Hello! I need some advice with my band. I was banded in April of 2008 and was doing great until October. I have a 14 cc band and was filled to 5.5 cc's. My doc then upped me to 7 cc's and I was overfilled. I had to go back the next day and have some taken out. By that point I was so irritated he had to do a complete unfill and start again. In the meantime I ended up in the hospital with kidney stones. My doc wouldn't refill me until the kidney stone issues were handled. He started the refills in December and I'm currently only 5 cc's in a 14 cc band, and I hardly have any restriction. Why does it seem like I had more restriction before than I do now? Since April (because of the unfill) I've only lost 55 pounds to date. My doctor is over 2 hours away (I live in a very small town) and cannot attend support groups because the distance is just too far. Late last week I went to a new doc who is closer to my home and he basically told me I was too fat for that band - that if I had walked into his office last year asking for the band, he would have sent me elsewhere. He has agreed to manage my fills now, but I don't think that's the type of doc I want to go to - talk about discouraging!! Can anyone offer advice? Do I just need to be filled more in order to feel more restriction? Please give me some hope and inspiration, because I'm running dry! Thank you!!!

hi,im sorry your going through this, i cant help much but maybe because of your kidney stones you were tighter?.. & i thought a 14cc band was the largest one they do?

how rude of him to say that, i certainly wouldnt want to see him again, my doc is 2 hour car journey away & i wouldnt want to go anywhere else,can you not put up with it until you are at your sweet spot, then maybe you dont have to go regular to them?

wish you all the luck

I'm sorry you were treated that way. I would rather drive two hours to see a good doctor than 5 minutes to see one who's so rude and unprofessional.

Also, fill and restriction do seem to be a very tricky thing. Good luck in getting everything figured out!

Thank you for your responses! I don't know if having kidney stones made me any tighter or not. I can put up with driving 2 hours if I need to, it's just such an inconvenience. I think my problem is that I do still need to hit that sweet spot. I've not hit it yet and it's been almost a year since my surgery. I'm really anxious to start seeing the pounds drop off again, and I'm determined to show the other doctor that he was wrong about the band.

Ugh!!! I know a long commute is inconvenient, but in the long run, the right doctor for you is one that you feel comfortable with...one you can trust to talk to and one you believe is really on your side for your well-being.

I hope you feel better about things soon and that you do get to your right restriction amount.

**hugs**

I had to have an unfill about 7 months ago because of being to tight . It took several fills to get me back to where I was (wanted to take it slow after that) It can be frustrating yes but hang in there! I had slow weight loss periods and greater weight loss periods during this time but it was worth taking it slow so I didn't hurt myself or the band trying to rush my fills.

As for that doc that is closer to you....Ummm NO!!!! Why pay someone to make you feel like crap? Attitude is just as important as competency and ability, just because he knows HOW to do your fills doesn't make him qualified to do your fills

Good-Luck to you