I was banded 9/23/08 and went to the doctor yesterday for my third fill. I told him that I just don't have any restriction and after talking to some others that have been banded longer than me they also felt I did not have restriction. He informed me that I have an APL 14cc band and that I knew he gave fills cautiously and I still had a long way to go before I was at my max and actually would probably never need to be filled to the max. I have lost 36 pounds so far but to be honest, it is due to me dieting, not really the band. And I am scared because the 100+ other times I have dieted this is about the point that I always blow it! Before the fill yesterday I was at 3.5, now I think I am at 5. I feel a little bit of restriction today, but NOTHING like the other people I have met that have been banded. That being said, none of them have this band even though the same doctor did all of us. Will someone out there that has an APL 14 cc band please tell me when you finally felt the restriction everyone talks about. I am hungry ... and don't tell me it is head hunger. I did feel restriction for about the first 3 weeks to a month after surgery. Nothing since. I knew going in he would be cautious, and with me probably more so. I had heart surgery when I as 31 so he says slow and easy. I am just so afraid that this will not work for me.

I have an AP 10 and I am newly banded. I haven't had a fill yet but I understand your hunger. I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time to get some restriction. I hope that someone can step in an adivse you of thier fills on the same band.

GOOD LUCK!

Well I have that band.. I currently have 5.75 cc but should get another fill. Restriction is a generalized word. For some it means, they physically feel tightness in the chest and some even say they can tell by certain foods. If you eat till you feel the physical tightness then you ate too much. My guidlines are this. Eat 4-5oz (volume) meals every 3 hours with drinking Water 45 mins after. I was told I need a fill if I feel hungry after 2 hours. with the same size volume. If you eat animal Proteins (chicken, fish, etc) the pouch fills up really fast for me. When I had my last fill I really felt restriction. Slimming just on a small amount of food, which is not fun. But I have lost more weight now (fat pad on organs has gotten thinner) and I will need a fill in the near future. The so called restriction is different for everyone. If you follow the rules and are eating 5oz or more per meal, you need to get a fill. For you it might take more cc's to get some restriction than me. We all have different sized organs. Keep up the good work, your doing fine. Increase your exercise and make sure your actually eating enough (healthy food) so your body can burn that fat. I am running now and I work out 5 days a week (weights and cardio). I average around 800-1000 calories burned each work out. I am currently consuming around 1500 calories a day. Anyway everyone is different. Good luck. P.S. Try this website www.livestrong.com and sign up to use the <daily plate>. Its free and you can track what you eat. Very nice tool.

Dr. Michael Snyder

Surgery Date: 10/9/2008

First Fill: 11/11/2008---3.5cc

Second Fill: 12/11/2008----1.5cc

Third Fill: 1/8/2009-----.75cc

<Total>=5.75cc in a 14cc band

The AP L band can be tightened as snugly as any of the others. It just starts out a little larger (fyi those 4ccs are less than a teaspoon...that's what a small amt. it is) so you don't need to think that because your band started larger it won't restrict you. I have 5.5 ccs in my 14 cc AP L band and while not "there" yet, definitely have restriction. Honestly you need to just be calm and trust your doctor! :tongue2: I understand your fear, but it is unfounded.

I have a Realize band, but even so, all bands get you to the same point of restriction eventually. You just happen to have a conservative doctor who wants to take it slow.

Restriction definitely comes to us when the band is filled to the right quantity. Also, once you reach restriction, you will definitely feel it without a doubt. It will work for you . . . it is just taking a little extra time to get there.

Just hang in there a little longer. You are doing a great job so far with your loss.

i have a 14 cc band, i have 10 in it now...I think i have had 4 fills so far. i went into the 4th thinking i was never going to get any restriction and wondered if i was going to have to be all the way "filled" he kinda laughed at me and said no. that one did it, i got that adjustment in june so it's been 7 months and i think i'm about ready for maybe a very small one.