RogerF

Nita/Tom/All, Glad to hear you're both well. I'm hanging in thre. I had hit a plateau a couple of months, but just got another fill and think it should help me get to goal. But I've really felt great where I'm at and only fluctuating 1-2lbs without much effort. After working so hard really dieting and working to get the weight off, it seems I'm just now really learning how the band will work for me in the long-term to maintain. Nita, don't get discouraged, you're doing super, it can get slow at times, but you're doing fine and continuing to make progrogress. Sounds like a huge success to me!!!! Candy is doing great also, and just had her 2nd fill this week. She's feeling it now and should give her a boost. She's been dieting well on Jenny Craig even after banding(but finally got tired of their food), and is down about 70 so far, so we're both looking good. Tom, we even made plans for our first trip to Hawaii in October to celebrate, hope you had a good time. I think it has been nice to take a break from not pushing it so hard. Not that I changed back to the old habits. But eating "normal" for awhile and being able to maintain is a good confidence builder too. But I'm ready to make another push at the last 20 now although it is a bit more difficult now. But keep the faith!! You know what it takes for you, so get on track ond make another push at the next level. What have you got to lose? Roger

Dustout, Are you 6'10 or 5'10? At 6'10, even at 280 you're just considered overweight and would not qualify for LapBand, even in Mexico. If you can afford it, by going self-pay you can avoid many of the insurance requirements that even if you are covered, may take years to get through the process. If 5'10, it would make a lot more sense and you're about where I started this process. If that is the case, I wish I would have known about this at 23 and benefitted from not spending the next 23 years losing and gaining (and gaining more each time). At 46, I'm lighter, stronger, and much healthier than I was in high school. Recognizing the issues now and deciding what is right for you is a big step. Good luck to you, Roger

I'm curious why they can't do a VG? It's still an Inamed band and uses the same needle and process, just a little more saline. But if they are that unknowledgable or inexperienced to do it, I would be looking elsewhere anyway. Roger

Way to go Lori, That's so great. To be able to accomplish that without being able to exercise shows a lot of determination to make those kinds of numbers. I know you don't like to post about yourself, but you're one of us too!! It gives a lot more credibility and confidence to those of us that you have helped go though this process to know you're right there with us. I'm glad you're doing so well, and now getting to excercise and tone-up will really make you feel better. I wish I had thought about measuring to track results. I haven't come across much about it in reviewing here, and it would have been another good motivator to work on. But even the changes in weight and clothes sizes can be pretty encouraging. Keep it going, Roger

I started a post the other day about the same thing, my bulge is noticible and only went down slightly after surgery. My wife's isn't noticable and I have to press down pretty hard to even feel it. I know that OCC generally uses the low profile port. But in looking at the manufacturers site, I only see a "standard" port for the VG band that I have. It looks like its bigger/taller and that may be a difference in who's protrudes or not. As well as there is less covering it as you get thinner. But I don't know how it can be fixed either. I'm getting a fill at a new place locally next week and I'll ask if they see many differences. They don't use fluro, but at least I know they can't miss my port. Roger

So Pammie, Where did you go locally? I wouldn't mind having a consult and I'm nearby. Since a PS procedure would be more invasive, I think it might be worth it to stay in the area. Does anyone know the difference between a tummy tuck and a "mini" tummy tuck? I have have some loose skin around the middle, but my ab muscles are building up, and I don't really think I need those tightened. I may consider MX if the newer laser "Smartlipo" will help tighen the skin enough. But I'm just starting the research phase now. Thanks much Roger

Hey Nita, Glad to see you're out there and still doing well. I don't know what happenned to this area or why the topics were closed, and I don't even see the "testimonial" I posted at the beginning of May when they started it. But some of the threads seem to start going off topic after awhile and it doesn't hurt to start a fresh one. I found a good page on the Allergan/Inamed site. Near the bottom they have a Stoma Area Comparison Chart (I can't seem to copy the image in here). Because the VG has such a wider range of adjustment, it shows that at about 7cc in the VG compares with about 2cc's in the regular band. Of course this is still somewhat dependant on each persons anatomy, and if us VG's are already "thicker" under the band we probably have a lot of adjustment room to go in the long run. So you're only about halfway to where you can get with it. I can't copy the chart in but here's the page link: http://www.allerganandinamed.com/products/...d/prodinfo.aspx Hope that works and helps, Also hope you are doing well. I need a fill also (locally, next week), but have held steady for awhile. I'm now at a 80 lbs off and 29.9 BMI so I'm only "overweight" now, but have never felt better and am not pushing it as hard. It's also been a lot of hard work to get to this point. Even now I still feel fat, but it sure is a change from where I started. Still, you're doing great!!! Keep the faith and determination to do what you need to do. It's can be a slow process at times, but once the weight is off then you'll have so much longer to enjoy it. I don't post as much anymore, but I still pop in here to read and I think about you often. Take care. Roger

