cindyh

:eek: Every time I go in for a fill, the fill tech never pulls out the amount of fill that should be in my band. The loss is very minimal anywhere from .1cc to .2cc. within a 3 week period of time. Does anyone else experience this and is this normal? Also, what could possibly be causing the loss of Fluid in the band? Thanks!

I was informed by a bariatric surgeon that the bands should be surgically after you reach your goal weight. Not longer than approximately 2 years. My understanding is that it can potentially set you up for problems like erosion if it is in too long due to the band being a foreign object & also deterioration of the band. I was under the impression that the band could be in for several years. I was somewhat perplexed by this information. I was hoping to find that (sweet spot) for the next 20 yrs or so after my goal weight where I would eat just the right amounts of food in order to avoid gaining or loosing weight. The surgeon informed me that by the time bandsters reach their goal, they will know how to eat and it will become habitual. (Why am I doubting this?) I know how I should eat already & I have'nt been able to make it one of my better habits for the last 50 yrs! What is protocol on band removal and why?

Candysmooch & Vinesqueen, your too funny on the kinky stuff! Humor certainly helps during these times! Vera, I appreciate your story & experience with your kinked tube. Your advise about having a good, effective, proper repair as compared to a quick patch job is good to know. I would not have known the difference. I woke up in tears this morning over this. Just knowing how expensive this is becoming is tearing me apart. I am sure my bill is around $1000.00 from the good doc in ND that took most of his day yesterday attempting to remedy this without having to have surgery. Now I discover my airfare is just short of $1000.00 to Mexico, plus hospital fees & motel. Go figure! And I agree, I should'nt have to be paying any of these expenses.

Thanks Annie & Jolynn. Yes Jolynn, Dr Schmidt is who I saw today for my first fill. He said he also places the port lower on the abdomen in order to prevent this problem (kinking of the tube).

Thanks to you all for the the kind words & support. I would like to hear from someone who has experienced this same problem. I would also like to hear from others on the whereabouts of thier ports? Is mine just a fluke unfortunate thing that happened or is there protocol in the placement of the port and for what reasons? I guess the docs that veiw the forum could answer this better than anyone. Would appreciate input.

Well, I went for my first fill today & the saline would not flow either direction! I then proceded with floroscopy and discovered that the tubing kinked just past the tapered part of the port. I will have to have the port surgically moved in order to get the kink out. My port is located on my left rib. This would only make sense that the potential for kinks would be high considering it is almost directly across from the band. I have never read anything about this happening to anyone else on the forum. The surgeon (from my home town) that worked attempting to give me a fill today places his ports below the band on the abdomen in order to avoid the tubing from potentially curving & kinking. Now I will be paying a plane ticket, room & board and hospital fees, plus the expenses incurred today from the surgeon here besides the price of having the surgery for the band itself. I could have stayed in my home town and had the surgery for $12,500 with free fills for a year. I attempted to save money by going to Mexico, and now it will be costing me the same amount if I would have stayed here.

Hello everyone! I have been lame in keeping in touch because of my busy schedule. I just wanted to say hello to all my ND lap-band friends and to wish you successful journeys ahead! Naea Nae is my sister-in-law, lives just down the road from me and is now a new banster! How exciting! We get to go through this journey together! Celeste, I hope all is well with you! I would still like to get together some time! Asphalt Angel, maybe sometime when you are in Bismarck, we could all get together. I am at the phase of my journey that I can eat most anything. I consciously have to be aware of what I am doing. I was stuck at -18lbs for days on end. This morning I reluctantly go on the scale always expecting the scale to go up, and low & behold it was down another 2 lbs!! Woo hoo!!! You all have a nice Thanksgiving and keep in touch! Naea Nae I will see you on Thanksgiving day and I will have the best beer cheese Soup you have ever tasted waiting for you since it is your 1st day on liquids! Even if it is not the best you've ever tasted, I can guarantee that the first day of liquids, everything you consume different than Clear Liquids is absolutely heavenly!!

Hey Nae Nae! This is your sister-in-law and neighbor welcoming you to lapbandtalk forum! Thursday will be the day of beginning your journey for a new life and a new you! How exciting!!

I have come to the conclusion that my surgeon is a very smart man. He knows some of us can't diet, so he does'nt even bother to request it. I had plenty of last suppers, before I was banded and everything went fine.

