you to need a fill.

I just recently spoke with my doc about fill levels and he said that there are several major things that cause us to need a fill.

1. As we lose weight the thickness of our stomach walls decrease which makes the band feel looser.

2. As we lose weight the fat pads surrounding our stomach decrease which makes the band feel looser.

3. We can get used to the level of restriction and just plain old feel like we need it tighter.

There are other reasons that someone may need a fill adjustment, but his belief is these are the major reasons.

So, I asked how that cycle stops and he believes that eventually these three factors stabilize to a point where changing your fill level is no longer necessary, or holds for a much longer time.

I hope that helps answer your question. I thought his info was pretty interesting.

LapBandit,

Ditto. That's what Dr. Rumbaut said happens too.

Thanks LapBandit, it makes much more sense now.

It may not be because of stretching. It could merely be that you have lost fat around your stomach. How much have you lost after your fills?

Well, I am not shutuplena, but my band seems to loosen up every 15 pounds, which isn't very much, but so far so good.

I'd like to hear others answer that question.

So far it seems mine is any where from 10 to 12 pounds. I was wondering the same thing how much weight lost between needing fills?