ewalk

I am beating my head against the wall wondering what is going on with me. I was banded 12/07 and lost 37 lbs to date. I have not lost any weight in the last 12 months. I have had 8 fills to date, however I am wondering if some of them missed the mark. My dr. did say that my port was tilted, but he had no problem with finding it during the last fill. During the first couple of fills, I could feel a suction when the dr. removed the needle. Then I had about 5 fills when I did not feel the suction and then I could feel it during the last fill. Does anyone else have this sensation when the dr. is removing the needle? At any rate, something must be partially working as I am seldom hungry. Sometimes I get a restriction after a couple of bites of food, and other times I probably eat way too much. Any suggestions? I am wondering if I should go in for another fill or talk to my Dr. to see if my band has slipped or something. Thanks

Wow..that sure seems excessive. My dr. charges $6.00 for the needle. I recently went in for my 7th fill. He put in another 1 cc. Its the first time in a while that I have felt any restriction. It certainly feels good to have some restriction again. I was branded in December of 07 and have only lost 35 lbs. I recently started going to a gym as I know I need to beef up my exercise program. My Dr. said that he was not disappointed in my weight loss as he could tell that I have lost a lot of inches. Beats me on what he is basing that except he had no trouble finding my port today and usually it has been such a matter of frustration that I doubt if half of my fills even went in. I could tell todays did though. I am just taking it one day at a time. The process has been slow for me, but this is the first year that I can remember when I started the year weighing less than the previous year. Hang in there everyone!

My surgery included 3 "free" fills. Since then the Dr. charges me $6.00 a fill to cover the cost of the needle. I don't turn the cost into my insurance since it is so small.

My port is behind a 1-2 inch scar to the right of my navel. The dr has to go through the scar to hit the top of the port, which is where, I believe the fill goes through. If it went into the tubing, why wouldn't it leak out? Just wondering. My dr. kept trying to go at an angle and it turns out that my port is tilted slightly, so I recommended that he try to fill me standing up and he said it made it very easy to find the port.

Hi there. I would definately suggest that she try to fill you while you are standing. My dr. was amazed at how much easier it was to find the port. He also said that I didn't need corrective surgery as long as could find it one way or another. Good luck to you. I bet you will get your fill without surgery.

As my Dr. suspected, I do have a tilted port. He said that now that he knew which direction it was tilted, that he shouldn't have a problem giving me a fill. However, after 3 stabs, I could tell he was a bit frustrated. At this point, I suggested that he try giving me the fill with me standing up since I have no problem feeling the port when I am upright. He gave it a try and said that by my standing up that he was able to find the port with no problem. He said he would have never thought of this, but since he had so many patients with ports that seem to be elusive that he was going to try this technique on others. He was so thrilled with the prospect, he didn't even charge. So if your Dr. is having trouble finding your port, see if this technique works for you. Have a good day everyone.

I went in for my 6th fill today. This time, my dr. could not enter the port. He kept saying he was hitting the metal around it. In the past, when I have received a fill, i could tell when he hit the port because it felt like he was stabbing a rubber ball. Also there was a popping sound when he extracted the needle. I think there were times when he might have missed my port altogether when getting a fill as I didn't feel or hear the "pop". So, my dr. sent me over for an x-ray to see if the port has tilted. When I got home, I could see where he tried to enter the port at an angle several times. When I press down on my port area, I can feel it with no problem, and I wish I would have showed him where I feel the port is located. He has always had trouble finding the port, but this was the first time that he was frustrated enough from poking me that he gave up. I was banded on Dec. 17/07 and of this date have lost 35 lbs. I feel restriction only if I am eating soft bread, otherwise I feel that I eat way too much. I have eliminated most breads, and steak as they will get "stuck" which is totally painful. I am rarely hungry which is great, but my head keeps telling me that I need to eat something. When I keep busy, I can go hours without eating anything. I was my drs. first lap band patient and now he tells me that he has not been adding enough fill as the new bands require more than he has been putting in. I am leary about my insurance covering the repair, and what it might cost. I still have approx. 45 lbs to go till I reach my goal and have set a personal goal of loosing 50 this year. My dr. feels that when he is able to fill the port properly that I should be able to meet that goal fairly easily. During the last 6 week period, I have only lost 1 pound, so I am anxious for this "proper fill", as my Dr. calls it. I guess most of my questions will be answered Monday, when I go back to see the Dr. Everyone have a great day.

Thanks for your post Wendell. I pasted it into word and printed it out because it is the best explanation of the process I have read as yet. I am going to give my dr. a copy of it to give to his patients. Actually, I hope he reads it himself, as I am sure I am going to need another fill soon. Although I have only lost 30 lbs since December, my stomach area has lost several inches. He says he can find the port much more easily now, however, he believes that I shouldn't need another fill for 3 more months. I was his first lap band patient and I wouldn't trade my tool for all the tea in China. Thanks for the post.

I was my Drs. first lap band patient. I waited patiently for him to add this to his practice. He is the king of the bypass. I told him that I would have trusted him to do this surgery before he got certified to do so. He seems a bit conservative when it comes to fills. I was banded on Dec. 17, 2007 and have had 5 fills. His concern is that I will get too tight, and according to his records, I am just about there. I think he may have missed the port a time or two during the fills. I can't feel when he injects into the port, but I definately can hear a pop when he pulls out the needle. I have only lost 30 lbs, and have another 50 to go. I can eat mostly anything, but have had to give up steaks, prime rib, and soft breads due to them getting stuck. I love my band, and my dr. and it was sooo worth it, even if the weight loss is slow.

I am riding in the same boat as you,as I was branded Dec. 17, 2007 and I have lost 30 lbs. My Dr. is very encouraging and reminds me that at this rate I will have lost over 50 lbs in a year. I notice that when I eat like I am supposed to, (especially not drinking at meals) I continue the lb a week weight loss. I haven't started a regular exercise routine because until recently, my back and legs hurt too much. I find that I feel much better even after such a small loss. My dr. says that it should take me 2 years to get my weight off, but I should be at goal by this time next year if I continue loosing at my present rate. Before branding, I tried every diet under the sun and couldn't loose weight or keep it off if I did. Even on a strict ww diet, I only lost 25 lbs in 10 months. I figure I am way ahead of the game now. I love my band, just wish my body would get in gear quicker.

wow...totally awesome

I, too, had surgery in December and am only down 27 lbs. My dr. said not to be disappointed because it usually takes 2 years to loose the weight with the band. If I loose a lb a week, I'll reach my goal within a year. I keep trying not to get discouraged. A friend told me that I could have lost this much weight following weight watchers, but I reminded her that I tried that and regained the weight. If I had the discipline to be a successful dieter I would not have needed the band! Its the darn snacking while watching t.v. thats the monkey on my back. I think I am a popcorn addict. I am rarely hungry, yet I feel deprived if I can't have popcorn at night. Something has to be wrong with this thinking. Avoiding drinking with meals is hard for me too. I am a food service director and I have to work hard to avoid tasting food while I am cooking. All the changes I have to make are overwelming at times, but even with the small weight loss that I have had, I feel so much better. I am glad to read that its not all that easy for others..We will all be successful at the end. I just know it. Thanks for listening. Beth