I've always had the same size bump. I thought it would go down as swelling after surgery. It's not painful or anything,but it 's right at the level of the edge of my desk and is annoying sometimes if I bump against it. I know there's different sizes of ports, but I'm pretty sure OCC uses the low-profile one for all. I just haven't found in any of the literature how it is attached and thought there might be different ways. But it's really just vanity on my part. I'm trying to fit into size large T-shirt and it's a little more noticable than the 3X/4X ones from last year.

Anyone know if the port is placed under or over the ab muscle? I don't know if it matters or is a sugical preference. Mine seems to be just under the skin, and I still have a noticible bump/bulge where it is. My wife's seems to be deeper and does not show. I don't know if this is a male/female or VG/regular band thing, or something else?

Hey all, Let us know how the fills in Arlington are going. It sounds good, but would you consider them for a first fill? Both my wife and her friend are about ready for their first. Roger

Hey guys, Keep hanging in there. I agree that finding and maintaining a good fill level is going to be a big factor with these VG bands. I got my last fill in TJ 4 weeks ago. For the next two weeks I had a hard time with even liquids. I thought I was probably too tight, but as long as I could get liquids down I figured I would be OK. It finally gave in a little, and now I can sip liquids until around noon and then tolerate a small snack, and usually a pretty satisfying meal about around 6, and another snack later. I think this is working alot better for me now, but its taken a good while to get here. I think you guys are getting to the level needed quicker by going back to TJ for fills. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but until now it's been a lot determined dieting for me to get any results. The band does help, but for me, I've really had to watch my intake. I've had no fast food, pasta, or breads for 6 months now and it hasn't been easy sometimes. I also know that once I can get the weight off, the way I am eating now will help me be so much healthier in the future. Having the band has definitely made me more determined to lose, but I know that the long term maintaining will be the real benefit for me. And I'm now in 38 pants. I know you all can do it. Keep the faith. Roger

In my opinion, if you can eat a sandwich the next day after your first fill you don't have enough. Or they missed the port. Without some additional info it's hard to tell, but it doesn't sound right to me. I'd call your fill Dr.

I've never heard anything about stopping coffee/caffeine. I'm pretty sure I even had a cup at the clinic the morning after surgery.

I did try to contact them by email through their system for some basic info on costs a week ago, haven't gotten any response yet though.

Lori/Kev, I'm curious, do these spammers actually have to register and then place their nasty posts, or is it all automated? I know spam email is automated, but is there a way to automate the registration and posting process? Can you set the forum to be require someone to register and then be "approved" by an administrator before posting is allowed? Would that slow any off this down? Also, can the OCC logo at the top be linked back to the main website? I thought it was in the past, but now it is just to the forum. Or place as another link somewhere on the page. Thanks, Roger

Good luck Michelle, Glad you're doing better, I did get your VM's and I've been following along here so I hope this will get you back on track. Why didn't you return to Dr. Neals for the refill? I was pretty impressed with their facility and equipment. For others out there, it is definately a good idea to have a plan for these types of issues. My last fill in MX (Jan 12th) was very aggressive also and it took almost two weeks before I could get any solids down. I was worried and thinking about an unfill also, but stuck it out and I'm at a good level now. But I did know of a place to go if i needed to. Roger

I would also question if they were all Inamed/Allergan bands. There are other European bands and in my research I even heard rumors of some of the less expensive docs fashioning their own. These are different than the Inamed bands and are not approved in the US by the FDA. I think this is one of the reasons US doctors are reluctant to even do fills if your band was not placed in the US. It's also a reason to not just shop for price when looking for a surgeon, expenses are going to be cut somewhere . IMO, when you consider experience, quality of care, want to ensure you get an Inamed band, and then price, there is no better place than OCC and Dr. Ortiz. Roger

