Hi Everyone

I was wondering if anyone out there with a vanguard band can tell me how much Fluid was placed in their band during their first fill. I realize that some docs will put some fluid in the band right away--not mine. I am several weeks out from surgery--I can tell I have no restriction what so ever. That being said, I am doing my best to follow docs order regarding portions and textures of food.

I am scheduled for my first fill July 22 and I know that adjustments are not an exact science, but I am curious what I can expect. Also, for those with the vanguard band did anyone have any level of restriction right out of the chute? and if not, how many fills and with what amount of fill has it taken to achieve any restriction?

Sally,

I went to Belgium for my band surgery. My surgeon ONLY uses the Vangard band due to its design and he believes it has less risk of erosion. Anyway, I asked him if he would be putting any saline in the band during surgery and he said yes. I usually put 2 cc in. After the surgery he told me he put in 3 cc of saline. I stayed restricted for about 21/2 weeks then my ravenous appetite came back. I went for my first fill and was given 2 more cc. I had very little restriction after that fill. On my 3rd fill I was given another 1.5 cc making my current fill level 6.5 cc. I have had excellent restriction since that fill. So with the larger band it does take time to get adequate restriction. I would guess that it would take a minimum of 3 fills to get good restriction. So you are not alone!

Thanks--

That was just the info I was looking for!!

I'm starting to get a little frustrated. I got the big VG band. (My doc says that he prefers this because it has chambers and not one large balloon and it should be less likely to cause erosion.) Anyway, I'm going in for ANOTHER fill because I still can eat like a "healthy girl", know what I mean? I had a cheeseburger, fries, and a piece of peach pie for lunch today! I know that this was a poor choice for me, and I don't eat like this all the time.....but you'd think that this would have been a difficult meal for me to polish off! I was comfortably satisfied afterwards.

Somebody please tell me that restriction is around the corner!!

I too have the large VG band. My surgeon did not put anything in during surgery, and I had decent restriction for 2-3 weeks (probably due to swelling).

For patients with the large VG band, my doc puts 4cc's for the first fill. My second fill was 1cc, and basically he'll put in 1cc a month until I have decent restriction.

I went to another message board that I am on and someone told me (she says she's a bandster RN) that the first 3.5cc in the VG band stay in the tubing and it isn't until after that the inflation actually begins. She says that's why they are starting with 4cc in the first fill.

I can't wait to ask my doc about this. I've had three fills and I'm only at 4.6cc. My body keeps tempting me to revert to my preband eating habits. Without restriction this is a huge battle.

I read about others on the board that say they can't eat certain foods and others are really hard to go down. That's completely foreign to me. No PB's here. Just my head telling me, "you better quit eating because (the person I'm eating with) knows you had this surgery." Isn't that the pitts?

Back to my doc on Thursday.....Fill 'er up!!!!!

I might become a saline junkie, who knows?

Hey gals, I too have the VG band since Feb this year. My Doc put no saline in at surgery and waited 8 weeks postop due to swelling for my first fill of 4 cc. I has some restriction but not enough so I went yesterday and had another 2 cc put in. Of course I am on clear liquids today and tomorrow and will not advance to regular solid food till next week. I will keep you posted as to how the restriction is after I get on regular solid food. Please don't get frustrated because restriction is in site for us all , it just take some time to tweak it and figure out what fill is best for you. I had the Regular band put in Feb 2004 and lost 140 pounds with it then had slippage this past January and therefore was rebanded in Feb with the VG. So I am a living example that it works, just hang in there. Good luck to us all!

I am going for my fifth fill up to four cc and still no restriction...and have the vanguard also....when do I get the restriction ....I have gained ten lbs..never lost any weight what so ever...............gees l

I know of a lady with a VG who has 9.3cc and finally got restriction, not kidding. With my old band the AMI swedish band I was up to 7.75 cc’s but I also had a slow leak. Long story short, that’s why I was re-banded.

Good Luck

I have the big band also. My Dr put 2ml in during surgery and I had restriction for about a month. I have since had another 5 fills (restriction lasting about a week each fill) taking me up to 8.2ml and some great restriction. It has been nearly 4 weeks since my last fill and the restriction is still here...fingers crossed.

I got my 4th fill yesterday so now I am up to 6cc. I'm really hoping this make a difference. Still on liquids today, so I'll keep you posted. I told my doc that I was ready to "PLAY BALL!" and get into the game. At first he put 7cc in and then had me drink some water and I could feel the itty bitty trickle of water through my pouch....he said that's too tight so we went with 6cc.

hey guys I too have the vanguard band....banded on april 29th.....the band goes in with 3 ccs...i had my next fill beginning of june upt to 5 and now just had my second fill now have total of 8cc's........not sure if i have restriction.........when i eat mushy food which is what im on now i can sit down and eat a huge bowl of chicken salad or tuna salad or whatever.....but later i get bloated ...and burp......and maybe its telling me that i ate too much.......but mentally at that time i could.....so not sure what to think or do.....waiting it out right now...but little frustrated....anyone feel the same...when will i know that i have restriction.........will it be when i have a couple of bites and actually have the full feeling or will i throw up....or what?...not sure.......want to feel that feeling already.......need the help now......thanks!!!

I had my 1st fill today with a Vanguard band. My dr put in 7cc's. We started out with 5 cc's but when we watched it go down, it was still very fast. So he went up to 7, we will see how it goes!

how do i know for sure if i have the vanguard? my dr told me i had a band that holds 11 ccs now. does that mean i have the vanguard or , are there other 11 cc bands out there now? and another question. I dont have time to come on the computer often, is there a room wh ere you can get immediate answers , so y ou dont have to come in here today and check answers to your questions tomorrow?

Your dr should have given you all of that infowhen you were banded. I would call and ask for it. I have the large VG band and was given 6cc for my first fill, no restriction. Second fill, added 3 cc more and am tight till after noon.