Help! Fills Are Not Working!!!

oh to be thin · 09-28-2006, 11:21 AM

:help: Hi all. I need some advice. I have a Vanguard 9cm band (holds 8cc total). Surgery was the end of June. I just had my 3rd fill and am now up to 7ccs! and I feel no restriction!!! (Nothing has ever gotten stuck, no acid reflux/ heartburn, never pb’d- nothing). My doc has confirmed all three times that the saline is all there and nothing has leaked. I have given it almost 4 months now and have tried to be very patient. But it’s just not working. I was self-pay, and obviously have a lot of money and time invested into this and I feel like I’m getting nowhere. Weight loss has been very minimal (15 lbs. in all) and almost all of it was lost in the two weeks following surgery. My doctor is baffled. All three fills were done with fluro and this last one looked like the band was tight (the liquid I was drinking was moving down pretty slowly). Has anyone had this problem? I’m scared to death because I only have the capacity of one more cc, then I’m done! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

lisah25 · 09-28-2006, 01:01 PM

I don't have a lot of experience with this yet, the only question that comes to mind is what are you eating and drinking?

**Jack** · 09-28-2006, 01:36 PM

re: "Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!"

I was in to see my nutritionist for the first time in almost a year. Yes, I have lost quite a bit since my last visit with her....but I was concerned about why I had only lost 1.5 lbs. over the summer....

HER first question was "What are you eating and drinking?"
Her second question was "How much are you exercising?"

Please advise of the details of your meal plan.

swimswiggs · 10-02-2006, 04:28 PM

Hi, you sound like me also. I have a 9.75 or something like that band put in on July 26,06 Had the 2nd fill last week. No restriction. I feel as tho, there is nothing there. I have no problems otherwise. I'm not losing . It's so frustrating, that's why I told my mom not to tell all her friends and other people about what I had done and now they all wonder why someone that had a weight loss procedure hasn't lost any weight. It's also getting expensive driving 2 hrs and paying $ 150 for fills that are not working at all. Is there hope that it will, I was self pay and I feel like I may have wasted my money. Any body else have this problem ?

albertjhannan · 10-07-2006, 05:03 PM

I had my first fill two weeks ago and don't feel any restriction either. I'm a little concerned too. I feel like I'm eating differently than before the fill. i lost 15 lbs. just after the syrgery but nothing since and its been eight wee:help: ks.

ragergirl · 10-07-2006, 05:13 PM

What your eating and drinking is a huge question only you can answer.... GO BACK TO THE BASICS , start again and eat like you have just been banded. Also up your exercise amount ALOT MORE, you wanna loose you have to do cardio at least 20 mins a day MINIMUM. The fill shouldnt be the only thing that makes you loose the weight, everyone rely's way too much on the fill. I am a 4 cc band and have had 2 fills and I am full to the brim, I have to loose the weight mainly on exercise or eating habits, also I find that I think I'm hungry but really thirsty and this happens all the time. GOOD LUCK

catzintj · 10-07-2006, 06:46 PM

did you get your thyroid checked. you may have a sluggish metabolism like me. i take armor thyroid. my tsh was a bit high and my free t4 was low. the thyroid meds helped boost my energy levels. i have to work out a lot too. also think protein and only good carbs. i only eat salad and soup, yogart and apples most of the time. i drink lots of atkins protein shakes. 2 a day. also i take liquid vitamins and 1000 mg of l-cartanine a day. make sure you get enough fiber too. i dont eat much. i lost 68 lbs since last november. sorry to hear you have this trouble. i never had problems with my fills. good luck . keep tryin'

Julie T · 10-10-2006, 12:42 AM

Hi -

It took 5 fills before I felt any real restriction - some of us just need more fluid than other people to get restriction. Evidently (I've read) it all has to do with how we're built on the inside in the spot where they put the band, i.e., how much fat is lining the outside of the stomach - literally fat attached to the stomach organ. The more fat, the tighter the band will be, and the less fill will be required to get good restriction. And that's why many people need more fill as they loose weight.

So don't give up yet! You might be really close to the "sweet spot". Everybody's different.

And, yes, it helps to follow to guidelines re eating solid food, protein first, etc. But until you've got decent restriction, it's hard to get that feeling of fullness/satiety even when following the rules. And it's that feeling of fullness which makes it easier to change the eating behavior. Otherwise, what was the point of getting the band?

Julie