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:

Thanks Nita, I feel great! I still have my band. It straightened out when they shot air into my stomach.

JC

Hi Deb.Did you get your fill in Alberta?

I have certainly had my band tighten for seemingly no reason. My days vary greatly. Somedays I have to stick to liquids, somedays I can eat reasonably and somedays I have to be careful or I will overdo it. Since my last fill I don't have to many of the latter but still have a great deal of varience with restriction. It is a very fickle thing this band. I would just try to do liquids for a day to rule out irritation and if that doesn't help then you might consider a slight unfill. Good Luck ..keep smilin. Nita

Thanks, Nita -- it's reassuring to hear somebody else has non-problematic tightening! I don't mind the restriction (I mean, that's what I signed up for, right?) but I'm perplexed by the delayed reaction to the fill!!

I'm going to try your suggestion of sticking to just liquids today to see if that helps things relax a bit -- especially since stress has become a huge issue in the last 2 days. And then tomorrow will be the fluro to make sure everything still looks as it should inside...

Suzanne

Aloha All

My doc. said that my VG band was only 7.5cc has anyone ever heard of 7.5cc VG band? I thought the VG band were all 10cc's please advise.

Aloha

BWD

Hey Beachee,

I have had four fills and am up to 6cc in an 11cc band, and once the swelling from the fills subside (usually within a week), I have no restriction. My doctor keeps cancelling clinic dates, so I'm having to wait 2 -3 months between fills. I gained 10 lbs. in three weeks of vacation (had to eat out...yuk!), and I'm struggling to whip my arse back into shape. Some emotional issues are at play here, too. Anyway, I've lost half of my excess weight in eight months, and I wanted to go slowly to prevent too many aggressive fills too quickly leading to slip/erosion. But this slowly? Hmmm... I'd be interested to know how your fill with fluoro goes.

Hey Beachee,

I have had four fills and am up to 6cc in an 11cc band, and once the swelling from the fills subside (usually within a week), I have no restriction. My doctor keeps cancelling clinic dates, so I'm having to wait 2 -3 months between fills. I gained 10 lbs. in three weeks of vacation (had to eat out...yuk!), and I'm struggling to whip my arse back into shape. Some emotional issues are at play here, too. Anyway, I've lost half of my excess weight in eight months, and I wanted to go slowly to prevent too many aggressive fills too quickly leading to slip/erosion. But this slowly? Hmmm... I'd be interested to know how your fill with fluoro goes.

Dang girl that must be awfully frustrating! Maybe you should consider going else where for fills?

It IS driving me nuts. I'm three hours from his office, 90 minutes from another hospital he works out of, and 45 minutes from the clinic. He's a good doctor and a great surgeon. I just wish that I could find some neighborhood "Fill-O-Rama" so that my weight loss would be a bit quicker.

Thanks Nita, I feel great! I still have my band. It straightened out when they shot air into my stomach.

JC

Thank you for sharing your experience, I'am so relieved to hear your doing well and was able to keep your band. Your weight loss is so inspiring!!

:ranger:

:update: The fluoroscopy went well… Talk about fretting over nothing! Whew – I really was thinking slip or something bad! My band is just fine! In fact, it’s looking great and I’m (apparently) doing great!

It appears I’ve attained great restriction! (A lot of exclamation points…can you tell I’m excited?!?) I’ve lost 12 pounds since my last fill on July 5th! And I’ve hit that 33% mark – I’ve lost 1/3 of my excess weight!! My surgeon said that with bypass, patients loose 1/3 of their excess weight in the first 3-4 months, but that with LapBand the target is to loose 1/3 of the excess weight by 7-8 months. I’m 5-1/2 months out, and my doc is very pleased with the progress I’ve made. It seems to me that, compared with many of y’all, I’m keeping a fine pace but could certainly be loosing faster. He said I needed to stop doubting my ability to do this and be proud because I’m “ahead of the game” – and I quote! Um, I’ve never been ahead of the game with anything diet-wise before this, so it’s hard to believe I am now!!!! Especially in light of the progress some of y’all are making! There are the tortoises & the hares among us, and I’m somewhere in the middle, ya know? But that’s not pro-Zannie thinking & I guess I need to start doing some of that.

For the record, my surgeon did have a few reasons that I might feel tighter now than just after the fill. His vote was for stress combined with my head & stomach catching up with one another. He said that a lot of people eat from “head hunger” (um, hello!) and that when you’re at the right fill level it takes a while to change your perception that eating so little is okay. My doc also said gastritis can make the band seem tighter, and that some women feel their tightness changes with their cycles. But that the stomach is sensitive to stress in general (gave ulcers as an example), and given my sudden increased stress level over the last 3 days plus my growing anxiety about the tightness of my Band…well, he thought that was enough to explain the “very tight” state I’ve got going on. He asked if I wanted a bit removed (though he thought it looked perfect especially if I wasn’t also having any symptoms of an over-fill), but I said no. I’m glad for the restriction, more so now with my life falling to pieces, as it appears to be doing. I’d be heading for the pantry for sure if i thought i could get away with it!! Maybe I’ll actually make it out of this without gaining anything thanks to the stress-induced tightness!!!

I really want to thank all of you for your support as my fretting increased! (And, again, sorry for the cross-post & that this is so long!)

Suzanne

Good for you Suzanne. Im so glad everything is okay and you are on the right track with everything, including your attitude towards yourself! Dealing with food problems is never an easy task so we have to be grateful to have the tool we have, try not to compare ourselves with others because we are all unique., and just keep pluggin' away!! Congrats on the weight loss. Keep smilin! Nita

Hi everyone. I have a 10cc band and was just filled for the second time. I am now at 4cc. I had a question. Most food will go down ok, but fluids hurt ALOT. Does anyone else have this problem. It feels like a golf ball going down even when I take small sips. Food doesn't do this. Any thoughts?:help:I am dying of thirst and really want to drink.

Hi everyone. I have a 10cc band and was just filled for the second time. I am now at 4cc. I had a question. Most food will go down ok, but fluids hurt ALOT. Does anyone else have this problem. It feels like a golf ball going down even when I take small sips. Food doesn't do this. Any thoughts?:help:I am dying of thirst and really want to drink.

I think you need to call the doctor.... I haven't heard of this ever. Fluids should go down fairly smoothly and your problems, if any, should be with food. It is never a good idea to get dehydrated and if you are feeling thirsty you need to do something about this. Good luck and keep us posted!

I have 6cc in a 10cc band. Fluids do not go down well. Gotta relax the band a bit.

Hi All,

I saw the Dr last Saturday, Ive now got 7.5mls in my 10ml band, at last I have a restriction!! I can eat a childs plate full of food, no problem, but anymore its uncomfortable. Its taken since April to get a restriction (long time) so we'll see what happens now I am being good diet wise now, and im trying to do more exercise. Fingers crossed my restriction lasts!!

Sara x

Hi All,

I saw the Dr last Saturday, Ive now got 7.5mls in my 10ml band, at last I have a restriction!! I can eat a childs plate full of food, no problem, but anymore its uncomfortable. Its taken since April to get a restriction (long time) so we'll see what happens now I am being good diet wise now, and im trying to do more exercise. Fingers crossed my restriction lasts!!

Sara x

This is wonderful Sara!!!!! Good luck keeping the restriction.

Gina:clap2: