I was banded Oct. 10th. I have had 3 fills. My last fill was 12-22. I did not go for a fill in January because I felt good and feel restriction. I am now a bit confused. Some days I can eaty half cup food for my meals just fine. Some days I take a bite of food and that's it. Does the band have its oen little mind and tightens and loosens when it wants to? Today I took one bite of my cottage cheese and it felt stuck. I am juat not sure....

Yep....it's up and down, day to day...even hour to hour sometimes.......just go with it....

Went to dinner last night, did not feel like eating anything....brought it all home and will heat it up later...

I agree, the little bugger does have a mind of its own!

Thank you -- this is so helpful. Experiencing same thing.

it does have a mind of its own!! Just make sure you get your protein in on your tight days .. even if it is in the form of a shake

Our bodies(including the stomach lining) ebb and flow with illness, sodium, TOM, stress, altitude and inflammation from irritants. The band doesn't really change but the stoma opening expands and contracts with these different issues.

Think of your fingers and if you wear a ring, are there times the ring fits tighter or looser? Retaining Water from sodium and the other stresses work on the band the same as they do on your ring finger.

tmf

My surgeon told me I would not feel any restriction yet because the band went in perfectly. I have my first follow up appointment on Thursday. Will I get a fill then? or what is the usual time frame before the first fill?

I actually have 3 appointments set up already.

Thank you for this info so far. It really helps to hear the advice/experiences.

My surgeon told me I would not feel any restriction yet because the band went in perfectly. I have my first follow up appointment on Thursday. Will I get a fill then? or what is the usual time frame before the first fill? I actually have 3 appointments set up already.

I didn't get a fill my 1st 2 visits but that was due to my progress. You will discuss this with your surgeon and it will probably be on a visit by visit basis.

Yes, it certainly does have a mind of its own lol.

Cottage cheese is one of those ify foods for the band. Some days I can't eat it. Not even the small curd. Bands are finicky. Who knows why they just like to remind us that they are in control sometimes.

re: "or what is the usual time frame before the first fill? " that continues to vary amoung different Bandsters & their surgeons.

My own "First Fill" was 6 months postOp.....alsom coinciding with my most profound weight loss period.

re: variation in 'tightness'

"Symbiant", my own Little Angel of the Silicon Fist, now 9+ years postOp, had days of drama (why is THIS happening?) and days where there seems to be no issue at all.

It is not unusual to find some days we find ourselve either wanting to eat more at a meal or not. Mostly I've found ways to co-habit the same body with Symbiant, and both of us get want we NEED most of the time ......

After so long, I've grown cautious about eating my hard Protein. My little food-chopper has about worn out from use over the years.

I finally realized I can eat ground meat much more satisfyingly, so I recently bought a Cabela game-style grinder with 2 different dies....rather like Pasta maker only it grinds down meat into more usable form.

Edited January 20, 201412 yr by Jack