cathyM

Hi I'm new to the group. I had my surgery in Oct 2004. I was given the 11cc Vanguard band. Even with 10cc of fills I can still eat just about anything. My surgeon told me today that the band may be too big and I should have the band removed and the smaller band put in its place. Anyone else ever have this situation?? Thanks, Cathy

Ok, here's what happened. Friday's fill turned out to be a nightmare I was at 10cc's and could still eat just about anything. Friday I went back down to my doctor (acutally, I didn't even see the doctor-I saw a physician's assistant). He had to make 3 attempts to access the port and when he did, he drew out all the saline to see what was in there. He said there was only 7 and that I may have a leak. He said there might have been another cc or so in the tubing. He put back the 7 and 3 more cc's. By the evening I was belching and vomiting constantly. I could not even keep down water. I woke up during the night choking from vomiting. In the morning I called my doctor's office who told me to go to the emergency room at Westchester Medical Center in NY. (about 1 1/2 hours from my house) They told me a resident would take out a cc for me. They said if I could find a closer hospital that had someone who did fills I could go there. Well, since my banding I had moved and there is a local lap band doctor in the next town over. I called the local hospital and explained the situation. They said Dr. Kwon was in surgery and they put me on hold and asked him if he would see me. He said he would. I went to the emergency room and Dr. Kwon was not able to access the port. He tried with ultrasound and still couldn't hit it. Then he tried under x-ray and it was clear that the port had flipped over. Two hours later I was in surgery for an emergency port replacement (the old one had holes on the side from misses during fills. Anyway, he took out all the saline so I am back to square one. He said the port was still under pressure so he doesn't think there was a leak. He said he wants me to have an EDG to rule out band errosion before we start filling it back up again. I'm not sure if I swelled up because I went from 7 to 10 cc's (too much at once) or if the PA just got it wrong and there were more than 7 cc's in there. It is Tuesday now and I have been on a liquid diet since the surgery. I see the surgeon today for followup. I am scheduled for an EGD tomorrow morning. I can't wait to get saline back in my band. Cathy <!-- / message -->

Well, I wll tell you about my recent experiences, but the jury is still out. Last week I posted my first post entitled 'Vanguard band too big...". I was at 10cc's and could still eat just about anything. Friday I went back down to my doctor (acutally, I didn't even see the doctor-I saw a physician's assistant). He had to make 3 attempts to access the port and when he did, he drew out all the saline to see what was in there. He said there was only 7 and that I may have a leak. He said there might have been another cc or so in the tubing. He put back the 7 and 3 more cc's. By the evening I was belching and vomiting constantly. I could not even keep down Water. I woke up during the night choking from vomiting. In the morning I called my doctor's office who told me to go to the emergency room at Westchester Medical Center in NY. (about 1 1/2 hours from my house) They told me a resident would take out a cc for me. They said if I could find a closer hospital that had someone who did fills I could go there. Well, since my banding I had moved and there is a local lap band doctor in the next town over. I called the local hospital and explained the situation. They said Dr. Kwon was in surgery and they put me on hold and asked him if he would see me. He said he would. I went to the emergency room and Dr. Kwon was not able to access the port. He tried with ultrasound and still couldn't hit it. Then he tried under x-ray and it was clear that the port had flipped over. Two hours later I was in surgery for an emergency port replacement (the old one had holes on the side from misses during fills. Anyway, he took out all the saline so I am back to square one. He said the port was still under pressure so he doesn't think there was a leak. He said he wants me to have an EDG to rule out band errosion before we start filling it back up again. One big question in my mind was answered though. The Vanguard band is not too big to reach full restriction!! As for what band the doctors use...The doctor who did my surgery said he always uses the 10 cc band. He feels it is safer than the smaller bands. Its supposed to have a much lower incidence of slippage and band errosion. We shall see. What ever band you get, it is up to you to make it work. It is not a magic pill just a hugely helpful tool. Best of luck to you. Cathy

Hi Rockin' Robyn. I go in for a fill on Friday. I will let everybody know how it works out restriction-wise. My therapist works with Dr. Ren and Dr. Fielding at NYU Medical Center. My doctors are in Westchester, NY. Rumor has it that many people with VG bands are reaching full restriction between 11 and 12. My doctors have told me we can go to 11 or even higher. We shall see. Its funny how your propective changes. When I first got the band I would think to myself "I hope I can still eat this or that". Now I think "God, I hope I can't eat a darn thing after this fill".

Yes, my surgeon only uses the VG band also. I was up to 10 within 4 months of having surgery. I initially lost 50 lbs but had a tragic loss. My brother whom I was very close to died after a bone marrow transplant. I was devestated and of course turned to food. I gained back 30 of the 50 I lost and I had pretty much deemed myself a failure (who fails at weight loss surgery??). Anyway, I went back to see my therapist. She is an expert in eating disorders and grief. She also has a band and went from 350 lbs to 135 lbs. She is the one who encouraged me to go back to the doctor and fight for another fill. She says if the band is adjusted correctly I shouldn't be able to binge (Pasta, bread sticks, french bread pizza...I can eat just about anything) I am once again hopeful. My doctor says we can go to 11 or higher before trying the smaller band. I would, of course, prefer to keep the VG band if we can get the restriction right. I appreciate everyones responses. One thing I learned the hard way-no matter how bad things get, never walk away from support.

Thank you for the links Dr. Hekier. My doctors say you can put more than 10 cc in the band. Do you know of people who have it filled higher than 10?

"technically" the vanguard band holds 11 cc's but I have heard it can go to 13 safely. I really hope the fills work. I know that the Vanguard band has a much lower incidence of slippage and rupturing. Its a very good band, just big.

Thanks for sharing, Ruthie. Who would pay was the first question that popped into my mind. I will be getting another fill next Friday (probably up to 11cc) and the doctor said we would explore the options then.