rcorn60035

I'm curious how this has turned out for you. I had to have my band replaced in Dec 08 (first surgery was June 07). I haven't lost any weight since the replacement. Contemplating another type of surgery. Thank you.

I'm so frustrated! I was originally banded in June 2007 with the older 4 cc Alergan Band. By December 2007, I had lost 60 lbs. which I was pleased with. Long story short, that band was found to be defective. The band itself, not the port or tubing was leaking. Under fluroscopy, we could see the barium going through the tubing and one it hit the band, it just shot out into my abdomen. UGH! I had a complete band replacement in December 2008 with the newer 10 cc band. I'm just gettin back into the whole fill thing. My first fill was 2.0 cc, the next fill was 2.0 cc however I ended up in the ER that same night because I couldn't even swallow my own spit. He took out 1.0 so I was up to 3.0. I didn't gain any weight but I didn't loose any either. I honestly felt no restriction. Yesterday I went again and my doc said he really didn't think that would happen again...unless you're me. He added 2.0 for a total of 5.0 I drank the Water, it went down fine but it didn't stay down. I tried five times. When he came back in he said "You're kidding, right?" I wish I was kidding. He removed 1.5 so I'm at 3.5. Has anyone had a similar experience? I want this thing to work so bad. Physically, I am not a candidate for bypass surgery (previous bowel resection) but I wouldn't have done that anyway for personal reasons so I really want this to work but I'm almost two years out from the beginning and I'm wondering if it just won't work for me. I never thought I'd be in this situation. I thought I'd be one of the Lap-band Success stories. Any advice or words of wisdom? Thanks! Renee

I had my second fill after being rebanded (that's a whole other story). My first fill was 2.5 and this fill was 2.0 for a total of 4.5 While in his office, I drank water and it seemed to go down ok but then on my way back to work, I started feeling a little weird. When I got to work about an hour later, I drank some coffee thinking the warm liquid would help. Not so much...it didn't stay down. I thought maybe my body just needed time to adjust but it wasn't to be. When I got home, I called my doctor and he said to just try to wait it out and if I wasn't better by morning to come to his office first thing. But after talking to him, it was so bad, I couldn't even swallow my own spit. I tried to wait it out but at 10:30 that night when I tried to go to bed, it was even worse. I felt like I was suffocating. I called him back and he said he would meet me in the ER and do a slight unfill. It was about 11:30 p.m. when I got to the ER and I had to wait for about an hour. When he did the unfill, he removed 1.0 leaving me with 3.5 Instantly I felt relief. I'm just wondering if 3.5 is my max. My band is a 10 cc band. I wonder what the average max fill is for this band. I'm thinking 4.5 was too much for me but I'm not sure 3.5 is giving enough restriction. Will I be able to tolerate more later? I'm so confused!!!

Yes, I had a hysterectomy just recently. My band surgery was June 07 and in December I started having more female problems. My Gyn sent me for a cat scan which also showed two hernias that also needed repaired. So I now had to have two surgeries (the hysterectomy and double hernia repair). As luck would have it, my lap band doctor had left the state but I called the nutritionist who was supposed to call the doctor. I already had my hyterectomy/hernia surgery scheduled. I kept waiting for her to return my call but she never did. (Sometimes I hate that woman.) Anyway, the morning I went to the hospital for surgery, my lap band doctor called me at home and left a message stating that I should have a complete unfill before any type of abdominal surgery. I, of course, was already in surgery and didn't get the message until my husband came home that evening. I would say your lapband doc will want you to have an unfill. I didn't and I was fine but I didn't really have the option since I was without a bariatric surgeon at the time. Sorry to be so winded. Good luck! Renee:smile:

Just curious...are you considering other options? I'm not going to try to talk you into it. It's a very personal thing. The one thing I know for sure is that I love it. I haven't been sick like most of my bypass friends but I also have another friend who has the band and she has been sick. Best of luck to you!

For me, I don't drink it. But I never did drink too much pop (that's what we call it in my neck of the woods). Even the diet stuff makes you feel bloated and gives you gas. And the kinds with caffeine make you hungry. In my opinion, it's just not a good idea. With the band, we're not supposed to drink when we eat anyway. I'm not saying I don't have a drink of my kid's or my husband's every once in while, but only a drink. The docs will tell you good old plain Water is best but I have found very good alternatives. I'm hooked the the Propel Fitness Water. It's available in different flavors. Special K also makes a flavored Protein Water. It's not too bad but it tends to be pricey for no more protein than it has. Crystal Light is another good one. Really, you just have to try a variety to find out what you like. Good Luck!

