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Hi I am a slow loser I had my band since 2003 and lost 60 lbs and kept it off. I have 4.3 cc in my 5 cc band. My port is not in the best spot. It is 3 fingers above my navel and to the right. My doc has a hard time getting fills and always need Floro. I am now 10 weeks pregnant and since I am 40 would my only one. I am worried about my port ripping from my abdominal wall during pregnancy. Has this happened to anyone? I can still eat my calories since I am 203 now was 196 for the last 3 years. Prior to surgery was 260lbs. Need advice thanks. :whatchutalkingabout

Thanks for the reply. I am glad to see someone else has the port around the same area as me. I have no nausea and can get my calories in. The band helps we with portion control. I really do not want the fill removed. Did you have any fill during pregnancy?

My surgeon wants to wait and work with my OB doctor.

I have had my band since April of 2003 needed port repositioned from kinked tubing in August of 2003. My last fill was Oct 2004 at 4.4 cc my MD could not put anymore in under Fluro he sucks at this. Took a year off managed to loose 10 lb that year total of 58 lbs since Aug of 05. My new years goal to exersice 5 days a week. Since Jan 15th I do my treadclimber 30 min 5 days a week and burn 200 to 230 cal a session. I have not changed my eating patterns yet the 1st 5 weeks lost 5 lbs. Found a new MD 2 hr drive from my house that can access my port under fluro just fine. He checked my placement and did a barium swallow I saw the restriction on the video. MD did not want to put anymore in since I am at 4.4 in a 10 cm band max he will put in is 4.8 but worried about errosion. Since I had lost 5 lbs in 5 weeks doing my new exercise program he did not want to fill anymore and said wait intill I do not loose any more weight for a few weeks. That was Feb 14th. now today I get on the scale and gainied 3 lbs now at 195 instead of 192.Total loss 65 lbs, I know I am a slow loser but it makes me mad. My husband found a picture of me at 258 lbs prior to surger and say the band works . You will never be 258 again. He is right the year I took off no exercise and took 3 vacations 2 were cruises I lost 10 lbs. Why am I so hard on myself? Because I see people who lose the 100 lbs in less than a year and I am on my 3rd year with the band. Thanks for reading my venting post Annette:straight

Hi Kathy nice to know someone that has gone down the same path. Thanks for the words of encouragement.:clap2: Annette

Thanks Tracy you are right. I am very thankful I still have my band. That is why I did not want to risk another fill just to be really tight. I figured my 4.4 cc that I have and since Oct 2004 is enough. I know that if I lost my band I would gain it all back. Annette

I have had my band since April of 2003 needed port repositioned from kinked tubing in August of 2003. My last fill was Oct 2004 at 4.4 cc my MD could not put anymore in under Fluro he sucks at this. Took a year off managed to loose 10 lb that year total of 58 lbs since Aug of 05. My new years goal to exersice 5 days a week. Since Jan 15th I do my treadclimber 30 min 5 days a week and burn 200 to 230 cal a session. I have not changed my eating patterns yet the 1st 5 weeks lost 5 lbs. Found a new MD 2 hr drive from my house that can access my port under fluro just fine. He checked my placement and did a barium swallow I saw the restriction on the video. MD did not want to put anymore in since I am at 4.4 in a 10 cm band max he will put in is 4.8 but worried about errosion. Since I had lost 5 lbs in 5 weeks doing my new exercise program he did not want to fill anymore and said wait intill I do not loose any more weight for a few weeks. That was Feb 14th. now today I get on the scale and gainied 3 lbs now at 195 instead of 192.Total loss 65 lbs, I know I am a slow loser but it makes me mad. My husband found a picture of me at 258 lbs prior to surger and say the band works . You will never be 258 again. He is right the year I took off no exercise and took 3 vacations 2 were cruises I lost 10 lbs. Why am I so hard on myself? Because I see people who lose the 100 lbs in less than a year and I am on my 3rd year with the band.:scared: Thanks for reading my venting post:) Annette

. Avoid NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs)...I think these are things like Aleve, Tylenol etc. Supposedly they can contribute to erosion. Um...I think thats it! Good luck! I have occasional headaches I take Advil childrens liquid. No NSAIDS at all? Had band for alomst 4 years fill at 4.4 cc for over 2 years.

I Agree will drive the 2 hrs in a heartbeat. Dr Neal was great and so supportive great staff. Now starting my New Years resolution of 5 days a week on my Treadclimber lost 5 lbs this month. Trying to drink my protien shake in the morning I like the Bally fitness shake 25 grams of Protien after milk added 17 g without. Annette:straight

How long can you have the band does it ever have to be replaced? Anyone knwo the longest banster with current band. I found a great MD that can access my port easily under fluro. However he is a 2 hr drive from my house. My original MD could not access and told me I needed surgery. New MD looked at my band no errosion and good restriction with current fill of 4.4 none added since it is a 2 hr drive if too tight. :clap2: Annette:p

I might be the lowest loser. Had band placed in April 2003 lost 58 lbs by Oct 2004 then nothing until 10 lbs May 2005. Nothing since. :help:

I was on my Treadclimer this morning no breakfast too tight in the AM. Had some ice cold water after my routine. My stomach was upset then had the dry heaves for a few minutes. Only thing that came up was mucus. Now sipping on hot chocolate to ease the stomach. My band has had the same fill for over a year at 4.4 cc. My doc has a very hard time accessing my port so I do not get fillls or unfilled as much as I use to. My current weight has been at 195 for over a year. Since having the band in April of 2003 I have lost a total of 63 libs. I am a slow loser. For a new years resolution I have started a good work out for 5 days a week over the last 3 weeks. I know the band is just a tool. So now I am trying to do my part to loose the over 50 lbs. Annette:o

Thanks is scared the crap out of me. I have an appointment with another MD to see if he can access my port. My MD wants to do another surgery so he can access it more easily. I have a hard time wanting to go thought another surgery. Especially hearing about port infections. I had a close call when my port was fixed back in 2003. So I an not sure about having it moved to another location. Currently it is 2 fingers above my navel and I carry most of my fat in my mid section. Even under fluro my current MD can not access. I asked about trying ultrasound but he refused. His technique is not the best. I feel like he can do lipo suction on me during the port access moving the needle up and down. Says he is trying to locate the borders of my port. Someone else decribed it best a plunger technique. You should see the bruise I get. Last access try I just said forget it and have not gone back to see him since. Annette

No Dr. Patterson will not look at another Doctors work period. What is so Ironic is the MD that is following me now having a hard time with the fills. Was an intern under her prior to setting up practice at OHSU. I do like my MD however the 1st surgeon screwed up and I am not sure if I want to have the port moved. This would cause a lager scar and the tubing would have to be more exposed for possible leaks. All I was asking for was an other oppinion prior to even thinking about another surgery.:phanvan Banded 04/04/2003 Starting weight 258 current weight 192 goal weight happy with 150

I was the 5th Patient at OHSU to have the Lap Band in April 2003. The port was not placed correctly and my 1st Doc had moved new MD had to fix port tubing kinked. My port is 2 fingers above my belly button and is tilted since that is where most of by belly fat is. New MD has a hell of a time to fill my port. My last fill was June of 04 tried in Jan of 05 however he could not access port even under fluro. I have 4.25 cc and do not dare try to get any more because if it is too tight he would be unable to unflill quickly. I have only lost 68 lbs since having the band. MD wants to repostion port that would mean another surgery. Would like to have a second oppion prior to having port moved. Dr. Patterson refused she would not look at another MD work.