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:

That is what I think the local fill Doc's nurse freaked me out she said the Mexico doc used the wrong size band and I will not have anything but problems blah blah. Not giong to have my fill there.

...my gullet is open. I was given 4 ccs in my APS and am wondering how many of you had an "open gullet" feeling with lots of burping? The pressure at my band/diaphram area is tolerable but I'm questioning that open gullet feeling like before you throw up.

I'm on liquids for at least 2 days with instructions to cautiously proceed to mushies to solids afterwards.

It was neat to see the fluro, I even saw the slight "pooling" of barium and water in my esophogus...I know the feelings won't stay forever but I'm just curious how many of you experienced the same sensations!

TIA

~Vickie

I have 6mls in my 10ml band and have great restriction. Got there after 4 fills - 1 x 2.8mls, 1 x 2.5mls, 1 x .5mls and my last one was .2mls (a couple of days ago) just to give it the extra kick. I am now nearly four months out and finally the weight is starting to shift.

The 10cc VG band is no different from the other band sizes, but it DOES require larger fills. Hopefully the fill doctor you are using will realize this. My first fill was 4cc. Then 2cc. Then 1.5cc. Then 1cc. I have good restriction finally at this level.

I have 6mls in my 10ml band and have great restriction. Got there after 4 fills - 1 x 2.8mls, 1 x 2.5mls, 1 x .5mls and my last one was .2mls (a couple of days ago) just to give it the extra kick. I am now nearly four months out and finally the weight is starting to shift.

Same here - I'm only just starting to lose weight - better late than never!

Four fills over five months, 6.5 cc in all. Finally feel restriction. Hope this leads to some real weight loss.

Hello To All,

I Am New To This Thread.

I Am Up To 11 Cc's In Vanguard Band.

My Doctor Told Me Today That It Can Hold Up To 15 Or 16 Cc's.

Is Anyone Else Up This High With Fills???

Btw - My 1st Fill Was 5cc's - Did Nothing.

2nd Fill Was Another 4cc's/total Of 9cc's - Worked For About 3 Or 4 Weeks.

Now I Just Had 2cc's Added For A Total Of 11cc's - Praying It Works This Time And Lastttttttttttttttt.

Just Wanted To Know If There Were Any Others Out There Suffering Like Me With This Band. Five Months And Only Dropped About 20 Or So Pounds. Started At 285 On Surgery Day Of July 9th And Now 263 As Of Dec. 11th.

Chandatay, I am 1 1/2 years out and have only lost 65 lbs. I am 30-35 lbs from goal. You are an average loser.

Chanda, according to my nurse practictioner, you're an average loser, one to two pounds a week, but more realistically one pound a week. Many of us in this thread have talked about how many fills are needed and the difficulty in reaching restriction. Does anyone out there know why the VG band is preferred by so many surgeons?

Hello To All,

I Am New To This Thread.

I Am Up To 11 Cc's In Vanguard Band.

My Doctor Told Me Today That It Can Hold Up To 15 Or 16 Cc's.

Is Anyone Else Up This High With Fills???

Btw - My 1st Fill Was 5cc's - Did Nothing.

2nd Fill Was Another 4cc's/total Of 9cc's - Worked For About 3 Or 4 Weeks.

Now I Just Had 2cc's Added For A Total Of 11cc's - Praying It Works This Time And Lastttttttttttttttt.

Just Wanted To Know If There Were Any Others Out There Suffering Like Me With This Band. Five Months And Only Dropped About 20 Or So Pounds. Started At 285 On Surgery Day Of July 9th And Now 263 As Of Dec. 11th.

Well, you have company my dear. I too am disappointed in my bandster life right now.

Mysurg. was July 11/07 and with the preop diet and post op mush diet lost 20 lbs. been on average 1 lb per month... still no restriction, I'm going for 8th fill next wed.

Good luck.

C

I have the 10ccVg band. It is also the only band my doctor uses. My first fill was 4.9. second fill 1cc. For some reason I got light headed and felt sick so he stopped. Third 1.6 ccs. Lots of foods are getting stuck, my fault. Still can eat more than I need. Just ate a full bun size hot dog. I only stop because I know I need to, not because I am full. I am still on insulin so doc said he was afraid I would have a hard time losing. I lost weight after surgery rapidly and then it has slowed down greatly since then. I am still trying eat right and not get discouraged.

Thanks guys for the responses.

I will keep praying and trying to do what what I am supposed to do.

This is BAND HELL!

Take care all,

Chanda

It's been awhile...

I got to the point at 3AM Monday morning that I actually woke up full throttle, angry about my weight and the band. The morning before I was able to eat an entire biscuit with no butter without any problem. Then that evening I ate an entire enchiladas platter and felt nothing. My old habits were coming back and I was getting depressed, then angry, then depressed, then angry... on and on and on...

I called my surgeon's office and "explained" to them that I was not happy. His office suggested that I come in for a consultation and that I might need a fill. But I didn't want to hear it. I mean I had 8cc in my band already! How much is it going to take?! Another fill would make it 8 fills total.

I reluctantly went in expecting to get in an argument with the doctor about dieting - something I didn't want to do. But in a way I did want to tell him I was mad. I couldn't relate to any of the people who were having success with the band. Why wasn't I feeling the same way that these people were feeling? Where was this "full" feeling people were talking about? Surely at 8cc I should be feeling what I needed to feel.

Well, I guess not.

The doctor told me that I could have a thinner stomach lining and may need more fill. My band could hold up to 11cc but that I shouldn't need that much. So I had 1cc added for a total of 9cc.

It's now tight, good and tight. I can not feel anything going thru the band and even water taps at the back of my throat. There is no pain at all, just very slow going thru the band. I can't wait until I can try regular foods in a few days. I think I may actually be here now. It may sounds extreme to some bandsters out there but I know with my history and issues with food I needed to be this tight. I don't want another enchiladas platter sneaking through.

This is a big deal since I have been banded for 15 months and according to the doctor's scale I have only lost about 20 pounds. This is so far from where I wanted to be right now and I feel like I am just getting started.

It's all good though. I've made friends in my support group and I think I would have stopped and given up long ago had it not been for them. My family and friends have stopped the encouraging words, they feel that the band had failed long before I felt like it did (never tell anyone, ever). So without the support of fellow bandsters and seeing the success of others I would have never thought it was possible.

I am still far from where I want to be but I know now that there is hope. So to all you other people out there with the the VG band who are having trouble I can say only one thing... "DON'T GIVE UP!"

I'm back and I am planning on making this work... damn it!

Well, today I went in for another fill. The Nurse WITHDREW all the liquid that was IN my band just to see how much was there.....

well, only 4 cc's came out, so she put that back in and added another 2.75 cc/s - could just drink my water.

So now I am booked for a fluro Xray in Jan to see what's up with my band. There must be a leak which is what I've been telling her for a month now!!

Argh!

what is fill under floro mean?