I have had 3 fills now and I have no feeling of restriction! I was banded 14 weeks ago and have lost right at 40 lbs, that is slow right?:smile: I can pretty much eat as much as I want, I just don't. There have only been 2 times that I felt like I couldn't eat another bite, that my chest was feeling tight. Every time I get a fill and drink the water after, I feel like it is going down slower than before, it seems to gurgle and the doctor says that is good. But then when I get home and drink it is like nothing has changed. And when I start on mushies or solids again there is no restriction. My doctor doesn't seem concerned. But I am very frustrated.:frown: I can just imagine how the weight would be falling off if I wasn't able to eat as much. Can anyone relate? What do you all think? I need some feedback please.

Thanks!

Is your doctor filling just by adding more or does he take out what's there and put it back with more?

40 pounds in 14 weeks is great, IMHO! The "average" is 1-2 pounds a week; 2 pounds a week would be 28. 3 pounds a week, 36.....so you're over 3 pounds a week.

I thought it took 4 or more fills to get restriction unless your surgeon is aggressive (and that CAN cause problems; doesn't always but it can) I've had my band 1/2 as long and only 1 fill so far.

From my perspective, you're doing fine! AND I've read here that sometimes it can take up to 2 weeks for restriction to "show up" once you've had a fill.

Is your doctor filling just by adding more or does he take out what's there and put it back with more?

He says he is taking out what he can but isn't sure he is getting it all.

I didn't really get much restriction until my 4th fill this past Tuesday. 40 lbs in 14 weeks is phenomenal. That's way ahead of the curve.

4 fills no restriction here. I can totally relate. I keep thinking that there will be a morning I wake up and this band is going to feel tighter so I can be more resilient in watching what I eat. I know it's up to me but this surgery should be a tool. Right now it's seems like a waste. Tomorrow may be better for you and for me. Let's hope so.

I'm so with you!! I was banded on June 23rd. I've had 3 fills and only lost about 16lbs. My doc is not concerned either, but I feel your frustrations. If this were any other diet, I would have thrown in the towel by now. I want it to work! If I could do this by myself I would not have gotten the band, and right now I feel like I've lost the 16lbs with my own willpower, not the band. I've restricted my intake, etc.. but as always I'm not able to keep it. I'm at the point of regret, and feel like I've wasted my time, and money. I feel like I'm failing at this too. I just hope that the next fill gives me a little more control. Hang in there, unfortunately there are many of us in this situation. It will get better, and easier as we find our "sweet spot", and learn to work with our band.

IIf this were any other diet, I would have thrown in the towel by now.

Kamica, that's the key word.. you would have given up by now without the band. This is not a diet, this is a lifetime commitment so there is no giving up and eventually we will win.

I have had my band for 3 years and I am the other end of spectrum. I lost 130 pounds in about 1 1/2 yrs. Now that I have had about 5-6 fills I can eat all the junk food in the world (chips, ice cream, cereal) with out a problem. However, give me normal healthy food and I throw it up I try to stay away from the junk food and not buy them but when you are hungry you are hungry. My neighbor has the band too and she has this problem and just don't get it maybe the fat makes it go down easier LOL. Good Luck Ladies

I have had 3 fills now and I have no feeling of restriction! I was banded 14 weeks ago and have lost right at 40 lbs, that is slow right?:smile2: I can pretty much eat as much as I want, I just don't. There have only been 2 times that I felt like I couldn't eat another bite, that my chest was feeling tight. Every time I get a fill and drink the Water after, I feel like it is going down slower than before, it seems to gurgle and the doctor says that is good. But then when I get home and drink it is like nothing has changed. And when I start on mushies or solids again there is no restriction. My doctor doesn't seem concerned. But I am very frustrated.:thumbup: I can just imagine how the weight would be falling off if I wasn't able to eat as much. Can anyone relate? What do you all think? I need some feedback please.

Thanks!

There's another way to look at this. First of all, congratulations on your progress so far. I have discovered that I cannot wait for the band to tell me I am full, and eat until its tight. That isn't how it works for me. I have discovered that I have to be in control and pay attention to portions of Protein and healthy filling foods. Then eat slowly and wait 30 minutes to decide if I am hungry and want more. Unless I eat "slider foods" I am satisfied, however it is not meant to make you feel full like after eating a huge meal. I cannot rely on the band to stop me, I have to be proactive and portion control and let the band help me feel satisfied and stop the hunger.

I think sometimes people want the lapband to be a brake, and stop you from eating, but I don't think it works that way for many people. Try to use it for satiety only and see if that makes a difference for you. You must be doing a really good job with your food choices to have lost that much weight so far. Hopefully looking at it in a different light might help.

i am on my 6TH FILL and still have not had any restriction... i can still eat anything, chew fast, and everything goes down with a problem. as a matter of fact, i have NEVER once had anything get caught.

my doctor says hes not really worried about me not having restriction because i seem to be loosing weight a normal paste...

im getting SOOO FRUSTRATED NOW THOUGH! so for my next fill, he says i'm going to need to get an xray of my band to see why i dont have any restriction...

good luck!

but does anyone else have any advice for me? i mean is this normal?? my 6th, and nothing yet?

I didn't get restriction till fill 6 or 7. (I forget which now). I have a 4CC Band and it is at 3CC when I hit restriction.

It took like a week after the fill before I felt anything either - very strange. I need another fill now.

I wish I was losing as fast as you! You are doing awesome!!!!

I have the same issue, I have had the third fill at 2.7 in a 4 cc band and have been banded for a year and a half workout 5-6 days a week and the scale doesn't budge. I am having a LBL in Jan to end the misery of the fat hanging. I really didnt want to get down too thin. I am 5-8 and ended up at 175 and have gained 5 pds back, so I guess I have to settle for what happens after teh surgery. I also am going to go back on Sugar Busters this month, so I will see what happens.

I have had my band for 3 years and I am the other end of spectrum. I lost 130 pounds in about 1 1/2 yrs. Now that I have had about 5-6 fills I can eat all the junk food in the world (chips, ice cream, cereal) with out a problem. However, give me normal healthy food and I throw it up I try to stay away from the junk food and not buy them but when you are hungry you are hungry. My neighbor has the band too and she has this problem and just don't get it maybe the fat makes it go down easier LOL. Good Luck Ladies

My doctor was saying that if the band is too tight you will make poor food choices because those are the foods that feel good going down! Maybe you need an unfill?!

Also, for everyone else... 2-3 cc is hardly anything! My doctor filled me up to over 5 on the first fill because he said that most people don't have any restriction until that point. I had my second fill at 6 and feel much more restricted now! I can still drink a lot of liquids, but a couple ounces fills me up. Wait until you get 5-6 cc and then decide. Sometimes people need up to 8-10 cc to be perfect.

Edited October 19, 200817 yr by littlefroggy

Remember when talking about how many CCs you have or someone else has, make sure you know if your band holds 10CC or 4CC (I think those are the only two options - but I could be wrong). When I say I was at 3CC before I felt restriction, that is with a 4CC band. That would be equivelant to 7.5CC in a 10CC Band. Or 75% filled to max.

Good Luck with your fills!!!

Dr. Artuso in Dobbs ferry Hospital, right?