First Fill

I just got my first fill yesterday. I have the new AP Small 10cc band. I got 3.8 cc. I've read that some doctors are more aggressive than others with fills. Does this seem like a fairly average first fill? Is the first fill different according to which band you have? I'd appreciate any information. Thanks!

I just got my first fill today. I have an AP 10cc band, and I got a 3cc fill. I was told to stay on liquids for 48 hours, so I'm not sure if I feel and restriction or not. I really don't feel any different yet. I'm hoping that when I'm back to solid food, that I'll feel some kind of restriction.


Banded 7/20/07

I have to do 2 days of liquids, then 2 days of mushies, then I can try solid foods. So far I can't tell any difference either, but I guess I won't be able to tell until I try solid foods. I'm ready for some restriction! This is really tough waiting, isn't it!

I just had my first fill on Wednesday. I can't help you with your question but today at lunch I ate a piece of broccoli quiche (fat free cheese) and a few bites of fruit before I was hungry. Is this normal? Seemed like a lot of food.

Hi All,
I was banded on July 17th and just had my first fill today 18 Sept of about 4cc. I have a Swedish band called Thor and the Banders..ha ha. Seriously my Swedish band apparently had a little fill already in which I wasn't aware of. Mine was fitted in Prague but I had a refill in Manchester UK as it was nearer and the Doc made me aware of the partial fill when she checked under a Fluoroscope. I am on fluids for 48 hrs then mushie for 24 hrs. I can feel a tightness somewhere in my esophagus but not sure what it is, maybe the restriction?
Will let you know how I go on over the next few days.

Jeannie

I had my second fill today. My first was 3.8 cc, and I really didn't have any restriction at all. Now I have 5 cc, so we'll see if this does the trick. I sure hope so!

Connie

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a LAP-BAND^®. The INAMED 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 two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED 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.

__________________
See my before & after photographs

Starting weight was 570 pounds
Banded 09/13/2004 by Dr. Neal, in Shelton, WA

"Why are you letting a number on a scale determine your level of happiness, and would it MATTER what the number on the scale said if you were at your perfect goal SIZE?"

Thanks Wendell. Good information! I'm trying to be patient until I get restriction. It's hard waiting! Nice to hear from you!

Connie

You're very welcome! :)

I didn't obtain effective restriction until fill number 4, which was 24 weeks after surgery! :faint:

__________________
See my before & after photographs

Starting weight was 570 pounds
Banded 09/13/2004 by Dr. Neal, in Shelton, WA

"Why are you letting a number on a scale determine your level of happiness, and would it MATTER what the number on the scale said if you were at your perfect goal SIZE?"