5th fill Today

[Guest guest]

Hope this fill is just right! Generally, any time we have not lost for

3-4 weeks in a row, but are sure we're eating pretty resonably and

getting some exercise, it's time for another fill. No need at all to

wait months and months, and get frustrated and depressed. A good fill

is very important, as the band simply doesn't work without one.

As docs become more experienced with the band and fills, they start to

become more confident in their fill ability, and are not so

conservative with fills. Many of the experienced docs are giving first

fills in the 2-2.5 cc range, as they learn how to assess how much to

give, and how to read the fluoro. Good luck with this fill! If it is

still not enough, go for more in a month;s time. It will take that long

to know for sure, based on your weight and eating changes. Sandy R

> It's been a long but awesome road for me. I had my 5th fill today

> of .4 which brings me up to 2.2, I was banded on 4/8/04 and I did

have

> my port flip twice and had to have corrective surgery but besides

that

> things have gone very well. I had my last fill in April 05 and went

> from 214 to 197 which is what I weighed today in the office. >

Karianne

> 4/8/04

> Dr. Brams Lahey Clinic-MA

> 253/197/150

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy-Your so knowledgable and your right, I was my Dr's 23rd band

and he is cautious, but it's my fault too. I was supposed to go in

for a fill in late July and cancelled because I still had restriction

but then not a week later it was gone. I also get very nervous going

in for fills because I have had the huge set back of it flipping twice

last correction in Jan 05, so sometimes I feel like my band has just

started working for me this April and not last April. My last

correction he used thicker and stronger sutures and so far I've had

two fills and no problems thank goodness.

I think your right the more experience he gets the better band Dr. he

will become. I can't wait to see what restriction this fill will

bring. My last one didn't " kick in " for almost 11 days-sounds crazy

huh?

Karianne

253/197/150

Also wearing size 16 pants (instead of 24) and loving it!

[Guest guest]

Kiki, it's not unusual to find that fills sometimes don't " kick in "

for 1-2 weeks. No one knows just why this is - but it * IS * !

It may be that it takes that long for people to alter their eating,

or some other reason, but it's a penomenon that we just have to

accept.

Port flips are not too unusual, but are pretty easily fixed, and the

port can be filled that same day - no need at all to wait. The band

itself still remainins fully-healed and able to witrhstand a bit of

stress from a fill.

sorry you've had a bit of trouble - but you have still done great,

despite that. You can't change what has happened already, but you

can change today and tomorrow! Keep the faith and keep pluggin' on!

Sandy R

> Hi Sandy-Your so knowledgable and your right, I was my Dr's 23rd

band

> and he is cautious, but it's my fault too. I was supposed to go in

> for a fill in late July and cancelled because I still had

restriction

> but then not a week later it was gone. I also get very nervous

going

> in for fills because I have had the huge set back of it flipping

twice

> last correction in Jan 05, so sometimes I feel like my band has

just

> started working for me this April and not last April. My last

> correction he used thicker and stronger sutures and so far I've had

> two fills and no problems thank goodness.

>

> I think your right the more experience he gets the better band Dr.

he

> will become. I can't wait to see what restriction this fill will

> bring. My last one didn't " kick in " for almost 11 days-sounds

crazy

> huh?

> Karianne

> 253/197/150

> Also wearing size 16 pants (instead of 24) and loving it!

[Guest guest]

Wow! I can't imagine starting in the 2-2.5cc range! I've yet to make

it past 1.8cc. Am currently at 1.2cc after 7 fills and 4 unfills over

a 10-month period. I know I need another fill, but both my surgeon and

I are playing it extra cautious right now. But everyone is different.

> As docs become more experienced with the band and fills, they start

to become more confident in their fill ability, and are not so

> conservative with fills. Many of the experienced docs are giving

first fills in the 2-2.5 cc range, as they learn how to assess how

much to give, and how to read the fluoro.

[Guest guest]

For those that are new, I am “ M” as most folks on the

list have gotten to know me. I had surgery with Dr. Aceves in March of 2005. I

don’t think I am the oldest bandster on the list but maybe one of them?

