Getting a little worried

honeychile · September 16, 2003

Hello, i just needed to talk to anyone who may have had my experience. I was banded on 7-10-03. Everything went well. However I had no restriction. I went in for my first fill and after a few pokes, he decided to give me an Xray and it revealed I had a tilted port. I had a small revision due to a flipped port on 8-14-03. Surgery went well and for my one week follow-up appt, I saw my dr's assistant due to my doc being on vacation. I received a fill. However I felt no restriction and my next appt with my reg doc, he noticed that I had no Fluid in my band and called for xray which revealed I had a leak. So on Tuesday, 9-9-03, I went in for a second revision to my port, at that time I was given a fill and today I have a little bit more restriction, unfortunately I will need another fill. I feel so awful and it's hard not to think that this is not going to work for me.

At my first consultation I weighed 222, (gained up to 229 before surgery, left hospital at 227. Today the scale said 212. I'm grateful but there's not much to notice different about me and even though I didn't tell a lot of people, I sometimes think that they are looking at me like I'm a failure, too.:cry

Alexandra · September 16, 2003

You've had the band for only a few weeks, and it's really not that unusual for there to be minor port problems and adjustments needed. Remember you're just at the beginning of a long road, and before you know it these minor obstacles will be bumps long behind you.

As for other people looking at you like you're a failure, well fie on them. I can't stand it either, people asking me how much weight I've lost when I'm only 4 weeks out, but I have to remember they're really just operating on ignorant assumptions based on their limited knowledge of WLS.

What really matters is you, and your health and well-being. It must be hard having had all these problems right out of the gate, but you'll hear from other people who have had these and much worse problems as well. What's so great about the band is that as bad as the problems get they're never very bad, and are usually easily remedied. And then you can get back on the weight-loss road!

Good luck, and chin up!!

honeychile · September 17, 2003

Thanks Alexandra for your response, it really made me feel better. I guess I just needed to hear that I'm still in the beginning stages of this. Even though I've noticed that some days I'm really down, today was good for me and I will stay focussed on making this work.

Jennaband · September 24, 2003

I can so totally relate to your fear of failure. I was counting on having this be a sure thing. I lost 20 lbs in the first 3 weeks after banding and now nothing for the last 5.

I had my first fill 4 weeks ago and although I feel some restriction every once in a while when I eat something sticky. It has not slowed me down much.

I left a post on the fill forum. How do you know when you have hit the sweet spot? I am beginning to think it is a fantasy.

Alexandra · September 24, 2003

Jenna, I know you've heard that it often takes three or even more fills to find the "sweet spot." Don't get discouraged!! It's been four weeks since your last fill and it seems like you should be able to have it "tweaked" by now if you need it.

Restriction is supposed to slow you down, and if it's not doing that it's not doing its job. Get another adjustment and I'll bet you'll see things differently.