I saw this on a post in the the Smarterbandsters yahoo group. It some info on the VG from the Inamed representative (from 2004). Don Mills <don.mills@i. ..> wrote: Subject: RE: new INAMED band Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 16:22:29 -0700 From: "Don Mills" To: Hello Sandy, I'm afraid that some of the confusion was created by INAMED itself with regard to the name of this band. The Vanguard band is the old name for the LAP-BAND VG System. Same band. "Vanguard" had some negative implications. So our marketing dept gave the band the name LAP-BAND VG System. Turns out that is not a very good name either because it can be confused with the VBG procedure. The VG band is being sold in Europe and now in Mexico too. (Note from Sandy 8/20/054 - used in US now too ) However, the VG band is quite different from the 11 cm band that has been sold in Europe and Mexico. The 11 cm band continues to be available in those locations. We don't quote the circumference for the VG band as it depends how the band is measured. It cannot correctly be called either an 11 cm or a 12 cm band. The band is different enough that we really do not want to measure it in the way we measure the 9.75 cm and 10.0 cm bands. In any case the band is longer (when open) than 12 cm. But please do not refer to it as either an 11cm or a 12 cm band! The VG band has been misquoted by surgeons and others as a 11 cm band. This is incorrect and probably comes from confusion with the 11 cm band sold internationally but not in the US. The LAP-BAND VG is available in the US to all band surgeons and also now in Mexico. Several have already been installed in both the US and in Mexico. The fill capacity is 10 cc. The first 3.5 cc only fill the band and do not increase restriction. (emphasis added by Roger) The indications for the LAP-BAND VG are generally for patients with BMIs larger than 45, OR patients with larger anatomy (i.e. thicker gastric walls and/or substantial omentum), patients that may have more fat in the immediate band area and for the pars flaccida procedure when the additional tissues that are enclosed within the band are larger than usual. The surgeon will make the decision as to which band is appropriate for a particular patient. The above indications do not mean that patients with the 10 cm band or the 11 cm band have an incorrect band. It also does not mean that a surgeon might choose to use the LAP-BAND VG System when he/she could have chosen the 10 cm band. As always, great to hear from you. We haven't spoken since the Seattle Bash - keep in better touch! And congratulations again on your wonderful LapBand success and dedication to the Band Boards. You are helping to provide a very valuable service. Don Mills INAMED Health

You'll be fine. You should be on solid food after 3 weeks, and without a fill you can probably eat just like all the other people in your group (I would avoid the buffets). The time spent walking and looking around will be good for you. Have a blast. I walked around for hours the day after surgery. Don't let the band slow you down. If anything, I think you will feel more energetic and be ready to take on anything!!! Roger

Hi Lori, both are doing fine, thanks. We walked around a lot on the day after surgery, and neither had much discomfort. But as a side note - don't let your spouse or friend observe your fill while waiting to going back for surgery . Linda in Enumclaw (BTW - I grew up in Enumclaw) - The clinic van leaves in plenty of time to make your plane, and as there are usually several going back, sometimes too early. On Sunday, we left just after 7AM and had a 12:30 flight. We were there before 8 and were able to catch the 8:20 flight home which was great. Otherwise, its more likely you will be hanging out at the airport for awhile. Roger

I was down last weekend. At OCC and around Revolution Ave, I was getting a good signal on Cingular. At the Lucerna and around the mall I was picking up the Mexican networks and couldn't call out. I showed I had a good signal and thought I would be able to call out on the other networks (for the increased charge) but it still didn't work. Roger

Hey All, I just got a fill in TJ last Friday and am also very, very tight. I've been able to sip liquids and soups, and a few bites late in the evenings. I was also seriously thinking about a slight unfill, but as long as I can get fluids down I figured I would be OK. It has been "less uncomfortable" yesterday and today, but I'm almost thinking this is how the band really needs to work. After 6 weeks of maintaining my weight, I'm already down 10 lbs this week and have not felt any hunger. So I'm going to ride this out for awhile. My only worry is excercising on so few calories, but I'll try to take it easy. Best of luck to all, Roger.

I got back yesterday from TJ yesterday after taking my wife and her friend down for banding on Friday the 12th (both are doing well). While I was there I got my 4th fill in my VG band. Dr. Romero was able to pull the 4.8cc's that I hoped to be there so my concern for a leak is gone. We discussed that that are probably 3 to 3.5 cc's just in the port and tubing that will be needed just to flush the air before counting the fill. He said that they try to work most of the air out on the first fill. So while it took me three fills to get to a true 4.8, those of you that went back to TJ for your first probably fared a little better. Although the VG is still tougher to get right from the start. SO now I'm really, really tight. Liquids are slow going through and for a few days I was kind of sliming/foaming on nothing. Better today but I'm afraid to try much in the way of solids. I was able to do a few bites on a Zone bar and some crackers, but I can tell my intake will be much more restricted now. It was uncomfortable, but I didn't want to get a slight unfill as long as I can get something through, so I'm going to see how this goes. If I can make this work for another 20 pounds I'll be very pleased. Keep the faith and good luck to all. Roger

Julie, have it checked if it is really painful. If it's just tender, thats pretty normal. My port area was tender for a couple of months if I bumped or irritated it. Roger