OK, so I was debating whether or not to make an appointment for my first fill. I was banded on 3/19 and I am doing pretty well. I am good about 80% of the time, but it is those 20% that make me worry. I eat out of control with no restriction. When I stick to the band rules and limit the carbs I feel restriction and don't feel the least bit hungry. So I decide that maybe I need my first fill. I have read that the band really doesn't work the way it is suppose to empty. So I call wait a month for my appointment, drive an hour, and meet with my doctor only to be told that he doesn't want to give me a fill because I do have restriction some of the time. He thinks the band is safer without doing too much filling. I really feel like I am doing all the work and the band isn't being the tool it was meant to be. I agree that I don't want to overfill the band for no reason. I want my band to last for life, but right now I feel like I am doing 90% of the work and the band is only doing 10. I just wish the band could maybe pick up some of the slack. Any way, I left with the understanding that until I get stuck or gain weight I won't call for another fill. What do you think about this? Is this what tells me that I really do need a fill?

Thanks

Wendy

OK, so I was debating whether or not to make an appointment for my first fill. I was banded on 3/19 and I am doing pretty well. I am good about 80% of the time, but it is those 20% that make me worry. I eat out of control with no restriction. When I stick to the band rules and limit the carbs I feel restriction and don't feel the least bit hungry. So I decide that maybe I need my first fill. I have read that the band really doesn't work the way it is suppose to empty. So I call wait a month for my appointment, drive an hour, and meet with my doctor only to be told that he doesn't want to give me a fill because I do have restriction some of the time. He thinks the band is safer without doing too much filling. I really feel like I am doing all the work and the band isn't being the tool it was meant to be. I agree that I don't want to overfill the band for no reason. I want my band to last for life, but right now I feel like I am doing 90% of the work and the band is only doing 10. I just wish the band could maybe pick up some of the slack. Any way, I left with the understanding that until I get stuck or gain weight I won't call for another fill. What do you think about this? Is this what tells me that I really do need a fill?

Thanks

Wendy

You said, and I quote: "When I stick to the band rules and limit the carbs I feel restriction and don't feel the least bit hungry."

This means that you do not need a fill, you just need to eliminate the junk. You've lost 34 lbs since mid March. That's awesome! It seems to me like you're right on track. Good job!:clap2:

Thanks for the fast reply. I have lost about 37 and I am still losing, but I continue to read how the band won't work without a fill and I know that I am doing most of the work. It is not the same as when I was first banded and didn't want to look at food. The weightloss was so easy then. I am just wondering if that is what will return with a fill and proper restriction. That would be so much easier than the daily struggle I am having now.

Thanks

Wendy

There have been MANY people who lose a significant amount of weight before their first fill. My doc said that as long as I'm losing about 2 lbs a week on AVERAGE, that I don't need a fill. The idea is, if you're hungry, eat until you're SATISFIED, not full. If you can do this and still lose weight, then

Less restriction = more hunger = eating more = no weight loss = time for a fill.

That make sense?