1st fill dilemma?

[AMJOHNSON 0]

I saw my doctor on the 22nd and I was put on the 4 week puree/mushy stage of eating. My next appointment is scheduled for January 19th. I was under the assumption that is when I would be getting my first fill to begin restricting. He told me that two days before I come, to start eating normal food that is not mushed or pureed. He said he needs to see how much food it does take to keep me satisfied and not hungry. I asked him if I would be getting my first fill? He said sometimes people don't need one at that stage. Correct me if I am wrong but does that not defeat the purpose of getting the band. I mean with no restriction your stomach is the same as it was before and wanting what it always needed to fill it before? If I do not get a fill then I have just been on a diet and did not need the band to lose weight? I really want a fill and begin my work with this device to get my weight off. So now I don't know if I should just tell him that I am always hungry and not satisfied just to get the fill. Now, if I have a good weight drop in 4 weeks will he think I don't need a fill because I am losing without restriction? I am torn. I don't want to ruin anything. I do know that I am always hungry because the little amounts they have me eating is not sustaining me. Lets face it the healthy alternative way of eating just does not stick to your bones and you are always hungry. I did this so I could make healthier choices and my stomach would be satisfied on it and I would not have to fill it with the bad food to feel satisfied. Has anyone else not gotten a fill when they were supposed to and stayed un-restricted?

ps:how do you get those little ticker trackers on your posts?

[MistyD65 1]

Well, I am one of those odd ones who had restriction with little or no fill. When I finally graduated from the liquid phase after surgery, I quickly found that if I ate more than a cup of food I would feel discomfort in the area of my band. I took that to mean that my upper pouch would hold about one cup of food. My first fill was 0.6 ccs (in a 4 cc band) and I didn't really notice any change in what or how much I could eat. But I have lost weight steadily. In fact, when I went for my second fill, my doctor and I decided that I really didn't need one. I can eat just about anything, I just have to watch the amount. I do hope to get some fill added when I go back on 1/5, because I'd like to stay satisfied for a longer period of time after each meal.

I have to admit, I wouldn't mind letting the band take on a little bit more of the work, but I definitely do NOT want to deal with PBing and not being able to eat appropriate foods. My doctor is conservative with fills though, so I don't think that will be a problem.

For a ticker, you can go here to make one Weight Loss - Diet Ticker

[cwm812 11]

I think your doctor is doing the right thing. You really don't know if you have any restriction yet because you haven't moved on to solids. If you try the solids and you have no restriction, he will probably give you the fill, but you really don't want a fill if you don't need one.

I was banded in April, but didn't need my first fill until July. According to my surgeon, it really depends on the original size of your stomach. He told me that he actually needed to pull the lap band fairly tightly in the OR. Once I started losing significant amount of weight, I did need my fills. but I'm 8 months out and have only had 3 fills.

[twiggysmiff 0]

Well, the main thing is that you are eating less, you're not hungry, and you are losing weight at a healthy pace. Some people feel restriction right away and don't need fills until they start losing weight. Regardless, be HONEST with your doctor. He is there to guide you through this and if tell them things that aren't true, you could set yourself up for problems. My doctor just said this to me on Tuesday. Some people will come in and say they are starving and get a fill even though their weight is dropping and then they have to come back to get it taken out again because it was too tight. It's better to be too loose than too tight if you're not in the "sweet spot". Good luck

[mnn2501 0]

My wife never had a fill and lost 85 lbs in 9 months.

I've had 5 fills and while I initially lost 50# almost immediatly, I have since gained back 15# -- Had another fill last Monday -- I think I may finally found my fill spot -- we'll see over the next few weeks.

Everyone is different, sounds like your doctor knows what he/she is doing.

Edited December 25, 2008 by mnn2501

[AMJOHNSON 0]

i know about trusting my surgeon he has not been wrong yet. I trusted him to put the band in me. I am thinking about journaling everything I eat, at what times and when i get hungry too. Maybe he can decide whether or not to restrict me after seeing my eating habits.

[MistyD65 1]

Journaling your eating is an excellent idea, especially if you include how long you take to eat your meals and how long it takes until you are hungry again. The more information you have about your eating and hunger, the better prepared you will be.