I bet you did feel cheated. It was a few days before we could get out and mosey around just a little. The fourth day we took a 6 hr ride on a tour bus. I did ok, but it was too long for my daughter. The fifth day was a bad day for both of us. It may have been that we over did it the day before. I discovered that wearing elastic bandages around my stomach for a little support assisted with pain, bloating & gas. There is no way I would have made it otherwise. I eventually bought a midriff girdle for this support, but not too tight for anyone that is new & not banded that might be reading this. Great investment. The 6th day we hit the streets down town. There were so many things we would have liked to do, but couldnt. So I just concluded that if I get my fills there, more opportunity will exist. It would be cheaper in the long run to stay here & pay for the nutritionist as long as they can do proper fills without struggling to find the port, ect.. If they have difficulties, it could cost more and then I would get to wonder why I did not go to Dr. Joya for the fills. I am from ND with no major airports, so no good deals on flights. And I agree, the ocean, views and motel was quite breathtaking to take in itself.

That would be great to meet there if I decide to fly back for fills. I may just have my fills done here. $78.00 per fill, but I have to pay $485.00 for one hour with a nutritionist. So the dilema is: Do I want to spend the money on a nutritionist or a vacation? If you go without me, you must go to Bogarts to eat! The restaurant is beautiful and the food is a masterpiece!! Eat there before a fill though. I took pictures of my daughter's plate of sea bass and it tasted as great as it looked! I had lobster bisque Soup (strained). It was my 7th day, so it was allowable. Slept like a baby that night needless to say! We'll keep in touch. I'd love to see Jennifer again! Just think, if we all met in Peurta Vallarta for all of our fills, we will all look so different every time we met there. That would so exciting to see the changes everytime!!

DD, Well hello!! Yes, I did meet your wonderful daughter! We went back to the motel together, had (band) parties in our motel room and talk about our battle wounds until she flew home! In fact we e-mail each other personally just about everyday!! There were a few of us that were all banded the same day and stay in touch daily now. I do feel bad although, because I lost one of my band buddies e-mail address. Her first name is Charlene. So I have not been able to contact her since we got home. My daughter wants to keep her procedure confidential. But I will send you a private message regarding this procedure. I wish you could have been with our banded group in Puerta Vallarta!! What an awesome place, right?

I was recently banded by Dr. Joya. I spent 7 days in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico because my daughter went along for cosmetic surgery. I am down 13 lbs and have discovered energy that I have not felt for years. Dr. Joya & my daughter's cosmetic surgeon were both excellent surgeons. The motel (Krystal) was also exceptional. The hospital that I was in was very nice and the staff was attentive & they all spoke english. My daughter was in a different hospital and this was not a good experience. Dr. Joya does not use this particular hospital although, so no need to be concerned.

You are truely an inspiration!!

You rock NJChick! Thanks!

Dr. Hekier, Thank you for responding to my question regarding the differences in band sizes. After veiwing your suggested article, it simply confused me even more. So, I conclude it will no doubt be my surgeons decision. Dr. Hekier, you are so young & handsome! It is such a pleasure and it is greatly appreciated that you are here for us! This smilie is just for you!

Is there a doctor in the house that can explain this to us? I will be banded Oct 25th and after reading several posts, I have come to the conclusion that I would prefer the smaller band if I have that choice. My observations from reading these posts over time is that the smaller band provides more adequate & sufficient restriction & less trips to the fill doc. My fill doc is in Mexico, so the scheduling & $ to get there could get costly. The other good question asked by someone earlier is how crucial is the preop dieting related to the size of the band?

That is way too funny!!!

Angie, That is so great to hear!! I am not banded yet, but will be soon! You are a true inspiration! I have been reading posts on this forum for a couple months now. I enjoy hearing from those of you who love your band and feel it was a very positive move in your life. Way to go on your weight loss!!

I am not banded yet, but hey, I was thinking about this and had plans to execute it as a strategy to help with cravings afterwards! I think it is a great idea! Trying to be discrete with the waste would be the most challenging! I think it would work in a restaraunt too! Fake coughing in a napkin! Leave a big tip if you do this.

Welcome Kim!! Your weight loss journey is fabulous!! You are an inspiration for sure!! Congratulations!! I am not banded yet, but will be on Oct 25th!

Welcome Wendy! You will find this forum very educational, informative and supportive! Congratulations on your surgery coming up soon! I will be banded Oct 25th by Dr Joya from Mexico. Take care & keep us all posted on your new journey!! This is for you!

Welcome Joe!! This is a very informative site and will you will enjoy the education and great support from everyone!! I will be banded Oct 25th! Good luck to you & stay in touch!

Happy Birthday Jack!!

Candysmooch, Here's to a happy ending!! Take Care!