How much are you filled?

[NotSoFunny]

I have the VG Inamed 10cc band. I am currently filled from surgery to 2cc's. I will be going tomorrow to get filled for the first time since surgery.

What size/type of band do you have and how much are you filled to? And how much restriction do you have?

["Just" Paul]

5.8 ccs in a 10cc Vanguard band.

I'm not anticipating any more fills before my final goal is reached. I think this may have been the last one.

[EmileeKaye]

On my first fill I had 2.2cc put into my 4cc band. On my second fill they said I was down to 1 something cc...so they filled it back up to be 2.2 again. I like my restriction at that point.

[CindyC]

I am filled with 2.8cc's in a 4cc band.

[Morsaille]

I have 1.3cc in a 4cc band, that is plenty-much for me.

[Jachut]

I have 2.5cc in a 4cc band and have pretty low restriction - but its enough for me to work with. I like being able to eat everything in medium quanity rather than few foods in tiny quantities. But I may have to go tighter still to get to goal.

[Maryb]

I have only had two fills. I think I am at 1.2 ... doesn't seem like much, but I am plenty restricted on this.

[Tricia K.]

I currently have 2.9cc in a 4cc band. My 1 year follow-up apptointment is scheduled for Thursday (a week early) and I may get another fill while I'm there.

[503-250]

I have 8.5cc in a 10cc VG band...so...am I some kind of freak...cos I still clearly need more.

[NotSoFunny]

So now I can add to the list. I have 4cc's in my 10cc band.

[HeatherGurl]

I have 2.2 cc in my 4cc band. If I remembercorrectly my first fill was 2.8, but when I went back there was only like 1 cc left. So they gave me omnipaque and filled it 2.2 cc's, i think :)

Anyways... whatever I have is PURRRFECT!

[Susan]

I currently have 2 cc's and am feeling pretty restricted with that.

[Txblue_eyedqt]

Im at 3.0 ccs in a 4cc's band.....just got filled on Wednesday...thank you Lord for restriction!!!

[paula]

Im at 3.0 ccs in a 4cc's band.....just got filled on Wednesday...thank you Lord for restriction!!!

Cynthia, what increments and time limits of 'fill' levels did you get?
(Im asking cause you and I are someof the older bandsters ;))

Im at a 1.6 (i think?)- been here since Nov 04.
First one was 1.2 in August 04.
Second was .4

even though its been almost 2 years since Ive had any kind of band check-up, I often wonder if Im not too tight.

[SandraDee]

I am at 7.6 cc's in a 10 cc band. Sometimes I need a fill, sometimes I don't. Don't think I'll be gettin any more, though.

[foodstampchamp]

I have a 10 cm band. Which apparently is different from the 10cc band. When I asked my doc what the difference was, he said a 10cc vanguard band could hold 10cc (doy!) and the 10cm band could hold 4cc. But it is not uncommon for them to put 5cc's in the 4 cc band. When I asked him if that made it close to popping he laughed and said no. Why don't they just call it a 5cc band then? Sheesh people, and you went to medical school???? (just teasing if you are reading this doc watson! lol)

[foodstampchamp]

Im at 3.0 ccs in a 4cc's band.....just got filled on Wednesday...thank you Lord for restriction!!!

How many fills is this for you Txblue?

[Ericsmom]

I have 3cc's in my 4cc band. I go next Friday for a check up and I may ask for a smidge more.

[Nana~]

I am sitting @ 1.4cc and I got this fill begining of Summer-
Sometimes I think I need a fill and sometimes I PB chunky soup...Fickle little beast!
Nana~

[PhotoNut]

I currently have 0.0cc in my 4cc band. At six weeks post-op, I got 1cc and did wonderfully with it for about 5 months. Then I started noticing that I could eat a whole lotta meat and veggies in one sitting, so the doc bumped me up .3 (I thought it was .5 but I guess I was wrong).

Shortly after that .3 increase, I started noticing an aching, bruised, soreness around my port; a smiliar aching, bruised feeling between my belly button and my left side, and I felt a pressure behind my breastplate that often radiated thru to my back. I experienced 3 or 4 occassions of pain when food wouldnt go down resulting in that golfball feeling so many describe. The Dr said I was showing classic signs of being overfilled, so he drew out all of my fill with the plan of starting over again after one week.

The "starting over" was delayed because of some peronsal issues but I'm going in on Tuesday to get a fill. I've heard that once a fill is completely removed, it doesn't take as much to get good restriction. So I'm going to ask for 1cc and see where that puts me.

What's interesting is that even with no fill, I still feel restriction. If I eat too quickly or don't chew well enough, the band reminds me with that sensation of pain and pressure behind the breastplate that I'd better slow down. The problem is, as long as I do slow down I can eat far too much. And I have to laugh when I say that because of what I now consider "too much" compared to the banquet feasts I used to have pre-banding. I swear I could eat for a week on what I used to have in one meal.

