subject: Life After Lap Band Surgery - How Much Fluid Does My Lap Band Have? [print this page] Life After Lap Band Surgery - How Much Fluid Does My Lap Band Have?
Can you measure the exact amount of fill you need to lose weight with a lap band? Is there a right or wrong amount of fluid to have in your lap band? How do I know what the right amount of fill is? Is it important that my friend has more or less fluid in her band than I do? Would you like the answers to these questions to help you learn how to better use your band to achieve and maintain long term weight loss?
As a weight loss surgery patient who started out with a high BMI of 68.5 and some 250 pounds to lose I have been a member of the lap band community for over six years now. I think I have been asked every possible question, either at support group meetings or on line in forums or via email.
One of the questions that I see popping up all over the place is "How much fluid do you have in your band?" I find myself answering that by saying that I really don't know and I'm not sure I should really care. My main concern is knowing how well my tool is functioning, rather than the exact amount of fluid I have in my lap band.
I have learned that there is no point in comparing my lap band fluid levels with anyone else. I went my entire first year after surgery without having any fluid added to my band, while most others have their first fill at four to six weeks after surgery.
Every one of us is different. As long as I felt like my band was working - letting me know with a "soft stop" that I had eaten enough, and keeping my hunger at bay between meals, I was happy. I have found it more productive to track what I eat rather than tracking exactly how much fluid is in my band.
