How do you know if your band has a leak?

[shibalover 0]

I'm not trying to be paranoid, so I'm asking for some advice. I have the Lapband AP with a 10cc max. I went for my first fill several months ago and he gave me 3 cc's. When I went back for my second fill about 3 weeks ago, my doc told me that 1 cc had depleted. He said that the Fluid dissipated throughout the balloon of the band. He gave me 3 more cc's for a total of 4 cc's. I felt restriction for a week or 2, and still have some, but I can really eat more then what others are saying they can. I'm not gaining any weight, but not losing any either. So I'm wondering if anyone knows about fluid dissipating into the band and how you know if you have a leak.

[WrenBird 11]

Don't you have to get a fill every month or so?

The Fluid naturally dissipates through the band, which is why you need to go back and get a fill...I'm pretty sure some people get it done every 1-3 months.

[Teacher07 3]

Don't you have to get a fill every month or so?

The Fluid naturally dissipates through the band, which is why you need to go back and get a fill...I'm pretty sure some people get it done every 1-3 months.

Once you are at the point of restriction you can go for a long time until a fill is needed. I haven't had a fill in about 8 months.

[Sheer 1]

I had a leak in my balloon. I was going and going for refills and not feeling any restriction. Then I finally mentioned that I could eat a 6 inch Subway and my Dr took me serious. He filled me to a 10 (I have a 14 cc band) and by the time they did the test with the dye it was all gone. So mine was big. If you feel like you have one, tell your Dr. you want the florioskpy (?) test. That way they can also see where it is leaking from. The port, band, etc. I have many friends who have had this done and none of them needed to keep getting fills. I had to have my surgery redone. Good luck.

[BetsyB 9]

It's really common for there to be some dissipation of fluid; at this point, I would not be too worried about leakage. The tubing and band sometimes just don't "give up" the whole amount injected. And sometimes, the amount instilled is not recorded with ideal accuracy.

It's also not unusual to be 2 fills in to the process without feeling significant restriction.

I'd give it a couple more fills before getting concerned. You'll get there

[Cocoabean 430]

It's really common for there to be some dissipation of fluid; at this point, I would not be too worried about leakage. The tubing and band sometimes just don't "give up" the whole amount injected. And sometimes, the amount instilled is not recorded with ideal accuracy.

It's also not unusual to be 2 fills in to the process without feeling significant restriction.

I'd give it a couple more fills before getting concerned. You'll get there

Hey Betsy, how much dissipation are we talking about though? My surgeon said it would be very little. That I "might" need a slight touch up fill about once a year.

The fills occurring 1-3 months apart are at the beginning of banded life until you find you proper restriction level.

I went in for my first fill in a year in September, prior to that it was about 10 months or so.

But as Betsy said the record keeping sometimes is not what they hope. I thought I had 5.5cc, my record said 4cc. I was having .25cc added. When the Nurse Practioner removed all she could with the .25cc already loaded, it was a total of 6cc. So, it would appear I hadn't lost anything..?

My theory is that my surgeon was only tracking what he had added post-op, not what was in the band during the surgery. This was my first fill by his NP.