Got a fill and lost restriction!

Oregondaisy · 09-10-2007, 01:37 AM

Does anyone know how this can happen? He put the needle in
and drew out the 2.5 that I had in there. Then he said he
was only going to add .25 to bring me to 2.75 because he thought
I was approaching my "sweet spot"

I am sure I lost all my fill. I have zero restriction. I have had my
band long enough to know what a fill feels like, and even if the
.25 wasn't enough, I should have the same restriction as I had
with the 2.5.

I am eating like I have no band. Taking huge bites and chewing like
I did before being banded. I know which foods I had to chew
until there was nothing left to chew, and I can eat anything now
and just chew like I used to.

Where did my fill go? Is it possible that when he gave me my fill
he gave me a leak?
Thanks, I look forward to any advice I can get here. I will be back
in his office Friday, but until then I am really worried. I don't have
the money for a bunch of tests. My insurance doesn't pay a penny
on anything band related.

Ready to Lose · 09-10-2007, 02:00 AM

I am little over 6 months out and am experiencing the same. Just had a fill totaling. 2cc's. I have been able to eat more than every and don't have to chew nearly as much as I had before.
I was beginning to think I had gone crazy.!!!!!!!!!!!I will be going for another fill this week. I'm hoping it makes a difference. I have been holding the same weight since June.

Angel Eyes · 09-10-2007, 03:42 PM

The SAME thing happened to me. I got a fill to 3.0, from 2.8 and came home, a long 5 hour drive and could munch down a huge rice cake with cheese, I almost swallowed it whole to test it. There is a post here somewhere of me freaking out.

BUT THANKFULLY, I tightened up after a few days or a week and could then I could really tell that I was given a fill.

Don't dispare yet, it might tighten up and you will be losing again.

If you don't tighten up after a week or two, then there may be some explanation as to what happened. I don't know, either the needle didn't get back into the port membrane when the saline was put back in or ??? any number of things.

I hope things tighten up for both of you the way it did for me.
But I know from direct experience that this was a very strange occurance.

mbanja · 09-11-2007, 10:53 AM

I haven't had my first fill yet, but I am scared the same will happen to me!! I have read many posts that say that some of the saline will come out of the port. That is why we have to continue getting fills. I have also heard of a synthetic solution that is thicker than saline that some doctors use to prevent so much leakage. I have also heard that not many doctors use it because it reduces the # of fills one will have to get and it inturn doesn't make the doctor much money. Maybe it is not a good idea to test your band by taking those big bites to see what you can get down there. It would seem reasonable to think that big bites could squeeze the saline up to the port so that it leaked out? I don't know though, it is still a learning experience for me. I am glad though that we have this site where we can get nonbyist opinions from people (even if they are not doctors) to help us with our journey! Good luck hope things tighten up for you!!

Angel Eyes · 09-11-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbanja

I haven't had my first fill yet, but I am scared the same will happen to me!! I have read many posts that say that some of the saline will come out of the port. That is why we have to continue getting fills. I have also heard of a synthetic solution that is thicker than saline that some doctors use to prevent so much leakage. I have also heard that not many doctors use it because it reduces the # of fills one will have to get and it inturn doesn't make the doctor much money. Maybe it is not a good idea to test your band by taking those big bites to see what you can get down there. It would seem reasonable to think that big bites could squeeze the saline up to the port so that it leaked out? I don't know though, it is still a learning experience for me. I am glad though that we have this site where we can get nonbyist opinions from people (even if they are not doctors) to help us with our journey! Good luck hope things tighten up for you!!

No worries. This didn't happen until I got to over 2.7cc.

My first few fills were automatically noticable, which is why this was so confusing. One would think that one would feel progressively tighter.

My guess is that things just have to adjust and settle...??? The only thing I am sure about the band is that there is nothing to be sure of. But it sure produced some excellent results in me.

Good luck with your journey.

ARMKAM · 09-11-2007, 07:25 PM

I am in the same place as you all. I've had 4 fills and am up to 2 cc's , only half full. But , after the 4th fill last month, I've seemed to lose almost all restriction and can even eat bread , which I hadn't done yet in 6-1/2 months.I've only lost 1 or 2 lbs also. I am scheduled for fill #5 next week , and I think I'll ask the Dr. to pull out what's in there to make sure the lack of restriction is from losing weight and not from a leak. I do know that he really had to tug to get the needle out at the last fill. ??????? It gets frustrating !

feligurl3 · 09-12-2007, 04:04 PM

Ok i though i was the only one dealing with this problem. i have 1.8cc righ now in my band, and i can eat pretty m uch anything, certain breads do make me sick to eat, and other foods aswell. If i eat fast i feel the pain and do get the pb'ing symptom...I have not got going on 3 months already, problems with my doctor leaving but thats another blog!! haha... but everyone keeps saying that im not at my sweet spot yet.. could be.. but ive not gained anything either i have lost 12 pounds in the past 2 1/2 months so thats not bad, i guess im still doing great.. well good luck ya!

