Vanguard band too big...

cathyM · November 6, 2005

Yes, my surgeon only uses the VG band also. I was up to 10 within 4 months of having surgery. I initially lost 50 lbs but had a tragic loss. My brother whom I was very close to died after a bone marrow transplant. I was devestated and of course turned to food. I gained back 30 of the 50 I lost and I had pretty much deemed myself a failure (who fails at weight loss surgery??). Anyway, I went back to see my therapist. She is an expert in eating disorders and grief. She also has a band and went from 350 lbs to 135 lbs. She is the one who encouraged me to go back to the doctor and fight for another fill. She says if the band is adjusted correctly I shouldn't be able to binge (Pasta, bread sticks, french bread pizza...I can eat just about anything) I am once again hopeful. My doctor says we can go to 11 or higher before trying the smaller band. I would, of course, prefer to keep the VG band if we can get the restriction right. I appreciate everyones responses. One thing I learned the hard way-no matter how bad things get, never walk away from support.

Rockin' Robyn · November 6, 2005

Thank you for this post everyone! I have been quietly worried about this same thing. I just had my 4th fill with a total of 7cc's in my 10cc band, and am still not feeling much restriction. With my last fill, my doc made the comment "I have a feelling you're going to get great restriction after this one. In fact you might even have to be on clears/mushies for two weeks." Much to my disappointment, I have had little to no restriction after the fill and am eating regularly. It makes me feel better to know I'm not alone and other's have gone up to more than 10cc of a fill.

cathyM · November 6, 2005

Hi Rockin' Robyn. I go in for a fill on Friday. I will let everybody know how it works out restriction-wise. My therapist works with Dr. Ren and Dr. Fielding at NYU Medical Center. My doctors are in Westchester, NY. Rumor has it that many people with VG bands are reaching full restriction between 11 and 12. My doctors have told me we can go to 11 or even higher. We shall see. Its funny how your propective changes. When I first got the band I would think to myself "I hope I can still eat this or that". Now I think "God, I hope I can't eat a darn thing after this fill".

November 15, 2005

i will send a private message

tztmama · November 15, 2005

Let's keep this line of communication open, please! I am so depressed lately because I feel little to no restriction. I got 5 cc on a VG band and am going back for more on Wed. I only had my first fill of 5 cc last Thursday. I can just feel that it isn't enough. I ate a hot dog and baked chips after the fill (bunless of course). While I waited in the dr. office to get my fill I was surrounded by women who had GBP and they had lost lots of weight and all looked so good! AAAGGGHHH! Lets keep in touch on this so we can help each other problem solve or vent.

cathyM · November 15, 2005

Ok, here's what happened. Friday's fill turned out to be a nightmare

I was at 10cc's and could still eat just about anything. Friday I went back down to my doctor (acutally, I didn't even see the doctor-I saw a physician's assistant). He had to make 3 attempts to access the port and when he did, he drew out all the saline to see what was in there. He said there was only 7 and that I may have a leak. He said there might have been another cc or so in the tubing. He put back the 7 and 3 more cc's. By the evening I was belching and vomiting constantly. I could not even keep down Water. I woke up during the night choking from vomiting. In the morning I called my doctor's office who told me to go to the emergency room at Westchester Medical Center in NY. (about 1 1/2 hours from my house) They told me a resident would take out a cc for me. They said if I could find a closer hospital that had someone who did fills I could go there. Well, since my banding I had moved and there is a local lap band doctor in the next town over. I called the local hospital and explained the situation. They said Dr. Kwon was in surgery and they put me on hold and asked him if he would see me. He said he would. I went to the emergency room and Dr. Kwon was not able to access the port. He tried with ultrasound and still couldn't hit it. Then he tried under x-ray and it was clear that the port had flipped over. Two hours later I was in surgery for an emergency port replacement (the old one had holes on the side from misses during fills. Anyway, he took out all the saline so I am back to square one. He said the port was still under pressure so he doesn't think there was a leak. He said he wants me to have an EDG to rule out band errosion before we start filling it back up again. I'm not sure if I swelled up because I went from 7 to 10 cc's (too much at once) or if the PA just got it wrong and there were more than 7 cc's in there. It is Tuesday now and I have been on a liquid diet since the surgery. I see the surgeon today for followup. I am scheduled for an EGD tomorrow morning. I can't wait to get saline back in my band.

Cathy

banded_for_life · November 15, 2005

Ouch!! Kathy sorry to hear that you are going through so much right now and I do hope it all works out for you and your band.

holiday0522 · November 15, 2005

I had my surgery on October 11, 2005. My 1st fill is scheduled for 11/30. I have sent emails and made calls to my surgeons office attempting to get an earlier fill date but no such luck. I was told that 4cc were put into the band at the time of my sugery so that it would stay in place. I do not feel any restriction w/the band and to be honest, I wouldn't even know it was there except that I have the scars to prove it. I am and have been exercising daily and making wise food choices but the weight is coming off very slowly. As of today, my grand total loss is 12 pounds. I'm feeling discouraged and sorry for myself because I had anticipated things would be so different. From what I understand it will probably be some time before restriction is felt with this band due to the number of fills needed to get to that point. Sometimes I wish I had a smaller band but did not have a choice in the matter - the VG is all my surgeon uses now.