LisaLaw

a 4.0cc band can hold up to 6 cc, but RARELY do they ever go above 5.0cc (not usually recommended) The most fill I had before getting an unfill to go overseas was 4.2cc - this was a great sweet spot for me. I just had another fill and am now at 3.9cc and doing great. I have lost 25 lbs since the 4.2 was in, so I think I am back at my sweet spot again

I would get a check on your fill! Do not be down, it makes all of us sad that you feel so despondent. I agree with Clynn...none of us know what size band you have, how many fills, etc. I just went in for another fill today (after having a different doc unfill me without approving how much), I know it will make the difference. Being on top of our fills is empowering and gives us all a sense of control. I love that! When I was 230lbs, I did not have that, now I do! Get a fill, this band is like a porsche, at times it requires more maintenance than what we were expecting.

how frustrating, maybe in a day or two you will feel it tighten up a bit

I was reading how you got your lipo and a TT scar fixed down at Cosmed. I would not ever have considered them before, but after reading Dr. Q's bio, I was very impressed and I have also heard others mention how great he is. What was your experience like? Did you stay at the same hotel when you got banded with OCC? How much was your lipo? do you know how much a TT is? sorry for the neverending questions, but I think it is so cool you took the leap and did this. I am irritated at how much the US Dr's think they can charge for some of these procedures that are no brainers. tks!

well, I can only speak for myself, but I noticed that after getting a fill up north (laying down) I believe it stretched me out, so I was overfilled even though they did a fluoro (which was so fast you could have blinked). They then pulled out nearly an entire 1.0 cc even though I had no signs of enlargment or swelling. THAT made me very mad. I have now put back on 8 lbs and I have gone back to Pac Surgical to fix the "too" loose issue Pac Surgical puts you in a sitting position, which I have found makes for a much more accurate fill (after all aren't we standing or sitting when we eat?), AND they take their time with the fluoro - there is no rushing, so they made sure my fill was perfect - every time. I just kick myself for going elsewhere, just to try out another place, my advice is, if you have great results and are losing with a place you are using, do not try to save a few pennies by going someplace new! Pac surgical is $375 for the 1st time and if you are not full enough after the first 7-10 days, you can get right back in for a second adjustment. I was consistently losing until my incident up north and have now struggled to get back to that happy spot. I am with Lisal, I love Pac Surgical

excellant link Robby! I found some great info on there. thanks!

I use Pacific Surgical in Olympia because they use fluoro to double check. I will never do BLIND fills (or unfills) again. Lots of people go to the place up north in Marysville, they are wonderful ladies - but I found getting a fluoro 'laying' down vs in a sitting position makes things very different.

thank you so much for sharing! great thoughts and information. I nearly fell off my chair when you said you are at 6 cc in a 4cc band. I have been told it CAN go that high, but rarely do they do it (and you have little restriction?) I have been as high as 4.4cc, but was very uncomfortable. The unfill they did (blind unfill up north - wont' go there again), they were very sneaky about and dropped me down to 3.4cc, I have since gone back to Olympia and am now back to 3.6cc and getting another topper next week. I will be a year in September and still have 45 lbs to go, I am not rushing it, although it would be great to get it all off. To me it is like cooking a prime rib - Low and Slow - LOL I have now spent $1300 on fills and it is worth every dime (besides the 8k surgery cost) all the best to you!

I was quoted $21,000 here in Olympia Washington, so I also flew to OCC and had mine done. The other thing your friend needs to be aware of is that the FDA monitors this procedure like crazy in the states, you have to get approval to do it, even if you do have it done without using insurance (paying out of pocket). That is why nearly all of us went to the best doctor doing this procedure and that is Dr Ortiz at OCC

I love MuscleMilk protein powder in Root Beer Float flavor and then I add 1/4-1/2 cup of Nancys vanilla nonfat yogurt with some ice and blend. Oh my gosh is it delish!I could drink these all day, but I usually have one in the morning. it runs about 410 calories and has a whopping 38 grams of protein and it tastes phenomenal. I used to buy it at the supersupplement store for $39.95, but I found it cheaper on wholesalesupplementstore.com for $26.00 and they deliver it within 3-4 days.

