Hi everyone

I've been having a miserable time of it lately.. wasn't losing for 3ish weeks, then went on holiday to Bali (didn't lose but didn't gain - a win!!) but was sick with travellers diarrhoea for a week when I got home (lost loads of weight from that). I went for my second fill a month ago and then my third fill on Friday last week. Since Friday I couldn't eat a thing, couldn't drink anything without lots and lots of effort. Became seriously dehydrated, starving, etc. Weighed myself yesterday and I had lost 4kgs since last Wednesday (so that's in under a week). Spoke to a friend who told me that I should never gurgle/burp after eating or drinking, which started happening after my 2nd fill and was happening chronicly since my 3rd fill. I called my doctors surgery today and got an appointment and got an unfill.. instant relief... I never want to get into a too tight state again, it's hell.

I was really confused because my fill schedule has been like this:

No fill at surgery.

1st fill - 1.5mL - doctor said he was being aggressive with the fill because I seem to have a good grasp on what to do.

2nd fill - 0.5mL - doctor told me it usually takes at least 3 fills to get to this point.

3rd fill - 0.25mL

Unfill - 0.35mL

It was at this point I asked the doctor how much my band could take. Because I swear when I went for my first consultation he told me he used a 14mL band as it was the newer kind. And I thought 2.25mL in a 14mL band was hardly anything? I've been confused since I got my band about this fact. But the doctor told me today that the band I have is a "Maximizer" type lap band... and it holds approx 3.5mL fluid. Which makes it all make sense really, 2.25 in a 3.5mL band seems quite massive!

But I've never even heard of this maximizer band.. my book that they gave me doesn't talk about it.. And how does it even work? What is the difference between smaller volume bands and bigger volume bands (aside from the volume?) How does it physically work? Are the bigger bands looser and that's why they need more fluid before you get to the green zone? Can someone explain any of this stuff? My google-fu is failing me.

Anyway it's going well, I had surgery on 25th July, so it has been just over 2 months, and I have lost 12kgs (26.4lbs) and fitting into all sorts of things I never used to.. I'm very happy with it.

Thanks for reading!

The older lapbands were 4ml ( I think) but those are not in general use any more except for in places like Mexico. Where did you get banded?

Yes a larger size band will need more fill for you to feel restriction than a smaller size band , however all the new bands are larger so there must have been a good reason for changing the capacity although I don't know what it was.

Glad you are doing well, keep it up

As elcee said, I've only heard of 4cc bands being used years ago, but they're no longer recommended by the makers or FDA. Now the gastric bands range in size from 9cc-11cc

I've never heard of a 3.5cc band or maximizer. Are you sure you didn't possibly mishear him?

Btw you should fill out your profile, it would really help people responding to you a lot.

Best wishes to you and I'm glad you're feeling better. Being too tight is not only miserable but dangerous so you were very wise to get a slight unfill.

I'm using this as an app on my phone and I can't find any options to fill out my profile...

I got banded in Perth, Western Australia (where I live). I don't think FDA means anything here. I didn't mishear her because I asked her to clarify. She called it a maximiser. I looked it up and it does exist but I can't find any info on it. The info book I have is branded allergan but I can't find it.

I always thought I had a 14cc band but apparently not. I guess it explains why I was so tight after 2.25ml.

She said my band holds about 3.5ml. Word for word.

Even though the FDA have no jurisdiction here I am still surprised that your Dr used what is probably an older band. Nevertheless it works and that is probably the most important thing - lots of people have had great success with the older band. If anything it probably helped to achieve some level of restriction a lot quicker than the larger, newer ones.