Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Frustrated at the small fills. Whats the Norm?



Recommended Posts

I'm really hating bander hell. My next appointment is on 11/10 and I am going to ask for another fill. I feel so frustrated and defeated. The whole I'm a failure mindset and why can't I control my eating.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Jencathen,

I totally understand how you are feeling. Until a few days ago when I had my 5th adjustment I was eating pretty much like I used to. Felt like it would never work for me. Well, it finally is!

You will get there too, just takes some of us longer. My surgery was 4 months ago and just now is it doing what it is there to do. How many adjustments have you had?

For me, with a small band, I am around 6.7 cc and I think I am probably in the green zone. My nurse said that most people are between 5 and 7, but it really varies. Keep me posted and good luck to you at your next appointment!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was banded on September 30 and only had one fill. I only have lost 8 pounds. Its like I can eat whatever I want. I hope it gets better

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Years ago, we had a member in our group who would only give .5cc per month....

6 Months later, everyone in the group was moving on and discussing - experiencing different things such as getting into the Green Zone, etc...it would have taken her OVER a year to get were we were in 4-5 months.

She was very upset and angry....convinced her Dr. was stringing her along making $$ by doing numerous monthly fills over a longer time period. Was always hungry, and struggled to loose or even maintain her weight...not moving in a positive direction.

She changed Dr.'s, who got her quickly on track...she became successful and completed her weight loss program...not as soon as others in the group, but quicker than if she stuck it out with her original Dr.

I recall asking my Dr. about how much adjustment I would need....

He always pointed to the "Yellow-Green-Red" chart on the wall, and would indicate to the Green section and say that that is what and where his goal was for me and all his patients to be, and he will be as aggressive, or not, depending upon the patients ability and willingness ids for change.

Only YOU can answer the question if you feel things are going as you expected..are you Happy? Are you loosing? Do you feel thit was all worth it???

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have only had one fill and he put in 1 cc. I am going back next week and will ask for another fill. I am not sure of the max amount of the band I have. I will find out. I'm sure I was told, but it just didn't stick.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had 2 fills. 4 CC's and 2 CC's. I'll be going back on 12/11 for another.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My very first fill was 2. Second was .5, and subsequent fills were .2 and .5 to my current fill of 3.6 I believe.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi,

I was in the same boat. Banded in September and didn't feel any restriction. I had my third fill a week ago and can really feel the restriction. Don't feel bad it will happen then you will be wondering what to eat as some of the food just refuses to go down easily. lol.

I am looking for new menu items now so that I don't get bored with the food I can eat and i am still getting all my Protein and body needs.

Good luck and hope you feel restricted soon lol if that is the right term to use.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my 3rd fill and the doctor said that I was at 6cc. I do feel the difference because if I dont chew my food enough or slower I get stuck. Does that mean am in the green zone.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had my second fill and still nothing. I haven't lost a pound yet. Sooo frustrated. I am trying to restrict myself through dieting, but let's face it -- if that worked, I wouldn't have needed the band. Hoping the next fill does it, or does something.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my 3rd fill and the doctor said that I was at 6cc. I do feel the difference because if I dont chew my food enough or slower I get stuck. Does that mean am in the green zone.

It might or it might not, but it definitely means you need to chew more and eat slower. I thought the first few times I got stuck that it meant I was near my green zone. I was wrong. All it meant was I was getting closer. But the band demands thorough chewing and slow eating. At a small fill level I didn't know that. After about two fills I sure did. But it took four fills to get to green. I may be here for a long time or a short time. I don't know yet. But going forward I must continue to chew well and eat slowly. The benefit is that the slower I go, the easier it is to feel satiety. I'm actually reaping the benefits of the band now. It's a beautiful thing.

Good luck. You'll get there. It's a learning process and you're learning how a band feels when it's working.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I will chew more and eat slower. I got back December 1 to get my 4th fill. I still have a lot to learn. I have started walking 3 miles 4 times a week .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had 6 cc's and was not really feeling any restriction. My np put in .4 cc's and I'm feeling super restricted. Who would have thought that tiny amount would do that? After almost 11 months I'm having to chew tiny bites and am finally feeling full!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×