April 2006 Bandits June Gab Fest

amourette · June 26, 2006

I have been a bit quiet recently, so here is today's update! Had 2nd appointment today with nurse, didn't need a fill, I had lost 3.5 kg the last 4 weeks, which I only thought I had lost 2 kg, so the nurse was pleased and I am sometimes struggling with food, so I didn't feel I needed a fill either..........I feel a bit that it isn't much to lose, but know I have to do it slowly, how do the rest of you feel, are you losing weight at the same rate as me............

Love Amourette!!:confused:

momof2boys · July 4, 2006

Hey gang-

I was looking at everyone's fill amounts. I have only been filled with 1 ml in two sessions. The first session that put in 1ml and then when I went back for second fill she only found 0.5ml still in there so she filled with 1cc again. I felt tight for about a week and now it feels like I need a fill again. I am also disappointed to find out that I only have a 4cc band - does that mean if they fill it all the way up and I don't get restriction that I have to get another band? I have lost a little over 25lbs but feel like it is going so slow. I was banded April 26th - and I see some people posting 40lbs plus. I also feel like I can eat so much more than I want to be able to. What do you guys suggest?

I need some advise.......

JulieNYC · July 5, 2006

Momof2,

25 lbs is great. This is life, not a diet or a competition (I have to remember that all the time and it's hard, I know). You're headed in the right direction and that's what matters.

That said, consider getting another fill. Don't worry about the size of your band. 1 cc in a 4cc band isn't a lot. You have the smallest band (at least the smallest FDA approved band in the U.S.). Even at goal, your doc could put enough Fluid in there to keep you from even swallowing spit -- there's not a chance it's too big. The larger band (the VG) is larger in circumference as well (11 cm instead of 9.75 or 10 cm), which is why it has to hold more.

Check out the LAP-BAND Stoma Area Comparison (towards the bottom of the link) on Inamed's website to get a visual. As you can see, it's the VG that arguably can't get tight enough (though most surgeons will overfill it, if necessary, to get it to the same tightness as the 4cc bands).

http://www.allerganandinamed.com/products/obesity/us/clinician/lapband/prodinfo.html#overview

Good luck!

tlj · July 7, 2006

Just had my 3 month post-op appointment on Monday, I've lost 40 pounds and feel great. I have more energy and less discomfort with activity. I don't regret having it done.:clap2:

momof2boys · July 7, 2006

thanks JulieNYC

that was very helpful.... I know I shouldn't get discouraged considering this is far better than I have ever done before with any weight loss program. It does get hard sometimes - I just want it to fall off. Thanks for the encouragement.

And great job on your weight loss.

Vickie1177 · July 7, 2006

Hey April Bandits,

I have had 2 fils first one was .5cc and the other was .6 cc so i have a total of 1.1 cc in my band I have lost 61 pounds The last one was just taken yesterday ... Good luck everyone

297 pounds

267 pounds

261 pounds

242 pounds

Sugar1 · July 8, 2006

Well, I haven't been on this thread in a while. It looks as though we are all doing really well. I went to my doc yesterday and had a .1 cc fill. Still not really getting restriction (or so I think), but the doc doesn't want to fill me anymore. He said that I have lost too much weight too fast. I have been banded since 4/4 and have lost 72 lbs. He explained to me that most people lost 40% of their excess weight the first year and I have already done that... three months post-op. All of my blood tests have come back normal and I feel great. Because I don't think I have enough restriction, I am petrified about going on vacation. I am so scared that I will gain weight while away. The doc thinks I need to attend a support group because in his words I am "obscessing" about my weight loss. I am not obscessing about it, but I don't want to have gone through all this hard work and the pain of the surgery, etc. to have it not work and to begin gaining weight again. Do I have a distorted view? I would love to hear what you all think. NOTE: THERE IS A MISTAKE IN MY SIGNATURE -- I HAD A .1 CC FILL ON 7/6, NOT .2