i am new here

Hello i was banded on 2/25/11, my dictor says i cant have a fill until 9wks after band  ... in am not losing right now an i am scared ! Will i start losing once i get a fill ! i dont feel any restriction at all right now is this normal? I am so discouraged now

Okay take a deep breathe and relax, you should be taking this time to heal and eat according to your dr's orders and please try not to worry about losing right now.  I know it's hard to be patient but that is really what the band is all about.  I'm sure you did your homework pre-band and know that you won't feel good restriction until you've had a few fills (typically 3-5).  The fills are typically done every 4-6 weeks or longer depending on your surgeon.  You don't want to rush into fills or get too aggressive with fills.   Don't feel discouraged already, just focus on eating well and exercising.  With each fill you will notice a difference in restriction, adjust what your eating and you will lose weight!  Kari

Thanks so much Kari, I just hear all kinds of stories in how everyone is losing so much weight post- op and i have only lost 5 pounds and family and friends are watching me closely and noting is changing :( ..... but i was really sick fora week and stopped exercising so hope when i start up again i will see some improvement! Thanks so much for your advice. I guess in need to just wait .... by the way if my band is empty i dont have a pouch yet do I?  thanks again. I need all the support i can get cause here at home everyone thinks i am not doing so great!

Oh you poor thing, there's nothing like having everyone around you staring just waiting for you to lose the weight-and the funny thing is, you will but it just takes time with the band-there's no malabsorption!!  And yes you do have a "pouch" in the sense that the band placed can give restriction in and of itself-some people do get restriction just from the band-they are the lucky ones lol.  You can do this just wait until you get some restriction!!  Kari

Hi there...so sorry you are feeling discouraged.  We all have been there and the "in-between" phase you are experiencing it is what we refer to as "bandster hell."  Please just take it easy and focus on allowing your tender tummy sufficient time to heal.  In the meantime, you can also focus on implementing an exercise regimen (if you have not yet done so) and learning TONS of information here from your fellow successful bandsters.  Patience is a virtue when it comes to the band and nothing will happen overnight.  Keep your eyes on the prize!!! :)  Best of luck to you and please don't be a stranger!

Hi Lisa, I just noticed your signature, did you revise to a band after having RNY?  Kari

Yes Kari, original RNY was in 2001.  Revision to band-over-bypass (aka BOB) in 5/09.

Thanks Lisa , I sure wont be a stranger ! I need all the support I can get.! No one understands here how the band works and I get so stressed out !Everyone in my family expects changes and I tell them it  takes awhile ....... was your band empty when you started? I hope the first fill helps :)

Yes it was empty in the beginning and it SUCKED.  Luckily, my surgeon is aggressive with fills (he prefers smaller fills every 4 weeks, rather than one larger fill every 8-12 weeks like some) and I loved his style of doing things.  It prevented me from being overfilled and having those kind of issues...like baby steps. 

You could explain how things work to your family until you are blue in the face and they probably still won't really "get it"...which is extra annoying because they think you are just not dieting or whatever!!!  I am over 2 years into this banding thing and after asking my love to read Bandwagon (my bandster bible lol), he FINALLY gets it.  All of it. ;)  Perhaps something like that might help? It really is nice to have an immediate support system during this challenging time (other than your friends here at OH). 

I really hope you get a good fill working for you over there girl.  It will change your LIFE.  Totally worth the wait.  Good luck. :)

Hi Lisa,
I was just wondering what made you revise from the rny to the band?