Your opinion, please

A New Woman · June 28, 2009

I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not. Please give me your opinion. I was banded 3/12/09 with a Realize band. I'm very, very happy that I got my band. As of today, my scale indicates I'm down 29 lbs. Not stellar like some folks on here that were banded at the same time, but I'm still happy with the results.

My confusion is this... I currently have 7cc's in my 10cc band. I've had 3 adjustments so far. My first adjustment was 4cc's, 2nd adjustment was 2cc's, and my most recent adjustment was 1cc. At my last appointment my doc was teetering on whether or not to adjust me because I had lost 7 lbs in about 5 weeks -- so a little more than 1 lb. a week. At that time I explained that with my first adjustment I felt no restriction (even with 4cc's), with the 2nd adjustment I noticed a difference initially but as the weeks went by it got less and less. The bariatric nurse said that she thinks this is a common complaint because people adjust their eating after a few weeks (basically they start to eat around the band). I really don't think I've been doing that and explained to her and the doctor why. So after our discussion we decided he would do another 1cc for a grand total of 7cc's. I am experiencing the same restriction (actually a little bit better) than I initially did after the 2nd adjustment. But I have to say there are still times I probably could eat more, but am stopping myself, and I have never once PB'd, vomited, or gotten truly stuck. I've had a few occasions I could probably count on one hand where I got that uncomforable sensation and I thought I was stuck but it passed after a minute or two. I do not seem to have problem with chicken or anything else. I don't eat hardly any bread but on the few occasions I've had a bite or two, no problem. Is this normal to have so much saline in my band and to not have vomited or PB'd or any significant problems. It just seems like I have so much more saline that most folks on here that I'm wondering why I'm not having any issues.

itschoice · June 28, 2009

I had my band closed I think the same day you got yours put in. I also have a 10cc band and if I had 7cc in it it would kill me. Right now I have 4cc and I am just learning how to work with it. I think I am a bit too tight since I really can only do liquids in the am but I can eat well in the pm. Right now i am loosing maybe a pound or so a week. And that is more than enough for me.

Are you sure you dont have a 12cc band?

Jachut · June 28, 2009

You absolutely cannot compare yourself to others when it comes to the restriction you can tolerate. Everyone is different.

NurseMelly · June 29, 2009

Yep, Jachut is right. We are all different. We have varying amounts of fat around our stomachs, some people swell alot, some don't. There's just lots of things to consider.

I, myself, have 6.5 cc and I don't feel restricted. This last fill I got 1 cc and for a couple of days I felt something, but then it quickly went away. I've also never Pb'd, slimed, or gotten stuck. I can actually eat in a fairly normal matter. I know I'm probably just going to take more fill than other people to get to the "sweet" spot.

This is a process and I know we all want it to go quickly. Heck, I am guilty of that myself but we have to remember that this is how the band was intended to work. Slow fills over time = restriction.

A New Woman · July 1, 2009

I had my band closed I think the same day you got yours put in. I also have a 10cc band and if I had 7cc in it it would kill me. Right now I have 4cc and I am just learning how to work with it. I think I am a bit too tight since I really can only do liquids in the am but I can eat well in the pm. Right now i am loosing maybe a pound or so a week. And that is more than enough for me.
Are you sure you dont have a 12cc band?

Thanks for your reply. I asked the doc at one of my first few visits and he said it was a 10cc band. I think I might ask the nurse to check my records to be sure. He answered me without checking my chart so I'm not sure if he was just assuming that was the size of my band. I do think it's odd that I'm at 7cc's and I still haven't hit my sweet spot. But I can tell I'm getting close. It just seemed like an awful lot compared to the other folks. Not that I'm complaining, but I sometimes wonder if the saline is truly in the band and not leaking. Have you experienced that intial sensation of restriction only to have it lessen in a few weeks? I've heard sometimes it takes a week or two for the restriction to kick in. I seem to be the opposite. Does anyone else think that this is like the nurse said, folks adjust their eating after a few weeks of being adjusted?

A New Woman · July 1, 2009

Yep, Jachut is right. We are all different. We have varying amounts of fat around our stomachs, some people swell alot, some don't. There's just lots of things to consider.
I, myself, have 6.5 cc and I don't feel restricted. This last fill I got 1 cc and for a couple of days I felt something, but then it quickly went away. I've also never Pb'd, slimed, or gotten stuck. I can actually eat in a fairly normal matter. I know I'm probably just going to take more fill than other people to get to the "sweet" spot.

This is a process and I know we all want it to go quickly. Heck, I am guilty of that myself but we have to remember that this is how the band was intended to work. Slow fills over time = restriction.

Thanks Melly! It's good to hear someone who has had a similar experience. It's not so much that I want it to go quickly (well, maybe a little), but rather it just seemed like a lot of saline to not be having issues like sliming or PB'ing. I do make a concious effort to chew, chew, chew, but I don't think I've mastered it yet. So it's just a little surprising. Good luck to you. When were you banded?