Do I have a leak?

[Drasan 23]

I'm one of the unlucky people who can't seem to maintain restriction with my band. I've gone in for regular fills, I even had my last fill under fluoroscopy. I experienced restriction which was great for about 2 months. Now, nothing, no more restriction .. again!

When my surgeon removes the Fluid before each fill, he's never been able to pull out the full amount that he expects to be there. Is this normal or do you think I have a leak? Are your surgeons or technicians able to get out every bit?

[Juliat 6]

Sounds to me like you do. When they take Fluid from mine, they are able to tell me they pulled out the amount that I had in there. I asked my doctor about it one time having a leak and he said that if they think you do, then they can inject dye into the band under flouro and see if any ink comes out. He says that happens rarely though. Ask your doctor if they have a test to see. Hopefully you don't have one and just experience what I do and lose restriction after a certain amount of time. Usually from losing fat around the stomach.

Best of luck to you and let us know what happens.

Julia

[Rachel412 116]

It's normal for the amount they pull out during a fill to be a TINY bit lower than they expect, but if it's always lower... I'm surprised your doctor hasn't brought up the possibility of a leak.

It's normal for you to have restriction and then lose it after a couple of months as the fat around your stomach (under the band) goes away and your band is looser, but I'd be concerned about the liquids decreasing like they are.

[Drasan 23]

Thank you for your replies. I'm going to ask my surgeon about this at my next appointment.

I've asked him if my ability to maintain restriction is caused by losing fat around the band. He said that while that can happen, he doesn't think I've had enough weight loss for that to be the cause.

[54Shirley 105]

When they draw mine out, they tell me to sit up a little, and it comes out.

They thought I had a leak, Fluoroscope should that I did not. but ! They put in a adhesive,

so that if there was a leak it would be plugged. No Problem At ALL !

I too when I lose weight, start to lose restriction. So I go in for just a tweak, and it makes the difference.

Good Health to you, Shirley.