This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band.

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 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 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.

I am just getting ready to have my 4th fill (of which every time I have had to go back to my doctor and get the saline taken out or mostly removed because of swelling or my purging). I know that this is probably my fault because I think I may have eaten too soon or ate the wrong things. What do you eat after a fill? I know you are supposed to have liquids, but for how long and is there anything you can eat besides liquids that won't get stuck?

I just had my second fill on Thursday. I have noticed I am having pulsating contractions in my stomach. Not in my chest but in my upper stomach where the band would be. They are painful and happen throughout the day. It doesn't happen just when I eat or drink. I can be sitting down and they hit me all of a sudden. I am not sure if this is esophageal spasms as the symptoms are different than what i have been told. Has anyone ever had these particular symptoms and I wonder if it is because of this last fill....

I sometimes too have this pulsing feeling, but it is usally when I am FULL, and oh ya know just tried to have 'one more bite'... it's your body telling you to QUIT it!! If I ignore it and continue then I'll have a PB and pain... :tt2:

I am just getting ready to have my 4th fill (of which every time I have had to go back to my doctor and get the saline taken out or mostly removed because of swelling or my purging). I know that this is probably my fault because I think I may have eaten too soon or ate the wrong things. What do you eat after a fill? I know you are supposed to have liquids, but for how long and is there anything you can eat besides liquids that won't get stuck?

What my clinic suggests is that you take liquids for the ENTIRE day of your fill. Then the next morning take it slow with Warm oatmeal, or scrambled eggs. (soft foods) and always remember to take TINY bites and chew well... then you can have a reg lunch and supper.

Hope this info helps.

OK...my doc is very conservative....clear liquids for the day of the fill (day 1) and two more days! Then mushies or food...I was soooo good this time...last time I had cream of tomato soup at lunch day 3....The NP actually had said I could try mushies that night, so that wasn't too early...

This time I made my own chicken broth from a family recipe which I LOVE so I drank that a bunch of times and had some isopure, and prune juice...for obvious reasons...

Good job Shelly!

I have had that pulsing feeling in the esophagus. Doctor said it was trying to pass the food. It's right at the bottom of my rib cage.

Amsderb, PLEASE share the recipe for the chicken broth!! Thanks a bunch :-) !!

Wendell,

This post has really been helpful for me. I had my surgery July 8 and just had my first fill on September 5. The reason is that I moved from California to Texas and had to schedule the fill when I would be in the Bay Area. I lost 20 pounds on the pre-post liquid diet, but when I started eating food my weight stabilized. With no fill, I was eating about half of what I was capable of eating in the past. For example, 1/2 to 2/3 of restaurant servings of fish, etc. For me, pre-band, I always had two speeds: dieting or eating. I had lost 90lbs on one occasion, 70lbs another time, and many times of 20lbs but always gained it back and more. So I was always either gaining or losing. After the band, once I started eating food, I could eat almost anything except bread as long as it could be chewed very slowly and to an almost liquid state before swallowing. But, I was beginning to go back to some of my old habits. It was actually kind of good for me to see that I could eat, and maintain my weight. I didn't gain or lose a pound for the past month. I wondered if I should try to diet on the band, but thought I should use the period to experiment a little and see how I could handle the band.

After the fill 4cc yesterday, I was still hungry all day, but stayed on liquids and mushies. This morning I had a Protein shake and I am full. I hope the restriction is kicking in. I now realize that I will have to go back several times to get to the right place, and I am encouraged that I will begin to lose weight and keep it off.

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post. I have been reading this site for an hour or so and have found a wealth of information.

I had my first fill on Tuesday (6cc in APL - 14cc cap). I really had problems all day Tuesday and Wednesday with anything and was beginning to think that my doctor was too agressive with this fill. I tried some solid food on Thursday and things were worse, but Friday and today have been fine. I think I might of had some swelling or I was eating too fast. Things seem ok now and I now feel like the doctor did the right thing.

Has anyone else had this type of thing happen in this short of time after a fill? What I mean by that is have a real tought time the first couple days and then things settle down to a good level after that. Also, has anyone had that much Fluid added on the first fill.

thanks for the information. This shed alot of ligt on my band.

A thread is just a lot of pages on the topic that was started.

You should be getting emails once you have posted that tells you someone posted after you in the same subject.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. The main home page is all broken down for different areas. For instance, it's broken down into age groups, questions, food and recipes etc.

This was thread was started because so many people have questions about why they have had a fill and still don't have restriction.

Thank you for answering my question that I never asked. I still would like to know how to set up a weight chart or line what ever it is called.

I had my surgery in April, because my body was acting like it did not want the band I was in the hospital 3 times because I was not keeping food down. Last month my doctor finally want back in and made adjustment. I am now eating. I received my first fill Sept.4 I thought that my stomach was swelling. Thanks. I am not feeling the restriction that i hope to have after waiting almost five months. I hope that the next one is better.

I am not exactly sure where the ticker instructions are. I think they are under frequently asked questions. You can put ticker into the thread search and it should come up.

WRTBILL: It's very common for a fill to change within the first couple of weeks. They say there is swelling around the stomach after a fill and that can mess with restriction. Restriction will change until you get close to goal as the fat pad around your stomach shrinks. I don't think that in that big of a band that is too big of a fill. It all depends on the person though. What is too much for one person could be not enough for another person.

Okay, I am the biggest needle phobic! does it hurt to get a fill? How do they do it?:thumbup:

Okay, I am the biggest needle phobic! does it hurt to get a fill? How do they do it?:thumbup:

I think everyone is different, but I have heard alot of people say it doesn't hurt and for me my first (have only had one) didn't hurt at all. I was shocked! I don't like needles either and was nervous but no pain. My dr said it was because there are not as many nerves in that part of the skin as like in your hand for instance. Good luck , hope it goes well for u!

It has never hurt me to get a fill. Mine are over with in about 10 seconds.

I have heard some doctors can't find the port right away and had to stick in the needle in more than once. They usually use something to numb the area first though, so it shouldn't hurt.

Hi all Sorry for the long post - I had my first fill on Sept 15th exactly 4 weeks after I was banded. I was nervous too about the first time fill but my doc was very careful finding the port first and having me stretch my arms up and then stick my tummy out in order to be really sure. He got in no problem - really was just a little pick. I was so busy gabbing that it went very quickly. I drank a few sips of water over the next few minutes and was good to go. I did feel a bit of restriction or kind of a strange feeling - made me a bit nauseated.:girl_hug: I was on fluids for the next 24 hrs - this was at 4pm so next evening I had a bit to eat and all was well. I paid $75.00 and I'm sure I was in with him for a good 40 min. He is doing the fills but runs a bariatric clinic and feels that us lapbanders also need support on how to eat with it and use it as a tool. He explained about research regarding abdominal fat, genetics and things. :wub:I really liked him. Sooo how much do you guys pay for fills? If I were closer to where I got banded they would be free but time and gas would cost me as much to get there.

Thanks for your post...but I have a question for you, Wendell. I have had 2 fills. Lost 24 lbs before & after surgery...during the liquid time. I have never had PB's, stuck food, or experienced any type of restriction yet. I am 3 months out. I have a 10cc band and was told 1st fill was 4 cc and 2nd 2-3 cc. I am discouraged and find myself eating more than I should. My challenge has been to not gain back any of the weight I first lost...which I have been successful at doing. I'm just ready to start losing again. My question is...is food just going through the stoma when I eat? I haven't felt the feeling of being full above the stoma. What is that feeling like? How will I know when it is working?