Question:
1 week and I'm getting my first fill

I had lap band on 12/11 and on the 1/9 I'm getting my first fill. Can anyone tell me how much food they consumed before a fill. I'm eating soft foods and it seems like I can eat more then 1/2 to 1 cup of food. Is this because I have no saline in my band yet?    — willish (posted on January 4, 2008)

January 3, 2008
Shonda; Are you in VA? that's where I am! Anyway, be fore the first fill you can eat more thatn after the fill. Be sure you are getting the liquids that you need. the liquids really do fill you up. Hang in there, it does get easier after the fill.
   — Andrea H.

January 4, 2008
I had those same questions. I felt like before I got my fill that I could eat nearly normal as before. I found that my intake went down. I have discovered that this surgury is not the "magical" fix all, but that it is a fantastic tool. I found myself eating when not hungery, but just out of habbit and boredom. It has taken me a while to get this new mind set that I only should eat when I feel hungery. Which is not very often. I drink my protein shakes and really watch my protein intake to get the 60 grams. So my experience is that you will be able to eat less. I get my 2nd fill next week. Tracy
   — Tracy07

January 4, 2008
As we all know all surgeons do things differently. From what I've read at this site and others its too soon for a fill for you. You should still be on clear liquids at 1wk out. My Dr does not do fills until 6 weeks out. I had surgery on Oct 11th and have not had a fill yet. Your body is still healing from major surgery. I don't think you're hungry because you don't have any saline yet. It could be head hunger. Congratulations anyway and best of luck to you
   — bchicks42

January 4, 2008
You will be able to eat less a little less after each fill. You are right that you can eat more now because of not having saline. That is, if your doctor is letting you eat at this stage. Different doctors have different follow up procedures. You are at the "in between" stage - what you will hear called "bandster hell." It's when your band does not yet have proper restriction - it's a slow process - so you are still able to eat and will still get hungry. Real hunger, not just head hunger. Now that I gave you the bad news, stick with it. You will get to the point where your band is properly adjusted, your eating is restricted, and you are losing weight like crazy! Good luck on your fill!
   — VickiStevens

January 4, 2008
i had my band on 5/24/07, and I've had 7 fills, and I can still eat more than a cup of food at a time. Everybody is different - there are some people who never need a fill, others get restriction with 1 fill, and then others like me who need 7 - 10 fills to get it right. The band can be a maddeningly slow process. My surgeon said this is actually because each person has a different stomach thickness. Since you have no saline in your band, your stoma is fairly big, so the food just sort of falls down into the bottom of your stomach, which is why you can eat more than you'll be able to when you get your fills right. If you're feeling full with just a cup of food, you're doing pretty well. Before I had my first fill, I could pretty easily eat almost 2 cups at a time.
   — Beth F.

January 4, 2008
I had my surgery on 12/18. Whenever I eat, I make sure I measure my food. Sometimes I feel like I COULD eat more but I stop anyway. I want to eat more, it tastes good and I'm not used to eating such a tiny amount. Talk about your eyes being bigger than your belly, lol. Within 5 to 10 min after eating, I'm glad I stopped when I did. If I had eaten anymore, I would have been sick. Right now, the most important thing you can do is measure your food, follow your plan and listen to your body (as opposed to your head). Drink, drink, drink...it all helps. On the other hand you may be ready for a fill but you have to just remember that the band is a tool to help you lose weight. It won't do it all on it's own. Good luck with your fill and let us know how you make out.
   — Kathy H.