Jan in Calif.

JANS · August 13, 2007

I am a 56 year old female, BMI 40, with approx. 75 to 80 lbs. to lose. I began to show health issues, and had no luck with diets, or no will power or dedication to excercise. After review I slected the Lapband procedure. I was banded on June 20. I had my first adjustment on July 26. I have lost 17 lbs. Since the adjustment I have not lost any weight, and do no feel as full. My weight will fluctuate up and down 5 lbs. I know I have not reached the green zone and have another appointment on Sept. 6. My doctor is Ninh Nguyen, at UCI Medical Center in Orange, Ca. I don't have a lap band web site. I am wondering how many adjustments are necessary, so that I can continue with my weight loss and feel full after only eating small portions? Why is the port just barely above my waist? Should there be any discomfort?:paranoid

Devana · August 14, 2007

Hi Jan, welcome to LBT and congratulations on your banding.

Some people on this site have reached their goal weight without any fills and others have required many to reach that "sweet spot". And for many of us, we feel fluctuating tightness throughout the day or month.

I read somewhere on another band site that having a skilled fill doctor is as important as the band placement. You can work carefully with your surgeon to get it working.

I have had 5 fills and feel I still haven't reached as much restriction as I like.

My surgeon told me that if I go for two weeks with no weight loss that it's time for a fill. I think that's a good plan in general, however, I do know that it's entirely possible to not lose weight or even gain it if the "bandster rules" aren't followed.

What a lot of bandsters do when they're not losing is to go over the rules again and make sure they're following them, as well as counting their calorie intake per day with help from sites like FitDay.

Don't lose heart. It's early days yet.