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:

Had my first fill of 4cc on 10/2. I didn't think I would had good restriction at the time, but now I am thinking differantly (could be swelling of course). I'll keep you guys posted on if the restriction stays or leaves.

Good Luck to all!

I have a 11cc Vanguard band and it took 4 fills to get me really going, I am now at 6cc and feel pretty good as far as how much I can eat. I hope it stays this was and I will be satisfied as long as I am losing those pounds.

I'm at 9cc now in the VG band and I am still not feeling restricted. I did have two PBs since this last fill, but both were clearly large chunk of food which I should have chewed better.

I was just informed that the band can be filled well past 10cc, which didn't make me feel much better. I had hoped the closer I got to 10cc, the closer I would be to the band completely closing the hole between sections 1 and 2.

I have to go get a swallow test done to insure I have no erosion etc. I am not happy.

I had my first fill on 10/11 of 6cc, not really feeling tight but we'll see.

I have the VG band and my sergon initially gave me 2cc in surgery so I felt restriction for about 4 weeks after surgery. Since I was banded in Mexico I had to find a fill doctor and my first appointment was 3 months later. I was then given another 4ccs, which was considered aggressive. The doctor then started giving me .5 until I was at 7.5, then it was .2. I did reach restriction with 7.5 and lost between 20-25lbs a month but as I continued to get fills, I could no longer handle .2 and went down to .1. It was hard and I ended up with a unfill.

Now I am at goal and I have 8.0 in my band but I am going for an unfill on next Tuesday. It's still to much for me to handle and I am satisfied with my weight now so I don't want to lose anymore and neither do I want to take a chance of messing up my esophagus.

Here is where the 15 months of learning how to eat will have to pay off.

Hi - I had surgery in Mexico under Dr. Ortiz in April 2006. I never considered I'd be a canidate for the VG band because my weight the day of surgery was 215lbs. I was suprised to find out post-op that Dr. Ortiz had placed a VG band with the explaination that my belly fat was the cause. I do indeed carry more than 50% of my excess in my abdomen.

It has been a struggle. My sister who was also banded with me got the regular size band and has lost 60lbs. At my lowest, I was 204 then started gaining back my weight. As of Monday, I was back up to 214. Currently, I have 6.2cc in my band with my last fill being Monday. I'm hoping that this will do the trick. I have a theory that you have to be tight to loose ... eating only spoonfuls of food at one meal. I am now down to eating spoonfuls. If I were to receive anymore restriction at this point I'd be obstructed per the fluroscopy I had on Monday.

I understand your frustration and disappointment. I paid for my surgery on credit card which has left me in personal debt. I told everyone about my surgery and I want to scream now whenever someone asks, "how much weight have you lost?". I've blamed myself once again for failing to loose weight.

HI 530-250

Hope evevrything is alright. I have a 10 cc band and have 7.5 cc .. I have very little restriction. I have regained 30 lbs. I went from 320 to 260 now 290...

I know I have to get my act together. Hopefully another fill will help.

Joe

Hi all! I'm 10 days banded and have a VG band I'm assuming unfilled is how they start out but I didn't ask so I'm not sure so far of course, I feel restricted and I hope that I'll continue to be successful with it.

I'm currently over 9cc, I think 9.5...but thats a guess. I am finally feeling some restriction and I am so happy.

I have a 11cc Vanguard band and am filled to 6cc so far very restricted for the last month or so. So much so that I would be afraid to get anymore until it has loosened a bit. I've only lost about 28 pounds since June 7th but am not excersizing everyday on treadclimber and hope that speeds it up some. I no this is not a race but would like to see a acceptable weight while I'm somewhat young.

I had a tiny fill yesterday and don't notice any real change yet. Sometimes it takes me a week or so to "feel" the fill. I was told that I might need another one or two small fills before I am where I need to be but the person who did my fills the past 2 times seems to want to give only very small fills. Sigh! Hang in there everyone.

Restriction or not you have to eat the right portions, drink water, and excersice. Yes it is hard without the restriction to help you stop. When I don't feel restriction I eat small meals every 3hr. Just knowing that I'm going to eat in 3hr. help.

I also have a VG band I have had 10 fills I'm at 10cc My doctor has an assistant that gives fills unless you have problems I was told when I hit 10cc that she (the assistant) could not give me any more I have to see the doctor. I'm wondering has anyone ever reached their limit? I was told by the assistant what they do is take it all out and wait about a week and start all over again. I'm lucky right now the 10cc is perfect if I eat my meat first I can only eat 5 or 6 bites and a bite or two of veg. a little more in the evening. I'm losing about 1 LB a week. I would love to stay this way for ever.

Kozy Kitten

I am curious as to who your band doc is? I've not heard about taking all the fill out just because you reach a certain fill level. (I'm pretty new at this myself and still learning lots!)

I have heard from others at my surgical center that the VG can actually be filled to 14cc. It would seem that all this band stuff is pretty new science and even the experts are still learning. We certainly know that each of us responds a little differently to the band.

Let us know what happens. I hope you the best in your band journey.

Terry

Hi. I just posted this on the September Bandsters thread so I copied it to paste here...

I went for my first fill this morning!!! First I was shocked to see that I had not gained any weight like I thought I did in the past month. I stayed the same. SHOCKING! Second, I love my surgeon. He defintiely rocks! The fill was totally uneventful, a little pinch to numb the area and then the fill needle went in and I felt nothing. They did it under fluroscope so that helped with finding the port and not having to poke around. First he gave me 4.5 cc's in my VG Band (which holds 11cc). Then he made me drink the barium to see how everything was going through and then he gave me another 1cc, so I am at 5.5cc and am thrilled that he was a little more aggressive than others. I asked him to be since this was the only fill that my insurance will cover and he said he will make it a good one. I'm just drinking my protein shake now and I had 3 sips and can feel a total difference. I definitely have to start sipping. Anyway, I am very happy and excited to have this fill done and with the amount he gave me and will keep everyone posted on the progress. Must be on liquids for today and tomorrow then progress slowly.