Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Help! I feel discouraged after 4 fills I still have very little restriction!



Recommended Posts

I don't know what to do I am at 2.8cc in a 4cc band and as I eat slowly and chew very well I can still eat almost as much as before the band! I have not lost 1 pound! Do I need to go tighter still? For those of you with a 4cc band do you think I will feel restriction if I go a bit tighter or is this just not working for me? Please help!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i am in the same boat as you!! I had my 4th fill....and STILL feel very little restriction.....i am VERY fraustrated!! i too can eat anything i want.....i HATE this. I dont even feel like i have a band in me......i feel like im in an awful diet war with myself! People keep telling me to be patient...and so does my dr.......i am being patient...im just REALLY ready for the restriction!! Maybe fill #5 will the the "sweet" one!! Please stay in touch and let me know how things go for you!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have the same story as both of you. I never really felt like I had alot of restriction. I am at 3.9cc in my 4cc band, and tommorrow I am calling for another fill. I would tell you both to be patient(just like everyone else). It has taken me over 2 years but it eventually starts to work(then stops, then works, then stops) For me it has been a real mind game, but well worth the wait. I am now only 11 pounds til goal. Staying persistant is the key. coolchick, I do think that you may need another fill. Good Luck to both of you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

wow a 4cc band? is it a smaller band or something? I have 5cc right now 3rd fill and I have little restriction.. but I dont understand a 4cc band how does that work?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It just holds less Fluid. I'm not sure why but my doctor said that he would decide which band he would use once he got in there. No clue.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You might want to let the doctor know how you feel. Someone at a support group meeting was talking about he had a similar situation--he could still eat anything he wanted!--and the nurse running the meeting suggested he go see the doctor. He did--and his band wasn't around his stomach...it was around the fat pad that is in FRONT of the stomach (on x-ray it looked the same). When he got a fill, he could feel it so he thought it was okay. He had to have another surgery and two years later is doing great now!

~~anne

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

wow a 4cc band? is it a smaller band or something? I have 5cc right now 3rd fill and I have little restriction.. but I dont understand a 4cc band how does that work?

the smaller band is for those with a low BMI or has a smaller stomach with less fat in the midsection .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm shocked there is even a 4cc band! I've never heard of that. I have a 10cc band and already have 6ccs and still have little restriction. My bmi is at 39 right now. I don't think I would have agreed to have just a 4cc band put in me.. theres not much room to work with to get to your "sweet spot." But yea, I'd definitely get another fill I were you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you so much for posting this issue. I too have had 4 fills, 2 of which were in the hospital under that scope where supposedly you get the most accurate fill. Ha.... right, my last fill was so bad that I actually eat more now then ever before with the band and they say i'm at 2 cc in a 4 cc band. I did go to the doctor to wine and they set me up for another in hospital fill December 17th. My frustration is that I have to wait 6 weeks after I already waited 4 weeks to see the doctor and have gained 10 lbs since July. So yes I am very frustrated. It's nice to know i'm not alone, some days I feel like such a failure.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

HELLO EVERYONE. I AM IN THE SAME BOAT. I REALLY WANT TO HEAR "SWEET SPOT RESTRICTION" STORIES !!! I WANT TO HAVE A IDEA! I HAVE HAD 5 FILLS...SOME RESTRICTION...SOME food GETS STUCK (BREAD..) BUT i AM STILL FEELING HUNGER LIKE BEFORE!!! MY BAND IS 14CC...AND I HAVE 8.5 IN IT NOW!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my band on 8-01-08,then 6 weeks later I had a 4cc fill in a 10cc band under fluro,The doctor tried a fill in his office the day before with no success.But with this first fill he said that by port had turned side ways.I have 2 toddlers and did have to left after I had my band. any how I never felt any retriction at all,could eat anything and gained back up to by weight I had lost from before pre-op! So I go in Oct for another fill at the hospital and this time he finds by port had flipped. So I went in for him to flip it back and at that time he seen that the first 4cc fill he thought he gave me never went into the band,So he gave me another 4cc fill while he was in there doing that repair. Now almost 2 weeks 4 days later I can still feel this fill and have lost 15 pounds and go back on the 18th to see if I am ready for another fill or still fine with this one,So if you feel no restriction and gaining I would ask for the doctor to check things out,I waisted 2 1/2 months where I could have been losing.:thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all,

I really haven't been to the sight in a while, but just sharing what I know by reading. Fills, CC's and band size make all the difference in the world. I am surprised to hear there is a 4cc band when I have a 14 cc band. I have had had 3 fills since my surgery 06/02/08. .5cc when the band was put in and 1.5 cc there after, so I have a total of 5cc's. The first fill was done by the doctor and the other two where done by a PA. On the last one she said i only needed .5cc at a time and I should be good... luckily or should I say unluckily she couldn't find the port, so they called the doc up from his rounds of new surgery's to fill me. When we talked that's when he told me I had a 14cc band and he was going to put another 1.5cc's. In my mind I was thinking the PA really should have know this. She is fairly knew with only 2 months with that doctors office, but she was in the Lap Band project at the local University. As I said after reading I see many say they get to the sweet spot around 6cc.... Not sure of their band size, so I will be discussing it with my doctor next week on my fill date. I have stopped losing weight, but I do eat less frequent but I can almost eat the same amount. I am sure if you talk with your doc honestly and ask the questions on band size and educated guess of fill size you should fell a lot better. I know this site helps me realize it's not all the same, but with communication we help each other... Best of luck and stay strong.... And to the original poster maybe once all 4cc's are filled and that could be your answer so ask....

RÅB:thumbup:

Edited by R?B

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also have a 4cc band. I was banded in August 07, had a slip and had another band put in that same week. My surgeon waited until I was 3 months out before we started doing fills. By August 08, I had had 4 fills and was at 2ccs in my 4cc band. I honestly feel like sometimes I have no restriction, depending on what I eat.

October 14th I had my 5th fill, which brought me up to 2.5ccs in my 4cc band and guess what? It's TOO TIGHT! I was really sick and had to have an "unfill" yesterday and so now I have 2.25ccs in a 4cc band and I still don't have any relief from the heartburn/stomach pain and port pain that I was having when they decided my band was too tight.

It's frustrating to find out your band is too tight, and yet you still feel like you don't have enough restriction at all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also have the 4cc band. I have already had 3 fills and have no restriction at all. I am totally frustrated as this is already my 2nd band and i have gained alot of weight. When i got my 3rd fill on weds, the doc said that i will feel this and if anything i could be to tight. I have 3.2 in a 4cc band the small inamed band.

I dont know whats going on. This is nothing to how my other band was. I felt restriction after my 2nd fill, but this one is so different.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just got another fill in my 4cc band on Tuesday. I am over 4cc now. They put in 4.5 (i think) in my band. I do feel it now, maybe a little too much. I will see. I have never PB'd since getting the band and still have not. I just feel a little tight in the chest and stomach area. I guess my doctor says it's okay to add a little more than recommended for the band. Let's hope so! Good Luck Everyone!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×