Questions about my fill issues

[Dossy30 0]

I want to see if anyone else has experienced what I'm experiencing. I have had my lapband for over 2 years now. I went a year and a half with NO issues...I had 8.5 cc's in my band (I think I have a 14cc band). Anyway all of a sudden I started having reflux so he removed 2 cc's. Then I ended up having to have all of it removed. I stayed completely unfilled for about 2 months then I started getting fills again. Well I"m having a hard time with them. I got my first one OK..then the next one I got was 2 cc's and had to have 1.5 removed, went back the next month and got .5 cc's and had to get it removed. So now I only have 4.5 cc's in my band and it seems that everytime I get a fill even a small one, I have to get it removed. I don't know why but I do know that I need a fill and right now I really don't even feel like I have a band. Have any of you experienced this and if you have, what was wrong? Is something wrong with my band???? Please help!!!

[Mimilou2004 13]

I wish I knew what was wrong, but I am going through the same thing you are. It is making me crazy and I have to be a little too filled or underfilled and then I immediately gain wt. I am very frustrated and you are NOT alone!!!!

Mimi

[Dossy30 0]

It frustrates the CRAP out of me too!!! I go next Thursday for a fill under flouro so maybe we can see what's going on. I hope so!!

[SuzanneG 1]

I am having the same problem. Last week my doc did a "pressure fill". He said that is most accurate as it actually tests the pressure in your band. Not only was my band not too tight (which it feels like since I'm getting stuck and PB nearly every day now), but it's too loose!

He thought maybe I was having esophageal spasms, but the meds he gave me for that didn't help. To add insult to injury, I'm having gallbladder symptoms too. He told me yesterday, let's get the gb taken care of and then we will see what's going on with your swallowing.

He has done and endo, pressure fill under fluro, and everything band related looks perfect. So how is this even possible?

MiMi, Hi! So we are having the same troubles? WTH?

[babylovestoys 1]

I have the same problem. I have a very temperamental band. Even 0.2ml can be too much & have to be removed. My Dr. justt sent letter that she is CLOSING her practice so I need to find another fill Dr.

[happygirl1380 0]

Ladies, I am in the same situation. I had my band done 5 years ago and and everything was perfect. looked and flet great. I started to eat more and repeated fills but it did not work. I took n e-ray and it showed that my upper pouch was inflatted. My doctor needed to relase all liquids for 4 months to realse all presure. Two days ago I did another xray and the results were good so I got my first fill. I probobly need to go back because there is not too much restriction. You should ask your doctor to do an xray of you esaphogus and upper pouch.

SuusanG - what happened? What is the next step your doctor will take. My adjustments are not working any more.

Edited June 18, 2010 by happygirl1380

[lisintexas 0]

Dossy, when you say you have to get an unfill, is it because it is too tight or you have reflux?

[SuzanneG 1]

Happygirl, I don't know what to do next. My gallbladder tests came back fine, so I'm back to square one.

I have a loose band, but yet my food gets stuck. I put myself on liquids and soft foods. Heavy Soups make me queazy.

I have no idea what's next. I have an appointment with my primary car doc next Friday. He wants me to try Zoloft. I guess if there are no other ideas, I'll tray that next.

[lisintexas 0]

Happygirl, I don't know what to do next. My gallbladder tests came back fine, so I'm back to square one.

I have a loose band, but yet my food gets stuck. I put myself on liquids and soft foods. Heavy Soups make me queazy.

I have no idea what's next. I have an appointment with my primary car doc next Friday. He wants me to try Zoloft. I guess if there are no other ideas, I'll tray that next.

I had the same problem a year ago. The band was fine for one and a half years but then I started getting bad reflux all the time and I tried everything for relief even a complete unfill. I moved during this time so I went to a different doctor and her told me that I had developed scar tissue where the band was. In the end I had to get a larger band(10 cc) (my original was 4 cc) and that did the trick. Now I am in the process of finding my sweet spot. I think one more tiny fill will do it.

[tyhelms 0]

Suzzane G why does your dr want you to try Zoloft? Zoloft is for depression and anxiety.. what does that have to do with what's going on with your band?

[SuzanneG 1]

ty, that's my question too! ha ha My primary care thinks that anxiety is causing my symptoms. They did kind of start after some intense pressure in my life, but the stress is all gone and the symptoms are still there.

My band doc named some tests he wants to run, but he hasn't called me back yet. He wanted me to try Reglan, but I was afraid of the side effects. My mom had a really bad reaction to it and I was afraid to try it.

I don't know what to do. I'm frustrated and this little voice in the back of my head (actually it's my brother's voice, ha ha) keeps saying "it's the band, it's the band".

I'm starting to wonder if maybe I could have adhesions. I've read a couple of stories about them and they kind of match what I'm going through.

I think my doc is getting sick of me, but I'm taking 80mg of Nexium a day and still feel heartburn. My biggest issues are:

Restriction

Heartburn

Nausea

My band is loose, even during fluro, yet sometimes I can't eat at all. Other times I can eat like a lumber jack. I'm UP 15 pounds and can't seem to budge the scales.

I'm frustrated!

[jewel123 0]

I was having acid reflux and had to have an unfill. After 6 weeks he finally would put 2cc's in. There was no restriction, I couldn't even tell that I had the band! I went back 3 weeks later and my barium swallow wouldn't go down. I can eat anything and everything and don't feel full yet he refuses to give me a fill. I've gained 12 pounds since my unfill. I can't continue like this, I'll be back where I was prior to surgery! Anybody have any advice?