Hello,

banded on the 2nd June 05.

I have the Vanguard band which holds 10cc, and my weight befor surgery was 231 Ibs [ BMI 37 ] height 5' 6" around 168cm

1st fill 4cc after 7 weeks

2nd fill 1cc 4 weeks later.

Have lost 22 Ibs and did that in the 1st few weeks then nothing ever since.

nothing..........nothing.

I thought the VG was placed on those with a BMI of 45+

I should ask my Dr. but dont want him to think I doubt his competence as a surgeon.

I have OK restriction and the only thing I'm not consistant with is the exercise.

I eat very well and a lot less than I used to.

Does anyone else have the VG band with weight similar to mine?

I think I was expecting too much in the weight loss and have to be more patient. At least I am not putting on and love the restriction.

Regards Lapband

I have heard it takes about 5-6 cc's on the VG band to really get restriction.I was told the VG band was used for patients with a larger BMI..There are several threads here on the subject, if you do a search on the VG Band at the top of the page you will find some helpful info.

Hello,

Are you sure your BMI was only 37? At 321lbs, that seems kinda low, unless you are really really tall. Anyway, at 280lbs and 5' 10", my BMI was right at 40 and my Doc placed the Vanguard in me. I have yet to receive a fill yet. My Doc says that he perfers the VG band in men due to anatomy differences. I hope this helps.

Ray

8/9/05

280/259/180

Fort Worth, TX

If you have OK restriction - then it doesn't really matter what band you have, does it? If you are only at 5cc's then it would seem you have plenty of room for further fills if needed.

I wouldn't worry too much about which band you have - so long as it is doing what it is supposed to be doing.

:]

I was wondering the same thing about the BMI.. I was trying to figure out how tall you had to be in order to have such a low one.

the Dr.s dont know what size band you will get. Once they go in depending on your stomach and the fat cells around is what determs the size the band they put...

You will hit you sweet spot fill soon.. keep your head up... it takes a bit of time but you will get there.

Thanks TrishS,

Perhaps another 1cc wont go astray on my next visit.

I may not be that tight. At 231 Ibs to start with, It maybe that my weight will be very slow as I only have 77Ibs - 35 kg to drop.

My BMI was around 40 when I was banded on July 12. My doctor used the Vanguard on me - he says he is using this band more and more because he likes the chambers and the ability to have more flexibility with tightness....so he doesn't seem to use the "larger bmi/larger stomach" equation...

Thankyou so much JulyBandster. Your message has made me feel sooooooo good.

My BMI was 43 or something like that and I was 118kg when I was banded. I had the large band put in and it took 8 fills for me to get to the right spot. I have 8.9mls in and I think I have about as good restriction as I am going to get as I suffer form reflux now I dont want to get anymore fill and maybe make it worse. My weight was really slow too, and I even plateaued for 7 weeks, I am on the move again now tho as I am starting to work with the band instead of fighting against it.

Good Luck