Hello,

Before anyone directs me to another thread link, I already know this has been done before. I have researched old threads and can navigate this site well. I would like the most recent information pertaining to this subject please. :help:

I was banded in June in Mexico and had the 10 cc VG band done by Dr. Joya. Great surgery, no complications.

My problem now is that the only weight loss I had was in the first 3 weeks after surgery, none since then and I am gaining that weight loss back at an alarming rate.

My after care doctor in my town is Dr. Helmuth Billy. He is a great, competent Dr. My only concern is that I don't think he has treated many patients with this larger band and he is very conservative with fills. He wants to make sure there are no slips or errosion by doing agressive fills. Wonderful.

Unfortunately, I have had no restriction since the first few weeks of being banded. My research on the board show that those with this band need A LOT more in their fills to reach the sweet spot. I want to take as much data as possible supporting this to my next appointment with him (on Thursday). I need to get a good fill this time. I am in a very deep depression because of my weight issues after spending thousands of dollars on this procedure. I need a jump start to get me going again and give me a shot in the arm. I don't think I'll be able to take a nother small fill and wait another few months to get to a point where I feel any restricion.

I hope you help and support me as this is tearing my psyche apart. Thanks to all of you for your help.:eek:

To airwayman: oh dear, I meant to say 2006. Well anyway, I though your response was cute. Have fun. Diane H.

Damn. I already had plans for the Power Ball money. Oh, well. :cry John

I'm going to ask my doctor this week when I go in for my 8TH FILL, but wondered what you folks think...

I'm at 8.5 cc's but can only have restriction of the size bites I take - too big or fast and it feels like automatic heart burn as the bite goes down. Other than that I have no restriction. If I eat small bites, I can still consume large amounts of food - way over 2 cups (last night I went to Red Lobster and had a garden salad, biscuit, 6 large shrimp, a few bites of mashed potatoes and probably 1/2 cup of pasta). This worries me a great deal. Could it be that the band is too high up (only restricting my esophagus) or too low down (giving me a large pouch)?

OPINIONS PLEASE.....

Thanks all!

Hopeworks: Are you drinking any liquid with your meals? Any fluid will mix with the solid food and allow it to slide by the band.

I just received 2 cc's yesterdayfor my second fill and I had 6 cc's from my first fill. Everyone thinks that the nurse practicianer is too aggressive but I have had no problems other than adjusting to eating slower and chewing more. I hope this last fill will do the trick. I was banded Nov 21, 07 and have lost 25 lbs. Slow going!!

I was banded 11/29 and have lost only 25 lbs as well.. I am now 5 cc fill.

Nope - no water. Going to ask doctor some serious questions tomorrow.

I was banded on 01/31/07. I have the same band and I am getting upset because I am working out and not loosing much.

Because of my insurance I can't get my 1st fill until May 1. I think that is BS. I am really pissed.

I hope that my Dr. will be aggressive and give me a good 1st fill.

Jane

Jane, I didnt have my 1st fill untill I was 3 months out too! I also had 4 cc's put in my 10cc band. I have read on this site about ppl's fills, and one person had 4 fills and she still isn't at 4 cc's? I go again tomorrow and hoping to get 2 more cc's. Keep up the good work. Mary

I had my first fill yesterday, 1cc, so I'm at 3cc's. The fill was no big deal, took a few minutes, drank some water and walked out to finish my day at work.

Jane, how about consulting with your Dr. to see if he/she will advocate for you to get a fill sooner? Maybe write or call BS on your behalf. Or, perhaps paying for this first one, out of pocket?

Shawn

I try to get one everytime I go. My doc charged a $600 fee for vitamins and supplements and all the fills you need within the first year are included. He trys to schedule them for every 6 weeks, but I make my appts for every 4. I have been able to get one every time. I may let it go 5 weeks this time just cause I didn't do well the first week after the last fill so I need to play catch up.

I was banded on 01/31/07. I have the same band and I am getting upset because I am working out and not loosing much. I am really pissed. Jane

Jane, your ticker says you've lost 20 lbs. and you were banded one month ago? Geeze, that's 240 lbs. a year. And you haven't even had a fill yet! What were your expectations? JB

I was banded November, 2006, and have since had fills that have brought me up to 6ml's. I'm asuming that my next fill (next Friday) may bring me to my sweet spot.

My question - How can I tell my sweet spot from things getting stuck..? What's the difference in feeling.

Thanks...

I'm going to ask my doctor this week when I go in for my 8TH FILL, but wondered what you folks think...

I'm at 8.5 cc's but can only have restriction of the size bites I take - too big or fast and it feels like automatic heart burn as the bite goes down. Other than that I have no restriction. If I eat small bites, I can still consume large amounts of food - way over 2 cups (last night I went to Red Lobster and had a garden salad, biscuit, 6 large shrimp, a few bites of mashed potatoes and probably 1/2 cup of pasta). This worries me a great deal. Could it be that the band is too high up (only restricting my esophagus) or too low down (giving me a large pouch)?

OPINIONS PLEASE.....

Thanks all!

I feel the same. I just explained it on my other board. Ive had 2 fills and am at 5cc's. After the 1st I felt nothing. After the second I feel it if I eat to big of a piece or too fast. BUT I can still eat a lot. Too much for comfort. AND I am often stomach grumbling hungry. I think I will be calling for another fill!

my fills so tight i d be lucky to eat a prawn without throwing uop it must be inthe prefct place......i cant even relate to eating what you described i think its too high or too low palce dincorrectly and if so its your doctors responsibility gto fix it for free, get a sonogram and bring it to him from yur gyn ob, ifyour female.

idlooove a lobster wow! but am still not at goal weight and lobsters can wait.

Well, I'm at 10ccs. Hard to believe that is possible, but there it is - 10ccs - doctor pulled out all of the ccs to measure them and make sure they wern't leaking and nope - they are there. I can now FINALLY not eat big bites of anything and about 1/2 the time I can't eat more than a cup of food, but other times I can consume quite a bit more. I can't possibly need ANOTHER fill, can I?

Give it 2 weeks to see how this fill does with you at 10 cc's. You might need another fill and the band can be filled with quite a bit more than 10 cc's so you're not at full capacity.