Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Fills are not working - Any idea what's happening?



Recommended Posts

HELP - Had the lapband 2 years ago and now see a new surgeon due to insurance changes.

I have had 4 fills and 2 removals within 3 months! The fills were between .5 - 2.cc's. I have a band that is 10cc but only holds 5 cc's total (at least that's what this new surgeon is telling me). My problem is very strange. I asked her to please "start over" since we couldn't get the dosage to a comfortable level. So 5 days ago she put 2.75 cc and I was able to eat way too much. I went today and she did an upper GI in the office and it shows some restriction but she was only able to pull out .5 cc. The upper GI w/dye showed no leak??? So she just put in another 2. cc and the upper GI again showed more of a restriction, but I can still eat a ton of food.

Any idea of what may be happening here??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You would think if they are doing your fill with fluro so they can see how much the band is causing restriction ,

you would only be able to eat a small amount.

I don't have the answer but I am hoping somebody will be able to answer your question.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I never heard the term Fluro until I yesterday when I started searching the net for answers. I'm assuming it's the barium contrast that I drink after a fill???? Then I stand in front of an x-ray machine and we watch the restriction? We sort of make the judgement from there. However, it appears that I have some restriction and it goes down slowly, but I don't. Not even that day.

Could my band have slipped? Would this perhaps cause this? Wouldn't this surgeon be able to see it on the screen?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, you would be able to see a slip on the screen. Usually with a slip, you are throwing up all the time and can't even swallow Water.

Are you paying for every fill? If you aren't , go back and get another one with the fluro. The test is called fluroscopy. I may be spelling it wrong. It's what you described though. they can still the liquid go through the band and how fast it's going through or not going through at all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Unfortunately I am paying for every fill, however, I have left word for the surgeon that actually did the surgery with the hopes he will see me (even though my insurance is the reason I was forced to switch). He doesn't use "Fluro" or anything for that matter, but maybe he will send me to the hospital for some other test. Or better yet, have an answer in mind. I can't imagine that my current dr. can only pull out .5 cc when a week ago 2.75cc was put in and not do any further tests. The dye showed no obvious leaks, but I would think this is the obvious answer??

Thank you for your input. Have a wonderful trip. And I'm not sure what band to sleeve it, but good luck with that as well.

Hopefully, I will have an answer next week.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The sleeve is where they just make you a tiny stomach. There are no fills or unfills. I am really sick of worrying about

restriction.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

OK, first I think you need to sort out which band you actually have. There isnt a band that is 10cc but only holds 5cc. You may mean a 10cm band that holds 5cc (although that should be 4cc)? You need to know this for starters.

Then, I think your fills might be too big, so that you're ot able to sneak up on good restriction without incident. If you have a 4cc band, then this is definitely the case, my first fill was 1cc, then .5cc, and since then they have all been 0.2 or 0.1cc - and let me tell you, in this band 0.1cc makes a very big difference.

Even with a larger capacity band, my husband has the 10cc band, he has fills of 0.2 cc and he's only up to about 4 in total. He had a 0.5cc fill and had to go back to be unfilled, now he has actually passed that fill level but has been able to do it due to having tiny fills.

I think fluoro is a bit of a problem actually - just because you can see on a screen that you have not blocked off the band does NOT mean that you wont swell badly from it within hours and not be able to hold anything down. It most certainly does not ensure you reach optimal fill in one fell swoop as you can tell from about a gazillion posts on this forum. I tend to believe that fluoro encourages overly aggressive filling.

Its a pity that fills cost you guys so much becuase that doesnt encourage conservative behaviour, but slow and steady pays off when it comes to reaching good restriction. Better to go back biweekly for six fills of .1cc than to have one fill of .6cc in many cases. But I think for many people it would solve the frustrating fill/unfill cycle.

As to why they only pulled out .5cc, well are you sure they put the 2.75 INTO the port? It wouldnt be the first time a doctor has missed the target and injected into someone's flesh rather than into their band. A leak would show on the screen.

The other thing is that at my surgery, they have found the whole pulling out the fill to check thing as a routine matter irritates some patients' stomachs to a large degree, causes more swelling etc, so there is a policy of not doing it unless there is a reason to.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

    • Sandra Austin Tx

      I’m 6 days post op as of today. I had the gastric bypass 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×