Only Feel Restriction For 2-3Weeks After Fill

[missyjk79 9]

Have had my band revised a year ago due to a slip. My first surgery was 10/07. It's way different this time around. I've had like 4 fills and I'm at 7.4cc in a 10cc band. Each time I've gone in I feel good restriction for 2-3weeks. Then after that it's like I hadn't gotten one. Anyone feel this??

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Sometimes restriction appears to disappear after a few weeks because you've gradually adjusted your eating skills to suit the new fill level, so you have fewer eating problems. But if your definition of restriction is that your band lessens your physical hunger and provides early and prolonged satiety, I'd have to wonder if you have a slow leak. Since it's happened to you 4 times now, it's certainly worth mentioning to your surgeon. Does he/she, or the person who does your fills, withdraw all the Fluid from your band to check how much there is in there each time you get a fill?

[Puppypaws57 137]

I agree with Jean. I had to be rebanded and it was because my band buckle was undone.

Definetly worth checking out why this is happening.

[Almajuanes 2]

It happens to me as well!

[Cpvillacis 27]

I have a silly question... Forgive me for asking this but how does the procedure goes on getting your first fill?

Does doctors do xrays to see how is the band inside you? How do they know if everything is ok inside?

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I have a silly question... Forgive me for asking this but how does the procedure goes on getting your first fill?

Does doctors do xrays to see how is the band inside you? How do they know if everything is ok inside?

Not a silly question at all.

Some surgeons do fills under fluoroscopy - basically an x-ray done while the patient drinks a contrast medium (barium). If the barium is able to pass through the stoma, then theoretically the fill is not too tight. In my opinion, that's not a very useful method because the increased pressure of the band against the stomach can cause irritation and inflammation, and when all that calms down a day or so later, the fill you just had may not feel as "tight" as it did on the first day. And the opposite can happen - the fill can feel even tighter a day or two after the fill. The stomach is living tissue that expands, contracts, and is affected by many things other than the band (hydration, illness, medications, hormones, etc. etc.). So a fill under fluoroscopy is just a quick snapshot of the band and stomach when the fill is done, and a fill that looks OK on the x-ray may not feel OK to the patient.

One advantage of fills under fluoroscopy, though, is that it's a good way to catch little problems before they become big problems. In addition to the flow of barium through the stoma, the x-ray will show any signs of esophageal or stomach dilation, for example.

[missyjk79 9]

Sometimes restriction appears to disappear after a few weeks because you've gradually adjusted your eating skills to suit the new fill level' date=' so you have fewer eating problems. But if your definition of restriction is that your band lessens your physical hunger and provides early and prolonged satiety, I'd have to wonder if you have a slow leak. Since it's happened to you 4 times now, it's certainly worth mentioning to your surgeon. Does he/she, or the person who does your fills, withdraw all the Fluid from your band to check how much there is in there each time you get a fill?[/quote']

Yah he takes out to account for cc already in the band.

[missyjk79 9]

I have a silly question... Forgive me for asking this but how does the procedure goes on getting your first fill?

Does doctors do xrays to see how is the band inside you? How do they know if everything is ok inside?

I get my fills done by fluoroscopy everytime now so I know it's ok. Since I had a slip one time.

[kll724 3,055]

I am, also, one that had a revision after a slip. I agree that restriction is different this time around. It is not something that I can't explain. I am at the total that my surgeon will fill for me. He said otherwise I will be too tight, I am only at 5 cc. It seems that everything I do now has to be me and my new way of eating. Boo to that!!! best wishes, no advice just a hug, (((())))!!!Karen

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I had a complete unfill to treat a band slip, and since my port flipped after that, I wasn't able to get fills for almost a year. Once I got more fill in my band, my experience of restriction was very different from the first time around. That was interesting, but it didn't signify anything pathological. I'm a living, breathing human being, not a statue cast in bronze, so my body is constantly changing. I had to deal with another learning curve, but that took maybe a month. Then I was off and running again.

[Cpvillacis 27]

How does your band slip? Hope my band didn't slip.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

How does your band slip? Hope my band didn't slip.

The band can slip up onto your esophagus or further down onto your stomach. A slip can be caused by failure to follow the post-op diet progression, overeating, vomiting, hard coughing, a failed suture or poor surgical technique. Some slips can be fixed with a complete unfill and rest period; others need to be fixed with surgery.

[missyjk79 9]

I am' date=' also, one that had a revision after a slip. I agree that restriction is different this time around. It is not something that I can't explain. I am at the total that my surgeon will fill for me. He said otherwise I will be too tight, I am only at 5 cc. It seems that everything I do now has to be me and my new way of eating. Boo to that!!! best wishes, no advice just a hug, (((())))!!!Karen[/quote']

I hear ya. I'm goin in on the 23rd to check my band. Make sure all is still well. I haven't been in in 3 months. It's been 13 months since my revision surgery. I still don't have a lot of restriction. Not sure if ill ever get back there again.

[missyjk79 9]

I hear ya. I'm goin in on the 23rd to check my band. Make sure all is still well. I haven't been in in 3 months. It's been 13 months since my revision surgery. I still don't have a lot of restriction. Not sure if ill ever get back there again.

Well had doc appt. got .5 ccs in. So I'm at 7.9ccs. Feeling a good restriction. Hopefully it lasts for more then 2-3 weeks.