Had 1st fill, and I'm bummed!

[birdbrainzz 0]

So, I had my very first fill yesterday. It went fine and completely 100% pain-free. He put 4 cc's in my 10 cc band, and I had really high hopes that I would have some restriction. But, that is not the case. I feel absolutely NO restriction whatsoever. My doctor said I should come back in six weeks for an additional fill, but I really don't want to wait that long! I really want to feel some restriction to help me with my appetite. How soon do you think I can get another fill?? Any suggestions would be great!

[zukagirl22 1]

i went once every 4 weeks/once a month. and it took me 5 fills and 2 unfills to get to the restriction i am at now. I have about 8cc in my band and am now at my sweet spot. i had the surgery aug of 08 and didn't start to feel real restriction until feb. it can be a very frustrating process but hang in there. it'll be all worth it in the end.

[Ms Mississippi 0]

So, I had my very first fill yesterday. It went fine and completely 100% pain-free. He put 4 cc's in my 10 cc band, and I had really high hopes that I would have some restriction. But, that is not the case. I feel absolutely NO restriction whatsoever. My doctor said I should come back in six weeks for an additional fill, but I really don't want to wait that long! I really want to feel some restriction to help me with my appetite. How soon do you think I can get another fill?? Any suggestions would be great!

Well birdbrainzz you feel fine after our fill did you feel any soreness in the port area on today? well to be honest with you it will take about a few days and you will really feel the restriction and you will really feel it in the a.m. when you wake up, but please be very careful on getting filled to early and to many times due to the fact it will cause you to over filled and may cause your band to slip just as mines did, so just be patient my friend and you really will feel it soon. I wish you well

[Sarah.R 2]

I agree with ms missippi, I've heard it can take up to 2 weeks to get restriction although hopefully that won't happen with you.

[PrincesaJenE 0]

I have to agree with everyone else. It can take up to 14 days for a fill to really set in and that is why docs usually will not do a fill more than once every 4 weeks. It is not at all surprising that you feel nothing , Give it a full two weeks and then talk to your doc. That's one thing about this website. You get to experience vicariously everyone else's experience. I myself have been a little dissapointed with the first few months of this process but because I've read about the experiences of others I know that I have to be patient and that it may take several fills before I start seeing significant weightloss. Remember p this is a process. Let it run its course. Be patient. Good luck.

[shelley2b 0]

I was told no more often than every 2 weeks - but the thing is that it took me a long time to feel restriction too... I prefer the slow and steady approach. I want to be able to eat - not have to throw everything up, and I went from no restriction to PB every meal. So just take it easy and take your time and I'm sure you'll get there.

[Lady D 3-30-09 0]

I have had 3 fills and have absolutely no restriction either. Never had, not even after surgery from swelling. I know it takes patience, believe me they tell me all the time. But I need to feel something to really begin my weight loss. I have been learning about lapband for a year and a half and would finally like to know "the feeling". I sometimes wonder if I will be one of those few that never feels restriction, and I wonder if the band is on right. I wonder lots of things...lol. But I will give it a few more fills before I ask the doc to check for problems with the band. Hang in, your in company with many others who have frustration. :thumbup:

[tyme4change 1]

Hang in there! Restriction is not always instant. It takes time and patients.

[amceache 5]

I have to tell you, it's like you read my mind and put it into words. I also had a fill yesterday, and I am feeling pouty that I don't feel more restriction today. I did not know that it could take a while to feel the restriciton after fill - I thought it would be fairly immediate. I appreciate all the other posts. It has made me feel better. It is a good reminder that I just need to be patient. But please know birdbrainzz - you are not alone! Sounds like we are in almost exactly the same place. Hopefully we will feel something in a week or so. Let's keep our fingers crossed!! :-)

[Libbyjane1976 1]

Unfortunately it is a slow process and we have to have patience. Our bodies have to get used to the band. My 1st fill was only 4cc's and since then I've had 2 more fills for a total of 6 cc's and I still don't really have any restriction but I do however get fuller a bit faster these days which is good because I can still enjoy food and not pb it up!

[EmmaWang 0]

Hi, my first fill was 4.4 cc, but I didn't have restriction. My second and thrid fill were each 0.5 cc and I remain with no restriction. I just had my fourth fill today which took me to a total 5.9 cc. I am on liquid diet right now and I don't know if this one could do the trick or not. I have only one free fill left which falls on 06/09/09. The PA refused to give me bigger fills as she was afraid I could end up with overfilling. I was really dissapointed as I was expecting at least 1 cc of filling today.

[lipstix64 1]

Dont get discouraged, my restriction didnt take effect until the 3rd fill and then Bam! I now have to chew food really well and take small bites, but I still will have to PB(Productive Burp) once in a while. Im a fast eater, cant help it. What your feeling is called Bandster hell, I think. No restriction and your relying on your willpower. Its friggin tough. I was told to wait 6 weeks before I got another fill. The want to do your fills slowly so you can adjust. It will happen. Good luk!:thumbup:

So, I had my very first fill yesterday. It went fine and completely 100% pain-free. He put 4 cc's in my 10 cc band, and I had really high hopes that I would have some restriction. But, that is not the case. I feel absolutely NO restriction whatsoever. My doctor said I should come back in six weeks for an additional fill, but I really don't want to wait that long! I really want to feel some restriction to help me with my appetite. How soon do you think I can get another fill?? Any suggestions would be great!

[Ms Mississippi 0]

I have had 3 fills and have absolutely no restriction either. Never had, not even after surgery from swelling. I know it takes patience, believe me they tell me all the time. But I need to feel something to really begin my weight loss. I have been learning about lapband for a year and a half and would finally like to know "the feeling". I sometimes wonder if I will be one of those few that never feels restriction, and I wonder if the band is on right. I wonder lots of things...lol. But I will give it a few more fills before I ask the doc to check for problems with the band. Hang in, your in company with many others who have frustration. :thumbup:

I am sorry you had this problem but you said the key word at the end you might want to have your doc to do a x-ray to see if your band has slipped, if you are not getting NO restriction at all that should be addressed my friend. I know you didn't go under to feel this way. Have you lost any weight? and are you eating your protien that is one of the keys to feeling full it really work trust me I have lost a total of 61lbs but again keep doing your part and check with your doc if you still feel this way.

[genepha 47]

I completely understand your frustration. In all honesty, it took me like 7 or 8 fills to finally have really good restriction. However, I was banded in 2001 and my drs were very, very conservative (still are)! :thumbup: Everytime I would go in for a fill I would hope that it would be the *one*. After a complete unfill for the past year or so (due to bed rest and pregnancy) I am back on a sloooow re-fill schedule.

Dr.s have you wait between fills for a reason and like many others have said, fills can take time to settle in. My fills usually work the opposite way, really tight in the beginning and then gradually loosen up. I hope you find restriction soon... hang in there, stick to the bandster rules and exercise and you will be fine!

Jenn

[shelley2b 0]

It took me until I had 6.5cc's to feel anything at all - and I didn't have restriction in that I could eat a lot - the first thing I noticed is when I bit into a burrito and the tortilla got stuck! Then what I felt was that I could eat quantity but that I couldn't eat big mouthfuls - that in itself was helpful to cut down on eating, as I was more likely to feel full and took much smaller portions so that I could finish with everyone else.

My advice? Try and eat as if you did have restriction - and see if maybe you feel fuller for longer. It might be that your band isn't tight enough to stop you, but it's tight enough to hold the food if you're not forcing it through.

Also - don't drink Water with your meals!! that makes the biggest difference to feeling restricted. Have you been drinking Water with food? You're meant to drink only before and 1 hour after eating.