How does one know if band is positioned incorrectly?

[jbates 0]

In reading the posts on this website, I have seen that some people believe that a problem with the band can be an incorrect position of the band. Is this true?

I haven't lost much weight since my surgery. I'm filled to over 9 ccs in a 10 cc band and still don't fill very much restriction at all. I don't drink with meals. I don't use a straw. I'll admit that I sometimes eat some soft foods, but I really can eat anything. I have thrown up a couple of times, but it's after eating really fast and really big bites of steak or ham. I just wouldn't think that I should be able to eat the amount of food and the types of food that i can easily eat. I've yet to find a food that I can't easily eat with ease in any amount.

I know that I need to diet, count calories and all of that, but obviously I have problems with that or I wouldn't be obese in the first place. I was hoping for more help with the band.

When I go to my physician and explain my disappointment with the amount of restriction he just asks what foods I am eating. I explain that I'm aware that if I ate fewer calories I know I'll loose more weight, so he just totally blames me for the lack of weight loss. I'm aware that my lack of weight loss is totally my fault, but I'm tired of totally blaming myself...that's what fat people usually do. I would like to know why the band isn't helping me more.

I guess that what I'm asking is... can the positioning of the band be a reason for not feeling restriction?

[LundyLane 0]

The band is only a tool........does not stop you from eating the wrong things and it won't stop you from eating to much. It is a tool to help with the hunger. Are you eating when your really not hungry?????

Even if you don't count your calories - try just entering what you eat in a journal or at www.thedailyplate.com (its free to use) it will make you more aware of what your doing and may slow you down. I enter my food every day at thedailyplate.com even if I over eat or eat junk all day.

Edited July 11, 2008 by LundyLane

[HeatherO 7]

Lundylane definitely has a point.

Why don't you request your next fill under flouroscopy? It will help to see if everything looks as if it is positioned good. I would also request that they check your Fluid levels to ensure how much you actually have in there. You should be feeling restriction at this point, it would be good to rule out any problems and it does sound like you need more Fluid.< /p>

[Ang1982 4]

Lundylane definitely has a point.

Why don't you request your next fill under flouroscopy? It will help to see if everything looks as if it is positioned good. I would also request that they check your Fluid levels to ensure how much you actually have in there. You should be feeling restriction at this point, it would be good to rule out any problems and it does sound like you need more Fluid.< /p>

I agree, or at the very least, if they haven't been doing so - make sure that they remove all the fluid in your band and then add it "and a bit more" back in next time you get a fill. that way if you know you have 9cc's and they are putting in say .5cc they have .5cc in the needle, remove all the liquid to see if you have 9.5cc now in the syringe/needle then put it ALL back in. Perhaps you have a leak or something. When getting your fills has your doctor ever had a hard time finding your port (if not done under fluoro? Perhaps he's accidently punctured your tubing. I would ask him next time to remove all fluid to check and then put it all back in. My doc does this about every other fill or so just to "make sure".

Good luck!! And I would suggest maybe doing 1-2 weeks of food logging on Dailyplate.com (great and easy to use website) sometimes I find that I am eating more calories, etc than I realize and that is a good way to put things in perspective and get back to the better eating.

Keep us posted

[kkarryall 0]

I too have been reading more and more about positioning of the band. My mother read an article that stated that ONE of the biggest predicters of sucess of people with the lapband is the experience of the surgeon---which I find interesting---maybe it has to do with placement of the band? Not sure---but curious what other people think.