I am sort of frustrated. I was banded 9/4/07. I have had it easy, no problems have lost 23.5 lbs total did not gain anything during post-op. HOWEVER, I have been hungry hungry hippo these past few weeks with no-restriction and have been able to eat large volumes (no like pre-band but still more than what "I" think I should be able to eat) I have not lost anything is 2 weeks nor have I gained.

Well, I got my first fill yesterday and I told them everything and my doc only filled my band .6cc's (i have no clue what type or size band I have). Is this really a conservative fill? Although I am just on Clear liquids now I certainly can tell nothing and I am worried when I can eat if it will do anything at all.

Has anyone at all even had a little success with their first fill even if its short lived? I'm basically just making myself eat tiny portions (high protein/lowcarb and fat) and working out which is basically like dieting but I am not getting full. I've heard of it taking 1-2 weeks for you to feel the effects of the fill. I hope thats not the case.

Any words of wisdom out there???

I was banded august 24th.

I had my first fill last thursday.

I was super tight at first.

Now I just ate a turkey sausage with no problem but it's been sitting in my esaphagus for 20 minutes now.

I lost four pounds since.

It is definately not as tight as last week.

Why do fills loosen up?

It took me 5 fills to have optimal restriction. Keep going back until you have good restriction. Good luck.

I got banded 5 weeks ago. I lost 20 pounds in the first 3 weeks but the last 2 has been rough. I've gained and lost and eat like a pig. I have a huge appetite. I am getting my first fill next week. Does it really help? I feel as though I had the surgery for nothing. I want to feel ful. Lucy

Lucy, I cant tell anything yet. Still as hungry seem to be able to eat as much. I feel the same way as you like I did this all for nothing

I got my first fill yesterday. They did NOT tell me to do liquids, so I'm not.

I'm pleased, because after 3 or 4 bites, I'm full and need to stop. I'm impatient, because my brain is going to take a long time catching on to the program. It is screaming at me, "You CAN'T be done! Look how much food is left. You need to wash that down with something so you can fit in a few more bites......and so on and so on".

I've got to really work at deprograming 45 years of doing something one way!

I see the banding as a process. I don't want to lose weight faster than 1-2 lbs per week, or I would definitely not be losing fat. My mom had the gastric bypass, and lost quickly. Ended up losing a lot of muscle and bone density.

Slower losing, with consistency is real weight coming off. When I get my first fill, I am told I might not feel any restriction, until the 2nd or 3rd. The stomach has to adjust to the band, and the inflamation has to go away, for the actual result to be discernable.

:rain:I am working hard in this waiting period getting accustomed to chewing each bite until it is virtually liquid. Since once I get the restriction I will have to eat that way. Also, I understand it is kind to the band in place, doesn't put unnecessary stress on it. It is hard to be patient, but worth it in the long run.

I see the banding as a process. I don't want to lose weight faster than 1-2 lbs per week, or I would definitely not be losing fat. My mom had the gastric bypass, and lost quickly. Ended up losing a lot of muscle and bone density.

Slower losing, with consistency is real weight coming off. When I get my first fill, I am told I might not feel any restriction, until the 2nd or 3rd. The stomach has to adjust to the band, and the inflamation has to go away, for the actual result to be discernable.

:rain:I am working hard in this waiting period getting accustomed to chewing each bite until it is virtually liquid. Since once I get the restriction I will have to eat that way. Also, I understand it is kind to the band in place, doesn't put unnecessary stress on it. It is hard to be patient, but worth it in the long run.

I haven't been banded yet but this is the attitude I plan to have. I certainly want to lose weight but if I never gain another pound because of the band, I feel like it will be worth it. I plan to be patient and not even weigh myself that often. I'm not normally a patient person so I'm not saying it will be easy but at least that's the attitude I have right now.

I did it went and had my first fill......

It was not as bad as I made it out to be

1)didn't feel any pain

2)no pressure

3)no blood

but then agian I freaked myself out so much that I had a magazine over

my face for the first part of the fill, then I had to sit up with the

needle in the port and drink so water!!!!eww at that point I was not

thirsty and was a lil hard to take big drinks like they want you

too.It's so funny when I sat up with that needle in me I felt like the

lady (Mia) in the movie Pulp Fiction LOL...anyways today I'm on a soft

food diet maybe it's just me but I still feel like I don't have the

restriction like I did when I first had the surgery?