I've had one fill so far and will go for my second fill next Friday. I had some restriction for a while, but now it's very rare that I get restriction. My weight loss seems to have really slowed down. Will it get better once I get to my sweet spot with fills?

That's what I'm hoping, Dacer! I've had seven fills and have very little restriction. Next week I go for my 8th fill--I'm hopeful! Good luck to both of us!

I've had one fill so far and will go for my second fill next Friday. I had some restriction for a while, but now it's very rare that I get restriction. My weight loss seems to have really slowed down. Will it get better once I get to my sweet spot with fills?

This is from a previous post of mine:

39. "Will I feel full with a Lap-Band?" A post-op WLS patient is probably are not going to have the same sensation of "Full" after their operation that they experienced before their operation. In my case, before my operation, when I ate (Which means when I "Overate") I felt sort of "Stuffed" as if I had eaten a full meal, and drank with it, until my stomach was so full that it felt as if I had eaten a smaller version of a Thanksgiving dinner. I felt slightly distended or bloated, and as if I couldn't (Or shouldn't) eat another bite. I routinely ate so much food that I would feel right on the edge of uncomfortably full. That was the only way I felt "Satisfied". I believe that as a pre-op, I had never really learned my body's "Full signal", so I just kept on eating until I felt physical discomfort from over-eating, which I interpreted as "Being full". Angela says that her Grandmother taught her one way to tell if you are full: "If the food stops tasting as good as it did when you first started eating, that means you are full". I think that is a good way to tell fullness, as I know that applies to me now. I will be eating a meal, and halfway through the meal, the food stops tasting good to me, so I put it away. Patients who are post-op report many different "Full Signals", some of which I have listed here:

A hiccup or hiccups.

Sneezing.

Stuffiness in the chest.

Watering eyes.

Coughing.

Burping.

Excessive saliva.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, as there are many more "Full Signals" than I have listed. In summary, part of the "Behavior modification" that is a requirement of the post-op care for WLS patients is learning to recognize their body's "Full signal".

When a person experiences any new signal, they need to see if that signal is consistent with their being full. Then a person will know when they are full, as opposed to the full signal they used before their surgery.

40. "How does a Lap-Band actually work?" This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED 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 two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED 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.

How can I convince my doctor that i need a fill? I am hungry and seem to have stopped losing wieght.:help:

You shouldn't have to convince your doctor that you need a fill. You're the one who decided to get the LapBand and it's your body. As long as it has been at least 6 weeks since surgery you should be due for a fill anyways. Get in there...those doctors are there for you.

I was banded on May 9th and I just had my 4th fill yesterday.

Hi Everyone I am Cherie I had my band surgery on August 1st of this year I was 241.2 the day of my surgery and I am now 216.2 as of this morning.. my question regarding the fills is this: Does it hurt when you first go? I still feel sore in that area and can feel the port if I touch my stomach so I am a little scared that when I go for my first fill on 9/17 it is going to hurt ... could/would you let me know what it's like? Thanks

Hi Everyone I am Cherie I had my band surgery on August 1st of this year I was 241.2 the day of my surgery and I am now 216.2 as of this morning.. my question regarding the fills is this: Does it hurt when you first go? I still feel sore in that area and can feel the port if I touch my stomach so I am a little scared that when I go for my first fill on 9/17 it is going to hurt ... could/would you let me know what it's like? Thanks

The pain level is that of any injection.

I have had many fills, only one ever hurt, and that was a mild discomfort.

I have had 4 fills but dr. will only do .5 each time. I always have restriction for a week-10days and then am not as restricted. He will only see me every 6 weeks but I wish I could get in sooner, maybe at four weeks. I still have some restriction but as with all things we want more and we want it now!

Hi Everyone I am Cherie I had my band surgery on August 1st of this year I was 241.2 the day of my surgery and I am now 216.2 as of this morning.. my question regarding the fills is this: Does it hurt when you first go? I still feel sore in that area and can feel the port if I touch my stomach so I am a little scared that when I go for my first fill on 9/17 it is going to hurt ... could/would you let me know what it's like? Thanks

No way...there is no pain. I am the biggest chicken (oops duck) there is and was soooooooo apprehensive about the fill. What a waste of energy that was to be so concerned! I cannot wait for my next one really. Have fun girlfriend!

The not so brave Duck!

Hi Everyone I am Cherie I had my band surgery on August 1st of this year I was 241.2 the day of my surgery and I am now 216.2 as of this morning.. my question regarding the fills is this: Does it hurt when you first go? I still feel sore in that area and can feel the port if I touch my stomach so I am a little scared that when I go for my first fill on 9/17 it is going to hurt ... could/would you let me know what it's like? Thanks

I was banded on July 26th 07. I had my first fill on 8-8-07. Mine felt like a bee Sting. Quick and simple. Go in for my next fill in two days (9-12-07) I cant wait. I need more restriction. i have not lost but 2 pounds since first fill. :clap::confused:. the only thimg i can not eat is soft bread. i was also scared about the fill. I have heard so much good and bad. but it really was no big deal. i know everyone is different. but like i said before a bee sting. thats is how i felt. but to lose this weight i can handle that. keep up the good work and dont worry. :eek:

Yes, you should feel a big difference.