I am being banded on May 9th. My surgeon is being proctored on the Realize band. I am excited to have something new. (New here/old in Switzerland). Any other May bandits getting the realize band?

Maybe they will go in from above the site. I would hate to think they go through the incision line.

When I had my fill my doc went in from below the port site. I can't wait for my second fill. July 17! I can feel the "restriction" when I drink but not so much when I eat. I have felt it when I have not chewed my food enough, but that feeling was painful and kind of an Uh-o feeling. But If I chew my food well everything slides on through.

Maybe they will! I hadn't thought about that! Thanks for the info! I'll let you know....

Realize bandit here May 8th. I had my second fill on Friday and I asked him how big my band is and he said "well there is only one size, I think it's 10 or 11cc" So right now I'm sitting at 4 cc in my realize. there are times I feel restriction and other times I dont. Wish there was a forum on realize site that way I can talk to others that have that band. I am so far with going to the gym and everything losing 2 lbs a week. I just wish I would be losing more, I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm doing it better losing slowly instead of gastric bypass patients. I sometimes just get so impatient with the weight loss. I am swimming, biking, elliptical and treadmill and weight room.

Not sure if you get on the Obesityhelp site, but there is a separate Realize band forum on there (also lapband).

Hi ~ I was banded on 5/27/08 and just got my 1st fill on 7/10. They gave me 3 cc. I don't have my next fill until 8/27th - bummer...So far I have lost 22 lbs. (post-op). Its not bad but less than some of the other posts.

Hi everyone! I was banded May 9th. I've only lost 21 lbs. Yeah, yeah, I know that looks good in print! But, it really isn't. I lost 7 lbs pre-op. Of the 14 post-op pounds, I lost about 10 the first week after surgery. After that, I plateaud and then yo-yo'd 5-7 lbs for the next few weeks.

I was on the up point of my yo-yo when I got my 1st fill (6-27...7 weeks post op). To date, I have no restriction with 3ccs and am not scheduled for another fill until August 4. (My doc is very strict about 6 weeks between fills). So, for the past two weeks I've been eating a low carb diet and exercising. I have gotten control of my hunger with the low carb eating. I seem to have nipped the yo-yo'ing in the bud and I'm finally 1 lb. down from my lowest since surgery.

It has been very frustrating to say the least! I guess I'd be more overjoyed if I'd lost the 21 lbs. gradually over the past two months. But losing almost all at once, then nothing has been quite a let down. I'm not moping about it anymore. I'm working my butt off with diet and exercise and just keeping my fingers crossed until my next fill!

I suppose I had a different vision in my mind of how this weight loss journey was going to be!

Congrats to all of you! And keep it up!

I too was banded on May 9th. I have had 2 fills and will have another on July 18th. I don't have any restriction either. I just got back from a 10 day vacation and am glad to say I only gained 2 pds. First time I have not gained 5-7pds on vacation. The past couple days I have felt like some of the old demons have been coming back out...but am going to get them under control immediately! I do not want to go backwards. I do wonder if anyone has ever maxed out thier fills and never have restriction. Ever heard of this?

Have been reading these posts and I am with you! I was banded on 5/15 with the realize band. I had 3.5 cc on first fill and .8 cc on second. I can eat anything! I have lost about 20 pounds and have stopped losing - actually gained 3 ounds on a weekend trio this weekend! I am hungry and trying really hard not to be discouraged. I have been excersing (walking and Water aerobics at least four times a week and TRYING to be good about eating!

I decided this morning I am going to one shake a day, no breads, no sugars and try and "up" the excercise. I do not have another fill for two weeks! And I keep hearing in my head...it is only a tool, it is only a tool, it is only a tool.....

I am surprised at the small fills. I have had two, 5cc and 1.5 and have a small amount of restriction. My next fill is the 18th of August and I am going to plead for a larger fill. My sister was banded two weeks prior to me and has all the restriction she needs. It is a tool, but in my opinion if it is not restricting, it is not a tool! My Dr. wouldn't give me a larger fill, because I had lost some weight. He said this was proof that I had restriction. It is only proof that I am thinking about everything that passes my lips! AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!!!! I am losing about a half a pound a week. AAAUUUGGHHH! Oh well, good luck. I think we have to really advocate for ourselves to get the fills we need.

At my last fill appt I asked for more and he refused because he said if you put to much in then it you pretty much have to take out more then you put in and it is like starting over. He likes to sneak up on it...basically. I am hoping he will at least put in another 2cc's next week.

I had my first fill on 7/11. Boy did I feel Restriction! The nurse started with 5cc then backed off cause I couldn't feel it go through so I ended up with 4.6 and wasn't sure about that because I seem to feel so different. I stayed with liquids for 30 hours then tried some real food. Ate really small bites and was okay. Still I was very cautious till monday. Instant breakfast then a tuna sandwich for lunch with some cherries. All went down okay. Funny I still THINK I should be hungry but actually I'm not. The brain can really be a pain sometimes. Smaller amounts do fill me up.

It is a tool, but in my opinion if it is not restricting, it is not a tool!

Thank you Amanda! That is exactly how i feel! Any weight that I lose at this point is because of willpower, diet, and exercise! If I could make it forever on that, I never would have gotten the band. One day, the willpower will succumb to temptation, I just hope by then I will have a good amount of restriction and my temptation will be very limited!

Well ladies it's good to know I'm not the only one that isnt losing weight with this band. My 3rd fill is scheduled on aug. 11th. I'm hoping I'll get good restriction from that but I'm not sure. I can say how disgusted I am with myself...I actually pulled out a pair of jeans from my closet that I havent been able to fit in a long time and guess what my fat butt STILL CANT FIT THEM....they are a size 24. I go to the gym 4 times a week and swim swim swim and elliptical and some weights and I'm losing everywhere but my damn stomach. AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH my body hates me is the conclusion I've come up with. MY BODY HATES ME!!!

I was banded 5/5/08 with the realize band. And at first I was doing OK. Not any more. I am hungry all the time and unemployed. So I am stressing on losing weight, not beinging hungry and trying to find a job. I hope I get my first fill tomorrow. I have been at the same weight for a month. The last time I saw my Dr. he said to exercise more. That does not make you not hungry. So I called and talked and begged his nurse to get me a fill, so its tommorrow I HOPE.