So, I was on week five, normal foods, after surgery with no fill. The doctor didnt' put anything in my band when he put it on or anything, but after like 1-2 cups of food, I couldn't eat anymore at all! Like there was restriction. Apparently there was some because when they did my first fill yesterday, he showed the restriction before saline (a lot actually!!) and then decided to only add 1.6 cc's (I think, I know it was less than 2) because I was already too tight.

Am I the only one who got restriction just from the band??

Or am I just totally weird.:redface:

No- I think I am in a simlar position. I had a fill yesterday and they took out .3 and I was experiencing restriction prior. THEN they gave me .5 more (wanted to be VERY conservative because I was so tight after surgery). The dr. said normally they give 1 but gave me .5. Now today only drinking liquids I have incredible shoulder pain that comes and goes as I consumer liquids. I don't know if I should be happy or concerned!!!!! So perhaps we are one of the few that don't need a lot of fills to get to restriction- which would be great but hard to believe with such low fill numbers (but I know it is possible from what I've read about everyone being different). I go back in two weeks for another fill and then two weeks later so we shall see!

There is a girl where I work she has only had 2 fills in a year. I'm not sure how long she has had her band there is some confusion on that I thoght she has ahd it for a year and a coworker said she has had it about 6 months. But she's had few fills has restriction and done well with her band.

My doctor said he did not put in any fill at the time of surgery. I did get hungry when I was on liquids probably because I was not doing my protein shakes. But once I started eating mushies I didn't seem to be hungry that much. I really think I had my mind trained "what's for breakfast, what's for lunch?" and when I started to eat the food it only took a small amount before I was full. I don't think I will get much in my fill but I could be wrong. I go in Tues for the fill. I am doing very well on my water though maybe that to is helping me stay full.

My doctor said that about 15% of patients never need a fill. The restriction from the band alone is enough for some. I was hoping to be one of those since I have a huge needle phobia, but I dont think that I am going to be so lucky. I go for my first fill next week, then hopefully I will be able to eat less.

wow, Jaymommy! thank you for this thread. I seem to have restriction with just the band too. I can only eat about 1/2 a cup of stuff before I start getting icky feeling - especially if I eat to fast. I am still on the mushie routine. My first fill is 6/3 and it will be interesting to see it under fluro per fill.

my dr said he has patients that don't get a fill for the first year. i had my band on 3 weeks and was NEVER hungry. i had to make myself eat.

unfortunately, i had a terrible flu virus... coughed a LOT... popped a suture... got very ill and had to have my band removed via ASAP surgery.

good luck to the rest of you. i'll just do my best to not gain back any of the 30+ lbs i lost while banded/ill.

Wow, that's great that some of you have great restriction already! My doc puts 0 in at surgery because he says even a little is too much for some and they never need a fill.

Now me, I could eat a huge hamburger whole...no such luck.

I had fluid in my band at surgery but was WAAAAy too tight. Yesterday I went in 2 1/2 weeks before I was supposed to have my first fill and had an unfill instead. I now have only 0.5ccs in my band. The PA took out 3.2ccs. I'll let you know in a few days if I'm hungry or I still have enough restriction.

I had restriction with just the band. Just got my first fill 10 weeks postop. I don't know how much he put in but definitely feeling more restriction. Go back in 10 weeks for another fill. I'm glad I can't eat as much as before. Hit a plateau for weight loss.

I am 2 1/2 weeks post-op, and I still have some restriction from my band, which has no fill in it at all. I am still only on mushies, but am not able to eat more than 3/4 to 1 c of food at one sitting, and for the most part, this is holding me until the next meal.

I have been very fortunate - I had no appetite for the first 2 weeks, and in the past few days, even when I am hungry, it isn't a ravenous hunger....I just hope this keeps up, because even though my doc does fills at 6 weeks, he just happens to be on vacation at that time, so my first fill is not scheduled till July 9th.:wink2:

Well, today was my first official day on solids and about 4 days since my unfill. I don't know if it will last as I've heard that "fills" can take 2-3 weeks to take effect, so I imagine that unfill might not all work right away, BUT if I stay like this I think I have my sweet spot with only the 0.5 ccs. I had a sweet and sour chicken lean cuisine dinner and had no problems, even with the rice, but I couldn't finish that last bite of it. And for lunch I had ~ 3 oz Tyson steak strips and half a baked potato and again no problems getting it down but I felt overly full. It's pretty cool feeling this way. Now as long as I continue to listen to my body everything should be great.