How much saline for the Vanguard?

For those folks that have the larger Vanguard Lapband, when did you experience your optimal restriction? Are there any here that never were able to experience restriction regardless of how much saline was put in the band? Thanks folks. Steve

Hey Steve, good to see you posting again. I'm sorry I'm of no help with your question but had to give a shout out and say welcome back.

Steve, hi. I got the VG band on 4/22, and went to 4 cc in 6 weeks, and since then, to 5 cc, 6 cc and I'm now at 7 cc. This last fill was the first that i began to feel any restriction to speak of (though I can still eat bread, bagels, and pizza, etc...but I try not too!) I will go to 8 in 10 days, and am kinda thinking that will be good. Most VG'ers that I've heard of seem to do well somewhere in the 8 - 8.75 range. (the one interesting thing is that some doctors think that the band is more "forgiving' when it comes to food getting stuck, which means that we may need to be highly attuned to what restriction feels like, since it might be different than those with the earlier band.) The design of the new band was created to lessen problems with slippage and erosion, and I hope that it'll work. Hows your surgery and post op going? Barbara

Barbara Hey, how have you been? Steve I am at 6 cc and have 2 more appointments scheduled in the next 3 weeks since I can only get 1cc at a time. The fill process 1cc at a time is getting frustrating. Feel only slight restriction. Good luck to you barb

I have the Vanguard (10cc) band. I just had a 2nd fill on Monday, I am now up to 5cc's. I think I feel a slight restriction with this one but they say sometimes it takes a week or so for it to kick in. My dr says a lot of people need a few adjustments before they get to that full restriction but everyone is different. I've spoken to some bandsters that have restriction with NO fills.

Hi Steve; I was banded on 08/04, and received my first fill in the VG band on 09/13. The surgeon put 2cc in during the operation, and 3cc additional at the first fill. I've had restriction since the day of the fill. Chelle 291/261/145

Hi Steve, I have the Vangard 11cc Band....I have had 4 fills now...the last one i just had 3 days ago. I am up to 8cc's in the band and for now I feel restriction. I think I will have to wait and see because i have heard sometimes that the swelling that occurs during the fill can also make you feel tight..and I was stuck 5 times before they were able to do the fill so I am sure i am swollen. Did they put the right size lap band in for you now? I remember reading some of your posts...but dont remember if they put a new one in yet or not. I hope you are feeling well and are getting healthy...you had quite an experience when you were in the hospitol. My experience was certainly not like yours...but mine was very different than what was expected. When they did my surgery and put the air in, my organs moved...so i had to have 8 incisions instead of 5...i thought i would wake up and breeze through the surgery and that didnt happen for me. I had much more pain than i thought i would...but as time went on i did get better....my port is also strange as they have a hard time finding it every time...and i usually get 5 sticks or so before they find it under ultrasound. I would love to know how you are!! LuAnne

Hi. I have the 10cc band and I only have 2.3 ccs in it and I have quite a bit of restriction already. I'm supposed to have another fill Wednesday (the 5th) but I think I'll cancel it. Christina 270/240/145

Hi Steve - I have the VG Band too - surgery on July 12 this summer - and I only have .7 ccs in my band, and I have pretty good restriction! I'd have never believed I could make it without huge fills, but so far so good! I'm down about 30 pounds......averages out to 2-3 pounds a week! I'm thrilled! I pretty much each whatever everyone else is eating, just much less of it. I'm guessing this will go away one of these days, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts! AmyK

Hi everyone! I had surgery last Aug 5. I did not know til this week when I went for my first fill that I also have the Vanguard. I weighed 230 when I started, and am a fairly small framed person. I was really surprised I had the big one- I have not felt much restriction at all- I am rather disappointed. I do live 4 hours away from the Dr., so maybe that is part of the thinking so as not to have obstruction. I am going back on Oct 21 and will ask for more restriction. I have hit a plateau already- I don't feel hungry, which is the best part. I used to be hungry all the time, and I eat less than half of what I used to eat. I measured and have lost 16and 1/2 inches, so that is encouraging. I am into the next smaller size- so it's better than the alternative of going up, like I continued to do. I hope my Doctor's decision to put the "big-boy" in me was a wise one- sometimes I wonder. I guess we don't have a choice in the matter- he said he made that decision when they go in there and see. Good luck!! Cheryl