wanabthin

I really have no idea what the official stats are but my nurse told me this week that in all the bands they have done at the office she has only seen two slips ever and they are very rare.

First of all, it is very unusual to feel any restriction after just one fill and usually takes numerous fills to be at restriction so don't worry just TRY to be patient. I know its hard, I didn't feel anything untill fill number 4. As for the liquids (my doc. only requires one day) I think it is due to the possibility of swelling after a fill.

I called and bugged my doctors office every few days untill they finally got me filled to restirction. That is what they are there for, don't feel bad!

I would really appreciate any advice or insight anyone may have on this. I had very good restriction from 10/18 until two weeks ago. I was noticing a little bit of a difference like I could eat a bowl of chilli instead of a cup and I was hungry more often so I thought I would get a little fill. I went in on Saturday 1/26 and they put in .5cc For that week I was too tight and could hardly eat, I lost 4lbs! So I went in the following Saturday 2/2 and had .3 taken out. Now I have NO RESTRICTION! I can eat anything and as much as I would like. How is this possible? I'm having a very hard time becuase I was so restricted for so long I'm binging all day and I have gained back the 4lbs from last week. I'm very scared of what I could be doing to my band though honestly I'm probably not eating as much as I feel like. For example I did go to McDonalds yesterday and I ate 1/2 a big mac and about 1/2 my fries but for someone who has been so restriced it feels like binging. I go back tomorrow for a fill but I'm just so confused about losing the restirction completely and feel very depressed about the 4lb gain! Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

Thank you for the replies. I should have known I would get slammed for admitting to the Big Mac Attack! Jax - I must have not been clear with my post, I do not eat this way often and I know how the band works, I have lost 52lbs since August. My issue is with the fact that I had okay restriction, then I was too tight, and now I have NO restriction and I have no idea how that can be with only .3ccs removed. I have a fear that I may have has a slip or something during the week that i was too tight. While I appreciate your response I'm not sure you realized that I was admitting to a moment of weakness after having been all but unable to eat anything for a whole week and not describing my normal routine. Again thank you to everyone, I guess like I said I was more concerned with the possibility that something may be wrong like a slip to go from one extreme to the next (too tight to no restriction) as I did over the weekend.

I think I have always struggled with this but in different ways. Sometimes I would see myself as smaller than I really was (denial) but other times I would see me as bigger than I was. Have you had a chance to see "How to look good Naked" on lifetime? There is a part in the show where they have a line of people in their underwear and the participant is asked to put themselves in the line where they think they would fit in according to size. They of coarse always get it wrong. You post reminded me of this. I think this will change over time as we get used to our new bodies. If not, there is always counseling.....

My last fill was October 18, since then I've lost almost 35lbs. My question is how often do you usually need a fill once the weight loss starts? I know my insides are changing but sometimes I still am pretty tight and even PB other times I can eat a lot more. I just really don't know if I need another fill or not. I am still losing but maybe a couple pounds every two weeks.

I had surgery on Friday and was back at work on Monday and no one knew a thing about it. I was a little sore but nothing the pain meds didn't take care of. I have primarily a desk job but am up and down a lot. I also had a 12 month old son at home, I didn't lift him over the weekend but by Monday I was also lifting and carrying him with my doctor's blessing.

I'm glad you are looking into this now. So many times people are dissappointed when they don't lose lots of weight right after surgery. The lapband is a SLOW process, which I think is a good thing because I want it to give my skin a chance to keep up. I had surgery 8/3 and finally after five fills on 10/18 they hit my sweet spot. Since then the weight has been falling off at about 2 lbs per week. I hope to finally reach my goal by about Memorial day which would be another 40lbs gone.

I don't think there are too many out there who can't relate to this. However, that being said, I'm sure you were informed that the time between surgery and your first fill is for HEALING, not losing weight. I had my surgery in the beginning of August and did not start losing weight until my 4th fill the very end of October! I know it is frustrating but you have to give it time. Take a deep breath and just remember you are at the starting line the race just hasn't begun yet. It will be worth it, I promise!

