Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Questions after first fill



Recommended Posts

I was banded 01/23 and had my first fill 3/9 (currently down 34 lbs) I can still eat fairly large portions (which scares me!!) and find I'm getting hungry pretty often. Is this normal? I currently have 3cc in my band. I'm supposed to go back in 4 weeks for an adjustment. How many fills before you get to the right level?

Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

that is a question that has no specific answer. every person has a differrent "sweet spot". the "sweet spot" if when your band is full just right. i had surgery 8-11-08 and still in the process of getting fills. i think i have had 5 with 1 unfill.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, trish, and welcome.

There's no set amount of fills or fill level to get you to the right restriction. It depends on your doctor, how much saline he puts in each time and your body's reaction to the fill level.

My first fill was under fluoro at six weeks (I think it was 4.2 cc). I went in two weeks later for an in office fill, and I think it was around 1.9 cc. Two weeks later, the restriction I was feeling started to wear off again, so I asked for another fill under fluoro. They took an x-ray before they did the fill, and the barium went down in a swoosh, so it was obvious I could use another fill. That one lasted a month, got another, month later got another, and had another one two or three weeks later. This last fill took me to 8.4 cc in a 9 cc band, and it's going strong at almost a month. This seems to be the one that's going to stick for awhile. I have great restriction, but I'm still able to eat all types of foods w/o issues and stay full a good four hours (sometimes less and sometimes more).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have exactly the same issue. I have 4cc in a 10cc band

and I have no restriction. I can still have large portions of food at a time (3 meatballs, rice, Beans and a tortilla) I love my mexican food. Its a bit disappointing that I can still eat all that. I am loosing weight (surgery on 11/03/08; lost 40 pounds) so I am not sure about "fills" and "restriction".

This whole experience is not what they make it out to be

when you go to the pre-surgery seminars. I have yet to get full on 1 or 2 ounces of food.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

hey everyone, was banded 3/5/08 and have perfect restriction from my last fill which took place 3/3/09. 7cc in a 10 cc band. i thought i had restriction but the weight just wasn't moving as it should be. now i know that .25 to .50 of a cup of food really does fill me up. i thought i had restriction but the weight wasn't coming off, but i wasn't gaining. if you aren't losing at least 1.5 lbs a week, get a fill and make sure your food choices are smart choices. some of us need more restricted caloric intake than others. it works and it is great, don't get discouraged, just think you aren't gaining!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was banded on 7/8/08 and have had a few fills. I think I am at 7cc in a 10cc band. I am not at my sweet spot yet, but I am getting close. Going back in a week or two for another fill.

I am deathly afraid of getting sick so I am not pushing too fast. I would rather have it come off slow an steady than to have issues with food.

Good luck everyone!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my fourth fill two weeks ago, 7 cc's in a 10 cc band. I got stuck and went three days with major problems. I had an unfill and am now at 6.4 ccs. I can eat more and I am hungry every three hours which has me very disappointed. But I am keeping track of my food intake and being careful, because I would rather do that then experience the three awful days of pain before the unfill. I am confident though that next fill will make a difference.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was banded on 2-24 and scheduled for 1st refill on 4-13; I really think I need to go sooner than I am scheduled. I am hungry every hour on the hour now. I can eat maybe the same amount as if I did not have the band. I am trying to watch what I eat, but the hunger is really bad. Do you guys think I should get an earlier fill appointment if possible or should I continue watching what I eat and keep the scheduled appointment.

It is getting hard not to eat enough to kill the hunger, HELP :smile2:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×