I should have asked my doc this but, when they put the band in, do they fill it with anything? If not, am I supposed to feel any restriction with an unfilled band? Or is that what the first fill is for. Sorry for posing such a stupid question.

hi Hemidrone,

not really... you may feel a bit, but not much if anything. it may take a few fills to feel adequate restriction..

congrats on being banded!

That is the info that I was coming to look for :-) I was banded 1/25 and have been thinking that maybe they forgot to put it in!!! J/K... I feel some restriction but not as much as I thought I would. But, I haven't had my first fill yet and I'm eating mostly pureed food and full liquids with some solids mixed in. I sure hope to get more restricion with my fill!!!!

The band is usually put in empty. You will feel some restriction at first, due to post-op swelling. One that goes down, many people feel little to no restriction until their first fill, which could be anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks post-op. Once is it filled enough for you, that is when you will feel the proper amount of restriction. It may take more than one fill to get to that point.