Hello, I was banded on June 18th of this year and had my first fill in a 10cc band on Sept. 2. I now have about 3cc's. I will go for my second fill tomorrow, but kind of want to know if any of you didn't experience getting anything stuck, sliming/PB'ing at this stage in your journey. I know a lot of you have trouble with certain kinds of food, but I can eat anything. Tortilla chips, steak, chicken all of the things others have problems with. Is my band working???? I am not losing/gaining any weight.:smile: And to top it all off, my hair is falling out and feels so unhealthy. :cool2:

Thanks!!!!

You should have gotten a fill way before now if you have been able to eat all of that - have you told your doctor that or just been going along since June without asking - there is definitely something wrong - you should only be able to eat small portions of those foods that you are talking about - I was banded June 27th - honestly haven't lost but about 10 lbs and can eat too much too and need a fill - will be my 3 one and I am only up to 2.75 in a 10 cc band. I think I will be perfect with it at about 50% full.

I was banded in NY and moved to Indiana before I was allowed to have my first fill, then I had to find a Dr. to do it. I don't eat the same quantities, but not a tiny amount either. I think I will need it about 50% too, at least it feels like it right now. It can be so discouraging! When will you get your 3rd? I will tell the Dr. everything that's going on or isn't tomorrow {gulp}! I hope you find your sweet spot soon too.

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I experienced no change at all with my first fill except that I was hungrier! I could eat anything. Everything went down easy, and large amounts of it. I was worried something was wrong. Then, I got my second fill and new right away the difference between restriction versus no restriction. I had been used to eating a lot and pretty much anything. Then, I started experiencing getting stuck, pbing, vomiting, sliming, all the bandster stuff.

So maybe it will just take another fill or two before you start noticing a difference too.

I think you will find that if you start going in for fills regularly (every 4 weeks), you will soon find your sweet spot. I was banded June 4, and my doc put 2 ccs in my 10cc band at the time of surgery. My first fill was 3 ccs, and my second fill was 1 cc. After my second fill, I thought I was going to DIE I was so tight . . . but once the swelling went down, it eased up (a matter of days).

With 6ccs in a 10 cc band, I think I am at my sweet spot. I will probably get another fill before the holidays, though, because I tend to loosen up a lot the more I lose. Maybe only .5ccs this time, though.

Good luck! You WILL get there.

I feel so much better knowing I am not alone on this. I was just reading

How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills

by Wendell Edwards and that helped so much too. It seems that once you feel like your band isn't working like it should, then you start to eat more of the wrong things, at least for me that's how it is. Now I know I will probably need 1,2,3 or more fills to reach my sweet spot. I can't wait!!!!! Thanks everyone, you are all lifesavers!!!!!! :cool2:

Kristi: I was banded the same day as you. I got my first fill of 3 cc on Aug 13 and then only 1/2 cc on Sept 18. My doc is happy with where I am on weight loss. I cannot say that I feel any restriction and I've had no problems with PBing, sliming, or anything else. I can and do eat what I want and I feel no consequences. HOWEVER, I do follow a diet plan that I rely on more than the band. I've found that merely following the banding rules doesn't work for me. So following Weight Watchers flex plan, something I'm familiar with, does work. It gives me the structure that I need and I like logging my food in on their website.

My plan is to have the minimum amount of restriction for as long as possible so that I can enjoy the freedom of eating a wide variety of foods (while limiting the quantity). As long as I'm meeting my weight loss goals of 2+ lbs per week, there is no need for more restriction. When I reach a sustained plateau then I'll ask for more restriction.

I suggest that you find a free website where you can log your food. Try not to rely only on the band to know when to stop eating. You'll find your way, you have the tool, now you just need to find out how to use it. My way may be different than yours.

God Bless.