Hi, I had my surgery done the day after Easter 09. I feel frustrated and alone in this whole journey! So grateful that I found this site though. I have yet to have my first fill yet my first fill is schedule for June 9, 09. I don't understand the cc's that everyone is talking about. I also don't even know what I have in me how much the band can hold etc. I do know this though. Now that they swelling has completely gone away I am not getting that full feeling anymore and it's not good! I haven't so much lost weight as I have inches and why that is I don't get either. So my question to everyone is this. Can I tell the Dr. how much I want him to fill it or suggest it to him? I want to make it worth my time and lose some weight. One big accomplishment for though through this process is I have not had a diet coke since begining April I never thought I would be that strong minded to give it up but I have.

I dig you guys! Too bad we all didn't live closer so we could kumbyah together!

Hi, I had my surgery done the day after Easter 09. I feel frustrated and alone in this whole journey! So grateful that I found this site though. I have yet to have my first fill yet my first fill is schedule for June 9, 09. I don't understand the cc's that everyone is talking about. I also don't even know what I have in me how much the band can hold etc. I do know this though. Now that they swelling has completely gone away I am not getting that full feeling anymore and it's not good! I haven't so much lost weight as I have inches and why that is I don't get either. So my question to everyone is this. Can I tell the Dr. how much I want him to fill it or suggest it to him? I want to make it worth my time and lose some weight. One big accomplishment for though through this process is I have not had a diet coke since begining April I never thought I would be that strong minded to give it up but I have.

Totally normal, and it is frustrating! It appears as if you need two to three fills to hit the right spot to restrict your intake. I, like you, was impatient and wanting to tell the Dr. to "tie it up", but they move at their own pace. But feel good, your experience is like everyone else.

I am glad to hear that I will know it when I feel it. Part of me keeps thinking that maybe I am ignoring something. I have PB'd, but it's usually with the first bite of a meal, especially if I haven't eaten anything solid yet. I have a 10 cc band, and I'm somewhere around 8 or 9 cc's.

Thanks for the comments. I feel like maybe this will work after all once I get more restriction. I do worry that I'm going to go from no restriction to so tight I can't eat and there won't be anywhere to go in between.

At least I have managed to keep off what I lost. I've lost 27 pounds, whcih occured from July-Dec, nothing since then. Half came off after the three week post-op liquid diet. I swear, I think the only reason I've lost anything is becuase of the post-op diet and the liquid diet each time I have a fill. My surgeon is stricter than most, and we have to be on 2 days clear, 2 days full liquids, and 2 days of soft food after every fill!

Someone asked about insurance. I have BCBS of FL. I get charged an office visit copay and % a hospital bill that the hospital bills. (I think 20%) What a rip off! The hospital gets a cut every time, I guess because Mr. Doctor's office is on the premesis of the hospital. They bill it as a procedure, rather than an office visit.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

I finally have some restriction! I finally feel full! It’s been almost a year, and this is the first time. I can still eat more than I feel like I should with the band, but it’s actually a normal size portion, so I’m happy with that. I was worried that I would never feel full, that I’d just feel discomfort or pain.

I also feel vindicated because now that I am eating enough to feel full and satisfied, I am not eating junk or binging. I think my surgeon and his staff felt like I was sabotaging myself. I kept trying to explain that I am not getting the fullness sensation and that makes it difficult to stick to a diet. I knew that if I felt satisfied, I’d be able to tackle the other eating issues. My blood sugar is more stable, which reduces my cravings.

I finally feel like this band is doing what it was designed to do!

Yeah! I'm happy for you!! I go in tomorrow to get more restriction, about five months ago the doctor refused to fill me anymore and I am starting to gain weight. I got down to about 176 lbs, now I'm inching upward again.

I think I'm only at 4cc.