[SunnyBunny]

1cc in a (10cm) 4cc Inamed band.
Wish I had more...but that's all he would allow for a first fill. I do have restriction, and I am losing so I should just quit complainin'.
I can get away with too much, though...

[Jeannine]

I have 1.5cc in a 4cc band. This is my second fill and I have good restriction.

[Kim G]

Almost 18 months post op and I am at 2.9 in a 4cc band. Doing much better and seeing the scales move again.

[Natural-1]

I have 8.1 in my 10cc VG band and I am at my "sweat spot". It's been a challenge to get here but with a couple of unfills, I have arrived.

I am determined to maintain with this fill but if I continue to lose I will have more removed. Never thought I would be trying to not lose anymore weight but that's were I am right now.

Funny--4cc normally will do nothing in terms of restriction. If your doctor is aggressive and give you at least 2ccs the next time you go in you will definately feel the restriction for a period of time. I have jumped back and forth from 8.3 to 7.5 trying to find the right restriction. I think we finally got it. I wish you luck.

[Chickie]

I have 2.4cc in a 4cc band.

[foodstampchamp]

I go for my first fill tomorrow (september 12). I will post on the 13th and let ya'll know how it went. VERY SCARED!:fear:

[Mrs Sabre]

I have 1.7 cc in a 4 cc band. I definitely have restriction and have to be careful about how fast and what I eat; however, the only things I absolutely can't eat are raw broccoli, gooey melted cheese, and doughy breads. My capacity is 1/2 - 1 cup depending upon the density of the food.

[Txblue_eyedqt]

paula
my fills were kind of crazy....with my doctor the first year of fills were free and done at his office, without fluro(sp?)...so sometimes i would get too much, and have to go take it out....
but ever since they do it with the fluro(sp?) it seems pretty consistant, depending on what kind of restriction im lookin for....I went a month before prior to the recent fill and they put 2.5 in...well this go around it did nothing for me, so a month later i went back and they put 3.0 and it was a perfect fill for me.....
I feel like the band has a mind of its own sometimes, especially when it comes to my restriction, but who knows.......its weird, but love it....

[Veritas]

I just went in this morning for my third fill. I asked the doctor where I was at and he said I was at 1.5 for a 10cc band. He added a full cc today so I am now at a 2.5.

It's funny to me how different we all are. Some have restriction at a low cc level and some have to have several cc's. I've been banded 3 months and have only lost 19 pounds which is discouraging. But I didn't realize I had such a low level of fill so I'm feeling a bit better about it. Plus, my doc told me to relax and be patient which is always good to hear.

On a side note - PhotoNut - I think I saw you at Dr Cahn's office this morning! You were on your way out and I was standing on the scales. You're looking great!!!

Kayla

[Kathy]

I have the 9.75/4cc band. My first fill was 2cc, but I went back 4 days later and had .4 taken out. Too tight!

Several months and pounds later, I went back for a small top off. He said he filled me up to 2cc again, but I swear he doesn't know how much is in there. He's pretty practiced at fills, and uses the amount of pressure on the syringe plunger to guage restriction.

So, I guess I'm at 2cc now and have no plans to get another fill. Ever. I'm not as restricted as I could be, but I'm comfortable here.

[DonnaB]

. . . I felt a pressure behind my breastplate that often radiated thru to my back.

Susan, I had the pressure you describe at my sternum, front and back. My fill doctor told me it was reflux and put me on Nexium. The Nexium solved the problem. For some stupid reason (listened to someone on a message board - I know, I know) I thought I could only be on Nexium short term. When my prescription ran out I stopped taking it, and after about 5 days the pain/pressure came back. I thought it meant that I wasn't going to be able to keep my band and I was really upset. I talked to the PA at the fill doctor's office and she reassured me that you can be on Nexium long term - that's what it's for, people with chronic reflux. I went back on the Nexium and have been feeling MUCH MUCH better ever since.

I went to the doc today and got my second (real) fill! Yay for me! I'm at 1.6cc in my 4cc band. It feels a little tight and I'm nervous about it, but I'm going to give it a few days (on liquids) and see how it feels. If it's still bothering me, I'll get an unfill.

[foodstampchamp]

I got my first fill yesterday. They do not do it under flouro which kind of bummed me out. I have a 4cc band and she put 1.25 cc's in. I haven't tried to eat/drink anything this morning but I know on the drive home yesterday I drank 33 oz of water and I was definately feeling something different. I am on liquids for 48 hours so I guess the real test will be when I am trying to eat some lumpy soup in a few days. very excited to start dropping some pounds!

["Just" Paul]

Remember, Becky, if it doesn't give you enough restriction, you can always get some more. Not enough is better than too much.
Trust me.

You'll do great!

[BigGirlPantiez]

I have 4cc's in my 9cc band...btu I am the only one with a 9cc band so maybe mne is a 10cc.

I go tomorrow for my second fill (will be 8 weeks since my surgery this Friday). I am hoping to get between 5 & 6cc's.

