very confused about band and fill-10cm band holds only 4 ccs?

Bawilliams1 · January 25, 2007

Don't worry about what type or size band you should get. The surgeon doesn't know for sure which size he will put in until he gets in there. I think most surgeons usually go with a specific manufacturer and the size just varies depending on your stomach. Of course, you should ask questions when you have a consultation with the surgeon, but from what I know, they usually have to wait until they actually get inside of you before they know which size would be best for you.

foodstampchamp · January 28, 2007

HI everyone, well it turned out that the Dr. missed my port all three previous time she tried to fill me (thank goodness that I do not have a problem!) He found the port this time and put in two ccs to see if I felt restriction. I sat up and drank a sip of Water and BOY did I ever have restriction! I was so happy to finally feel something!!!!!!!!! He took out .75 so I have 1.25 now. I am thrilled this was the problem and not a leak/disconnected tube/port flip or any other scenario I was imagining. Thank you all for chiming in and helping me through this. Hopefully one day I will have enough experience to offer help and not just recieve it!

I'm so happy for you. I went almost 6 months with no restriction and I have the same size band as you. I was also a self pay. good for you.:clap2:

Betsyjane · February 20, 2007

I have a 10cm/5cc band. This fill stuff will always be somewhat mysterious. I too showed huge restriction at the filling station :-) but had none when I got home. Then this last time it worked. I've heard of people getting unfilled and later partially filled and finally got restriction. I've heard of people more restrticted during periods, during air travel. Jeez. I got out of a plateau with my weight by sitting down to Godiva chocolate one day! All we can do is keep at it and try to stay patient and active! And keep asking questions.

Dreikalina · March 1, 2007

My surgeon advises people not even to know what their band cc's are, becuase they get all hung up on the cc's. The truth is, your doctor should be using a flouroscope to see exactly your fill need,for every fill, not just when you have a problem, to make sure it is not too little or too much. These guys are supposed to be professionals and need to have the most updated tools of the trade. You should always be able to swallow Water easily. You should be restricted to a liquid diet for a couple of days after a fill, and then should feel restricted. It is my understanding that if you don't the band is not tight enough. It is important to note that as you lose weight, the band will need fills, becuase the stomach area where the belt is can get smaller and then the band is not doing its job anymore.

There are many doctors practicing that have done this surgery and do fills using a flouroscope. Perhaps it is time to investigate getting a new fill doctor, or insisting on the flouroscope for each fill. After all, it is your body and your money. No professional should take that insistence as an insult, and if they do, consider it a warning to you.

foodstampchamp · March 1, 2007

Perhaps it is time to investigate getting a new fill doctor, or insisting on the flouroscope for each fill. After all, it is your body and your money. No professional should take that insistence as an insult, and if they do, consider it a warning to you.

I agree here. I had been going to my surgeon's office since I had surgery August 1st, 2006. I kept getting these idiodic fills without flouro and was never getting restriction and the nurse who always did my fills (The last time I saw my doctor was 30 minutes before I had my lap-band surgery) seemed irritated with me that I didn't want to wait the six weeks in between fills and told me I had surely stretched my pouch and that is why I had no restriction. The only way I could change doctors was to change states altogether. On January 9th I went to a doctor in Salt Lake City, Utah that Fill Centers USA had recommended to me. Best decision I have ever made and only thing I regret is not changing doctors sooner.

rtgirl77 · March 7, 2007

I have to agree that it does add a huge measure of difficulty getting a fill without flouro. I expected that my fills would be under flouro until I arrived for my first only to be needled half to death before the NP was able to find my slightly tilted port. Certainly wasnt my most pleasant experience ever and the subsequent fills and unfills have been less than fabulous since that time. I usually end up with a bruise the size of a small grapefruit around my port area. I've had to have an upper GI to check fill levels and then wait two weeks to return to the surgeon's office and have it looked at to decide if we needed to fill. I think having the equipment available in the office would be great. HOWEVER, I also see the flip side. As someone who is now self-paying for fills, I'm certain it would be much more expensive to have them all done under flouro. My fills are $150 (including the office visit fee) so I can't imagine spending anything more than that. It just wouldn't be feasible.