Hey guys! Almost a year out ...

[rockstar 0]

Hey guys. I just have a little concern, just wanna hear if someone is having something similar situation.

I got my surgery in October of 2010 and lost about 45 lbs in four months from, I'm sure, the result of the surgery and being a little timid of the foods on the restricted list. So after about six months of monthly doctor visits, monthly fills... I still felt no restrictions. After about 8 months, I started to fall into old habits because, well ... I guess I was mad at myself for not being the typical band patient and having normal restriction... I don't know. But 10 months out, I've gained 25 lbs back... all my fault. I've never felt stuck, I've never slimed, I've never pb'd. It's like the band isn't there. I think I have 8 or 9 ccs out out of 11, I believe.

Has anyone gone through this? Had 8 fills and felt no restriction? I realize that 90% of losing weight on the band is me. Eating right and exersizing but I was counting on the band to help. Has anyone gone to maximum fill to get restriction?

I'm back on the program with smaller portions and getting my 150+ minutes of walking in but I'm getting a little discouraged after almost a year.

Any response is appreciated!!

Amy

[CheckYes 46]

Could it be that you have a leak?

[rockstar 0]

Could it be that you have a leak?

Nope. Each fill, they unfill me into a syringe to make sure it's all still there. Never missing a drop.

Is it purely because I just haven't gotten it the life change down yet?

[vlp1968 83]

I too have found restriction ellusive. I went from feeling very hungry to getting sick after a small fill. I have had a few weeks here and there that I was in a good place. Honestly, I wouldn't do it again. That being said, I did loose all my excess weight, but the band wasn't the tool I hoped it would be. I wish I had given it one more shot on my own. I hadn't tried to loose weight in years when I got banded in Nov. 09. I was self pay and the money I spent on surgery was a huge motivator. All this is just my experience. I hope you get restriction with another fill or 2. I think it's possible for sure. That's great your getting back on track in the meantime. Keep it up! Best wishes.

[54Shirley 105]

If you talk to your surgeon, and tell them the problem, and then tell them you want to be filled to your fill line under Fluoroscope. They can get you right where you are suppose to be.That's what they did for me, and it worked.

The same can be done for you. If it does not work at all! Then let the surgeon know that also, could be the wrong size band...

Good Health to you, Shirley.

[moss 0]

Well there is no bigger jack ass then me. I had my band 1 year, started out at 276 lbs. when i got operated on I was down to 244lbs.

after the operation I lost only 8 more pounds. I kept telling my doctor that I am struggling & always hungry. He would only put in 1 cc.

at atime and sometime only .5. I was trying to do right but he would say you are relying to much on the lap band, your gotta try harder. So feb. came up

and I was up 6 lbs. I cancelled my doctor appointment and told my self I'll lose next month but I didn't . By July I was back up 266.

I change doctors, I called fill center usa. they put me with Dr. Lee in n.j. What a differents, instead of giving you 1 cc at a visit , he

fills up until you have restriction an then adjust down, for the first time in my life i have control, I don't even think of food. I can do this, its very eaz now.

I don't know if you are only 1 fill away but don't give up you'll know when you get there.

[54Shirley 105]

Well there is no bigger jack ass then me. I had my band 1 year, started out at 276 lbs. when i got operated on I was down to 244lbs.

after the operation I lost only 8 more pounds. I kept telling my doctor that I am struggling & always hungry. He would only put in 1 cc.

at atime and sometime only .5. I was trying to do right but he would say you are relying to much on the lap band, your gotta try harder. So feb. came up

and I was up 6 lbs. I cancelled my doctor appointment and told my self I'll lose next month but I didn't . By July I was back up 266.

I change doctors, I called fill center usa. they put me with Dr. Lee in n.j. What a differents, instead of giving you 1 cc at a visit , he

fills up until you have restriction an then adjust down, for the first time in my life i have control, I don't even think of food. I can do this, its very eaz now.

I don't know if you are only 1 fill away but don't give up you'll know when you get there.

My hat's off to you ! Don't cut yourself down because your following instructions, and as usual from what I have seen !

They won't listen, it's to be done there way! $$$

So now you know what it is like to be near or at your fill line. This makes this whole Band journey doable...

So make sure you chew that food up ! Getting stuck is no fun........

Good Health to you, Shirley.

