I was doing really good until 3 weeks ago. My weight loss stalled and that was very discouraging for me. This week I have gained weight. I will get my first fill on Monday, and I am scared. I hope things turn out positve for me.

Hi Gina, so you were banded on 8/19 and lost how much so far? 35 lbs? That's great! I am one week post op and trying to figure all of this out. How to drink all of the liquid if you can't drink 1/2 hour before with or 1.5 hours after your meals and how I get all the Protein in when I'm only allowed Protein shakes (2ozs. at a time) and Soup. I'm also scared of my first fill. Not the actual fill but the "slimming" , burping and vomiting after I read about on here.

GinaJ...until you have sufficient restriction (and that may take 4 fills or more...and even some unfills, to get it right) it will almost be as if you don't even have the band. Remember your seminar and preop teaching...you are just finishing up the stage where we are supposed to be healing, not losing. It will happen, you have to give it time. Rapid early weight loss comes with a bypass, not the band. Ours will be slower over time, but we don't have the side effects they do either. Chill out and keep the faith!

And Lap Band Momma that most likely won't happen, especially on your first fill. It takes several tries, usually, to get that restriction and most docs make you drink Water etc before they will turn you loose. Some people "tighten up" afterward, but not all. So you may NEVER PB, slime, etc. Just chew chew chew and learn to listen to your body!

I was doing really good until 3 weeks ago. My weight loss stalled and that was very discouraging for me. This week I have gained weight. I will get my first fill on Monday, and I am scared. I hope things turn out positve for me.

Hey Gina, I was banded the day before you, I have experienced exactly the same, my weight loss stalled as soon as I started on mushies and I have really battled to keep it down since then despite adding excersise. I have to wait for my first fill until next Monday so another week of fighting to go. You should be proud of yourself, you have done really well with your loss. I had a total of 70 pounds to lose and have lost 21 to date but I've stopped weighing myself as much so as not to get too disappointed. I keep reading that this is really common and my nutritionist told me not to worry about my loss during the healing period, it will happen when we get to the right level of restriction with our fills.

Keep your chin up, you made the right decision and its really easy to think it's not working but it obviously is......look at what you have achieved so far. There's definitely more to come off yet!!

Best wishes

R

First I will say this is my second band, so I have a vast amount of experience in this situation. It is common that as you reach the date of you 1st fill you stomach has adjusted to the band, there is no swelling at the band site. Therefore it is as if you did not have a band at all. You are able to consume more food, with out really trying. Have you noticed that you do not have to chew you food as well? This is a sign that you need more restriction, hince your scheduled 1st fill. As you go on this band journey, noticing you are able to eat more or you are gaing weight is a great sign that you may need a fill. Your band is talking to you. Listen to it. Remember this is a tool. Also, what size band do you have? The 4cc, 8cc, 11 cc... there are so many now. The larger the band size the more adjustments it will take to get you to your sweet spot. I am having to remember this myself. My first band was a 4cc High Resistance band, so I felt some restricition even with out a fill. I have the APL 10cc band that is medium resistance, so I do not notice the restriciton as much. When I went for my first fill I had only lost 11 lbs. This was a disappointment to me. I have lost only 5 more lbs since my fill, and I can eat most anything as long as I eat very slow and small bites. This second time around is going to take longer. The up side of this is the new larger bands with medium restriction are less likley to slip and that is a good thing.

Keep up the good work and don't give up:thumbup:

I have an AP 10cc, and I can chew my food like I did prior to the band. I'm really kind of nervous about the fill tomorrow. I know it can take some people up to 6 fills before they fill restriction. I hope I adjust well with the changes.

I know it is hard for you not to worry. The first fill is always the scary step. At my clinic they inject a small amount of lidocaine before they stick the needle in to do the fill. My DH who has a band also doesnot like being stuck 2 times. He says the lidocaine doesnot help, so stick me once and get it over with. Tomorrow after your fill you should have lots of restriction. I mean lots, because of the swelling at the band site along with the increased diameter of the band. Your Dr should put you on a liquid diet for a couple of days, then transition you back to regular food. Keep the faith..... let the band work for you.

:girl_hug:

I am in the same boat as you! I can't wait for my fill! I feel like I am eating like I use to and it makes me so mad! I know it will take awhile to get that sweet spot, but man I really wish I could get a fill today!

OMG I have been searching and searching for this thread.

I will get my first fill Oct 3rd...has been 7 weeks yesterday. I just can't wait to get my fill....I have no restrictions at all. I feel crappy like I did before and I am eating more then just three days ago....I am so very nervous I am going to over do it and mess the band up and it will slip. I am eating 1 cup 1/2 of reg food. with a snack in between some times. But since Saturday I have eaten a bit more then that. Now trying to get myself back to normal. So I am filling then that it is so time for me to have a fill. I would have gone this week but he was on vaca so I go next Friday. I hope that changes the way I feel. Has anyone eaten more then should have?

I feel the same way. I am afraid to mess up the band........but i cant stop

I feel the same way. I am afraid to mess up the band........but i cant stop

Hi, I made that post just over a year ago. Seems odd to read it again now because I now weigh 134 pounds and am still losing albeit very very slowly. I think what happenned at that point was that my body just said hang on a minute too much loss in one go after the liquids and decided to keep hold of what it could. With hindsight I was so impatient and expected it all to come off instantly and all in one go. It really doesn't work like that. once you have decent restriction which may take a good 4 or 5 fills, you will start to lose. For me it has come off almost continously i.e I have rarely ever gained anymore than 1 or 2 pounds at any one time, which have come off again pretty quickly but I have had periods of stalling for up to a couple of weeks and this is normal. Don't worry, have faith, it will come off, treat yourself and your body kindly and try not to push it too hard. Your band is quite tough but you don't want to overdo it regularly as this may break it. Good luck to you all, life is good when you are slim and in an American size 6! Rx