When I joined hardly anyone wrote in to the list so I didn’t benefit from

all the great posts that we have now. I got most of my information from http://www.obesityhelp.com but mainly

the lapband message board http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/a,messageboard/board_id,5359/

.. If you count the highest weight I have ever been (300lbs) I have lost a total

of 132lbs give or take a couple pounds because of fluctuation. My weight the

day of surgery was 280lbs. I am 5 ft 6 (on a good day). My goal is to get to

160lbs. I am currently wearing a size 8-10 jean and a medium to large top. I

tend to wear bigger tops because #1 my breasts are still large 40dd, and I have

a loose roll of skin that comes over the top of my jeans so I have to hide that

with larger shirts. Yes, one of these days I will be going back to Mexico for a

tummy tuck and other procedures. Nina, do you have a doc to recommend?

If I could tell all the new people one thing, it would be to stick to

the rules. Stick to the pre-op, post op, and normal bandster diet rules, and

you will do great. I think that is what helped me to succeed with the band. Now

that I am a y ear and a half post op, I realize how easy it is to NOT follow

the rules. Not drinking with my meals has become the hardest thing to follow.

Today I went and got my 5th fill since surgery with Dr.

Dobson/Dr. in Grand Prairie,

Tx. (817-446-6672) I had everything checked out under fluoro and it all

looked great. The doc said he could give me .1 cc and I think I ended up with a

little over that. I kept saying I was gonna have him pull it all out but the

paranoid part of me said “What if his measuring isn’t exact and I

end up with less then I had to begin with?” LOL. So I just had him put in

what he had in his small syringe. I was glad to see all was well. I got to see

my band before and after my fill. I could tell I was just a tiny bit tighter

and I think this fill will help me get beyond where I have been stuck at for so

long. I have weighed approx the same since February so 7 months of bouncing the

same weight around. It wasn’t because of the band though, I stopped exercising

when I had problems with my sciatic nerve and I have been afraid to go back to

walking ever since. But I think I will go back to riding my bike and see how

that goes.

Sorry for the long update!

Mills

DOB 3/1/05

280/168/160

http://www.tracyslapband.com

[Guest guest]

hi tracy, i went to see dr. a for my 4th fill since march 2006 and i think i am finally where i should be - anyway....i asked the doctor about pulling all the saline out and he said that is NOT a good idea as it causes a suction and makes your stomach spasm. caprise Mills <tracy@...> wrote: For those that are new, I am “ M” as most folks on the list have

gotten to know me. I had surgery with Dr. Aceves in March of 2005. I don’t think I am the oldest bandster on the list but maybe one of them? When I joined hardly anyone wrote in to the list so I didn’t benefit from all the great posts that we have now. I got most of my information from http://www.obesityhelp.com but mainly the lapband message board http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/a,messageboard/board_id,5359/ . If you count the highest weight I have ever been (300lbs) I have lost a total of 132lbs give or take a couple pounds because of fluctuation. My weight the day of surgery was 280lbs. I am 5 ft 6 (on a good day). My goal is to get to 160lbs. I am currently wearing a size 8-10 jean and a medium to large top. I tend to wear bigger tops because #1 my breasts are still large 40dd, and I have a loose roll of

skin that comes over the top of my jeans so I have to hide that with larger shirts. Yes, one of these days I will be going back to Mexico for a tummy tuck and other procedures. Nina, do you have a doc to recommend? If I could tell all the new people one thing, it would be to stick to the rules. Stick to the pre-op, post op, and normal bandster diet rules, and you will do great. I think that is what helped me to succeed with the band. Now that I am a y ear and a half post op, I realize how easy it is to NOT follow the rules. Not drinking with my meals has become the hardest thing to follow. Today I went and got my 5th fill since surgery with Dr. Dobson/Dr. in Grand Prairie, Tx. (817-446-6672) I had everything checked out under fluoro and it all looked great. The doc said he could give me .1 cc and I think I ended up with a little over that. I kept saying I was gonna have him pull it all out but the paranoid part of me said “What if his measuring isn’t exact and I end up with less then I had to begin with?” LOL. So I just had him put in what he had in his small syringe. I was glad to see all was well. I got to see my band before and after my fill. I could tell I was just a tiny bit tighter and I think this fill will help me get beyond

where I have been stuck at for so long. I have weighed approx the same since February so 7 months of bouncing the same weight around. It wasn’t because of the band though, I stopped exercising when I had problems with my sciatic nerve and I have been afraid to go back to walking ever since. But I think I will go back to riding my bike and see how that goes. Sorry for the long update! Mills DOB 3/1/05 280/168/160 http://www.tracyslapband.com

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