It really hurt last time, I even cried like a baby, does the needle hurt anyone else?

[Kathy473]

I went in last wednesday to the SurgiCenter and the tech (not Dr) had me do a barium swallow and told me that my restriction looked good (2.2cc) and that I didn't need one, so why in the heck can I still eat? And how does she know how much is in there? She didn't even mesure the saline, just looked at the picture. Don't we all lose a little saline like a tire loses air? Oh well, better to be a little loose than to be too tight and miserable!! AND! Now that it has been a year...my fills are $150 a pop!!! cha-ching!! uh---no. Plus, I would be doing better if I would quit forgetting that i just ate 5 minutes ago and take a big ol' swig of H2O!!! Just push it on through dumbass!! :mmph: UGH! :tsk: :yell: :rolleyes:

[mini_me]

3cc's in a 4cc band. i am going for a 'tweak' next week. i have great restriction in the morning, but not quite enough in the evening, so we are going to do a fill in the afternoon to see if we can take care of that little problem. my rate of loss has been slow, but there is a huge difference in my appetite and consumption since this last fill to 3.0.

[mini_me]

hey kathy, did marschzona or the RN do your fill? the RN is a black lady about 5-3 and marschzona is a PA, white lady, blonde hair, thin, about 5-7 or so. they just wanted to do a swallow with me last time, and i insisted on withdrawing the saline for measurement and reinjecting. the RN did my last appointment. i specifically am asking for the PA this time(not for that reason alone) did you insist on the fluid being measured? i also have friends who talked marschzona into filling a little extra as long as the patient gave their word that they would be back at the first sign of overfill.

[HeatherGurl]

Kathy~ I only like to go when Spivak is there for that reason... His tech started out doing my fill, but she didn't even know how much was in there, so Spivak comes in and worked his magic. Perfect fill for over 5 months. Luv that man.

[Kathy473]

Nope....it was Joy. Hell I figure she should know what she is doing so I didn't ask her to take it out and measure it. I feel like I should call the office but I also need to change a few eating habits that I have fallen back into. So I am going to give it a chance for awhile and see how I am doing by the end of the year. About to start a vigorous workout and get my ass up and moving!!! If any of you have watched Celebrity Fit Club on VH1 then you know that Harvey is the man!! I ordered his DVD and am getting my back porch ready for it! I watched it the other night to see what all was involved in his program and I really liked it! SO! Now...I have to do it! Can't wait!

[Diva]

Just had my first fill today. 1.5 cc in a 4 cc band. It was a complete breeze! I was so nervous about it.
IAt my hospital group they give you 2 choices: your own surgeon on his own particular day or a Friday Fill Clinic where you will get whichever of the 3 surgeons is on duty or the PA (same for all 3 surgeons) or the fellow. I chose my own surgeon and took the day off. I figured he put it in who knows better than him where the heck it is.
No flouro unless it is tilted or you have a problem. They do a yearly flouro. No pain killer to numb the area like I heard some people get. I just lay down, picked up my shirt, he was really gentle finding the port in like 2 seconds, felt a little prick (no-not one of my ex's) and the whole thing was over in 5 minutes. He answered some questions I had and I was outa there.
I hear through my hospital grapevine that the PA & one surgeon is not that talented or gentle so I am sticking with my own surgeon.

[mysherrijo]

I have had 2 fills and am at 2.25 cc's in a 4 ccs, 9.75 inamed band. I can still eat most anything but very, very little amounts. Restriction is pretty close to perfect. Dr. C has me scheduled for another fill in 2 more weeks but I guess we will wait and see. I don't want it so that I can't eat steak or some of the yummy things I like. I can tell however my weightloss is more stable now. I was losing a pound a day now it is down to 3 to 4 pounds per week which is much more towards a healthy rate.

[Stefunny]

I just got my second fill from Dr. Billy (thank you Penni!) and I am now at 2cc in a 4cc band. I'm a little conflicted on if I have proper restriction, so maybe you guys can help me out. I guess I have first bite syndrome because the first few bites are hard to go down (some have led to PBing) and then I really have no problem eating. I am eating less, so I guess I have restriction. I don't know! I've also heard that it can take up to 2 or 3 weeks to feel the results of a fill. Dr. Billy will be here (Truckee) next on Oct. 21, so I guess I'll have it figured out by then.

What does proper restriction feel like to you?

[waterlily1072]

I am at 8.5 in my 10cc band, and I finally have good restriction. I don't anticipate needing more for a long while.

[Iulizbug]

I have NO saline in me right now but this will be short-lived. I was filed to 3.2 in a 4cc band and it was a bit too much so I am looking to be filled to 2.5cc in a couple of weeks to hopefully hit my sweet spot. I am trying desperately to maintain my weight w/out the restriction. It is hard but so far I am doing OK. I am hoping that when I get filled again I will be able to get the last 10lbs off...

~Liz~
03/10/06
241/167/160
5'7''