Just checking in to see how you are doing?

How many cc's do you have and are you losing?

I'm feeling like I might need another small fill but I'm already at 8.7 cc's and I still have 65 more pounds to go!

Do I just wait it out and up my exercise (which I should do anyway) or should I get another small fill?

Anyway, just wondering how others are doing with the big vanguard band!

Thanks!

I've been banded 6 & 1/2 months now with a Vanguard Band. I have 3.5cc's in a 10cc band and do feel like my band is a bit too tight. I have a hard time eating before noon, and cannot even attempt to eat bread, pasta, rice, or tortillas. Even though I am tight, I'm not losing very quickly at this point because I'm eating junk (candy, microwave popcorn, icecream, soda). I have upped my exercise now, so I'm hoping to see some results from that.

See that's what I'm worried about! You are at 3.5 cc's and you're 6 1/2 months out...

I'm four months out and I'm at 8.7 cc's! What's wrong with me! Why is my band so full and I still don't have opitmal restriction. I still have so much to lose!

UHHHHH! Where is the fairy godmother that waves her wand and takes away all my weight problems?

Thanks for your response though. I appreciate it.

Does your doctor remove all of the fill each time before giving you more??? I only ask because mine does, and that's where we've figured I have 3.5ccs. If you add all that he gave me, it would be 6.5cc's. I was really worried because I thought I had a leak, but I guess not. My other thought was that either I have ALOT of fat around my stomach that is making my band tighter at 3.5cc's, or maybe my doc got mixed up and gave me the Inamed band that holds 4 cc's.

How much and what are you eating? (If I may ask)

Also, if you're exercising your body may be converting fat to muscle so you don't see a difference on the scale, just in how you feel and how your clothes fit. Since I started exercising alot I have noticed that I'm not losing as much which does and doesn't make sense.

Hang in there!

I go for my first fill on 10/24 and I was wondering what how big your first fill was with the VG Band? also anybody out there have Dr. Benavides that received the VG Band on their first fill? I just can't afford to go every couple of weeks to get fills and such. Anybody?

I have a VG band. My first fill September 14th was 3ccs. I go for my next MUCH needed fill on October 26th.

Thanks Pam for the info.

I had 4 cc's put in at time of surgery. 3.5 cc's my first real fill and then 1.2 cc's my last fill.

From what I've heard from others I have a lot of cc's in my band. I think I might need a small tweak but I'm just going to up my excercise and see if I can get going again.

VanGuard Babe here!! First fill was 4 weeks after surgery and was 3cc's I am now at 6cc's and almost 75lbs lighter!! YEA ME!!! Surgery was 11/19/04. Almost 1 year ago!

It took 6 fills to feel like I have true restriction.

<<almost 75lbs lighter!! YEA ME!!!>>

Congrats!!! That's so exciting!!!!!!!!!!

I have the VG Band too - I had surgery July 12, and only have .7cc in my band....so far that is all I need. I'm down about 30-32 pounds....depends what time of the month it is...haha.

I'm losing slowly, but can eat anything and everything....I'm happy so far. Guessing a larger fill is on the horizon in the next month or so....

AmyK

Look at my fill history below. I never felt restriction until 5 months into the game. I probably could be a bit tighter but I prefer the "sneak-up" method rather than the "oh my gosh, I'm too tight!"

I definitely eat less now, but you wouldn't know I was banded unless I told you. My doc takes my fill out each time, so I know that I don't have a leak. I was a lower BMI than most patients, so it has taken me quite a while to get to restriction. I try to stay positive in knowing that I'd definitely not gaining. I'm only dropping about 1-2 lbs a month now though. If I exercised more, I know that would help. Excuses, excuses.

Anyway, hang in there. You are not alone. My doc tells me I'm still doing great. He insists that this is a LIFE change and that I've got plenty of time to reach my goal.

When I go back in six weeks, I'll probably get a tweak. I feel like I'm getting close to my sweetspot. I can still eat almost any food, I just have to be careful. I don't ever want to get so tight that I can't enjoy a variety of food. My doc says that it's important not to get too tight or you could slip into a soft food habit and then the band can't do it's job.

I hope this helps.

Proud Member of the Slow Losers Club.

I am filled alot too. I have good restriction, i guess. I need to exercise more, get back on track. I want to get down 17 lbs by the end of the year and I know I can do it if i make an effort. So, we will see. You can see below my fills and dates.