Hi all. My surgery was Feb. 5th and I have lost 43 lbs. since then without a fill. I couldn't be happier with my results so far, however I am starting to feel hungry again. At my last visit, my doc was very happy with my results and said a fill was unnecessary. The pounds are obviously coming off slower then in the beginning, however they are still coming off. He feels when I stop losing then we will discuss the fill, however with my increase in hunger I would like to put a small amount in so I keep progressing. He refuses and says "this is a marathon, not a sprint". Has anyone experienced this before? I haven't read a single story like mine where a band hasn't been adjusted and is working. Could this be a sign of a complication?

But what about her hunger? I agree that 2 lbs a week is actually a great loss to me, but how long is she going to eat right when she is hungry? How long until she falls off the wagon and starts eating the wrong things? From everything I read you should eat until you feel full/satisfied without feeling stuffed and still lose weight. I think it is the two things together that should be the deciding factor. Again, I haven't even had my surgery yet, but if I'm walking around hungry and the docs over here won't give me a fill when I know I need one after spending all that money, I'd be upset. My patient coordinator is encouraging me to return to Monterrey for my 1st fill because Dr. Rumbaut is very experienced and gets it right the first time (after 6-weeks) and the dr.s here aren't very experienced and you may have to go two or 3 times. I'm hoping to find a dr. close enough that has done enough to get it right the first time because I can't afford to fly back to Monterrey after spending this money now. That's is just my opinion. Some one waiting to be banded.

The idea is, if you're hungry, you'll eat more, and lose less, and therefore need a fill. It's not about NEVER being hungry, it's about only eating when you're hungry, not when you "think" you need something to eat.

Listen to your doctor - he is the expert. The opinions of strangers on this board should never be substituted for advice from YOUR medical professional.

What a great thread! I never considered any of the above explanations for not getting a fill and now it's very clear to me, thanks! :clap2:

Hi,

I have a similar situation as you. I was banded on 4/25 and have lost 30lb's went to the doctor to day and he will not consider a fill until weight loss has slowed down to 1lb a week. At this point i am not very hungrey and it hard to get all my meals in. I ask him what is the % of not requiring a fill the first serverl months and he siad about 5%. If you losing still it is working. Good luck!!

My doc has a pt that lost 140lbs without a single fill. Just a thought.

Don't feel bad. My dr. refused to give me a fill because I had just lost 5 lbs. But I have to add here, that 5 lbs was after a 2 month plateau and I mean 0 weight loss at all for 2 months. Now I am starving all the time and haven't lost anything since that 5 lbs. In 5 months I only lost during the first 4 weeks of the liquid stage, then went 2 months with no loss. Now another month has gone by and I haven't lost anything again. I exercise all the time and make good food choices. I have read what other people eat, and there is no way I am eating as much.

I am getting another fill next week if I have to scream bloody murder at my dr.

:angry Scream girl, scream! You need a fill! If he/she doesn't give you a fill, I'd look for a different fill dr. Good luck to you.

My Dr. said he has some pt.s that did not need a fill for 1 year. This is not me.

My Dr. said he has some pt.s that did not need a fill for 1 year. This is not me.

Yup, some people never need fills. Some people can, with only the restriction of the band being in place, lose weight.

It come down to lifestyle (I sound like a broken record! lol) If a person can change their lifestyle to include daily exercise, and a good healthy diet of Protein, veggies and (gasp!) carbs, it is entirely possible to lose weight with only the restriction the band provides unfilled.

If a bandster is losing even 0.5lbs a week, while eating a small meal of protein, veggies and carbs and exercising... They do not need a fill. Extended periods (4 weeks plus) of no weight loss at all, despite daily exercise and a balanced diet is when a bandster should be looking at a fill.

And honestly, doctor shopping for a fill is not really a great idea. Doctors get pissy about other surgeons or fill tech's touching "their" bands. And if a problem ever comes up, they may be unwilling to help you out if you have been seeing other doctors for fills.

But yeah, a broken record, lol.

I don't have a choice of doctors anyway. I live in the middle of nowhere, and people come from hundreds of miles away to go to my dr. He really is a good dr. I am sure I will get a fill this time, because I have lost zero this past month. I am going to tell him I am starving all the time, because I do get full fast, but I am hungry like an hour later.