Fill #18 - my quest for that sweet spot!

Update on my life these past few weeks. I had an appointment with my doc on 10/29 and I explained to him how I felt I might have a slow leak because I keep loosing restriction. He decided he would completely drain me and add the contrast and test me. So......10/30/09 I show up and he did that just that. He could find no leak in the band, or the tubing. Good News right? Well, I was happy that I had no leak, however, I still don't understand why I lose restriction all the time.

Anyhow, he added 4.6 cc's. I knew right away that I didn't have restriction when he had me eat my peaches, and drink the water. But, I thought lets give it a week or two and see how it does. Sometimes it does take a few weeks for a fill to settle in. Well, I was starving all the time, hungry and I ate! I tried, I really did, but the hunger got the best of me. Anyhow, called and made an appointment for another fill.

Went in yesterday and I don't think the doc beleived that I was wide open like I said. So, he did a barium swallow test on me, and sure enough, I was right! He said, wow, you are wide open. It makes me wonder that if he missed my port the last fill? Maybe he didn't fill me up or some didn't get in? I don't know why I wouldn't have any restriction.

Well, he added 2.5 cc's to my band and I seem to have "some" restriction. I'm not as tight as I was still, but at least it is keeping my hunger at bay. I'm going to give it a few weeks and see how it does and focus on eating my protein first!!!

I had lasik enhancement surgery on Thursday ( I had it done 2 years ago) because my eyes were getting worse so I went ahead and had enhancement done on them. Because of my lasik surgery, I can't exercise, wear makeup or rub my eyes. They don't want me lifting over 10 lbs, and no sweat running in my eyes. I go for my 1 week checkup on Thursday and if all is good I can get back to the gym. I really need it!

I'm avoiding the scales, just don't want to see the numbers right now. Because of my last fill, and eating all the time, I know I've gained. My size 8 pants are wayyyyy to tight and I'm back in my 10's. grrrrrrr.

But thats going to change! I WILL be back into my 8's - soon!

Fill #1 - 3/6/07 - 2.2cc's

Fill #2 - 4/17/07 - 3.0cc's

Fill #3 - 7/6/07 - 3.5 cc's (I think it was only 2.5cc's because when I went back for fill #4, he could only w/draw 1.8 cc's)

Fill #4 - 7/20/07 - filled me back to 3.0 ccs - He should have filled me more!

Fill #5 - 8/17/07 - 3.4cc's

Fill #6 - 10/08/07 - filled me to 3.8cc's - the best restriction I've ever had,but still could eat big bites of food, so I figured I needed to be tighter.

Fill #7 - 11/21/07 filled to 4.0 cc's. By the evening could not hold anything down, not even my saliva. PBing all night - horrilble experieince

UNFILL #1 - 11/23/07 - unfilled to somewhere between 2.5 to 3.0 cc's - NO RESTRICTIONS AGAIN :confused:

Fill #8 - 1/18/08 Went in and the doc filled me back up to just right under 4.0, according to Flouro, it was perfect. Well, by next morning, could not hold down saliva again, ended up back in hospital

UNFILL #2 - 1/19/08 - Doctor had to unfill me to 3.0 again because of the swelling from all the PBing for being too tight. Again, NO RESTRICTION - :confused:

Fill #9 - 2/12/08 - 3.5 cc's - was tight for about a week, now feel lose again. grrrr, still have "some" restriction, just not quite enough! Next fill scheduled for 4/7/08 - I hate that it takes sooooooo long to get in to see the fill doc.

FILL #10 - 4/7/08 The doc just added .4cc's, making me at 3.9cc's. I think this might be the one!

FILL #11 - Was scheduled on 6/25/08 - but the doc did not fill me up, I was leaving for a cruise on 6/27 so he didn't want to risk me being too tight, so did not get a fill.

FILL #11 - 8/5/08 Went for a fill, this time the doc took all my fill out and all he could get out was 2.4 cc's. Filled me up to 4.0 cc's, I left, had to go right back because I could not drink, he took out a little over .2 cc's, he said I'm somewhere between 3.5 to 3.7 cc's. - I had great restriction for 2 weeks, but It has now loosened some. I feel I might need a tad more. I'm worried I have a very slow leak.

UNFILL #3 - 8/5/08 - Took a little over .2 cc's out, had pretty good restriction, but still a tad too lose.

FILL #12 - 9/17/08 - Added just 1/10th of a cc - I think I'm somewhere between 3.8 to 3.9 cc in a 4cc band. I am hoping and praying this is the fill that I stop with! I do not have another appointment for another fill, will wait this one out and see.

Fill #13 - 10/06/08 - Doc added about 2/10's of a cc. He took everything out and put it all back in and said I was about 3.7 to 3.8cc's. - which is where he said I was last time.

FILL #14 - 11/10/08 - Doc took everything out and I had about 3.6cc's, which is pretty good. He then filled me up to just under 4.0cc's I believe I'm about 3.9cc's. I ate some canned peaches and set around the office for a bit, made sure none came back up. Seems to be doing good so far. I hope this is my last fill!

FILL #15 - 08/10/09 - Added about 1/10th of a cc. I think I'm right at 4.0 cc. Wt on the morning of my fill was at 165. But was very bloated from steroids I was on for the previous week.

FILL #16 - 8/31/09 - My last fill lasted 2 weeks then I felt wide open. Went in for another fill, this time he did not take any out and just added 2/10th's of a cc. I think I'm just a little more than 4.1 cc's in a 4.0 cc band. I feel great restriction so far. I'm hoping this last. I'm sick of fills. lol. :redface: - I could tell my fill was wide open, I was starving all the time, wt at the time of fill was 170! grrrrrrr

FILL #17 - 10/30/09 - completely drained me, checked for a leak - no leak YAY - added 4.6 cc's - I feel like he didn't add anything, feel wide open! Hungry all the time

FILL #18 - 11/09/09 Doc did barium swallow test - I think he thought I was full of it. He saw what I was talking about and agreed I was way too loose. He added 2.5cc's. I feel restriction again, but not a real tight restriction. I have no idea where I'm at these days and I really don't care anymore how much CC's I have, I just want RESTRICTION!!!!!!

I wonder if anybody out there can say exactly "why" there are so many people that lose restriction like you've done. It's really confusing to me. I mean, really, like where does it go??!! I understand that when you lose weight, you'd need to get filled because the stomach fat flap is getting smaller. But besides that circumstance, I just don't understand! Does anybody out there get that part of it?

Arkansasbandster - I sure wish I knew! Its very frustrating and confusing for me.

Are you losing weight even with the losing of your restrictions? Maybe go to another doctor for a second opinion.

bransom - when I have restriction I lose, but then as soon as I lose that restriction I gain it back again. I've lost the same 10 lbs for the past year.

I actually have two doctors, I have a fill doctor who assisted my doctor in the lapband surgery, and now all he does is fills. Then I have my surgeon. I've been seeing my fill doctor. I am going to make an appointment to see my surgeon. There is a thicker saline that they use for patients like me but my fill doc won't use it because he says there isn't a lot of data on it.

However, I've read where many have had the same problem and once they used the thicker stuff, they did not have that problem any longer. So, I'm going to see if my surgeon can order it.

When I have restriction, it is wonderful but when I lose it I seem to have no self control.....something I need to work on. Even after 3 years, I'm still dealing with the head hunger!

WOW that has got to be upsetting for only 10 lbs in a year. I hope that this thicker saline works for you. I would not give up . I hope this works for you , keep us posted on your progress.