Non band fill question please...

[Carrie_C 9]

I have talked to a lot of people who have lost a lot of weight without a fill. I don't think it's abnormal. I had my surgery 5/22/08 and I have lost 16 pounds. I just had my second fill last week. I am scheduled for a 3rd next month. But if I still feel as restricted as I do now, I won't have the 3rd fill. We are all different. I know one lady who has lost 80 punds without a fill, and another who has had 8 fills and has lost 50 pounds, and she still doesn't feel restricted.

[georgebals 0]

In between Doctors appts.,I come here LBT. Talk with fill techs & gastric by-pass people. I learn a lot about weight loss from by-pass people. By-pass mostly did not have a choice. One shot. The band gives me so many choices & chances that were not there a few short years ago. It took me over 10 years from 1st seminar to banding. I'm getting a lot of parts added to my body. Most are made by Johnson + Johnson. I getting in & out of surgery smoothly now. My band was the easiest. I need a few more surgerys. My next visit to my clinic is 7/31/08. This will be 1 of 3 fills I get covered under medicare if I choose. After that date I pay $175. If I do decide to fill=I have to change my daily pills + cut food even smaller. It's no BIG deal anymore. Losing LARGE in Vegas & Loving It. Hasta Pronto:thumbup:, George Good Luck Whatever you choose! This is the fastest ride I've been on.

[Babysoftly 0]

There are people who report losing great amounts of weight without any fills but they are few and far between. The band is designed to work when filled, so anyone who can lose weight without fills is unusual.

As far as wanting to be one of the people who don't need fills - why? Are you afraid of them hurting? They really aren't that bad. If you can make it through surgery you can certainly make it through a fill! It basically feels just like any other injection.

There seems to be a mentality that the fewer fills you need the better person you are and that is simply not the case. Fills are not evil! They are what makes the band work the way it was designed to work. If I could have lost weight without the band I would not have had major surgery. I know there are people who think I copped out and did the 'easy' thing, but I know that I had to do what was necessary to lose weight and that I could not succeed without this drastic step. The same thing goes for fills. We have to do what it takes to get the job done. I started feeling hungry five days after surgery and continued to feel hungry until my 4th or 5th fill. Once I got the restriction I needed, I was able to lose weight.

Remember we are all different. There is no right or wrong. We all require different fill levels to get restriction and we all lose weight at different rates. The point is, we have this awesome tool and we need to use it correctly. If it means we need five, six or more fills to get there, it would be kind of silly to go without them.

Oh I agree entirely... and no I'm not scared of needles or anything. I was just curious. I only been banded for 10 days so I'm still finding my way and learning :tt2:

[Kat817 19]

Oh I agree entirely... and no I'm not scared of needles or anything. I was just curious. I only been banded for 10 days so I'm still finding my way and learning

Get used to it-------I have only been banded for 2 1/2 years :tt2: and am still finding my way and learning----but what an awesome lessons they have been!!!!!

Kat

[Babysoftly 0]

Lol... thanks for all the help and support... this place rocks! WE rock!

[losing it in ne 0]

I was banded in april and I have not had a fill due to infection complications that forced the removal of my port. I have lost 50 #'s so far. Even when I get my port back I don't plan to have a fill unless my hunger is totally out of control. Everyone here talks like hunger is a bad thing and it isn't. It just means our body needs some fuel. Like you I only portion what I should have and I always wait 10 mins if I 'think" I need more. Seldom do I still want any more and am usually glad I didn't eat any more. The few times I have, I ended up with the shoulder pain you hear so much about. I try not to be 'full' only satisfied with my meals. If it has been 3 hours and I am feeling a little hungry I eat a small protien snack (usually protien only) and I am fine.

A lot of people wamt the band to do all the work and it can't. You still have to make good food choices most of the time. Can you indulge occasionally, Absolutely but this is where the band helps you eat much lest then you did before. I find I don't have the raging hungry I ha before with just the band and I probably could stuff myself with more but Why would I. We all know going in that you have to make changes so why do this to ourselves. NOt me.

[Candle 11]

My doctor's policy is that if you are losing weight steadily - they don't give you a fill. I've lost my weight VERY steadily and never needed a fill. However, I did talk them into giving me one small fill just so I could get over the anxiety of the needle and the fill process. (btw: it was a breeze)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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The fill made no difference - I don't think I’ve ever any restriction. I have no food limitations. I think the band placement alone was all I needed. I really don't have any issues with hunger any more so the band must be doing something.<o:p></o:p>

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I've found it's important to just do what works for YOU and don't compare yourself to others. The Lap Band is very individual. <o:p></o:p>

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