tatsmom

I have the Inamed 10 cm, 4cc band. The diameter of the band makes a difference in the level of restriction. My doc said he didn't like the way the smaller (in diameter, not volume) band fit me during surgery so he decided to go with the 10 cm. I understand that both the 9.75 cm and the 10 cm band hold 4 cc's but the 9.75 cm band will obviously fit tighter than the 10 cm band. so my question is...if you were filled all the way and you weren't losing weight and you had NEVER felt good restriction in the 8 months since your surgery, would you have another surgery to have the band replaced? BTW...All my fills are done under flouro and the amount of fluid is always checked to make sure there is no leak.

I haven't lost much. About 20 lbs., of which I gained at least 5 back.

I got my forth fill last week, which took me to 4cc's. That's right, I'm maxed out and I still have NO restriction!! Apparently the band comes in different diameter sizes. Mine is the medium sized. The nurse practitioner that did my fill said that my doc will probably want to replace my band with the smaller one. I DO NOT want to have surgery again, nor do I have the money to pay for it. Has anyone else experienced this? I feel like I'm the only one. I've never heard of this. Please help!

:help: I have been banded since December but I haven't had a fill since April. I put it off for lots of reasons but I guess the biggest is that I just don't like Spiegel. We seem to have a personality conflict. I don't think I've ever had proper restriction. I've only lost 28 lbs. I've started gaining some back here lately. I'm just wondering if any of you know of a doctor in the Houston area who does fills on other doctors patients. Thanks for your help!! I'm desperate!!

I had my 3rd fill (total 3.2 cc) today and I think it might have been too much. I can sip water but that's it. No slim fast or tea or shake, only water. I've PBed more today than in all the previous 5 months put together. Is this normal after a fill or do I need to call the doc in the morning?:help:

I just had my first un-covered fill with Spiegel today. When I had my surgery back in Dec. I thought all my fills would be covered. Well, I was told the day before my appt. to bring $100 in cash to cover Spiegel's fee plus I had to pay the surgery center my co-pay. That's $120 for a fill!!! I got NO phone call from Spiegel's office informing me that there would be changes! They didn't even bother to tell me when I called to make an appt for this fill. Then I get there today and Spiegel is RUDE!!! I wanted to say "You better show some respect, I just paid you $100 for 60 seconds of you time". I have got to find a doctor who will do my fills. I can't take another minute of this man! If any of you know of a doctor in the Houston area who will do fills on another doc's patient, PLEASE let me know!

Got my fill done 1 week & 2 days ago. I have to say that I like talking with everyone out in the waiting area. Kind of like a support group. Dr. Spiegel was quick & to the point, but it was fine. He was 2 hours LATE, but I'm sure he had a good reason. I think I'm gonna need another fill pretty quick. As long as I go slow I can eat tons. I had 4 chicken strips from Jack in the Box today for dinner. I could have had the last one but I made myself stop. That's too much, right?

I usually wake up pretty hungry but find it hard to even get a slim fast donw. I have to take it slow. One swallow then wait for it to pass the band. Do any of you experience this super tight band in the morning? At night I know I could eat a whole chicken breast though I don't let myself. This is how my doctor determines if you need a fill or not. Here's my problem...if I can eat a whole chicken breast at night this suggests that I need a fill, right? But if I can't hardly drink a slim fast in the morning how will that work if I do get a fill???:cool: I hope this makes sense. BTW...I am one week post first fill. Doc wants to know in another week if I need another fill or not. Thanks for any help!!!:help:

Can anyone tell me what I can expect as far as a post-fill diet goes?? I'm sure you have to take it slow but I'm hoping I won't be on liquids for a week again, like after surgery. I have bunco tomorrow night. Will I be able to eat there? Thanks for any info!!

Hello fellow bandsters!! I'm going today to get my first fill with Dr Spiegel. I will be having it done at the surgicenter where I had my surgery. For some reason my insurance company prefers for us to have it done there. I'm hoping that since it won't be done at his office it won't be so much like a cattle drive. We'll see...

Thanks everyone for all the great advise. When I get hungry I'll eat til I feel satisfied. I'm not going to worry about calories or losing 30 lbs in the first month. I did not get this band so that I could starve myself into losing massive amounts of weight the first month. LBTers...you are the best!! Good luck to all

:hungry: OK bandsters...help me out. I am 15 days out (still on mushies) and I can't seem to get enough food in me to stay satisfied for more than 2 or 3 hours. I know that once I get my fill I will stay satisfied longer but this is driving me nuts!! I want to keep my caloric intake down to 1200 but I'm not doing a very good job of it right now. I lost 10 lbs the first week on liquids but I don't think I've lost anything since then, because I eat so often. Is it possible that my doc would do my first fill before the 4 weeks is up? Does anybody have any suggestions for mushies that stay with you longer??? Thanks

I was just thinking about the foods I'm gonna have to stay away from. The no bread thing KILLS me! Those of you who are off mushies and on "regular" food, what are the things that you band just says no to?

what is sliming???