Hey --

I posted a few questions about a week ago under this subject and no one has replied. Waaah. If someone -- anyone (!!) has any observations, or comments it would be greatly helpful.

Thanks.

Elizabeth

To reply to your post: I did'nt have a good fill at all the first time. My Doctor gave me a little more than 2cc's if that much (last month) I can eat any and everything as if I was never filled and I actually gained back 5lbs to my dismay! I will get another fill next week and am aprehensive as the last time it was painful for me. I don't know if it was the suction from the syringe drawing back or what, but I felt pressure and then some pain. I went back to the Dr. to be a guinea pig yesterday (the Dr. wanted to see if she could do a blind fill) and although she hit the spot it again hurt and pretty badly.:think I was given a shot to numb the area but for some reason the pain is still there. I'm a bit concerned. I hear so many people talking about no pain and how easy it is, etc... well I wish it was for me. Maybe my next fill under flouro won't be so bad and now that she's getting more experienced at doing it ... we'll see I guess.

Good Luck,

Karen, you were banded the day after me, I also had Dr Sanchez. I have had 2 fills so far with Dr Keith in Oklahoma City, and I am scheduled for my 3rd fill next week. As I have the large 11cm band, it seems to take a lot of saline to fill it, and as a result, I'm still no where near where I need to be restriction wise and getting VERY discouraged. I was wondering if you are finding the same thing?

Hi Jeanette,

I too have the larger band (11cc). I only had one fill but I have my second scheduled for Friday. My Dr. promises me that she will get me good and tight. I hope so! But, over the past few days I've realized that I have been abusing my band in that I have been emotionally eating - whenever I get upset, etc. or if I'm under stress- (by not stopping to feel the fullness that my body is feeling (hope that makes sense!) the Right now I feel very full but I also ate A L O T. I'm feeling very guilty about that too. But I don't have restriction regardless, because if I did I would probably throw up or would have by now. I know I really need to get my Sh*t together but sometimes I have to really get mad at myself before I take more responsiblity for the binging. I have 70lbs to lose, I gained back 6 of the 15 I originally lost and that was very disappointing but I knew I did before I got on the scales. I will just start again tomorrow and hopefully get back on track.

By the way, how much does your fill doctor put in your band at each visit? And is he willing to work with you on getting a good fill - meaning - is he cooperative like my doctor. She knows she didn't give me a good first fill and vows to really work with me the next time and in the future. She realizes how expensive the fill visits get and knows that we can't keep going back every 4-8 weeks for refills. I don't think our band (even though it's a 11cc band) can hold that much, if I'm not mistaken.

I will make a post after my next fill (to let you know) how my 2nd fill goes. I sure hope I don't have to have 4-5 fills to get a good restriction! I wonder why Dr. Sanchez is using these big bands on us. I guess he's got his reasons, after all he is one of the BEST in the world from what I hear. I really think though you should talk to your Dr. about it all.

GOOD LUCK!!

Karen

The first fill, Dr Keith put in 4cc's, as is recommended by AMI who make our bands. The second fill he added 1.5, bringing me to 5.5. This time I am really going to make sure I have a nice tight fill before I leave the city.

What happens is that we go down to the city, it's a 4 hour drive, I get filled, head home, and because I am on liquids for 24 hours, I don't know until the next day if I am restricted enough. By that time, we are again 4 hours from the doctor, and I find out my fill was still not enough.

The last time, he asked me what I was able to eat, and said that was too much, and that we needed to do something about that. I am his first patient with the 11 band, so this is new to him as well. He wants me to get the right level, so I think between him and I, we will get it right next week. I am going to stay overnight in the city this time, and if it's not right before my hubby and I leave town the next morning, I will call Dr Keith and see if he can add more before we leave.

My last fill, I, too, stayed in town an extra day...just to be sure. It was fine, but i was glad i took the time and made sure.

Jeanette

That's great that you do have a doctor who is willing to work with you. My Dr. gave me 1-2cc's the first time but she too was still learning (and still is). And she was told not to fill too much the first time, but I really hope I get at least 6cc's (HA!).

Please let me know how you feel after you get your next fill.

Take care and good luck!

Do your doctors charge you for every fill whether it was "good" or not? I know some doctors charge $200-$300 for a fill and that could add up pretty fast.

Leannie

Surgery scheduled 12/27/03

Dr. Sanchez

Highest 296

280/280/140

Hi Leannie,

To answer your question about doctors charging everytime you get a fill, unfortunately yes, or at least mine does. I know some gaurantee them (a Dr. in New Orleans gives you a week, one in Dallas makes you wait around a while in his office afterwards). My Doctor hasn't said anything but is $50.00 cheaper after the first visit and if she decides to start doing blind fills (she said after lots of practice) she will charge $150.00. ($250.00 - 1st; $200.00 - 2nd).

