When did your fills really start to work for you?

[wendyr 0]

My first fill I threw up on Water, so he had to take some out, so it didn't restrict me much, my second fill i could swallow the water and I have had great restriction kind of uncomfortable every time I eat. But I am on my third week and I can finally eat a couple of pieces of meat without being sick so thats good. I'm finally loosing weight at a good rate, plus I have been walking/jogging. that has really jumpstarted my weight loss.

[vinesqueen 2]

first off, what do you mean by "working for you?"

I have had fills kick in right away, and I've had fills take awhile before they sort of crept up on me.

But I don't lose weight, no matter how tight I am.

[donali 57]

My fills didn't kick in until about 4 weeks later... Go figure...

[Jachut 487]

My second fill really seems to have kicked in today since i had it on Monday. I'm not "tighter" in a physical sense but suddenly, my appetite has just absolutely gone. That's what I was like after surgery, not tight, just not wanting to eat.

Dare I hope it will be that easy for me? Like not tight so I PB or cant eat certain things, but just not hungry. Sounds too good to be true.

[loopylou 0]

My Doc says I should be 'nice and tight' now but I can still eat anything I want, and large amounts.:hurt

[sisterp 0]

My question is does PBing indicate that you have restirction...or does it just mean you are eating too fast?? I often have that dry, hard to swallow problem where it feels like it'S sticking, but seems like I can eat a lot just a little slower....I don't know whether I need a fill or not....I have had one fill at 1.6...any advice????

[Kryssa 1]

Dawn,

Could be either. I can eat alot when I chew very well and eat slow, and by alot I mean normal sized meals. If I don't chew well or eat too fast, I stick and slime every time. I don't have "good" restriction yet, so PBing doesn't indicate restriction in my case, just lack of good judgement.

[chill01 0]

My fills didn't work right away, I would be able to drink after he fills me up and even able to have Soup and some turkey or something and the next day it would tighten up and then I would go a week or a month on Water and ice chips and then it will ease open for a bit as my stomach shrinks. To finally get to my sweet spot took almost 2years off fills and unfills, then i lasted a whole year (this past year) with NO FILL at 1.9cc and that was my sweet spot, got down to my 135lbs I was loosing a jean size every week when i hit that sweet spot, i went from a 14 to a 2 and 4's in 8 weeks, and now back up there to 180lb, no fill in right now, trying but not able to do it. not getting a fill and eating right> HELP I DON"T WANT ANOTHER FILL because w/out one and no restriction I still have days were I can't eat and then days that i can eat all the time. Very sad right now about it. Any experience bandsters out there have any advise, i was told that my stoma and tummy gets swollen a lot. I don't have a slippage from my last barium and my weight keeps going up and down.

[gstnst 0]

I have had 3 good fills and 1 mishap. I still do not feel the restriction that others talk about. I had my surgery in June of 2005 and have only lost 20 lbs. I am beginning to think I made a big mistake. Hope I'm wrong.

gstnst

[chill01 0]

Same thing pretty much happend to me too lost very little first year. Thing is I've been at that sweet spot where you can barley eat or drink anything and got to my desired weight, now i don't want any fill and want to do it on my own, but am feeling very discouraged too, been banded since 2003 2 bands,

[schel 0]

Not sure if my fills are working yet or not. Only had my 2nd fill last Thursday. I do seem to get full quicker, so I guess maybe they are working??

Schel

[chill01 0]

I know that I will start to loose weight on a fill when I have a lot of restriction, that means no food, even if i chew and chew, but i can drink Water and ice chips I would do that for as long as i can w/out getting an unfill, then in a month or two your tummy shrinks and the band loosens and its time for another fill. If i could just eat just a little bit and feel full w/ a fill that would be great, but its either eat or not with me.

[PhotoNut 7]

My fills didn't work right away, I would be able to drink after he fills me up and even able to have Soup and some turkey or something and the next day it would tighten up and then I would go a week or a month on Water and ice chips and then it will ease open for a bit as my stomach shrinks.

Oh my gosh! This isnt normal is it? You poor thing. That can't be healthy. *hugs*

I had my first fill yesterday (1cc in a 4cc band) and I can feel the restriction. I'm on liquids for 48 hours and if I drink too fast, it has that feeling of swallowing an air bubble that gets stuck in your chest behind the breast plate. Yesterday I had a Protein shake (1 scoop in 1C skim milk + a vanilla slim fast) and 1 can of pureed bean with bacon soup, and I couldn't drink more than a cup at a time and stayed very full.. even in the evening when I generally want to eat more.

Dawg and I were just looking at a chart about the bands and how the fills differ in restriction depending on which band you have. When he gets it posted you should have a look. It will be in the FAQ forum thread on the Technical Reference thread.

[chill01 0]

Yeah I will look at that thread. But, getting my fill to my sweet spot again especially now since i have nothing in it and am letting my stomach heal (just so I can eat more) actually to stop swelling which I do a lot. So, I go from eating to not eating and loosing a ton of weight. I'm really frustrated with my band :heh: :cry

[Maggie63 0]

thanks for this thread. i had very little restriction after my first fill. if i ate slowly, i could probably eat an entire horse.

just got my second fill (1.7cc total in a 4cc band) a week or so ago. i am feeling REAL restriction now. i have to eat very slowly (or i pb), and after 1/2 a cup or so i am full.

others bandsters i have talked to have completely different stories. i really do believe it depends on the individual : )

schel-if you are wondering if you fill is working it probably isn't. go back and see your doc :confused: