Chickie

It's the size of your stomach, not your weight, or the size of your waist that determines what band your surgeon uses. My waist was massive when I was banded, and I got a "little" band (I too started out at almost 300lbs)

Oh, and just pointing out of the fun of it, it does not matter how big, or "fat" (I loathe that word) your belly is. It is the size of your stomach that matters. Usually the surgeon will make his/her choice on what band to use on you when they are inside, having look at your insides. Big bands, little bands, new AP bands, it does not matter. We will all lose in the end.

Yes, the 9.75cm holds 4cc of fluid.

Eh, if it lasts 10 yeas, it lasted me 10 years.... But it may last forever. No one really knows.

I have the small band too, but unlike Sherrijo, I was all belly (well, not all, but you know what I mean) I have been at (and under now) goal for about 6 months. It can be done.

You may well be too tight. You should be able to eat solid foods, not just mushy.

And as a point of interest, I had roughly 10 fills and unfills within my first year of banding. And you bet your ass I would have gone as fars as I needed to for them.

Yes. You should.

I am outside the USA, and I have pretty damm good care. My doctors are not paid anywhere near what the US surgeons are paid, yet they manage to deliver an excellent standard of care. I do not take my doctors for granted, and would travel as far as I had to for aftercare.

Thanks for that. How sad for her family. That story shows me why people need to be in hospital after plastic/cosmetic/reconstructive surgery. I am glad I stayed in for a few days after my tummy tuck.

Sometimes it can take a second for it to go down, but on an empty pouch, I can gulp with no problem.

I love my spicy foods. I eat something spicy at least 2 or 3 times a week.

Do you have an online link to this story Susannah? I have heard of stories like this before, but never seen anything in the paper.

I have honestly never heard of this being done. And if Mr Mills hasn't either I wouldn't do it. My port was placed deep under the muscle, and even after losing weight, then a tummy tuck, I still can't see it. And it is just a regular sized port. Nothing fancy. Maybe moving the port to a better, deeper location would be a better idea?

I thought it was fantastic too see something about the band. But I wish I could give whoever it was a big hug. It's not just the band losing the weight for him or her. They are using will power and self control.

Some would know about this already. People send in their secrets to this blog, and every Sunday, new secrets are put up for display. This is one from this Sunday; http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/994/593/1600/378836/stomach.jpg

My problem is with this person advocating self fills. Saying that is a good option if you disagree with your surgeon. (I remember reading somewhere that he does have options for professional fills, but prefers his own fills) And for the record, I do not live in America. I am not American. And even saying that Americans have better choices than the rest of the world is funny. Have you seen the amount of posters bemoaning not being able to find a fill doctor? In some ways, if you want a fill by any other doctor than the one who banded you, you may as well give up. So, should the (hypothetical) Bandster who cannot get a fill with a doctor (that they 1. like, and 2 agree with) they should just grab any old needle, fill said needle up from the tap, and sick a needle in their belly hoping that they find their port? I am against this information being put up as a how to guide. If it had been titled "How the professionals do your fills" or something like that, and a disclaimer put up that it really is a bad idea to do your own fills, and this is just something cool to know, I don't know that I would have had such a problem. But this guy, fills himself, and then tells the rest of the community that it is a great alternative to putting up with your arrogant surgeon / doctor (if I did my own procedure every time I ran up against an arrogant doc....)

People really took note when I was about half way to goal. And everyone commented in the last 20-30lbs. It took a while in my case.

Prejudiced? Me? Given I don't have 10 years in Uni, my doctor gave me a list of 10 things I should never, ever do for myself, but go to a doctor for. 1. Vasectomy 2. Hysterectomy 3. Open heart surgery 4. Filling my own teeth 5. Pulling out my own teeth 6. Putting in my own IUD 7. Taking out my appendix 8. Kidney transplant 9. My own C section 10. Filling my own band As long as I do what my doctor says, and it keeps me alive, and my band in good serviceable condition, I am A OK with you thinking I am prejudiced.

The idea behind the band is not to fill yourself as quickly as you can so you can, and lose a tonne of weight in the first 6 month. The idea is that as you are filled slowly you adjust your lifestyle and eating habits, and thus, lose weight. It matters not if you have a 4cc band, AP, or a VG, the theory is the same. Small fills, at least 4 weeks apart, lifestyle and eating adjustments, and of course, exercise. Putting the notion out there that if you don't like what your doctor says and does or his/her protocol, just fill yourself, is to be blunt, STUPID. I don't care where you go the information from, or how accurate and reliable it is (or is not) It goes against what every bandster is told. The last thing I will say is, anyone who fills themselves is asking for all the trouble they get.

I do not need your sympathy. I am pointing out that *if* someone wanted to try this, the information is out there, and they could find it for themselves. I do not think that the how to guide is appropriate for this forum. The makers of the band do not guarantee any of the parts should you fill yourself. This goes against what every single banded person is told. If you want to fill yourself till you explode, I don't care. What I do care about is the fact that by posting this information you are proving one of the old wives tails about the band to be true. (Most people have been told by someone that an Aunt, cousin ect. that they know of has a band and unfills themselves when they want to have a big meal, then tops up again after... ) If you want to do this go for it. But keep it to yourself. Please. And remember, your doctor has a fill protocol for a reason. They do not just say "Oh, they have to wait x amount of weeks between fills" for no good reason. They do things their way because it is what in their experience works.

A risk is still a risk no matter the numbers. And that is assuming that 1. You are trained. 2. You are using the correct needle. 3. The fill needle and saline are sterile. You claim to have enough knowledge to fill yourself, but think of the others you may encourage to fill themselves who do not. Think of the financial repercussions, the risk of infection, and re operation. This is serious stuff. Not to be messed with, and you post a how to guide? If a person wants to know badly enough, they can search the net themselves. I find this highly irresponsible.

I am finding that I am still losing, despite adding extra calories, and may need an unfill. I still exercise, I still watch what I eat (no fast food, little chocolate, and lots of good food and water). So in many ways (for me) maintaining is a lot like losing. It was a lifestyle change, and one I am glad I made, and am happy to have adopted for life

Well, I am at (and under) my goal. I had my tummy tuck in August. After that I brought myself a beautiful new spring/summer wardrobe, and plan on doing the same for autumn/winter (featuring a pair of black knee high leather boots, and a leather jacket,she says drooling) But by far my biggest reward? Normality.

I do not find the idea appealing. In fact I find it appalling. You are not (I assume) a medical professional. Therefore you should not be performing medical services on yourself or anyone else. The risk of screwing things up is too high. For me it is not an insurance issue, nor is it the risk of upsetting my doctor, it is simply that I have the common sense to *not* perform a medical procedure on myself. I would not let anyone but my surgeon do my fills, to be honest. And to the whole process being cheap. Well it is cheap enough here too, but I am certain that if I were to need a replacement band / port / whatever, the risk of another surgery would be on my mind, along with the cost. Cheap or not. I have thought about the idea of filling myself, and discounted it straight away. I feel it is a risk I would rather not take. And if after-care is such an issue where you live, perhaps the band was not the best choice for you due to the amount of follow up required?