This is a new one to me!

I was banded on Sept. 21st and after a problem with a referral three weeks ago, was finally set to have my first fill today. I was so excited since I haven't had ANY restriction at all.

When I got there, the NUT came in to talk to me and was so happy that I lost 4 lbs in three weeks that she said I didn't need to be filled because I was doing so well on my own.

She also said that as long as I'm doing so well, I should save my fills because there's going to come a time down the line where it's going to get harder and I'm going to need the help of a fill and I'll be happy I have room left because you can only have so many until you're "full".

I guess I see her point and Yay me! for losing the lousy 4 lbs that I wasn't even happy with, but MY GOD! I GOT THE BAND FOR HELP! I'm hungry all the time and can eat so much.

Any one else have this happen to them?! Just wondering. Haven't read it before.

Tracy :smile:

I'm with ya Tracy. I was banded 9/3/09 and have lost so much weight on my own (62 lbs) without restriction that my doc didn't want to fill me at all. I went for my first fill on 10/26 and was told I didn't need a fill since I was doing so well on my own. After lots of discussion I was given 2cc's. No help at all since I still didn't have restriction. Went two weeks later and was told I didn't need a fill. Like you, I feel I have done this surgery for assistance and to use the band as a tool. As of now, that's not the case. It's all about discipline (not restriction) I was told to come back after the Holidays so I'll see if I can beg for a fill and get restriction in the new year.

Hang tough! It really feels like our doctors "penalize" us for losing weight without having restriction...so the message is "don't lose weight until you have a fill...."

this is insane. Ive lost about 60 lbs.in 2 months and have no restriction but Ive been going to the doc every 2 weeks to get fills because he knows Im working really hard on my own. We got this band for help because we cant do it on our own. I can do any diet for a few months but then i give up so I need to have restriction soon or I will fail at this too. Im sick of diets. I want to eat like every other skinny person. They dont eat salads 3 times a day they eat less. Thats what i forked over $15000 for.

this is insane. Ive lost about 60 lbs.in 2 months and have no restriction but Ive been going to the doc every 2 weeks to get fills because he knows Im working really hard on my own. We got this band for help because we cant do it on our own. I can do any diet for a few months but then i give up so I need to have restriction soon or I will fail at this too. Im sick of diets. I want to eat like every other skinny person. They dont eat salads 3 times a day they eat less. Thats what i forked over $15000 for.

Congrats on your progress! I guess you're one of the lucky ones. My only reason for not going completely postal in there was because she mentioned about needing them more later on. That made me think. The NUT said I'm still in my "honeymoon phase" and it's still fresh and fun... another 50 lbs and it's not going to be so fun and so easy and you want to save your fills for those times. I don't know. All I do know is that I was pretty excited today and then totally disappointed all within about 15 mintues!

That is baloney! Why is your nut giving you advice about fills...she is there to help you with appropriate eating habits....fills are out of her range of training & license. Your doctor or his nurse practice person is the person that should be advising you on fills. You need to have a serious talk with your doctor. If he insists that the nut is qualified to help you, ask to see her certificate of Bariatric training. You are either paying (self-pay) or your insurance is paying, therefore you have the right to know if you are paying for a doctor's consult or not.

That is baloney! Why is your nut giving you advice about fills...she is there to help you with appropriate eating habits....fills are out of her range of training & license. Your doctor or his nurse practice person is the person that should be advising you on fills. You need to have a serious talk with your doctor. If he insists that the nut is qualified to help you, ask to see her certificate of Bariatric training. You are either paying (self-pay) or your insurance is paying, therefore you have the right to know if you are paying for a doctor's consult or not.

They actually gave me back my referral and co-pay and told me to hold on to it for the next time since nothing was done.

I understand that this was bullsh!t but I also see the point. I never thought about what happens when you reach your capacity in your band. Now they have me worried about that.

From what I gathered, she (the NUT) consults with the dr. about the progress you're making. She said that I can wait and see the dr. but with the loss I had, he's not going to fill me.

I just never heard of this happening. There's so much crap with this band that they don't tell you about before you get it. I wish I would've found this site first... I probably would've opted for a different procedure.

I lost 17 between surgery and my first fill - 5 weeks, and my Dr. happily gave me a fill - i lost that because i worked my but off at watching everything and eating nothing even if i was hungry - the fill has helped that slightly, but with holiday parties and stuff I am going in next week for another fill -- i need the help!

I never thought about what happens when you reach your capacity in your band. Now they have me worried about that. .

It sounds as if your NUT sees the band as a placebo and she's suggesting that they may need to dangle that in front of you at a later date.

As someone already said, BALONEY. If I reach 'capacity' in my band, according to my doc, and I'm still hungry, then I will need to look seriously at what I'm doing since that would shut me down to an opening about the size of an m&m.

