I am so disappointed

I have had my 2nd fill on April 2nd and I still feel like I have none at all.  I have 5cc's in my 9cc band.  I am eating like a horse!!  I am under alot of stress and I do not know if that has anything to do with it but I am so mad at me.  I am supposed to go today and get another fill.  I called and am going 10 days early.  Is this really going to work??  I am very depressed.

Thanks all!!!

I'm sorry you are having trouble. Fills can take up to 2 weeks to take full affect but if you got one today again I would say that you should hopefully soon get restriction. I didn't have any restriction until my 2nd fill which put me at 6 cc's which lasted about day..I got my 3rd fill on March 17th which put me at 7 cc's and have no restriction at all so it definitely takes time and patience. How many cc's did you get today if you got your fill?

Doreen,

Don't be discouraged. It may take some time before you find the correct amount. Believe me it took 3 tries before I got the correct amount.

Big question - how is the Doctor doing the fills? Under Fluoroscope or "blind". If Fluoroscope isn't used, then it's really hard to get a true measure of how much fill is needed to a good restriction. Remember everyone is different, while 1 person may need only 3 cc you may need 8 cc.

Don't give up hope yet !! It's too early in the game !!

Hi, Doreen. I know it can be frustrating after a fill because you think you should feel this huge difference and only be able to eat this tiny amount of food. That's what we had this surgery for, right?? I promise you, I've felt that way several times! But, Ashley is right. It can take up to two weeks for a fill to take affect AND, more importantly, you do NOT want to go from no restriction to too much restriction in a very short amount of time.

Part of the whole process with this band is the physical act of eating. Were you to go from the point you are at now to actually feeling a good bit of restriction it's very likely you would find alot of misery very quickly! There is no fudging with the rules of eating when you have definite restriction. I had to learn that the hard way! Just think of fills as baby steps toward restriction. Each fill should teach you a little bit more about life with a band. I am 14 months out of my Realize Band surgery and I have just now in the past 2 months reached a good point of restriction. I have a little over 7 cc's... I hesitate to say I am at my sweet spot because I think I might be a little bit past it. My restriction is bordering on being too tight. Even though I thought I was following all the rules of eating (and I was for the level of fill that I had!) once I started to feel it, I started to realize that I was taking bites that were too big and too close together and foods that I had come to depend on wouldn't work for me anymore.

Until you can reach a comfortable level of restriction just sit back and remind yourself at the differences in how and what you eat now as opposed to before you had your surgery. Maybe you could have someone that you knew well before surgery fix you a plate of food for what they think you would have eaten before your band and then you can get a visual on what you used to eat as opposed to what you are now. Sometimes after surgery we get so used to our new way of life that it helps to sit back and do a comparison. I have a friend that called me very frustrated one day about 3 months after her surgery. She was crying and telling me that she was eating like a horse and was just in a general state of depression about the whole situation. But, when we sat back and went thru what she had eaten that day as opposed to what she would have eaten without the band she saw what a difference it was. We also discussed HOW she ate her food that day and she saw some things she could do differently.

The fact that you are mad at yourself is a great sign! You are dedicated to this process and you want it to work and that is awesome! You are doing a great job so don't let this set you back. Just keep believing that this is going to work, dig down and find some more patience and sit back and give your Realize band some extra support until it gets its chance to kick in with the right restriction. Make sure that what you are eating is good, high quality/high protein food that is going to stay in your band and not slide thru.

Sometimes the little things will make a big difference! Good luck and let me know how this next fill works for you!

:)
Hope

Thank you everyone for your help.  I am sorry to say that I did not get my fill today.    Two weeks ago, my daughter dropped her 2 kids off at my house to stay with me for a few days.  She was or is going thru some rough times. (if that is what you want to call drinking)  Well, like I said, that was two weeks ago.  They are going to be with me for a very long time.  When I ask her about them, she has some excuse why they cannot come home.  Thr truth is her house is a party house for all ages including underage. I notified the police so I want the kids here.  they are 8 and 3.  the 3 year old cries alot at night and I was up the past 2-3 nights and am exhausted.  I did not want to chance driving an hour for a fill and falling to sleep.
My appt now is for april 30.  My daughter does not care at all about my health!!
Again, thanks all!!!

Hi Miss Doreen,

Just want to send a big hug your way!  Sounds like things aren't as smooth as you had hoped... which sucks when your trying to improve your life only to be halted with your grankids and daughters lack of maturity (if you will).

When it rains it poors... but then the sun does shine again soon!!

I am so sorry you are going through all of these things when you really just need some time to get yourself healthy. Family is important though, so I get it. They are all right about being patient though. I have had 6 fills and have just started to notice my band. I have almost 7cc's and have some restriction. In the morning I'm pretty tight and some times I have to be careful what I eat and how much or I will feel pretty bad for a little bit. I hope things get better for you! Here's another hug **HUG**

-Crystal

Thank you for your hugs and support.  I does help.  So far things are the same.  My daughter still refuses to bring them home.  She is not "ready" for them yet.  I am so strong for them but when I finally get a minute to myself, all I do is cry and then I feel sick.  I go on the 30th for my next fill.  I did not make it to the appt on the 20th.  My grand daughter does not sleep well and I was afraid to drive an hour and take a chance of falling asleep. 
Thanks again!!!

Doreen

Doreen, I sent you a pm.  Its not easy raising grandkids, especially when mom doesnt want to do it.  I just wanted to send you hugs.      This can be very stressful.  I know when I get stressed over the grandkids and their mom, I want to eat,  so I have been heading out for walks when I start feeling that way.  

Just know that you are not alone with having you grandkids live with you, there are a bunch of out here.  

Johanna

Give it time do not give up like I did.  The forum as made me realize I was uninformed and worried about the wrong things.  Just get the fills till you reach that sweet spot.  I am not there yet and will post my experience after the doctors visit today armed with knowledge and ready to have the right questions answered.  I stopped fills last august BIG MISTAKE.  Do not let the stress of your life derail your destination.  Get your fills you are not alone.  All of us are behind you with best wishes and support.  YOU HAVE TO FIND AWAY TO DO WHATS BEST FOR YOU OR YOUR HEALTH MAY FAIL AND THOSE KIDS WHO NEED YOU MOST WILL LOOSE YOU.  With out realizing it the lack of control of our weight is probably our biggest stress and everything else is a little better when we have that control.  Best of luck and God Bless You in your battle. Chuck