Time Length of First Fill

[Coach0407 50]

I've been banded 12/6/13, 49 days as of today. I went to my appointment on 1/22 and they decided I will not have a fill yet. I completed the yello, green, red form related to foods and I'm still 90% in the Green zone. Other than the band in place, it has no Fluid in it.

I've made dietary adjustments to eating healthier foods, packing foods in small portions and using MyFitnessPal to track my food. I average 700-900 calories a day.

I've struggled with hypoglycemia for a long time. Small portions every 3 hours helps with no hunger problems.

Did you get a fill at your first appointment post surgery?

How many have made better eating habits with increased exercise that you control the weight loss and the band, being there is just a tool, not full support/reliant on?

[cheryl2586 3,053]

I went a whole year with no fills and lost 70lbs. If you are consistently losing then I say wait it out. Some people cant deal with hunger but I welcome it because I never allowed my self to feel hungry. Some people never get help with hunger from the band and some do. I am only at 3cc's in my band and I am fine. It's really more about the portions and choices that help with the weight loss. I can eat ice cream all day long with my band and at proper restriction but then I would not be healthy.

[Lady VS 1,147]

I received my fill at 4 weeks post op. Remember everybody's body is different as well as our surgeons. You're off to a great start.

[2muchfun 8,928]

Do you have plication as well as Lapband?

I got my first fill about 5 weeks after surgery and then one every 3-4 weeks thereafter for the next 5 fills. I did feel that the band helped me the first 4 months. The amount of food I could eat in one sitting seemed to be less but not less enough to lose weight.

[QueensTy 82]

I was surprised to find out my band was installed 3cc's filled. My first post op appointment the nurse checked the band, extracted 3 cc's from the band and replaced with 4 clean cc's of Fluid. My 2nd fill is scheduled for this Tuesday.

[B-52 7,113]

Every visit to my surgeon, he would ask me a few questions about my hunger, cravings, eating....then, using the Yellow-Green-Red chart on the wall, he would ask me to point to exactly where I felt I was...he would look at my current weight compared to last visit, determine my average weight loss,....THEN determine if I needed a fill or not....

He made it very clear, even before I had the surgery, that the goal was to get me to the Green Zone as fast as I can tolerate....and that he did...took about 3-4 months to do it....THEN it took me about 2-3 months to adjust myself to the band so we both were in sync...THEN it all became heaven...no more bandster hell....

It's all about loosing weight....no matter how we do it....If I could loose on my own, then I would not have needed surgery...the same goes for fills....if I lost weight with no fills, then that is all that matters also....but for me, it took a few fills before I started loosing, and that is all the matters to me,....

Everyone has to find their own "Groove"....

[Bandista 7,466]

I had my first fill at four or five weeks, a second one a week later, third one two weeks later, fourth two weeks after that. I believe my surgeon likes to do small frequent fills but I don't know the amount as he doesn't share that. I don't think I'm at the green zone quite yet but I skipped my last fill appointment as I wanted to give my body a chance to adjust to the last fill. I am paying careful attention to how much I can eat and duration before next meal. I have one but not the other so will go for the small fill at my next appointment.

It sounds like you are doing very well. I loved the feeling of diminished appetite post-surgery. For me the hunger did return, however, and the timing of my fill schedule aligned well for that. It is wonderful to have the dimmed appetite and not to be ruled by food. Yippee!

[Jack 855]

My own "first fill" was 6 months postOp.

[SandyM 1,956]

My 1st was 3 months post op. I don't get a fill with each visit. Only if my surgeon and I feel I need it. Yes, I have turned some down.