mis42

Nan, I didn't realize in the beginnning that all the poking could harm my port or tubing. I should have stopped it too. The DR. who placed my band gave the impression he was experienced & didn't even know how to do the fills.

I am having my port changed on the 25th. Yes, it will cost me $2500, but my band is wothless without the fluid in it. I am praying this will work & I will be on my way to goal.

I go tomorrow to schedule surgery for change of the port, tubing or both. I have had this band for 1 year & have had problems from the beginning with it not holding fluid.

I was banded almost 1 year ago. I have never held my fills. Finally, I changed doctors and will have my port changed next month. Anyone have their port changed and now are doing well?

Anthony, How did you find a surgeon that was experienced in removing lap-bands & converting to the gastric sleeve?

How did you research to find a doctor to do the sleeve? Since it is a newer procedure how did you find someone with experience? I see this Dr. Guillermo Alverez advertisement on the forum. Do you know anything about him?

Has anyone used this |M.D., I have a leak somewhere & considering changing to a gastric sleeve. Does anyone know anything about him?

I have never been a member of OA or heard of this FAA diet. I have come to realize that I am addicted to food. I have strong cravings & binge eat. At this point my band has cut down on the amount that I can eat. I have not been very successful because of my diet. When it comes to food, i am out of control. Can someone explain this program & diet, please

I had been having problems with my band not holding fluid from the beginning. It had gotten to the point where I was going to have to make a decision on what to do with it. My surgeon has stopped doing bands because he could not keep up with the fills. Whenever I would go in for a fill he always had a lot of difficulty. Well surprise surprise, I went to a different doctor who does a lot more bands & they have no trouble getting into my port. Yesterday, I went for my second fill & the fluid from the first fill was still there. My conclusion for now is the fluid wasn't getting to my band. It was injected into my abdominal tissue. So much for going with the surgeon that your insurance pays for. I was so happy yesterday to see the fluid that had been injected come out I could have kissed the doctor. It has been 8 months since my band was placed & I am just beginning my journey. No wonder all I could manage to lose was 15lbs.:pray2:

I began doing BodyPump which is aerobics with weights 2 days per week & cardio 2 days per week in October. My starting body fat % was 41. Yesterday, when I went in for a fill it was 26.7%. The gym that I belong to is starting a Biggest Loser contest this week. In the past, I would have never done this. Now, I say bring it on!!!:pray2:

Ok. I am in the dark; What is a bodybugg? How does it work? where did you buy it?

I too have had the same problem with my band not holding fluid. I had 2 fills under fluro without seeing the leak. My band was placed in April 07. Like you, I have no restriction. Last month I changed doctors , had a fill done, & have a another appt. on the 16th. I really think that there will be nothing or a very small amount in my band. This has been going on from the very beginning. At this point I am considering a gastric sleeve if this does not work out. Tell us how things turn out for you

I would like some feedback on having my lap-band removed & going to a gastric sleeve.

Judy, I did speak to Dan Payne. What it all boils down to is having the band removed & finding out if it is defective or if the band was punctured during surgery or a fill. Right now, I don't know what I will do. i will have to pay for the surgery & than hope to be reimbursed.

I e-mailed Don today. Thank you for all the help. I will have to think long & hard about which surgeon I would have take this band out & replace it.Maybe I could go to DR. Garth Davis in Houston which is about 4 hrs. away. The only drawback is that I would probably have to drive back there for fills. Congrats on a new functional band.