When was the last time you had a fill? How often did you get filled at the beginning?

I had my first fill 8/6 and I am scheduled for another one 9/4. I think Iam still eating too much. I was self pay and the price includes 4 fills and after the 4 fills it costs 250$ per fill so I am hoping this next one is it and I don't haveto go back for a long long time.

When was the last time you had a fill? How often did you get filled at the beginning?

I had my first fill 8/6 and I am scheduled for another one 9/4. I think Iam still eating too much. I was self pay and the price includes 4 fills and after the 4 fills it costs 250$ per fill so I am hoping this next one is it and I don't haveto go back for a long long time.

My fills were:

Six weeks out: 4.0CCs (Nothing!)

12 Weeks out: 5.6CCs (Nothing!)

18 Weeks out: 7.0CCs (Nothing!)

24 weeks out: 8.4CCs (FINALLY! RESTRICTION!)

28 weeks out: 8.8CCs (Restriction AGAIN!)

32 weeks out: 9.3CCs (Restriction AGAIN!)

14 LONG months goes by before needing another fill

9.4CCs (Restriction AGAIN!)

WOW! so I better save some money. Thank you very much!

I've had 6 and I have the small band. I've been banded for 13 months, lost about 80 pounds and got my last fill about 6 weeks ago. I have 2.70 in 4.00 cc's band.

Wendel what size is your band? is it a vg

I averaged fills every 6 to 8 weeks. I think I had a out 6 my first year. Now I am at my sweet spot so it will probably be a while before I get another fill. Good luck.

Wendel what size is your band? is it a vg

Yes. I have one of the first VG bands.

3 weeks post op 4 cc

6 weeks post op 2cc mores

9 weeks post op 1 cc more.

the first 4 cc did not do a lot, but I still felt some restriction. the second fill caused a lot of restriction and the third fill maybe my last one. I think i have found the sweet spot.

I am only 4 months out but I just had my 4th fill on Monday...

I am technically at 4cc's in 4cc band (although he's never withdrew any so I don't know how much is actually IN there) I asked him..

OK DOC just how much does my band REALLY hold since I've read that they can be over filled.

He said that he doesn't have ANY patients over 5cc's (in a small band)

and the large band can hold over 120cc's before it busts.

I'm hoping that I've hit my ultimate sweet spot and that it sticks.

How did you guys know when you hit your sweet spot? I had my 2nd fill last week, I have 2cc in my 4cc band. I do feel more restricted, but I get hungry within 2 hours after eating, I can eat about a cup to a cup and a half at a time, things get stuck easy and I get the golf ball feeling easy too. I have an appt for another fill next week if I want, I'm just not sure what to do.....

2cc's in a 4cc band is a decent fill. You might want to wait until you learn to chew better and take tiny bites. If you get more of a fill, you're going to get stuck more often and have the golf ball feeling more often too.

One of the main reasons for fills is losing the fat pad around your stomach makes the band looser. Maybe you should wait until you lose a little bit more of it and practice chewing until it's liquid so you don't get stuck or have the golf ball feeling. If you're starving, you can always call to get your fill.

I was banded in April of 06. I had my first fill of 1.25cc in June of 06. I got minor restriction for a short time with that fill. I had a second fill of only .50cc a month later, in July of 06. I got excellent restriction from that minor tweak...and have worked off of that fill ever since. That has been over a year ago. I don't plan on having another fill any time soon---hoping to finish off and maintain at this fill level. I am able to eat anything, just in smaller amounts.

When I only got a little restriction off of the first, I would never have believed a 1/2 cc would have made any difference at all---it DID!!!

Kat

Wow I am going to beg for a double fill or at least a fill and a half.

I was quoted one monthly payment for my loan and when I got the bill it double!! so I cannot afford fills after the 4 included in the package.

My fills were:

Six weeks out: 4.0CCs (Nothing!)

12 Weeks out: 5.6CCs (Nothing!)

18 Weeks out: 7.0CCs (Nothing!)

24 weeks out: 8.4CCs (FINALLY! RESTRICTION!)

28 weeks out: 8.8CCs (Restriction AGAIN!)

32 weeks out: 9.3CCs (Restriction AGAIN!)

14 LONG months goes by before needing another fill

9.4CCs (Restriction AGAIN!)

What did it feel like when you finally got restriction? I mean did you get sick or did you just feel full??? I just need something to go by. Please help I have a 10cc band and I am already up to 6cc and due for another fill on the 19th. My weight loss has pretty much came to a halt.

Thanks,

Stacy

I get a fill every six weeks...the last one, was only a small fill, doctor didn't think I needed one, because I had lost 9 lbs from the last fill ...so...she only put a small amount of fill in my band...I go again Sept. 24th....

When was the last time you had a fill? How often did you get filled at the beginning?

I had my first fill 8/6 and I am scheduled for another one 9/4. I think Iam still eating too much. I was self pay and the price includes 4 fills and after the 4 fills it costs 250$ per fill so I am hoping this next one is it and I don't haveto go back for a long long time.

Hi, the difference between an effective fill and a non-effective fill is night & day.

An effective fill is what we are all looking for. It makes the Lap-Band restrict the amount of food that we can eat, and provides the sensation of "Full", although your new "Full" feeling may not feel like your old "Full" feeling.

Some people use the term "Sweet Spot" to describe what I call "Effective Restriction".

The reason I do not use the term "Sweet Spot" is that it is easy to mistake a "Sweet Spot" for something that will last indefinitely, and an effective fill will usually NOT last indefinitely, due to the inevitable reduction of the residual fat-pad that lies between the band and the stomach wall.

The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to three weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to three weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.