I got banded on Dec. 8th. Before surgery and the pre op diet I was 218. Surgery day I was 208. It's now Jan. 20th and I am still 208. I had almost no restriction at all these first six weeks, so I was hungry all the time. I could basically eat whatever I wanted. Today we got our first fill and I really don't feel that much restriction. I was able to quickly drink water and didn't really feel it stop or anything in the doc's office. He filled me 4.5cc's.

We are supposed to be on clear liquids today, so I got some gatorade. I didn't eat anything all day, and by 5pm I was absolutely starving. It hurt so bad. I tried to satiate my hunger with more fluids, but nothing works. So I ate some leftover chicken and mashed potatoes to see if it would go through. I ate small bites and chewed thouroughly - and I was able to eat like normal. What the hell is going on????

It's about two hours later and I am at the "painful" hungry point again. All I've literally been thinking about the last two hours is eating more chicken...

Sometimes it takes several fills to feel restriction. In the meantime, it's best to follow your doc's guidelines. Stay away from the chicken!! Just because you can eat something doesn't mean you should. Hang in there.

I had 3 fills and 3cc in a 4cc band before I felt any restriction. Even at 2.5cc I could eat anything I wanted and got very discouraged since it was over half filled. After the third fill, it took a week before I felt the restriction and now I am at my sweet spot. I have read several posts on here where people have gotten a fill and not felt it for a week or had to get an unfill after a week. My doc said that it can take up to two weeks to feel it. Hang in there, it does get better!

i can identify 120%. I have the big band 11cc and received my first 2cc last Monday. I gulped down the water in the office like nothing. I did the liquids that night. I did mushy the next day with no problem at all. When I was able to eat regular the following day I had a grilled cheese on wheat went down very easy no getting stuck or sick at all. I had a piece of pizza today with no problem at all. My hunger pains go away but I am not full. That is what I am waiting for. See I am an overeater and as us overeaters know we eat until we can't move or until we are physically sick. Now I am facing the same issues except I have a device in me. I have never been great with will power and I am finiding I have to use it more than ever to stop myself from overeating. I literally want this band to make me stop eating since I have always had a problem stopping. I know it sounds weird I am waiting for some discomfort or something to not agree to stop me. I know I need more fills to get that restriction.

Be patient and do the best you can until your second fill. I too had almost no restriction after my first fill. My second fill is so much tighter. I can't eat solid food yet and it has been 5 days!

What helped me get through between fills was doing my preop diet. I was successful on that and it kept me from gaining weight. Fill number 2 made a HUGE difference for me.