Fills forever and ever?

[Stitchy 0]

It seems like most of the posts regarding fills are the early on

ones. First, second, third, etc.

I am wondering about the long term fills. Is this something that will

always have to be done?

I am planning to go full-time RV-ing in about a year. Is there a

place/link etc., to find competant fill docs while on the road?

[ksh_smt 0]

is there something like long term fills? itoo am a bit confused coz isnt the tube or port or whatever it is called having its limitations regarding capacity in cc?what happens when u r filled to capacity?? the end?? god help!

smita/india

[Wheetsin 714]

is there something like long term fills? itoo am a bit confused coz isnt the tube or port or whatever it is called having its limitations regarding capacity in cc?what happens when u r filled to capacity?? the end?? god help!

Some people are filled beyond capacity, but I believe most find that they don't need to be. The band by itself, without fill, will give you some restriction. Some people make it to goal without any fills. The Fluid added from there just increases that.

Ideally by the time you reach goal you'll have been able to change your behaviors enough that fills aren't required for a lifetime. However, if you aren't able to do that, or have situations come up that make it near impossible (e.g. pregnancy), then your band is there and you can seek out a fill. I can't remember where from, but I've heard the statistic that after the first 2 years, fills are really only done if weightloss warrants (reduced organ size requires tighter band for continued restriction), post-pregnany (returning restriction to where it was), etc.

I believe there are doctors who are starting to empty the fill after the first 2 - 3 years, too -- again supporting the idea that the behavior change should have occured by then.

[Stitchy 0]

I believe there are doctors who are starting to empty the fill after the first 2 - 3 years, too -- again supporting the idea that the behavior change should have occured by then.

Well, wouldn't THAT be something to look forward to.

[Wheetsin 714]

Yes?

[Alexandra 55]

OK, I think we have some misconceptions here.

First, the PORT can be accessed thousands of times. Adjustments can be done as often as necessary for as long as we have our bands.

Second, there is of course a maximum fill level for every band and every person: there is a point at which adding any more fill wil completely close off the stoma and prevent ANY food from going down.

Once we reach a good level of restriction with the band, even a tiny amount of adjustment can make a big difference in or out. After having the band for a couple of years myself, I can attest that at some point there is just no reason to get additional fill. Yes, the weight loss slowed down, but that's a function of the fact that I am lighter than I was in the beginning and now need fewer calories to sustain the same weight. If I want to lose more weight, additional restriction WON'T be the answer.

And as far as doctors taking out ALL the fill after some period of time, I've never heard of that being done unless there is a reason. And in fact, it's nothing to be scared of. My fill was removed a couple of weeks ago to help me get over a terrible bout of acid reflux, and I still feel plenty of restriction. I think our stomachs actually change shape over time, and as long as the band is not removed completely it's not going to revert all the way. If I continue feeling the way I do now (perfectly fine, not hungry, not eating too much, no reflux) I see no need to get any fill replaced.

The wonderful thing is, though, that my band is still there and COULD be re-filled at some point if I need it to be. That's a GOOD thing, not a bad thing. So "fills forever and ever" represent my best chance at long-term maintenance of the weight loss that I've ever had. Whether you, Stitchy, will want adjustments after a year is something that only time will tell. But if you're in an RV, maybe you could just make your way back to your original doctor when you need an adjustment? It's not like getting a fill is at all an "urgent" matter.

[Stitchy 0]

But if you're in an RV, maybe you could just make your way back to your original doctor when you need an adjustment? It's not like getting a fill is at all an "urgent" matter.

Right. I would hope it wouldn't be an urgent matter. Actually, my original question, though I may have phrased it a little awkwardly, was really this:

After you have been banded for a long time (think years, here), and goal is reached (Hope, hope), will it be necessary to have fills regularly? Will the band maintain the fill or is there leakage that might require more fills in the future? I suppose that a lot depends on the individual person, but I am trying to anticipate any problems that could occur.

I have my first consultation with my doc in a couple of weeks, and I will have a lot of questions for him. I am kind of looking for what actual users (of several years) are experiencing.

Thanks lot to all of you.

[Alexandra 55]

As you say, a lot depends on the individual person. There is no standard protocol for accessing the band after one has reached goal weight; it's totally individual and "regular" fills shouldn't be necessary at all. An occasional tweak or check might be done, but if all is well there's no reason not to just leave it all alone.

[Wheetsin 714]

Alex - the 2 year unfill was discussed eithere here or OH, I think... it was a pretty long time ago that I last read about it... and I'd guess here since I see about 1 in 2,000 posts on OH. It can't be a widespread practice or we'd have heard more about it, and if it's not widespread there's probably a good reason for that. Wish I could find the thread(s). :ban:

[fabfatgrl 10]

I believe I read recently that the port's membrane is semi-permeable... so a bit is lost over time. Not a lot, mind you... but some. I think you need to accept the possibility that at least once per year, you may need some sort of adjustment... be it adding or removing.

I was getting fills constantly well into my 2nd year of Banding. Had I not become pregnant, and been totally unfilled, I probably would still have needed them. As for having all of one's fill removed and maintaining... well, I maintained a portion of my weightloss over 3 years with no fill (67 lbs through my first pregnancy, down to only 47 lbs with my second pregnancy.) I have to admit that once I was unfilled, there was this total free-for-all mentality. Ohmygosh, I can eat bread again. Ohmygosh, I can drink soda (diet, but soda nonetheless). Yet... it was weird. I missed being satisfied with small portions... so I think that had I continued with a filled Band, I probably would have decided to keep in some fill, some restriction.

Ask CoffeeWench. She's been banded about 6 years.