How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills

[laniayala 2]

It sometimes takes more than one fill before you feel a huge change, especially if your doctor doesn't believe in an aggressive fill.

If you're hungry, you are definitely ready. I see you only had surgery a couple of weeks ago, so you are in what we call "bandster hell"

Most surgeons make people wait 6 weeks after surgery for their first fill.

i agree. Usually with the first fill, 15 -20 pounds are to be lost. My doctor was very aggressive with fills, I would get my adjustments or fills once every two months. Just hang in there, make sure that you do some little exercise- walking is good enough, eat whats on the diet plan and you will lose the weight.

[peaches9 3]

hi, i had my surgery 25th feb, i have had one fill and have only lost 17lb. that is a little dis heartening... however, i am hungry once again, will this improve with my second fill>>??

17 lbs is Awesome!!! You should be happy!!! 6 wks ~~ that averages 3 lbs per wk... 1 - 2 lbs per week is what the Lapband folks shoot for... You are well ahead of the curve.

[les46932 0]

What exactly is a PB-

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

It's a polite way of saying throwing up. It stand for productive burp. Sometimes when you burp, food comes with it. Sometimes, it's all

out puking.

It is to be avoided if possible.

[palarin 1]

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading everyone's questions on here about fills and what not. I just had my 4th fill on June 5. I now have 6 cc's in a 10 cc band.

My question is what type of feeling am I looking for so that I will know that I hit my "sweet-spot"?

After the first 6 weeks from surgery, I lost about 32 lbs. Since then my weight goes up and down. Currently, I am only down 12 lbs. since I had my Lap Band surgery on 12/26/07. Sometimes when I'm eating, I get a really tight pressure build up in my chest as the food is going down. I guess that I'm not chewing it up enough or is it telling me not to eat that type of food?

I appreciate any input you all can provide.

Thank you,

Marie

235/223/140

1st fill 3 cc's - 2/14/08

2nd fill 1 cc - 3/20/08

3rd fill 1 cc - 4/24/08

4th fill 1 cc - 6/5/08

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Yes, you are not chewing enough and maybe taking too big of bites. That's what happens when food gets stuck and can't go through the band.

The sweet spot is when you are full and satisfied on a small portion of food and stay full until your next meal. It can change as you loose weight. Just like the beginning of this thread talks about, as you lose fat around your stomach, the band gets looser. The sweet spot doesn't last until you are nearly at goal.

[palarin 1]

AthinnerDenise,

I understand what your saying about the weight around the belly but I don't understand what you mean by, "The sweet spot doesn't last until you are nearly at goal.? Are you saying that you only have the sweet spot for a short amount of time?

Also, I noticed that you were on Atkins prior to surgery. What kind of eating plan did you follow after surgery?

Thanks,

Marie

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

AthinnerDenise,

I understand what your saying about the weight around the belly but I don't understand what you mean by, "The sweet spot doesn't last until you are nearly at goal.? Are you saying that you only have the sweet spot for a short amount of time?

Also, I noticed that you were on Atkins prior to surgery. What kind of eating plan did you follow after surgery?

Thanks,

Marie

There is a fat pad around the stomach that we can not see. This fat pad shrinks just like the rest of us when we are losing weight. That's why after we have lost some weight, we can suddenly feel looser and we need another fill. When you are close to goal, the fat pad is mostly gone. I have had the same fills since Dec. and I don't think I will ever need another one.

Wendall describes this very well on the 1st page of this thread.

After surgery, I did 4 weeks of liquids. On my post op diet I could have Protein Drinks, Soups that I put in a blender so there were no chunks, sugar free Jello, and yogurt with no sugar added. After 4 weeks of liquids, I was on mushies for another 2 weeks.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am happy to help anyone at any time.

Edited June 9, 2008 by Oregondaisy

[palarin 1]

AThinnerDenise,

Thanks for responding to my questions. I really appreciate the information you shared with me. I'm also going to go back out and re-read the beginning of this thread.

It appears that we both followed the same plan after surgery. I was put on 4 weeks of liquids, then 2 weeks of mushies and then I was back to solid food. Did your Nutritionist/Dietician provide any information regarding which foods to eat after the mushies? I'm having a hard time coming up with a variety of things because I've always been a picky eater. To top that off, I'm almost 6 months post-op and I did lose 32 lbs. 6-weeks after surgery but then my weight stayed the same for a few weeks and then it began to climb again very slowly.

I'm very depressed over all of this because after 6 months, I'm only down 12 lbs. If you have any advice that you could share with me regarding food plans at this stage in the game, I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Marie

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I sent you a private message, since this is a topic about fills. It's best to stay on the topic of the thread.

[ewalk 1]

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band.

The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band.

Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band.

Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater.

It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Thanks for your post Wendell. I pasted it into word and printed it out because it is the best explanation of the process I have read as yet. I am going to give my dr. a copy of it to give to his patients. Actually, I hope he reads it himself, as I am sure I am going to need another fill soon. Although I have only lost 30 lbs since December, my stomach area has lost several inches. He says he can find the port much more easily now, however, he believes that I shouldn't need another fill for 3 more months. I was his first lap band patient and I wouldn't trade my tool for all the tea in China. Thanks for the post.

[jeaniev 0]

Thank you for the simlple and easy explanation of fills. I am 3+ weeks post op and find myself able to eat anything...still doing pretty well but look forward to more "help". Congratulations to you, too...way to go and God bless! Jeanie

[jaydee 0]

Thank you Wendell, I go for my first fill on Thursday 6/26. I feel I am better prepared for what you have written.

Davicar - Green Valley, AZ

5-28-08 Dr. Schwartz, Tucson

[Mischievous1 6]

Thank you Wendell, I go for my first fill on Thursday 6/26. I feel I am better prepared for what you have written.

Davicar - Green Valley, AZ

5-28-08 Dr. Schwartz, Tucson

I LOVE this thread and always refer back to it each time I go for a fill....it doesn't matter how many times you get one, you feel there's always something you forgot and if you want to get a "refresher" you may want to keep this subscription for future reference ....have a great day!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I wonder where Wendall is. He hasn't posted in a long time. I hope everything is okay with him.