My .02...I wouldn't allow the Nut or the doc to control my fills. *I* know what I'm feeling and *I* know whether or not I need a fill because it is my body. Fortunately, I have a doctor who has a band and knows all this and has put the control in my hands.

.

I have been reading these forums for quite a while, and this is the first time I have heard of getting the band completely full. I would research that if it were me. I have been more worried about being overfilled.

I think you need to change doctor's...plain and simple. You need a fill when you:

a. stop losing weight

b. are getting HUNGRY between meals

c. can eat a lot of food in one sitting (w/o getting sick)

YOUR BODY. YOUR DECISION. I'm sorry, but if you are having those 'symptoms' then you need a fill! And if you can't even see your doctor, find another one. That's ridiculous. And i've NEVER heard of anyone being completely 'full' and still being hungry. It's almost impossible! You'd be 'overfilled' at that point and would be getting sick all the time....

I went today for my second fill and did not get mine either! I lost 7 pounds in 4 weeks and the PA did not want me to be too tight.

I think this is crap! Just because you have self discipline doesnt mean that you dont need a fill. I agree with the others about the NUT, what is she doing deciding? That should be between you and the doc. And ultimately it should be your decision, this band is a tool to help us to loose not a carrot dangled in front of our faces!! What a tease, I would be pissed, as a matter of fact I would call tomorrow and tell them that you want a fill!! Why else did you get the band? AArgh, sorry, this just infuriates me!

D

Since my surgery on August 31st, I have lost about 48 pounds. I started losing way before (last January) I had surgery, and am now down a hundred pounds from my top weight.

I went in for my first fill a few weeks ago and the doctor put in three cc's. I had LOTS of restriction and went over a week with nothing but liquids staying down. I did not enjoy spitting up everything solid, and finally went back to my doctor. I was so embarrassed to throw up or spit up in front of my husband because the sliming and spitting up would not stop. After contacting him about nine days later, he took out 1 cc and I feel much better now.

I have not yet found that special "sweet spot" so many talk about, but I am doing good. I am very happy losing a pound or two a week. I want to have restriction, but not being able to eat anything solid was awful. I hope we can all find the right amount so that we can get the help we need!

:w00t:

They actually gave me back my referral and co-pay and told me to hold on to it for the next time since nothing was done.

I understand that this was bullsh!t but I also see the point. I never thought about what happens when you reach your capacity in your band. Now they have me worried about that.

From what I gathered, she (the NUT) consults with the dr. about the progress you're making. She said that I can wait and see the dr. but with the loss I had, he's not going to fill me.

I just never heard of this happening. There's so much crap with this band that they don't tell you about before you get it. I wish I would've found this site first... I probably would've opted for a different procedure.

That is totally ridiculous. I lost all my weight without getting anywhere close to the max and I think that is true of the majority of people. Fills are supposed to be based on whether or not you are feeling hungry!! I would be concerned and upset too. And I would not be quiet about it!

Since my surgery on August 31st, I have lost about 48 pounds. I started losing way before (last January) I had surgery, and am now down a hundred pounds from my top weight.

I went in for my first fill a few weeks ago and the doctor put in three cc's. I had LOTS of restriction and went over a week with nothing but liquids staying down. I did not enjoy spitting up everything solid, and finally went back to my doctor. I was so embarrassed to throw up or spit up in front of my husband because the sliming and spitting up would not stop. After contacting him about nine days later, he took out 1 cc and I feel much better now.

I have not yet found that special "sweet spot" so many talk about, but I am doing good. I am very happy losing a pound or two a week. I want to have restriction, but not being able to eat anything solid was awful. I hope we can all find the right amount so that we can get the help we need!

:w00t:

Sometimes just a couple tenths can make a big difference. I was not tight enough at 5 cc and way too tight at 6. I'm now at 5.6 and I think 5.4 would be about perfect. I plan to go back after the holidays and hope to maintain at 5 cc.

I had a fill today. I had lost 7 lbs in 5 weeks and was worried he wouldn't fill me even though I hadn't lost anything in the last 2 1/2 weeks. I was able to eat over a cup of food at a time and would be hungry after 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I had been losing due to my own self-control and some help from the band, but I guess Thanksgiving wore down my control and I knew I was eating too much. My doctor asked me if I thought I needed a fill and I said yes. He asked why since I had good weight loss. I told him I hadn't lost any in over two weeks. He said that weight loss was not a reason fill or not to fill. It all depended on how quickly I was hungry after eating. I told him and he did a 1cc fill. I feel fine and was able to eat a 1/2 cup of low-fat chili with cheese tonight with no problem. I ate it about 6:30 and wasn't hungry the rest of the night. I have 7 cc in my band now so I hope this is the sweet spot. I'm so blessed to have found a doctor who listens to what I tell him about how things are going and basis his decisions on how I feel rather than just weight loss.