I'm sure it's been said before, but I just wanted to say a couple of things about my journey so far. I had my surgery on 3/31/08. I had my 4th fill on 11/4/08 and it is the first time I've felt restriction. I've been telling my doctor over and over again that I haven't had any restriction. When I went in for my fill on 11/4/08 I guess he finally believed me because I haven't lost but maybe 3 pounds since my surgery. My doctor has been very condescending and overall not that great, but he seems to maybe be changing his ways. My first fill cause me to have esophageal spasms, which I'm sure my panic probably made it worse. I had a complete unfill 30 minutes later, came back and had a fill a few weeks later. He refused to get close to the original amount that he had tried on my first fill because he thought it would be too much. I kept telling him I thought that it was just my body freaking out and that me panicking didn't help. He didn't believe me. He just looked at me like I was just some person being overly pushy or something. I feel like as an overweight person I've been made to feel like my feelings don't count for as much and that I don't know my body. I finally stood up to my doctor and he finally listened to me and I finally after 7 months have some restriction.

Don't be afraid to stand your ground with your doctor. Yes, they're the doctor and they might be experts in their field, but they are not experts on your body. You know your body and you have the right to be heard. None of use go through this surgery for fun, it's a tool to help us and we deserve for it to work. Maybe I'm wrong on this, but my experience has not been great so far, but I'm trying my hardest not to get discouraged.

OH so sorry you have had a problem, My clinic is great, I had first fill Sept and felt a bit of restriction. Not much. Then a week ago I started feeling none. So I called and they did a second fill this past Thursday. They told me to call whenever I want...and they will see what they can do, they like to wait at least 3 weeks between fillings.

I totally agree with you about standing your ground with your dr. I have had an almost identical experience as you. I was banded on May 31st in Mexico. Had my first fill in mid-July. Went back within two weeks because I knew that I still had no restriction. Long story short, I had my 4th fill on September 25th and finally began to lose weight, and (most importantly) finally learned what restriction actually felt like. Even with the restriction, I felt as though I was still eating too much, so I made the decision to go back this week for another fill. He put another .5 cc in my band, (up to 4.5 in a 10cc) and now I truly believe I am where I am supposed to be. I tried to eat a salad and was able to get 3 bites down. I have had to learn to become very aggressive with my doctor, and I fully expect my band to finally become the weightloss tool it was meant to be.

It's nice to read I'm not the only one with an A-hole for a doctor. I get the "you need to be more committed" speech when I go in for a fill. I finally told him that I am exercising to such a degree that the small weight loss I've had so far can be attributed to the exercise and not the band. That's great right? Sure, but I want to get the benifit of the band as well. Otherwise what's the point of having the procedure done?

Anyways he give me a 1.5cc fill and I definately felt restricted and began losing weight quickly. I'm finding tha the restriction has lessoned in the 8 days since the fill. So I'm made another appointment. It's time to take charge and get this train moving!