Anyone else have problems with fills

[Iulizbug 0]

I have a question. Once we are at goal, do we still need to go in regularly for adjustments to maintain our weight? Or are we fine indefinitely? We shouldn't be leaking out saline naturally should we? Thank you guys for your insight. I have to pay $400 a fill and am dreading having to pay that FOREVER just to keep my weight off.

~Liz~

banded 03/10/06

Dr.Ortiz

241 highest/237/204/150

5'7''

[PhotoNut 7]

Bumping this thread in hopes of getting some responses to Iulizbug's question about fills when you reach goal from those who are at or near goal weight. This is something I've been wondering about as well.

[Elisabethsew 50]

I just had a 1 cc fill for the first time last Thursday and start back on a regular diet tomorrow. So far, I really don't feel any difference but am waiting to see if that changes in the next 1-2 weeks. I have another appointment scheduled with my surgeon in 6 weeks so I do hope I feel some restriction soon.

[Road Queen 0]

Fills are always difficult.

My first was 1.0 - no restriction.

My second brought me to 1.5, too much restriction, and an unfill to 1.2. I lost 20 pounds then stalled.

My 3rd was 1.5 - still stalled

My 4th was 1.7 and just right.

Then, I came for my final interview in Africa, I am very sensitive to altitude, heat, etc. I was sick every day. Then I moved to Africa.

I now have 1.5 and it seems okay for here. I do have to watch what I eat - no rice, bread, little Pasta. Last week, I was in Vienna and could eat anything - just not alot of it. I even ate rice on the airplane!!

So, just keep plugging away with the fills. Get the right restriction for where you are at - physically and weight wise.

Good luck. Celeste

[Andy Liz 0]

I'm with you DianeChef - that personal assistant sounds marvelous! What a wonderful world we create for ourselves in our minds.....ahhh! Anyway, I'm wondering if your doc would give you a prescription for a diuretic so you can take them when you feel the restriction building and until you get back to normal...? I don't know if it would work, but if it did, what an easy solution! Good luck!

Andy Liz

[sharon2u 0]

My first fill was 2.5. After 3 months of total misery (acid reflux @ night) I had a complete unfill, took nexium for 6 weeks (which cost me $150.00 since my insurance would not approve it). At the end of this period I went in to get a fill. As soon as I went in, I explained to the doctor that the first fill was way too aggressive (this particular office was not the ones that removed the fill) and I did not want to be filled that aggressively. The doc put in 2.0, did the fluro & it showed that it was pretty tight. I requested that he back it down a tad, which he did....to 1.8... which appears (it's been a week now) to be "perfect". I have had no reflux, can actually eat in the mornings (was unable to do anything but drink until around 2pm before) yet it keeps me from eating too much.

I developed a problem a few months ago. I had to have 1/2 cc takem out due to my stoma swelling up due to an infection so the Dr. took some out and he waitied several weeks to be sure I was out of the woods and gave me back my 1/2 cc to take me back to 5 ccs, then I had the gallbladder taken out in early June and a few days later yep the stoma swelled up around the band to where I could not eat or dirnk anything, yep I lost 12 pounds in 4 days that was great but the suffering was not. I had under gone two seperate upper GI's to be sure that there was nothing wrong and on Friday I got my first fill since May and he gave me 1cc and normally I can feel the band filling up but this time I did not, but I can feel the restriction now and I ahve lost one pound since yesterday. I am a quick loser according to my Dr. He told me that at the stage of fat loss I am now at that he placed me with the regular gastric bypass patients that he has because he told me that a lap bander at one year should only lose the first 40% of their weight and as of June 2008 he told me I have lost 68%.