5 weeks, 3 fills, NO restriction! Is my band a dud?

[LiseSeattle 0]

graycie - very good post. thank you!

[New Gail 0]

I've had only 2 fills & I'm in my 23rd week & just the past few days have felt no restriction I"m at the Dr's on the 24th so know I'm ready for my 3rd fill. I have a 7cc band and I'm only at 1.9cc fill so I've got alot more I can take which will get me to my goal. Keep at it you know it's going to work

[Panda1 0]

I had my surgery Feb. 28th, one fill of 4 cc's and feel NO RESTRICTION. I have an appt. tomorrow to see the Dr. and hope for more of a fill. I agree with you all, it is hard to be patient!

[cantweight2go 1]

Penelope, You had I had our surgery at the same place. My surgeon was Patterson. I lost only 5 pounds before my first visit. I was told that I showed a lot of self control by dropping the 5 pounds because I had no restriction like you have now. Be kind to yourself. I have had one fill, 3 cc in a 10cc band. They will tell you what size band you have when you go in. They will give you a packet that tells you about your band. I have to date lost 35 pounds, 25 of it before surgery. I am frustrated too. I am hungry. I have been eating a lot of salads because i can eat more fresh veggies and not feel like I am pigging out. Good luck on your dr's visit and keep in touch if you have questions. I live in Battle Ground Washington and there is a great support group at South West Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, if you are interested.

[JustinsMama 1]

I'm trying to figure out how you've gotten 3 fills already at only 5 weeks out. I thought most docs made you weight at least until weeks 4-6 for the first fill?

[LiseSeattle 0]

I had my first fill right at the 4 week mark (actually a day early) - then 1 fill per week since. :smile2:

I'm trying to figure out how you've gotten 3 fills already at only 5 weeks out. I thought most docs made you weight at least until weeks 4-6 for the first fill?

[LiseSeattle 0]

Jack - you are one smart cookie! By the way - do you really look like your avatar? :smile2:

Bandsters: so many with concerns, and so many barely a month postOp....and so many with actual weight losses of 4-5 pounds a week!!

re: "i really am a bit scared that i'll max out my band and not feel restriction"

Life is too short to react to and anticipate what MIGHT happen rather that what DOES happen.

This is a marathon not a sprint.

Stick to the plan. And restriction when it DOES come will surprise many because it DOES work in spite of the fears to the contrary.

cheers to all

[trayd22 0]

I feel the same exact way. Sometimes i get full really easily and other times I am not. But i try to stop myself by eating the max 6 oz even if I am not full. When you are not full by meals though i find it difficult to not snack in between. My doctor said that once your band gets tightened to the right point then you will be full all the time and should loose about a pound a week. I am getting frustrated because i wish the weight came off quicker. I feel like i am doing everything right i weight all my food on a scale and I am working out almost every day and i feel like it should be coming off quicker than it is. I am about 13-14 post surgery and still getting frustrated but hang in there!

[imb316 0]

I know exactly how you all feel. I had my surgery on 12/31/07 and was feeling exactly like you. I had 5 fills with-in 8 weeks and still had no restriction. I kept going back to my Dr like 2X a week for a fill and saying how I feel like I have no band only scars. She made me promise to stay and drink 2 cups of Water after my fill and the proceeded to fill me to the point were by the time I got to the waiting room I was choking on my own salive! I went back to the room where she was waiting and she said I knew you were coming right back - now do you believe you have a band. She then took some fill out (RELIEF) and since then about 2 months have passed and I have had amazing restriction - I have 8.5 in a 10 band. So hang in there - you should not have to use will power - once you are at the proper restriction. Sometimes I wish I could eat a slice of pizza but I am glad I can't.

[trayd22 0]

see and that is what i hate I wish that I couldn't eat a slice of pizza but i can and I dont want to be able to!

[Penelope 0]

Hi Kids,

Well, I just got home from my first return visit with Dr. Jan. I saw the nutritionist (they were pleased with my puny weight loss) I had my upper GI barium swallow thingy ( It wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected, and I had no "chalky" sensation) and then had my first "fill". Lise, I asked what size band I had and they said I had an "11" and the max fill I could get would be 10cc. They gave me a 3cc fill today and I swear I could feel my little sip of Water hang up for just a second before it went down, so I suspect I finally have some degree of restriction. I have another appt. on May 16th for my next fill. She didn't even want to talk about what I could or couldn't eat prior to the fill - she just asked "Can you eat bread? " and I said "Hell, yeah! I can eat anything!" So they gave me the 3cc fill. Ok, only time will tell but I do feel so much better now, like "Hey! Maybe this is going to work after all!" I am on Clear Liquids now for a few days, then they said mushies and this time I actually think I'd better do what they said!

Lise, they were amazed at your having had 3 fills in your first 6 weeks, they said they had never heard of that being done. Is the center you go to a COE? (Center of Excellence) There are only a few in the US but luckily Good Samaritan Legacy Obesity Institute is one of them. I do feel confident that I am in good hands. And to the lovely lady from Battleground, thanks for your reply. I love Dr Jan, but I didn't even see him today, just the D.O. (who is very, very nice) and I swear I didn't even feel the needle, with no numbing even. Sure made me feel alot better. How long did it take for you to get in to Dr Patterson? I would have had to wait till the end of April just for my first consult with her and Dr Jan got me in in just three weeks. I had my surgery 5 weeks ago and I still wouldn't have seen her for the first time for two more weeks yet! I'm glad I went to Dr. Jan. Have a great day!

Penny

[OhioGirl 0]

I got my second fill yesterday, had 3cc in 10cc band. Now I have 4cc! I was kind of mad at my surgeon. Thought why bother with 1cc! Boy was I wrong. I have a lot of restriction now. I couldnt even get down some shredded lunch meat. For the first time I felt like throwing up. Guess 1cc makes a difference. Who would have thought. Is it possible I could be at the sweet spot with only 4cc in a 10cc band???

[MaidMarion 1]

Now I know this is weird but I have a friend who's mother is one of the few people locally who I know is banded. She could not get restriction. They didn't believe she could eat all she could so she took in a south beach meal to the doctors office ate that, drank a bottle of Water, then drank the barium to take a look around. Her little flappy thing that holds food in her stomach didn't just work as a trap door but worked both ways so she was able to put food in her esophagus. The doctor said he had never seen that before in a patient. She has lost weight but it has taken her a full 3 years to lose her 100 lbs. Have they looked at your restriction with xray?

[jaunderwood 0]

Hello all,

I had my first fill today. My Doc only put in.3cc!! He said that was enough!!I had the fill by floroscopy.

Is that possible to need only .3cc in my band?

Some of you veterans what do you think?

jaunderwood

[Penelope 0]

I just got my first fill yesterday and I also got 3cc. They told me that was the max amount for a fill at one time. I weigh myself on Tuesdays and I lost 4 pounds this week. So I guess I'm doing better than I thought and I need to learn this patience thing!

Have a good day.

Penny