Getting Unfilled... a little scared

Marimaru · February 27, 2008

I started aspirating Saturday night, and I'm getting completely unfilled today until I can find a surgeon who can look into it (the fill doctor I am going to doesn't have flouro). My self diagnosis is that it's slipped.

I'm nervous about losing restriction. Between June and December, I totally let myself go and crept up about 20 lbs. All of that is gone now, and I don't want it to come back. My intention is to keep counting calories even when the band is empty, to keep losing weight despite that, but I don't know how strong I'll be able to be. I know that often for a slip someone will be unfilled for a month or 6 weeks to see if it'll slip back into place, so I'm resigned to at least that much time without it. If I need surgery to fix it, it'll be from now until I get surgery, and then 6 weeks after that, before I start getting fills again, and who knows how long it'll take to get good restriction? And that assumes I'm not told that I have to have it removed, and then wait for six months before I can have another one or something.

Mostly I'm just venting off nervous energy...

faithmd · February 27, 2008

Sarah, vent away.

Fingers crossed for you that it will turn out just fine.

I cannot imagine how freaked I'd be, too. I haven't been filled yet and lately have been noticing more restriction and signals after about 1/2 cup of food that I'm full. It wasn't like that before but I'm ignoring it for now...until I start with the reflux and aspirating that is.

Goodonya for getting an unfill until you can figure out what's really going on.

socalgal3 · February 27, 2008

Keep us posted on how it goes. I do know how you feel because I went through it last year and had to have repair surgery. It sucks, but it is a good thing about the band that even if it slips, it can be fixed. Best of luck and vent to us anytime!

GayleTX · February 27, 2008

Marimaru......sounds like you are doing the right thing, the safe thing for your body.

I had a complete unfill last summer before I had PS.....and I still felt like I had restriction for about 3-4 weeks - that was a relief!! I could see myself gaining 20 pounds while my 'fat apron' removal was healing. But it didn't happen.

I think the key may be in avoiding the white carbs.....they cause your blood sugar to bounce and make you think you're hungry when you really are not. You won't feel deprived and you'll be able to control your eating and staying on track. Be sure and track your food intake on something like fitday and keep your Protein count high to keep your metabolism going at full speed.

I, too, have a slipped band and am going thru the 4 wks of liquids til we can figure out what to do. We can do this!! It's too important to not be successful in getting thru this bump in the road.

Hugs,

Gayle

Marimaru · February 28, 2008

I'm all empty. Dr. Kelly said it's possible that it's just stress, but I'm not so sure. She gave me an order that I can take to an imaging center to get a barium swallow with flouro, and then I can take the films back to her to review. If I don't find a surgeon in my area soon, I'll go that route.