How far apart do you get fills?

[Wheeler5051 0]

How frequent are your fills done? I forgot to ask my doctor when I went in for my 1st post op appointment. Is everyone different or are they pretty regular in the beginning?

[HeatherinCA 10]

I think it's every 6 weeks.. I didn't need anymore after my first one (I got a large one since it was done with a fluroscope machine). Basically your body takes a few weeks to adjust. For me, a week or two after my fill my hunger was just completely gone. Just start measuring your physical hunger level, If you can't go about 5 hours with out being physically hungry, then you need more. Obviously some doctors give really small fills.. then you may need a few.

I would say don't focus on them. Focus on how you feel. Let that decide if you need more or not, not how much is in your band.

[kll724 3,055]

I agree with Heather. It is not the time between as much as listening to your body. My surgeon always asks me if I feel I need a fill. I had one yesterday. I was very tight. I can only sip liquids for now. My surgeon requires 2 days clear and 2 days full liquids. After yesterday, I can understand why. So, as I and heather said, just listen to your bands, if you are experencing hunger too soon, you would need a fill. Karen

[Rachel412 116]

It's different for everyone. My first fill was today, 5 weeks post op, but I was told after this they do fills every 2 weeks- and in 1 week, if I need another, I can ask for it because "you've waited so long since surgery that we allow patients only one week wait after their very first fill." I was thrilled to hear it!

[vickyd 24]

My first fill appointment was 6 weeks post op and after that every 4 weeks. So far, I have only had 1 fill (at the 3 month point) and I am doing so well that I now only go back every 8 weeks with the understanding that if I think I need a fill then I can make an appointment sooner. Each time I go in, I get weighed and then talk to the PA about my weight loss, portion sizes and hunger level before we determine if I am getting a fill - the reason I said "we" determine whether or not to do a fill is because they always ask my opinion (which I love because it means I have the final say as to what happens.

[AlienBandit 10]

My doctor says the first fill can be 4-6 weeks after surgery and then fills can be done 2 weeks apart any time after that depending on whether your hungry or not.

When I first got banded I was hungry even after fills so if I saw my doc a week apart he would ask if I wanted a fill and I would say yes depending on the scale and how I felt.

Everyone is different though so listen to your body.

[Humming Bird 275]

I think mine were 8 weeks for the first 2 fills ...........then I went back after 9 months, ended up going back for an unfill that brought me back to the fill level of my 2nd fill again..... then I went 11 months.

[Yetta2u 3]

My doctors office do them every 4-6 weeks, but I opt for 6 weeks. I am going in for my 4th fill and I am still not at my restriction... Weight loss for me has been very slow

[Melissannde 41]

My doctor's regimen: first fill at 6 weeks, and then no more often than 4 weeks apart. I got frequent small fills which suited me really well.. I had no problems adjusting to smaller bites and smaller portions and weight was dropping off me at 4lbs a week in the beginning.

Everyone is different.. My doctor won't do them any more often than 4 weeks apart as it has been their experience that a fill can sometimes take 2 weeks to "kick in". This has been true for me.. I had one make itself known 10 days after receiving it.