How long until you were in the green zone?

[Cat225 93]

I've had my band since January 30, 2014, and have had 5 fills so far, each .5ccs. I'm at around 5 to 5.4 ccs in my band, and it's not keeping me satiated for more than 2 hours at a time. The only time that I can go over 4 hours between eating is if I eat a meal with lots of Protein that's around 350-400 calories. I'm trying to stay below 1,500 calories, and drink between 64-80 oz. of Water every day. I'm writing everything down and counting protein grams, but I'm still at a serious plateau. My weight will not budge.

I spoke to my clnic yesterday, and the skinny nurse told me the same thing as always, to eat small high protein meals, and they will eventually get me in the green zone. I'm so frustrated. They won't fill you more than .5 ccs a visit, and you can only get a fill once every 4 weeks. I postponed my July fill to work on eating slower and smaller bites. I'm doing a lot better with that, but I am hungry so much of the time, not just head hunger, but stomach growling. Some days all I think about is food, and what to eat at my next meal/snack, calculating calories, counting protein grams, etc. It's exhausting.

[2muchfun 8,928]

I was about 7 months out and 6 fills before I found the green zone. I read posts like yours often. Many doctors have the same protocol of .5 CCs/fill. Fortunately mine didn't so I had good restriction from fill 3 to 6.

I know how you feel. I was in Bandster Hell for 4 months before that 3rd fill and all you can do is try to eat smart and healthy. That's how I kept from gaining weight but I was like you and didn't gain and didn't lose. Very frustrating.

Can you speak to your doctor and bypass the skinny nurse? Sometimes these nurses and PAs behave like petty little despots and enjoy the power too much.

Otherwise, you'll just have to keep going back for fills till you get enough to give you satiety. But beware, I've read several posts here where people kept going back for those itty bitty fills only to find that they're port, band or tubing was leaking. They wasted an entire year or more with faulty equipment.

[Cat225 93]

Thanks for your reply. It's so frustrating! Anyone that says getting the lapband is an easy way out has no idea. It is hard work! Hopefully, the next fill will help me. I know it's not a race, but a whole new lifestyle. I just wish I would start losing again!