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This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows: 1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill. 2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band. 3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food. 4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient. 5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again. 6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food. 7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again. Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

I think part of it might be the mind set. If you cry because of thinking about the deprivation again, it doesn't sound like you had a good experience prior to pregnancy. Eating less and feeling full shouldn't feel like deprivation. Your band should be tight enough to have restriction yet loose enough that you can eat healthy foods that support breastfeeding while still being able to be completely hydrated. I would just focus on the positive aspects of having a little more restriction, make sure you get in plenty of hydration. Also, a fill is not the end-all of the situation. If you get a fill and it seems too tight or seems like you are milk supply is beginning to diminish, you can always get a slight unfill. Try not to think about it in terms of feast or famine, all or none . . . it is a balance. I know that for me personally, I thought this way for years and years prior to banding and at any given point in time I was yo-yoing somewhere between overeating consistently or being on an extreme diet. Getting a little fill is just tipping the balance more in your favor. If you can continue to breastfeed successfully while slowing losing a few pounds and feeling more satisfied with your meals, it sounds like a win-win situation to me.

I was banded on December 9, 2010. I have lost 105 lbs including my preop 22 lb weight loss. I am 5'9" tall. On 11/23/2010 I was wearing a size 4x skirt and 3x top. My Bra size was 44 c. I am a true pear shape carrying the bulk of my weight below the waist which lends itself to heavy legs and thighs. Today I have on an 38B bra, XL skirt and a L top... both from Old Navy.... . no more woman's sizes shopping for me. I have no idea what size I will be when I get to my goal..... its still a long way off. I am averaging 10 lbs per month so hopefully by my anniversary date I will be down 50 more lbs. I think maybe then it will actually start sinking in. Having to lose 200 lbs is very overwhelming. However the good news is that I am past the 1/2 way point in 8 months. My Dr didnt sugar coat it... he said at my very first consult that it would take me 2 - 1/2 years. Now he thinks I should be at goal by April 2012 which would be some 16 months.

Oh sweetie!!! What a terrible position to be in. We all want to loose our baby weight quickly, and most want to feed our children bm because it is so good for them. Is there a reason why you need to loose the weight now, or could you wait just a bit longer before having a fill? Say until you are ready to wean? Here's why I would wait to get a fill until I was done, or almost done with nursing 1) nursing ACTIVELY burns calories. I've read that you can burn up to 500 calories per day by nursing. that means with exclusive bf'ing you will probably loose weight with a sensible diet 2) you need to keep your Fluid and calorie intake up so that your child gets the most nutritious bm. 3) You may want to investigate the affects of rapid weight loss on bm composition and what is possibly released into your bm. 4) I know that sudden dietary changes and a loss of calories can cause a drop in bm production. 5) like you said, deprivation is hard. Why do that when you are already nursing, which is also hard? It may (or may not) encourage you to give up nursing earlier than you would've otherwise if you feel crappy physically. I'm not an expert, I'm not a lactation expert, and I'm certainly NOT qualified to give medical advice. I say get in contact with someone who can really answer these important questions for you! Good luck momma!

I think you should go to your PCP so they can do a full workup on you. If you lost weight like this w/o the band w/o trying, that would be a red flag and your docotors would search for a reason. If you have been doing the same thing for years, maintaining your weight and then all of a sudden loose 20+ lbs, that is just not right. I am not trying to be an alarmist and Im sure your fine, but I think it would be smart to pursue this.... Good Luck!!!

Way to go, guys! Keep it up! I was banded 3/15 of this year, and have lost 104lbs so far.