Do I have a leak?!

Shannon · May 31, 2005

I'm about 99.9% sure I have a leak in my band When I went for my 3rd fill last Friday, (from 1.5 to 3.0 cc's total) He did not pull any Fluid back out. He said he was not that concerned about it, because I was still feeling some restriction and I'm still losing...I've lost almost 40 lbs since Feb 15th surgery.

Well.....I can't tell a BIT of difference since my fill on Friday and today (Memorial day) I ate a hamburger AND a hotdog! I'm sooo ashamed of myself, but I should NOT have been able to handle that! Not will 3 ccs!!!!!

What do you all think? If I do have a leak, what is it going to cost me to have it repaired/replaced?! HELPPPP!!!!!!!!!!

the best me · May 31, 2005

and today (Memorial day) I ate a hamburger AND a hotdog! !!!

Whoa Nellie! That's Pre-band for even me! Okay, 2 hotdogs and a hamburger...but still, that would have me alarmed as well. What size band do you have?

Shannon · May 31, 2005

10 cm. Correct me if i'm wrong, but a 10 cm band holds 4ccs? i SHOULD be at 3ccs right now. The thing that confuses me is that i had so much restriction before...if i have to have another surgery, how much will it cost me? will inamed pay for the surgery if it's a malfunction in the band?

May 31, 2005

Have your doc try again. It might be that he made a mistake and didn't really get into the port.

Yes, the 10 cm holds 4 ccs. I dunno if Inamed will pay for the surgery - I kind of doubt it. It's a known risk.

jayme

leatha_g · May 31, 2005

How long did it take you to eat all of this?

Shannon · May 31, 2005

Less than an hour.

Vera · May 31, 2005

Shannon

I might just call myself the leak queen...

First was your fill conducted under fluoroscopy, that's the only way to see a leak. The two leak checks I've had were with contrast(omniplaque). The contrast is put in the port and you watch under xray/fluoroscopy, following the contrast up the tubing to the band. Some leaks are so small it's very hard to detect. Look for kinks in the tubing, that's where mine was. Most leaks are in the port or tubing,

I was rebanded due to my tubing being repaired but the repair didn't work. So my Dr. decided to reband me. That was his decision and rebanding is not always recommended.

If you really think you have a leak, you must convince your doctor to investigate. Eating a burger and hotdog right after a fill doesn't mean you have a leak. Not getting any saline out raises some questions...was he really in your port for sure?

cutz · June 1, 2005

Shannon,

I think you do have a leak. I was banded 3.18.05 lost 30, got 1cc,1cc,1cc & felt ZERO difference. 2 weeks ago the filled me to 4.7 cc & still felt like I never had surgury. No fullness, no restriction, no nothing.

Saw my surgeon today. I have a leak at the port & am going in on Saturday for surgury. I'm expecting it to be covered by insurance, or the doctor. i'll keep you posted.

cutz · June 1, 2005

Vera,

What a shitty feeling to go thru all of this & have a leak. I fouund out today I have one. I'm nervous to go into surgury again, but they told me they will give me a local & twilight???? Whatever that is & should be able to go home that day. I was told by my surgeon (Dr. George Fielding @ NYU) that his happens to .25-.50% of the people who get this done. He believes it's at the port. We'll see.

I always got my fills in the Dr.s office. I lay down, they feel for the port, inject the saline & done. My big shot surgeon has a staff that does the fills. I wonder if one of them punctured it during 1 of my fills.