I am posting my reply knowing that there are going to be a few who will have something to say about it.
But here it goes.
Starting out I want to say.
You are an amazing person who has made the conscious decision to change their life. BRAVO to you.
First. I did not feel any restriction until my second fill. (banded 27OCT09 first fill 14DEC09)
Be prepared to not feel any restriction. Or if you do, it may not last but a few days.
Talk with your doctor
One. Find out what size band you have
Two. what is the fill schedule.
I have the larger Lap Band and my fill schedule, for example, is:
1st:: 4cc's
2nd:: 2cc's
3rd:: 2cc's
every fill after is 0.5cc's
This is very important. It will give you something to look forward to. You will feel more in charge.
Also, talk with your doctor about coming in every two weeks.
If your insurance will only cover a fill every four weeks see if they will do the other fill as an office call. They still get paid. And you get your fill.
Two weeks is much easier to manage than waiting four. It doesn't hurt to ask. Worst thing they can do is say no.
Second. No matter how 'filled' you are... if you want to eat around your band. You will. (I have)
If you want to push your food through by drinking a beverage while eating... you will. (been there, done it)
Getting to the 'sweet spot' is not going to automatically make you lose weight.
Does it help. Oh hell yes. I have over eaten and rushed to the bathroom. I have eaten too fast and rushed to the bathroom. That carbonated beverage I just had to have... I drank it.
Had horrible gas pains for the rest of the day too.
Am I at the 'sweet spot' for now yes. But as I lose the weight it will change. My band will get loose around my stomach and I will need another fill. Eventually, I will get to my final fill. I will be at my ideal weight. Until then. I live and learn.
When I am hungry and I want to snack. I do it. I try not to feel guilty about it. Sometimes it works. Not usually though. I step on the scale and see it stuck at the same spot I was the day of my surgery.
Am I frustrated. of course.
Do I know that it will get better. absolutely. I have four people in my life that have had this surgery done. successfully. One of them being the surgeon who did the procedure. All have lost and kept off the weight.
I too will get there. some day.
Until then, I try and stay positive.
So as I said prior. I am sure there is someone who has something to say about my post.
I didn't want to give you a little info without all of it.
Remember, you are an amazing person, who did an amazing thing. You took charge of your life and are getting to where you want to be, one step at a time.