megan

it was 99 pounds (ha, sorry, u.s. keyboard doesn't have pound symbol:) that was without flouro so i don't know how much it would be if he needed flouro to find your port (mine sticks out). he was a really nice guy and happy to do fills on patients that weren't his. easy to find office as well. m

i was staying in london for a few months last fall and needed a fill. i went to Dugal Heath. He hit my port first try and gave me the amount of Fluid i told him i needed:) here is his contact info: Dugal Heath t: 020 7234 2865 f: 020 7234 2998

altitude (flying) , or lack thereof (scuba), has no affect on your band. i've been diving several times since banding with no problems. m

if it were me, i would try the re-banding. i've heard of others having problems if the band isn't positioned just so. how great would it be if all it took was moving it a bit? for me it would be worth the extra surgery to be sure...before having a surgery that is so much more risky. but maybe its a good idea to get a second opinion? from a doc not in the same surgical group? good luck in your decision! j

i'm one of those whose restriction kicks in almost 10 days out from a fill......and even though i've been banded more than 2 yrs i still have no idea why this is--and no doc has been able to explain it to me. i have my fills under flouro, but i dont think that has anything to do with when our restriction is felt. And my restiction never varies--as in from day to day, some people report different degrees of restriction but mine is always steady. weird.

airwayman there are many types of implants. in case you want to know more: http://people.howstuffworks.com/breast-implant5.htm http://www.adjustablebreastimplants.com/index_flash.html same concept as the lapband, tube, port, saline in and out. m

thanks susannah--im not worried about that, plastic surgeons routinely move and reposition the port during tummy tucks and other procedures. i'm more concerned with the non-lap band port issue.....still waiting to hear more about that part from ps!

under the rib? is it hard to access? thanks! m

i've seen a plastic surgeon about moving my port--i already have the low profile port but it really sticks out. he suggested he replace it with a port used for breast implants--that he's done it with several other band patients and although its harder to find for fills (because its soo tiny) it works great. i contacte don mills and he's never heard of anyone doing this, which surprised me. also called my surgeon and a few other bariatric surgeons around the country and none of them have heard of it. anyone here had it done, or heard of doing it? thinking surely this particular ps cant be the only surgeon performing this procedure... thanks!

I remember reading somewhere that in other countries (australia being one) that they use the band to treat bulimia--something you might research and educate your doctor about. I think the reason your doc needs to know is due to possible damage you may have to your esophagus...due to the purging. glad you decided to let him know!

has anyone heard anything about dr dugal heath, in london? i'm an american in london for a few months, found this doc online, and he has agreed to give me a fill.....just curious to hear about his reputation or lack thereof:) thanks!! jessica

i've been diving 3 times since my banding 19 months ago. a few of those i got down to around 100-110 feet.....this all with a REALLY tight fill of 3.5 in a 4 band. zero problems. but i also never have varying restiction---its stays the same not matter what.....doesn't change for flying, periods or anything. jessica

Thanks for the reply Dr. C! This may be a dumb question, but it is necessary to have a band doc do the endoscopy? (or does someone in radiology do this?) I ask because the doc who does my fills is 4 hrs away....and my surgeon is in tx. I have had an esophagram before here, then sent the dvd to my tx doc. Is that how an endoscopy works? Thanks again!! Jessica

Just curious as to your opinion on this. I keep hearing people say to get one at least once a year, but my doc doesn't seem concerned about my sudden hunger....let me give a brief summary. 11/04- banded. Have had 5 fills, the last one almost a year ago--currently at 3.5cc 1/06- I had an esophagram, doc says fill is tight, but all looks good (the films were sent via dvd/cd to out of state doc). 2/06--Reached goal weight. 4/06--I started getting a slight burning in my throat in the middle of the night but no reflux. Started taking a chewable pepcid before bed, problem solved. Current: Restriction is still good but for about 2 weeks now, I have been getting very hungry very shortly after I eat--sometimes less than an hour later! Nothing else seems to have changed in terms of restriction or anything else, but I am just HUNGRY! I am still keeping it to 3 meals a day, but this hunger is unexpected. I don't remember feeling this way ever--even pre-surgery I would stay full after a meal for longer than this... Does this sound like an issue to you? Could I need more of a fill? My restriction doesn't seem to have changed....I keep reading about complications people are having...do you think its a good idea to have an endoscopy? Could extreme heat have anything to do with it? Its been miserable here in Missouri lately.... So far this journey has been a piece of cake--have never pb'd, only had 2 instances of stuckage, that passed with an hour....really quite easy. It scares me to think that something is wrong now. Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Jessica

its my understanding that the band is deep within the stomach cavity....remember they have to pull your liver out of the way...so that stands to reason the band is nowhere near the surface, so surface activity should have no baring...right? also, i think where the band is actually placed is really high..higher than we think. when i would get something stuck i would feel pain under my left breast, under my ribs...i think that is where the band is..at any rate, the only think to worry about is your port, and that you can control.... jessica