[NJGirl32 43]

Well there is no bigger jack ass then me. I had my band 1 year, started out at 276 lbs. when i got operated on I was down to 244lbs.

after the operation I lost only 8 more pounds. I kept telling my doctor that I am struggling & always hungry. He would only put in 1 cc.

at atime and sometime only .5. I was trying to do right but he would say you are relying to much on the lap band, your gotta try harder. So feb. came up

and I was up 6 lbs. I cancelled my doctor appointment and told my self I'll lose next month but I didn't . By July I was back up 266.

I change doctors, I called fill center usa. they put me with Dr. Lee in n.j. What a differents, instead of giving you 1 cc at a visit , he

fills up until you have restriction an then adjust down, for the first time in my life i have control, I don't even think of food. I can do this, its very eaz now.

I don't know if you are only 1 fill away but don't give up you'll know when you get there.

Good for you for being an advocate for yourself and not giving up even when it seemed hopeless!! It is inspirational since I don't have restriction yet. Where is Dr. Lee located in NJ? How does the fill center work? Do you just call them and they hook you up with a doctor? I hear a lot of docs don't want to take someone else's patient.

[54Shirley 105]

The Fill Center that I went to was a Plastic Surgeon's Office ! So he was involved with everything.

They would start you off with maybe a couple of cc's then on your next visit, give you a glass of Water to drink. If it couldn't go down, then with the needle still in the port,

He would pull out some saline so that the water will go down.

Then he can tell you how many cc's you have in your band.

As long as you stay full for 4-5 hrs. your good to go.

[moss 0]

Good for you for being an advocate for yourself and not giving up even when it seemed hopeless!! It is inspirational since I don't have restriction yet. Where is Dr. Lee located in NJ? How does the fill center work? Do you just call them and they hook you up with a doctor? I hear a lot of docs don't want to take someone else's patient.

[moss 0]

Good for you for being an advocate for yourself and not giving up even when it seemed hopeless!! It is inspirational since I don't have restriction yet. Where is Dr. Lee located in NJ? How does the fill center work? Do you just call them and they hook you up with a doctor? I hear a lot of docs don't want to take someone else's patient.

It is called Fill Center U.S.A. The phone # is 866-435-5872,. My insurance paid for my original fills but Fill Center

USA would not except any insurance, and they charge 380.00 for the first fill, then 180.00 for any following fill.

But even if I'm paying now 180.00 and driving an extra 2hrs., it is still worth it because I now have the restriction

I need to stay on the program. Dr. Lee is located in Mount Loural N.J.but you have to call Fill Center Usa to make

all appointments. I think it cost 300.00 to be on there records & 80.00 for first fill ( 380.00 total first fill).Dr. Lee spent about 45 minutes

with me to get the fill just right, I can't say enough good things about the doctor, he is my fill doctor for life.

[moss 0]

The Fill Center that I went to was a Plastic Surgeon's Office ! So he was involved with everything.

They would start you off with maybe a couple of cc's then on your next visit, give you a glass of Water to drink. If it couldn't go down, then with the needle still in the port,

He would pull out some saline so that the water will go down.

Then he can tell you how many cc's you have in your band.

As long as you stay full for 4-5 hrs. your good to go.

[moss 0]

The Fill Center that I went to was a Plastic Surgeon's Office ! So he was involved with everything.

They would start you off with maybe a couple of cc's then on your next visit, give you a glass of Water to drink. If it couldn't go down, then with the needle still in the port,

He would pull out some saline so that the Water will go down.

Then he can tell you how many cc's you have in your band.

As long as you stay full for 4-5 hrs. your good to go.

Hi Shirley,

My lap band doctor would only give small fills at a time (.5 to 1 cc ) yes he would make you drink water only to see if you could get it down but I could of

drank 3 bottles, he didn't use the water to find the restriction & then adjust the fill, it seems your doctor is doing it the right way. So after I gained my weight back an I thought that this lap band just wasn't working for me, I called Fill Center USA (866-435-5872) . I think they are located in Arizona , but they have doctors around the country, They made me an appointment with Dr. Lee in Mt. Loural N. J. DR. Lee told me, you are gaining weight because you have no restriction, I had 3cc. in the band. He added 2.5 , and that was to much, he spent at lease 45 min. with me, the right adjustment came out at 4.8cc. total.I feel great now, the band does work, I know I have to start over but I'll do it ,it is so much easier with the band adjusted properly.

Thanks

Bill