Hey everyone,

I am feeling really disheartened. I had my surgery on December 30, 2009. I have had 2 adjustments that put me at 7ccs. I have no restriction whatsoever. I actually feel like I am eating more now than I was before the surgery. My surgeon doesn't seem to understand and seems to think it is all in my head. He keeps telling me he has had patients that don't feel anything until 9ccs. I have the realize band and was told it holds 11ccs. I'm frustrated, irritated, and depressed. I thought this would help me in my weight loss journey, but I feel like a failure already. I have been nauseated at night, and been taking zofran. I'm not sure why I am feeling that way either, but again, my surgeon seems to think it is normal. I can't seem to find anyone on here that has been to the same surgeon as I have. His name is Dr. Clifford Black Jr. in Anniston, AL. He was not the surgeon that was recommended to me by my endocrinologist, but he was the only one my insurance would allow to do the surgery.

I'm worried that maybe he hasn't been putting the saline in the band? He just pokes me once, and says it's done. He doesn't check it with an xray or anything else. I have requested an xray and been denied because I don't have severe pain.

Has anyone experienced this before? Not having any restriction at 7ccs? It seems so odd to me, and I feel like I should be noticing SOME type of restriction by now! It's so aggravating!! Anyone opinions are MUCH appreciated! :tongue_smilie:

I have the 11cc Realize band, but I'm not at 7cc's yet. I went for my 3rd fill today which brought me to 6.5cc's. I asked my physician Assitant that does the fills when do most patients get to the green zone or sweet spot with the Realize Band and she said in her experience it's usually between 7 and 9 cc's, but some people feel it before. She said she has not had a patient yet get filled to capacity with the band and not feel restriction. I am on liquids for the next 3 days so I don't yet know what my restriction is yet.

When I get a fill she also draws all the liquid out to make sure I don't have a leak and that the amount on my chart is still the amount in my band then she puts it back in and then adds whatever amount they are giving me that day. Is your doctor not checking your levels to make sure it's all in there and they didn't miss the port? I hope things work out for you.

I have not been banded yet but after I read your post I thought either you have a leak or they are not getting the port. This is how I feel...You are paying that doctor good money and that is his JOB. If you want him to X-Ray demand it and if you want him to remove the fluid to check to make sure there is really 7cc's in there then demand it.

Hi

I am not sure about my cc's I lost count from having added then removed then added again. But my surgeon does pull some fluid out to make sure he is in the port and not scar tissue which he said can also feel like the port. Also it took me a good four months to get to a place where I was even losing weight. So be patient with yourself. Good Luck.

I know its hard to have patience, but you will get to your sweet spot. Youre just going through what we all go through with Bandster Hell. Its so awful to be there! I know! And it sounds like you have a pretty agressive Dr to have you at 7cc's on your second fill. I went through the same thing as you, only I was going through it for six months after my surgery because my Dr made the fills go soooo small. I had to go to almost 4cc's in my 5cc band to feel good restriction, where others I knew only needed 2.85 to get to that sweet spot. So everyone is totally different. You wont know until you get to your spot where it will be. You may be like me and need more fill than most to get to that green zone. Take care and try to be kind to yourself while you are getting to that spot. Part of this process for all of us should probably be not to be so hard on ourselves and put so much pressure on oursleves with our body images and weight. You will get there, but it takes time.

I didn't get to restriction until I reached 9cc's. That was two years ago and I still feel good with it. Fill that puppy up if you have to. You didn't go through all the trouble to get the band to not use the it to the fullest of it's capacity.

I have the realize band and I have 7.5 in my band and I feel restriction. Is there a way you can change Dr's? Maybe go to a different city? I can't believe they are doing a fill without using Xray. Every fill I have had has been under Xray, so he will hit the port the first time. Also, he always pulls out the Fluid to see if the levels was the same as before.

I have a feeling he is not hitting your port for the fills.

If you don't mind the drive to Huntsville, I could give you my Dr's name and you could see if they take your insurance.

Lisa

My surgeon doesn't seem to understand and seems to think it is all in my head. He keeps telling me he has had patients that don't feel anything until 9ccs. I have the realize band and was told it holds 11ccs.

This is contradictory. On one hand, he's telling you it's all in your head, and on the other, he's telling you it's perfectly normal to NOT be at restriction at 7 ccs. (And it IS common---no need to assume he's missing the port; many people just don't get restriction until they much fuller.)

The decision to do a fill is based not only on weight loss (because many of us lose without restriction), but also on HOW YOU FEEL.

You are hungry. You are not even near capacity for fills.

Will your doctor really not give you one? I'd make an appointment. Tell the receptionist you're coming in for a fill. Tell the doctor that's what you're there for.

You have to be proactive. Take a food log. Tell him how much you are able to eat, how long you are satisfied, and so on. Then tell him you want the band to work for you as it is intended to work.

I have the 11cc Realize band and I have had 2 fills and am at 7ccs. So exactly the same as you. I am not feeling much restriction at all. I was told that most patiets start feeling restriction around 8ccs. I go for my third fill on Monday and I want to tell them to fill it up! I actually put on a couple of pounds this week because I have been able to eat like normal.