I am not sure what to do. I waited 6 months to get my first fill and I lost 52 pounds. I have had two fills since then and I have gained 10 pounds because I have no restriction and I have gone back to eating crappy. I still don't drink soda anymore but I feel like I can't stop eating. I feel like a huge failure. I do want to call my doc tomorrow and get another fill and I hope that this one will work. There are sometimes that I feel like the food won't go down but that is rare. I am not sure what to do.....

I totally understand how you feel. I have not had a fill yet and have only lost 25.5 lbs, but I notice I can eat whatever I want just like before the band and it is really frustrating for me. I have been trying to get a fill but am not having any success. I try to eat better than before, but if I could do it on my own I wouldnt have needed the help of the band. Stick with it and try to eat as healthy as you can. I started taking organic appetite suppressants until I can inally get them to return my call about a fill.

It is normal to need several fills during this whole process. I have to see my surgeon once a month for the first year. If I need an adjustment sooner than a month I can go in and get one. If you do not have any restriction then you should see your surgeon for a fill. Getting the surgery is only part of the battle, eating right and getting proper adjustments are just as important. If my surgeon did not make himself available to help me maintain my band I would be raising a huge fuss, I didn't go through all of this to have it sabotaged by an incompetent surgeon who won’t help me maintain it.

I have had three fills so far. My first one gave me nothing, my second one gave me a little and my third gave me great restriction. But I have since lost some of that restriction and am ready for another fill. My next appointment is not until the 24th but I don't want to wait and will reschedule it today. I want to stay proactive so the weight loss stays steady.

I totally understand how you feel. I have not had a fill yet and have only lost 25.5 lbs, but I notice I can eat whatever I want just like before the band and it is really frustrating for me. I have been trying to get a fill but am not having any success. I try to eat better than before, but if I could do it on my own I wouldnt have needed the help of the band. Stick with it and try to eat as healthy as you can. I started taking organic appetite suppressants until I can inally get them to return my call about a fill.

I am so glad you wrote that! I was beginning to feel like a failure and wondering if what I was feeling was normal! I've lost 16lbs, I haven't had a fill yet and I am starting to get my appetite back after surgery. I don't want it back, lol! I'm noticing I"m eating more and feeling no restriction. But I'm just hoping this will change once I get my fills. Thanks for not making me feel alone.

Hello:

I just had my 3rd fill on Saturday - Sept. 13 - and it has made a tremendous difference. I stuck with liquids for the first 48 hours and today I had oatmeal for Breakfast and cottage cheese for lunch and dinner. Tomorrow it will be another day of soft mushies but on the 5th day I get to really try out the restriction. I get full quicker and stay full longer. Now I have more confidence that I am on my way. For a while I was beginning to think my experience with the band would turn out to be one of those failure stories I keep hearing about. This 3rd fill has given me the extra 'ummph' I needed to get back on track (as I had gained back 1 lb.). Remember, with the band in place you might get by without fills for a while, but eventually, you might need 2 -3 - or even more fills to obtain the right amount of restriction for yourself. Everyone is different. We're not all going to come off the sofa running a marathon a month after surgery. Some of us, and maybe most of us, will have to battle these inner demons crying out for all the wrong foods. It might take some of us 1 yr. to lose 50 lbs. where it might take others 1 yr. to lose 100! If you need 3 or more fills, don't beat yourself up about it. Proper restriction is what it's all about. Anyway, I can assure you, once you reach proper restriction (again) or for the first time, you will not be able to handle the crappy foods. Take care and good luck.

I had my 2nd fill Thursday. The nurse practioner pulled all my saline out to check how much was in there, before filling me. Apparently my doctor had filled my band right after he put in in me. My 1st fill he put 3 cc's in. She drew out 6 cc's of fluid. She said it was a good thing that she checked, because she would have over-filled me. I only got .08. My band is a 10. Between fill number 1 and number 2 (2 weeks) I lost 5 pounds. They said that was great! But it felt low to me after losing so much initially. But average is 1-2 pounds a week, so I guess I did OK. :eek: I am still not sure where my sweet spot is, but I feel pretty good after 2 fills. Since Thursday I have lost 2- 1/2 more pounds. Maybe I am on my way!!!:thumbup: