No restriction - Frustrated

Thanks so much, I appriciate that!

Hi Kristi,

Thank You..............for posting the article

You are so welcome.

My surgeon's policy was to wait at least 2 weeks after a fill to ask for another. Personally, I've had some fills that I've felt instantly. I've had some that takes days, almost a week. I had one that one time just suddenly settle in a month & a half after I had it. That's why some banders get the perception that the band has become it's own individual being, hahaha! But if you follow the guidelines for banding & working on changing your eating habits you might even find that you'll find things that will distract you in a positive way about finding that right restriction.
And on a more personal note, I gave up long ago looking for that "sweet spot". I think the myth of the "sweet spot" does a lot of physiological damage to people's thinking of the band & how to change their eating habits. Then they are waiting for this miraculous feeling that they are fooled into believing in that didn't come & they end up feeling like a failure or that the band failed them. Just forget about the "sweet spot" altogether & concentrate on being healthier

AMEN, AMEN and AMEN on the sweet spot issue.  I hated that. This forum has changed INCREDIBLY since 3 years ago. It used to be all about restriction, sweet spot and eating 1/4 cup of food per meal and staying satisfied for 3-4 hours.   It's definitely changed for the better.  My dillusional thinking to the sweet spot was being overly tight that I'd eat a couple bits of food.  We need to erase that phrase and reiterate the importance of satisfication.  Thanks again for your post.

It's not unusual to feel no restriction after the first first - it took me 5-6 fills before I felt any restriction, however, that was an agressive fill so I'm a little surprised you don't feel something.  Sometimes fills take a few weeks to kick in, which is why some doctors won't do another fill for a few weeks after one.

I have a 14 cc band, so I can't really answer your question.  I have 9.2 ccs in it and have pretty good restriction, but not what I would consider the sweet spot.  I gave up looking for that a long time ago.  My band helps me keep my portions down, but I still feel my stomach growling within 2-3 hours after I eat.  I've never felt that no hunger for 4 hours or more that some talk about.  I really don't care if I never reach the sweet spot because my band is working as far as I am concerned. 

I will say that I don't understand how the band is not about restriction but instead about surpressing your appetite.  Am I just confused or is it just a matter of semantics?  For me the band restricts my portion size.  I can't eat more than a half a cup to a cup of food unless it's a slider.  But to say it works by surpressing our appetite means to me that I wouldn't be hungry as often, but the band hasn't stopped me from getting hungry every 2-3 hours.  I'm happy with my band because anything that keeps me eating less food, helps me lose weight.  This last year I haven't done so well because I've really been fighting head hunger, but I rejoined WW this weekend to help me stay accountable and track what I'm eating.  Last year even though I lost the battle in the long war with head hunger, I still managed to lose 20 lbs.  Pre band, I would have gained 20 lbs or more.  I lost the first 75 lbs without any kind of dieting, but I think I'll need to diet to lose the next 75 lbs.  But dieting is easier with the band.

Good luck!

cat

Thanks for sharing...many good posts here which help to put it all unto perspective...i know its not a miracle cure but an aide to guide you and assist you...we still have to deal with our heads! I wad interested too when I read that the band is placed where they believe your feelings of hunger come from and yet I do still have hunger...how much is in my head I am not sure...i am having to get used to hunger because ive never allowed myself to be there always eating for everything and every reason but hunger!

Thanks so much for posting this article. It has given me a lot to consider.

In the same boat here.  I had my first fill Feb. 2 from 1 cc  to 4 ccs.  at first I could feel it , but I think because I was just so careful not to overeat.  Now I am getting hungry after an hour of eating.  I think its time for another real soon.