Wendell Edwards · 09-12-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denise822

Does anyone know how this can happen? He put the needle in
and drew out the 2.5 that I had in there. Then he said he
was only going to add .25 to bring me to 2.75 because he thought
I was approaching my "sweet spot"

I am sure I lost all my fill. I have zero restriction. I have had my
band long enough to know what a fill feels like, and even if the
.25 wasn't enough, I should have the same restriction as I had
with the 2.5.

I am eating like I have no band. Taking huge bites and chewing like
I did before being banded. I know which foods I had to chew
until there was nothing left to chew, and I can eat anything now
and just chew like I used to.

Where did my fill go? Is it possible that when he gave me my fill
he gave me a leak?
Thanks, I look forward to any advice I can get here. I will be back
in his office Friday, but until then I am really worried. I don't have
the money for a bunch of tests. My insurance doesn't pay a penny
on anything band related.

Well, there are some possibilities:

1. Damage to the Lap-Band® system. That could be any one of the following:

a. A leak in the band liner, tubing, port or the fittings from the port to the tube or tube to the band.

b. A tubing puncture that happened during this last fill.

2. He "Rocked the needle in the septum" and when that happened, fluid in the port squirted out.

And that's about the only way you could have lost restriction so fast, unless you have a band slip.

Verification of band patentcy is done under fluoroscope, as is checking for a slipped band.

Wendell Edwards · 09-12-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARMKAM

I am in the same place as you all. I've had 4 fills and am up to 2 cc's , only half full. But , after the 4th fill last month, I've seemed to lose almost all restriction and can even eat bread , which I hadn't done yet in 6-1/2 months.I've only lost 1 or 2 lbs also. I am scheduled for fill #5 next week , and I think I'll ask the Dr. to pull out what's in there to make sure the lack of restriction is from losing weight and not from a leak. I do know that he really had to tug to get the needle out at the last fill. ??????? It gets frustrating !

It sounds to me that you are losing a lot of the residual fat-pad around the stomach, which would account for the loose band.

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band®. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band® fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band® to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band®. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band®. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band®. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band® is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band® constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band®.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band® and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band® to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band® is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band® patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band® as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band® and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band® patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band® patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Ready to Lose · 09-12-2007, 07:15 PM

Well lets see what happens, I go for a fill tomorrow. I have been stable, not losing anything, since June. (its very frustrating)
I will keep you all updated on this thread if I get back my restriction.

good luck to all

ARMKAM · 09-13-2007, 04:18 PM

HEY WENDELL , THANKS FOR THE INFO.:) I SURE WOULD LOVE FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE THE LOSS OF THE FAT PAD ! ANY FAT LOSS IS AWESOME ! THAT'S THE WHOLE GOAL OF THE BAND ANYWAY , RIGHT ? HOPEFULLY I'LL FIND OUT FOR SURE NEXT WEDNESDAY. I'M HAPPY FOR THE LOSS I'VE ATTAINED SO FAR , BUT I STILL HAVE MORE I WANT TO LOSE AND THIS PLATEAU HAS ME BUMMED RIGHT NOW .:( YOUR INFO. HELPED ME FEEL BETTER THO', SINCE YOU PUT A POSITIVE SPIN ON THE PROBLEM. THANKS AGAIN.

READY TO LOSE , LET US KNOW HOW YOUR FILL WENT AND WHEN RESTRICTION HITS IN THE DAYS TO COME . GOOD LUCK TODAY !;)

Wendell Edwards · 09-13-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARMKAM

HEY WENDELL , THANKS FOR THE INFO.:)

You're very welcome!

hungryforchange · 09-16-2007, 02:03 AM

Did you see the Dr yesterday? What did you find out? I hope everything is A OK. :D

Oregondaisy · 09-16-2007, 02:12 AM

Yes, I got another fill and I am sure I don't have a leak. Right now I am
the tightest I have ever been, and I am hoping that when the swelling
goes down, it will loosen some. If not, I am going to have to go and
get a slight unfill.

thanks for asking!

Ready to Lose · 09-17-2007, 02:50 AM

I had my fill on Thursday. I am now at 2.3cc's in a 4 cc band. I have completed my 2 days liquid and 2 days mushie.
I haven't had any tighter than usual feelings during this time period. I'm assuming that I will feel a difference when I eat regular foods tomorrow.
I;m hoping that the liquid period gave me a jump start on losing some pounds.
I will weigh in next week to keep myself motivated.
Good luck to all