I really don't know what other doctors do, but I would assume they would charge.

Good question though!

Good Luck! You will LOVE Dr. Sanchez and his staff!

Yes, my doctor charges for every fill, regardless of how much restriction I have afterwards. I paid $225 for the first one, and $185 for each one after that.

I had my 3rd fill on Tuesday afternoon, he added 1.5cc to take me to 6.5 total. I 'tested' it that night, and I guess I ate about 1 cup food. I went back the next morning, and he topped me up a bit more, he added another .5 taking me to 7.0cc in total. He did not charge for the second visit, it was all included in the cost of the fill the day before.

I believe I am at the right restriction level now. I just ate one of those 7.5oz mini meals you heat in a microwave, and it was definately enough. I am pleased with this level, and am now looking forward to being a loser!

For those of you with the large size 11 band, hang in there, it takes a lot to fill it!

Hi Leannie,

I'm really to happy that you have a good fill. I go tomorrow for my second and I'm going to bring her a copy of your posts. I really am disgusted as I can eat any and everything. I really don't care if I throw up after eating! I know that's terrible. I just knew I'd be at least 30-40lbs thinner by Christmas, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Oh well.... :think

Please keep me posted on your progress. I'd really like to hear back on how you are doing.

Thanks and best of luck!

Hi Karen -

I don't know how serious you were when you said "I really don't care if I throw up after eating!" - this is a very dangerous mind set.

I caution everyone who "kind of" agrees with Karen's statement to re-evaluate your expectations. The few horror stories I have read mostly involve this kind of attitude.

It is natural for us to have expectations, and to set goals - however, it is imperative that our ideals remain flexible and keep in sync with reality. Goals are something to work towards, not something to set us up for failure.

I would hope our goals would ALWAYS include the caveat "in a safe and healthy manner."

Experiencing pain and PBing/vomiting is neither safe, nor healthy, and is UNACCEPTABLE .

Seriously.

We do NOT have to be suffering in some way to be "doing our best." We are so used to resorting to "drastic" measures that we have come to believe if it's easy, or painless, we are not "trying hard enough." These are FALSE beliefs, and I challenge you all to reject this dangerous, crippling, and punishing mindset.

Originally posted by donali

Hi Karen -

I don't know how serious you were when you said "I really don't care if I throw up after eating!" - this is a very dangerous mind set.

I caution everyone who "kind of" agrees with Karen's statement to re-evaluate your expectations. The few horror stories I have read mostly involve this kind of attitude.

It is natural for us to have expectations, and to set goals - however, it is imperative that our ideals remain flexible and keep in sync with reality. Goals are something to work towards, not something to set us up for failure.

I would hope our goals would ALWAYS include the caveat "in a safe and healthy manner."

Experiencing pain and PBing/vomiting is neither safe, nor healthy, and is UNACCEPTABLE .

Seriously.

We do NOT have to be suffering in some way to be "doing our best." We are so used to resorting to "drastic" measures that we have come to believe if it's easy, or painless, we are not "trying hard enough." These are FALSE believes, and I challenge you all to reject this dangerous, crippling, and punishing mindset.

I PB a lot of times, I don't want to, but it happens. Sometimes my restriction is just to big. Especially when it is raining outside. And I guess since I am still relatively new as a bandster I still have to learn how to work with the band....

Hello everyone (Donali)

Please don't misunderstand what I said, as apparently it has been... that was me in crisis. I've been very discouraged and that came out because of my mood at the time. No one likes to vomit, especially me. I know that vomiting can damage your band too so why would anyone (including myself) want to damage something I paid $10K for. And, I didn't mean that as advice for anyone...

So please everyone, listen to what Donali says because so far EVERYTHING I have read from her posts (which I find very interesting) is so very true.

I go in for a fill today at 1PM and I just hope and pray that I get some success from it. :nervous

I hope you get good results from this fill. Remind your doc it takes approx 7.0cc to get it right with our larger bands!! I could even go a little tighter, which is great for when I plateau again down the track. I know this because I can still eat a small amount in the morning - but I can feel every bite going down, which is tight enough for me right now. Compared to what little restriction I had at 5.5cc, where I almost felt wide open and ate everything in sight and felt discouraged and completely out of control, this fill is wonderful!

Let us know how you went with this fill after you get back.