I have given this a lot of thought lately. I had been very frustrated because I know the last time I weighed around 190 I could wear a 12/14 very easily, now that I am 189, my 14's are a little snug. Then I realized that the difference was I had my first baby since the last time I was at this weight. So I assume any comparison that I had before is out the window. Sorry.

My little on was almost 12 mo. at my surgery. DH and my Mom went with me so they just took care of him in the waiting room. After, DH was home over the weekend with me so he took care of him while I rested. I was aloud to pick him up within 2 or 3 days though. I would really recommend the help for at least the first day and the day after.

I am in a very similar situation and have been debating the same thing. I know I was too tight in for the first three weeks after my fill becuase someitmes I would have liquid come back up (but never food??) Anyway I decided to tuff it out since I wasn't PBing too much and I could eat a little more in the evenings. Now I think I am looseining up on my own because I havn't PBed anything in over a week and liquids are going down pretty good. The band is a tricky thing to get used to but it is always a good idea to talk thing over with the doc. or nurse. (I did). Best of luck.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Remember the first 6 weeks are about healing not weight loss. It is not uncommon not to lose much at first. I really didn't lose much the first three months while they were adjusting my band but once they hit my sweet spot the weight is really coming off.

My AP band holds 10cc. As of three weeks ago I'm at 7cc's and honestly I'm too tight but I havn't had a chance to go and get any taken out. I probably only need like a .2 removed so I can at least drink liquids during the day. The plus side is I've lost 13lbs since then.

I use Cincinnati Weight Loss Center they have recenlty changed their name to Syncronhy Health. I don't know if they take those who they didn't band but I think they do. They are really good and tend to be more aggressive with fills. A lot of their staff including one of the surgeons are banded. Good luck.

I am a recovering binge eater. I have to tell you I also had doubts that the band would keep me from it. However, I had my 4th fill on Wednesday and finally I have RESTRICTION! It is amazing! I couldn't binge if I wanted too, not even on junk food, I may actually be a little too tight but I've lost 4lbs this week.

I asked my doc at my apt last night (by the way he and his wife are both banded) and he said the only issue with a straw is that you may find you have a little more gas due to the air but that was the worst of it. He said if I didn't notice the gas then don't worry about it. He also agreed that sometimes it can slow down your drinking if you are still having trouble being more of a sipper (which I am).

All of my fills are included the first year but I think after that it is $250.

I think we waited only 3 or 4 days after. Of coarse I was also back at work on Monday after a Friday surgery so the whole process very easy very quick recovery.

I think I will ask about this when I get my fill tomorrow. I don't remember anything being said about it, and they gave me a straw in the hospital after surgery. Also, I have actually found that liquids go down better for me through a straw, maybe because I don't take such big drinks but only sip which I thought was a good thing.

I think that everyone is just so different they have to go slow because some people may feel restriction after 2cc but others may need 6ccs. Also I've heard that some are much worse than others and only will give about 1/2 cc at a time where as my first fill was 3 ccs and my second was 2. I barely have to do any liquids either. If I get a fill in the moring they just say have soup the rest of the day and then I can eat normal the following day. You would think there would be some consistency but there isn't.

Honestly, if I were you I would expect nothing. That way you won't be disappointed if nothing seems different. After my first fill I really couln't tell anything. It usually takes multiple fills to feel real restriction. As far as the fill process, it was so quick and easy I really hate having to drive over an hour to get one because I'm in and out of the office in about 10 minutes. For me it was also painless.

My son was 11 months when I had surgery. I was given conflicting advice. The surgeon said I was fine to lift and the nurse said no lifting for a week. I again talked to the surgeon and he gave the okay. I had surgery on Friday and so Friday, Sat, Sun. DH was home and did all the lifting. By Monday I was back at work and so was he so I started lifting him again by Monday morning. All docs are different so you should talk with yours but I thought I would share my experience.

I had surgery Friday and went back to work (desk job but up and down a lot) on Monday. I was a little tired but that was it.