need a little advice/opinions

4my3girls · January 12, 2006

Maybe not so much advice but opinions. I was banded on November 26th, I feel great and am still losing an average of 1-2 lbs a week. I am scheduled for a fill on the 16th of this month BUT, if im still losing and still feel restriction, (which is a different subject becuse I was told if I dont have a fill I shuldn't have restriction) BUT I DO!! Anyways, should I have a fill if im still doing just fine for weight loss? Or will it eventually catch up and be hard to get on track as far as fills and weight loss, im afraid that if I get a fill I will have a harder time eating then I already do,AND mostly why spend the money now for a fill if im still losing weight, right. Also i might lose fast and i dont want to start sagging too much because of fast weight loss. What do you all think!! Did anyone else have this predicament? Thanks for the support!

191/173/130

13lbs lost and very happy

shalopash · January 12, 2006

If it was me, I would not get a fill if I was still feeling restricted from the surgery. As long as you are losing weight I'd would wait. That was what my doctor suggested - as soon as you stop losing weight and you don't feel restricted, it is time for a fill.

Anwyn · January 12, 2006

It doesn't happen often, but I know there are people out there who never need a fill. I think it's great! Why mess with fills if you're losing at a slow, steady rate. Congrats!

SouthTX LapBand · January 12, 2006

The entire point of the band is to readily achieve satiety (feeling "full"), retain that feeling for a few hours, AND for that condition to induce behavior changes such that you can lose 1-2 pounds a week.

The entire point of the band being adjustable is to make this "state of being" available to everyone who gets banded.

If you are still "there", then it might be counter-productive to change anything at this point. When you have gone 3 weeks without losing weight and/or you are struggling to deal with hunger issues and/or you can only lose by "dieting", then it is time for a fill.

Follow your instincts and let "the lady of the silicone fist" run your life.

HeatherGurl · January 12, 2006

It sounds like you are doing great without a fill. Save your fill and money for when you need it.

bandayed · January 12, 2006

I had restriction with no fill following surgery too. At my 2 month I opted to get a fill event though I was making decent progress in losing weight. I too assumed if I was good without a fill, I would be AWESOME with a fill! I have to be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. I was EXTREMELY tight for 2 weeks following and actually considering an unfill as I was having difficulty with almost all solid foods. All of a sudden for no apparent reason though, this situation settled down and I settled into a normal level of restriction. Since my fill I have not lost faster or slower than I was losing before. I am not more or less hungry than I was before. The 2-3 weeks that I was over restricted caused alot of PBing, anxiety and I was constantly worried I would slip my band from being sick all the time. In the end I guess I could have gone either way, but if you are happy with your weight loss and rate of weight loss why mess with it? If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

HarleyNana · January 12, 2006

I wouldn't get one yet, but I've had too much fill before and I was miserable, especially with a continuous weight loss.

ms_efflorescent · January 13, 2006

I was banded 5 weeks ago and I feel restricted. I read so many saying they are about this far out and are so hungry but not me.

I know that I do not plan to get a fill until I am feeling hungry within a few hours after eating and when I stop losing weight for a few weeks. In the mean time I am going to be thrilled that I already feel restricted.

I don't want any additional pressure on my stomach than it has to have for me to succeed. The tighter people get the more likely they are to have complications it seems. It seems logical to me that the tighter the band is on the stomach the more likely it is to erode into it. A long timer that went to the same surgeon as I did and is also a nurse says that once you get to goal you should get a slight unfill so that the band is looser on the stomach and will therefore cause less complications over time so I always want to be as loose as I can be and still feel satisfied and be losing weight.

So there is my long-winded opinion.

:biggrin1:

Serena

I'llsucceed · January 13, 2006

Sounds to me like everyone has already given you the BEST advise. I was always told by my doc & others to hold off on a fill for has long as possible. Its GREAT that your losing & has long has its over .5 per week, your doing Fantastic! Postpone the fill till its necessary. Great Job!

CCBSTX · January 13, 2006

I've had the same dilemma regarding "to fill or not to fill." I tend to want to be conservative on my fills because my stomach seems to be sensitive to them. As you can see, my last fill was only .2 cc (hardly anything) and boy can I tell the difference.

porclndoll · January 13, 2006

Id wait. My dr polls me on a couple of areas...How long Im staying full...If I feel hungry and if I can physically eat more food at one sitting. If i were comfortable I would save the fill and money

tztmama · January 13, 2006

I agree. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Some folks here in bandland have gone months without thata first fill. I would wait, especially if you are paying for it.

Jachut · January 13, 2006

I can feel it slackening off almost five weeks after banding, but not to the point that I'm not losing anymore or that I feel I'm overeating. I would say now I can eat absolutely anything, and I now get a little hungry late in the afternoon, but not to the point that I cant just wait for dinner. I'm satisfied on a small meal, but it's not a tiny meal - we eat off entree plates and I have a full plate. I can eat an ordinary size bowl of Cereal with some chopped fruit in the morning and a fairly big bowl of salad for lunch.

I'm due for my first fill next week. I guess I'll go with an open mind - I've definitely lost much slower over the past week or two, only lost 1.1kg since New Years Day, but I am losing and I have no desire to eat less than what I can get away with to continue losing. I dont want to try to lose 5kg a week!

If you're happy where you are, I'd leave it. Save the fills for when you really need them, you might be one of the lucky ones who needs far fewer.

4my3girls · January 13, 2006

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT, I NOW KNOW ITS OKAY TO NOT GET A FILL!! i WILL WAIT TILL i HAVE NO WEIGHT LOSS AND CAN EAT LIKE A PIG AGAIN HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE NEVER!!! THANKS AGAIN I TRULY APPRECIATE IT!