BUMP

I have heard that being too tight can enlarge your pouch (swelling, etc) and also that PB'ing too hard (and frequently) can do it as well. Has anyone been through this? What are the signs? Symptoms? Thanks!

congrats! you are on one of the best journeys of your life! Personally, only my aunt and my husband knew in the beginning. I did tell a good friend at work (male) who I knew would go to his grave with it, but to be honest with you, when I did tell another "skinny" friend, she looked at me like I had just flown off mars and popped out aliens. Then instead of acting excited for me, she put me through this pysch 'quiz' as if I had lost my mind. I left the conversation feeling very dejected and then I felt not only did she use it as a reason to talk about me, but she has never stopped sizing me up (really irritating!). I have stopped telling anyone because most people consider Mexico this 3rd world country where everyone is running around with leprosy (not really, but you get the idea). good luck and just realize that MOST people do NOT get it and will be (or act)ignorant about it. last thing...but like everyone else, I have also told complete strangers now who are BIG/HUGE in my attempt to 'save' them (as crazy as it sounds). People like us who are large, never thought we would ever have the chance to be thin again (or thin EVER!) I want people to feel HOPE!

WOW she sounds wonderful!

Thanks! I have been wanting to try this! unfortunately, the coupon won't print up because of the Kajillions of people trying to download the coupon at once.

find yourself a happy place and try not to beat yourself up. We have all gone through this. I am now on my second plateau and boy does it suck. My first one lasted two months, BUT I was losing inches like crazy, your body will kick in to action again and catch up. Denise, Dana and Jude have all had the same thing happen. Be strong and be positive, you will work through this!

wow! that sucks. I hope she is on the mend makes me even more glad that I had mine at OCC

yes, I did it 2 months ago for 3 days and had great results

okay, will do. I thought I would make a final decision until next week. I have been so spoiled having such great restriction and losing inches and the lbs needing to catch up. Thinking I may have to do a pouch test to kick it into gear. thanks!

I thought one of our OCC members flipped her port from doing Hula dancing (much like belly dancing), she lives in Northern Washington state (by the canadian border), sorry I cannot remember her name.

yes. I went from a 4.2 to 4.4 cc which was too tight. Went back to a 4.1 cc and still was tired of not being able to consistently eat hard proteins at night, so I just had another .2 taken out on Thursday. Now at 3.9 cc I feel a bit too loose now and do not have any restriction, which is a bit disconcerting

I have 4.1cc in a 4.0 band and it is because I was told during my third fill I did not have alot of fat around my tummy. So with that being said here is some of my experiences: 1. STAY away from naturopathic type vitamins. My acupuncturist gave me these pills for my neck injury (helps to ease the muscular pain), the problem is I took my usual 4 on a friday and by monday I could not eat ANYTHING. Monday night I PB'd SO hard that all 4 of these pills came back UP. YES, really. They had been sitting in the pouch and had not dissolved for nearly 4 days, I think they were also clogging the port hole. I have thrown them out. I do not have any problems with my medications or NatureMade-brand vitamins 2. After getting that large of a fill where you get close to some capacity, you will notice that you will have WICKED restriction. STOP testing your band with bread, pizza, etc. If you clog your port, not only will you make yourself incredibly miserable, but you will cause your pouch to swell and then you must stay on liquids for a few days. You need to fix the thinking in your head by testing things (been there, done it). The fill nurses at NW fill in WA flat out told me that I should "NOT be testing anything out, or attempting to eat that type of stuff" that is why we got the band to begin with. 3. It may take you up to 3 weeks once your fill kicks in to eat any time of the day but between 5-9 pm. You will notice that mornings and afternoons are limited to creamy soups and protein shakes, your fill will loosen up. Have some patience and do not panic (and get an unfill). All the best and here is to hitting your sweet spot!

the odds of you having a leak is very low, more than likely the swelling from the last fill has gone down and now you are hitting that spot that may not be sweet at times, but can be a fickly wench sometimes. My last fill (then unfill) left me swollen for nearly 3 weeks, then all of a sudden one day, viola (poof) gone, I was able to eat fish and some solid proteins again. give it a few days and if necessary, do the pouch test to check...that usually tightens things right up

Denise, oh darlin' you look amazing! I am so proud of you for sticking through the plateau (remember? we both hit it at the same time?!). Hot dang sister girl, keep up the great work you are an inspiration to those who will hit the plateau AND we both know that for some reason the 200-199 mark is when it happens. muah!

LOL....(you can be so pretentious)... yes, I am an OCC patient, yes I had Dr. Ortiz do my surgery and yes, I have been in Dana's shoes.