Mindy Thanks so much for the quick reply! The new doctor is coming in July. He's not new to lap-band, just new to my hospital. He's actually from Yale. I've already told the office that I want to be one of his first patients. And I think you've answered my question. I guess I was asking if there's any problem with being stalled for a while (six months by the time the new doc arrives) and then restarting the process. I didn't go to another doctor due to the fact that I wouldn't be able to get fills for a while after my surgery and by the time I would be ready, the new doc would be in place. Just curious...why did you have to have a couple unfills? I've wondered about that from other peoples posts. Thanks again! Renee

Maybe this question has already been answered but if so, I couldn't find it. I'm coming up on my one year bandiversary. I've lost 65 lbs but I had lost that 5 months ago. I'm very happy with my weight loss. I said it the beginning that slow was ok with me. My situation is a little different. About 5 months ago, my surgeon told me he was leaving. He was the only one at this particular hospital doing the band. He followed by telling me the the hospital was actively searching for another doc. There were other docs in his group doing bypass but oh, by the way they're leaving too. What the heck? I couldn't believe this hospital (a state university hopital) would let this happen. They gave me a list of other surgeons in the area ( the closest of which was two hours away). I choose this hopital because of the very fact they were close if I had a problem. And I trusted them. I was 6 months post op and had only had 3 fills. Ok, I said my situation was a little different. Here's the thing...about the same time as my doc said he was leaving, I found out that I had to have a hysterectomy. In diagnosing my need for the hysterectomy, they found two hernias (ventral and umbilical) that needed repair. My point in telling this personal stuff is the fact that my doctor leaving really didn't matter to me because I was sort of on hold due to my upcoming surgeries. About a week before my hysterectomy, I had read on lapbandtalk.com that I would need to have a complete unfill before my surgery. I called my dietician who said she would call my surgeon and find out. Long story short, she didn't do that. I called her back on the Friday before my surgery. By this time, I'm quite aggravated with her. He finally called back on Monday, while I was the operating table to advise me to have a complete unfill. Well...I didn't and I'm fine. Thankfully. I'm sorry this is so long. Here's my question. Now that I've recuperated from the hysterectomy/hernia repair, can I jump back into the fills and get my weight loss started again? Can the band be used like this? As I said before, I've lost 65 lbs. but could easily loose that much more. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Renee

I'm not sure if I'm in the right place or not but my question is about having abdominal surgery after lap-band. My lap-band surgery was on June 11, 2007. I've only had three fills since then. I'm scheduled for a hysterectomy and double hernia repair (umbilical and ventral) on March 31. My general surgeon will do the hernia repair followed by my GYN doing the hysterectomy. To make matters worse, my lap-band doc just moved out of state. I have to find another doc to continue my followup for my band. As far as fills, should I wait a while before I get another fill? I'm just a little nervous about having these surgeries in the middle of my fills. Any advice?

I agree with Pattypoo1. The proctor isn't going to let anything bad happen. I would certainly want to meet the proctor. I would just make sure to write all your questions down so you don't forget when you go for an appointment. By the way, where in WV are you going? Just curious. I'm also in WV and had surgery at Ruby Memorial. Let us know what you decide.

I'm usually one of the lurkers but I have to tell you, I enjoy reading all your posts. I recently had my third fill and could notice a big difference! I don't want to eat. It's almost like I had to remind myself to eat something. I have also had a couple episodes of eating too fast/too much and getting that pain in chest feeling which I relieved by, uh, releasing some of the excess food. Yuck-but it made me feel better. My husband has been a little concerned. I told him that I just need to learn how to or what to eat since this last fill. Was there a certain fill for you all when you noticed a big difference? Now, my ah-ha moment...last night we were at a New Year's Party. I had wore a short sleeve shirt thinking that it would be warm at my friends house however, I was cold. I was sitting on the couch and looked over to see my son's long sleeve shirt, size XL. I picked it up thinking at least it would cover my arms, however, it not only covered my arms but wrapped all the way around me and buttoned clear down!!! AH-HA!!! Surprise-not only to me but to my family also. Now, there's a little voice in my head saying, well, maybe it was a really big XL or maybe it was sized wrong but nonetheless, it was an XL. Happy New Year! Renee:whoo:

I'm usually one of the lurkers but I have to tell you, I enjoy reading all your posts. I recently had my third fill and could notice a big difference! I don't want to eat. It's almost like I had to remind myself to eat something. I have also had a couple episodes of eating too fast/too much and getting that pain in chest feeling which I relieved by, uh, releasing some of the excess food. Yuck-but it made me feel better. My husband has been a little concerned. I told him that I just need to learn how to or what to eat since this last fill. Was there a certain fill for you all when you noticed a big difference? Now, my ah-ha moment...last night we were at a New Year's Party. I had wore a short sleeve shirt thinking that it would be warm at my friends house however, I was cold. I was sitting on the couch and looked over to see my son's long sleeve shirt, size XL. I picked it up thinking at least it would cover my arms, however, it not only covered my arms but wrapped all the way around me and buttoned clear down!!! AH-HA!!! Surprise-not only to me but to my family also. Now, there's a little voice in my head saying, well, maybe it was a really big XL maybe it was sized wrong but nonetheless, it was an XL. Happy New Year! Renee:whoo: