Hello everyone!

I am hoping that someone will have had this same experience.

I was banded on Jan 23rd and had my first fill on Feb 22nd and was filled 2.2 cc in a 4 cc band I believe. When I first recvd the fill I was very restricted was eating very little and lost 4 pounds the 1st week afterwards. I have now gained 2 of that back and feel the way I did before the fill! I am terrified that I have a leak and the fill has just emptied out. I have to go to CO for the fills and it costs me a lot of money, I am so scared that something is wrong. Does anyone have any advice or similar experience?

Lee

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble. When I had my 1st fill last week the doc said that it takes up to 2 fills to have lasting restriction. I am not sure why but I am hoping that it does not happen to me. I have to do a 14 hour round trip to get a fill. :omg:

Good luck.

As you lose weight your band will become looser because your insides are shrinking, too...I didn't feel good restriction until I hit 6cc's...I keep myself at 8 now and that is pretty strict, but I like it that way... My port is still sewn in where they put it, but it lays sideways because of how I'm changing, too.

There is also a bit of air in the saline and some can evaporate in the tube. That has happened to me, too. I'm sure your band is fine...it's still pretty new.

Yes, you need another fill. My fills are $200 so I hope yours isn't too much more. Good luck.

My first fill was the same way. When I went back in for 2nd fill the first one was gone. I was told that is pretty normal that your first fill sometimes is absorbed by the band?? 2nd Fill 1.5cc - still no restriction. Going next week for 3rd fill - hopefully that will give me some restriction. My fills are free for the first year so I plan on getting as many as I need! I lost 20 Lbs the first 3 weeks after surgery but nothing since then - and have not gained any so that is good!

Kim

Banded 1/26/07

Dr. Spivak - Houston

236/215/165 Goal!

My first fill was the same way. When I went back in for 2nd fill the first one was gone. I was told that is pretty normal that your first fill sometimes is absorbed by the band?? 2nd Fill 1.5cc - still no restriction. Going next week for 3rd fill - hopefully that will give me some restriction. My fills are free for the first year so I plan on getting as many as I need! I lost 20 Lbs the first 3 weeks after surgery but nothing since then - and have not gained any so that is good!

Kim

I didn't feel restriction until my 4th fill. I hope you do sooner than I do!

2.2 cc's is a pretty good fill amount... you should feel some type of restriction. Have you tried eating bread? If bread goes through easily, then you need to get things checked out.

Also, when I had my last fill - I felt restriction for the first 2 or 3 days then *my theory here* my stomach unswelled from that fill and I felt loose as a goose. Kinda worried me, then - around 4 weeks later, seems like I woke up one day and BAM! I had that magical feeling of restriction. Water, morning coffee, milk... all liquids were draining s l o w.

Hang in there and give it a little more time.

You may be one that gains restriction a few weeks after a fill. This is a commen occurance for many of us.

If no restriction occurs within 2 more weeks...

call your surgeon.

I see youre in Durham. Charlotte has a GOOD band doctor there that sees other banded patients.

Worth checking into, you know? Might be a little cheaper then going to Colorado!

Good luck!

I actually didn't feel much restriction until I was at 2.8cc. Give it a few weeks, because sometimes it tightens up again after 3 or 4 wks. If it doesn't then get a little more fill.

I had 2 cc my first fill and felt like I had no restriction within about 2 weeks later - I waited a month before getting my 2nd fill, and I had lost about half of it - they take it out to see whats in there so with what I had and what I got I now have a total of 5 cc - I go today to get alittle more - my last fill was just 2 weeks ago. I have restriction in the morning then I'm loose all afternoon and evening. I think you need a fill.

My fills have been included so far and all under fluro - dr said once I get to the 'sweetspot' then we'll do the fills in the office - he said once you hit the sweetspot you only need .cc's - very little will do it. Maybe you should look into getting your fills locally. Good luck.

I had my surgery on 2/23 and am just waiting to get my fill on 4/10. The nurse at my doctor's office told me that about 10 days after the first fill almost everyone comes back into the office for a 2nd fill. She didn't explain why, but said it was very common to feel restriction for a few days and then have it go away. I'm glad she told me I could come back if it happens.

I have absolutely no restriction now (I'm about 3 weeks out), so I'm hoping the fills will help. Take care.

Gretchen

Have you lost alot already? Maybe you need a fill!Are you drinking 1/2 hour before eating or 1 hour after?

I got my first fill the end of February and I had the same thing happen. I have a Dr. appt on the 3rd of April and will most definitely ask him what the scoop is!!

I had a similar experience. Got my first fill two months after surgery. The first few days after the fill I felt restriction just fine, but then after about a 5 or 6 days--swoosh--the restriction was gone.

Went in to get another fill (under fluoroscopy--again) and the doctor confirmed my restriction had disappeared but could not explain why. My band had not leaked nor slipped. He surmised that perhaps the fat around my stomach had shifted shape, causing the band to feel loser. Dunno what happened, but the second fill did the trick.

My dr told me the same thing. Because of the loss, the fat that was close moved, and that is why we need fills. I have been loosing alot slower than I thought I would. My new goal for the next week is to excercise every day. Everyone on this site swears it will make it a difference So I am going to try it for awhile. I am now only making weekly goals but keeping my desire to look and feel great at my goal weight. Thanks for sharing. Lets do great this week!

Fills can indeed be very tricky. I am with 7,5cc (my band takes 10cc) and during the 5 fills I had in these past two years since I have my band I never managed to get much of a restriction. But my doctor always told me he'd rather be conservative and do fills slowly and little each time, than trying to do it too fast. It allows the needed time for your body to adjust to the band. Also, it is true that fat around your stomach also starts to slowly disappear, therefore the band seems to get a bit «loose».