bobbiezhere

well i see this issue addressed last year...my time now i guess...i had surgery 7/7. Seemed like i was doing pretty well...but i never felt much restriction...up to 8cc in a 12cc realize band...well, confirmed today, that there is a problem with my band. Now its only been 4 months..my doctor says they'/ll have to do that test with the blue dye - thats its either a problem with the port tubing - or the band itself--that they'll be able to tell after that test... My question is...obviously the doctor intends to fix this...but will insurance pay for this even tho it seems like a defective band??? Wouldnt "Realize" be repsonsible for part of this??? If i have to take days off to recover..shouldnt somebody (realize) reimburse those days??? Need some advise, please.

On my band/surgery...the insurance paid, but i had a $1600 co pay amount to pay....did you have to pay any part the first time ? What about for the repair?

i soooo feel for you! I gained 2 lbs after thanksgiving too..my willpower is caving as well....ive had a few fills banded 7/7. I could have written so much of this! (I got the band...etc...) I have an appt again tomorrow (long story).....and i am hoping to get restricted once again....This is a big step for us - getting this band...we HAVE to succeed with this!!!

6 weeks ago he put 8 cc's in...my complaint was that my restriction never lasts more than a couple of weeks. He withdrew the fluid to see what was in my band...it was 8 cc's...so basically he was telling me i still had what I had been filled with (he did this on a prior visit as well. Then, he attempted to be aggressive and put in more...he didnt say how much, but it was apparently alot - because he even said, he'd probably have to unfill a little bit. But, i drank Water with no issue. Mind you, 6 weeks ago, he started with 8.5..and i couldnt really drank my water, so he unfilled .5 and I was better. Now, he was telling me my band was almost at capacity---meaning he had attempted to put in at least 3cc's (no way could i do that!). He took the syringe, and said "this holds 12cc's....let see again whats there"...yet, when he tried to retreive it...he only got 7 cc's out.... After i was driving back, i realized that i had really felt when he filled last times (3 times)...i felt the almost gurglie type feelng. I didnt feel that this time. My thoughts were is he missed the port somehow and the saline just went into my body. Nothing else makes sense...if my band had a leak..how could i have 8 ccs 6 weeks ago, and 8 cc's when he withdrew the initial fill amount??? In any case...before he schedules whatever tests and have to schedule a surgery for possible repair..i want him to try again tomorrow to see if he did a fill, if it would be successful. In previous fills he has not had an issue...for some reason THIS time it was difficult for him to find the port. He stated that he had never had a band leak....what are the odds mine would? Honestly, i think it was a fluke...but 930 tomorrow will tell me what i need to know. I just hope there is not another co pay ($40) tomorrow ---this should be on them not me!!!

ok..heres my story NOW....I was banded 7/7. I did very well from the start losing at the highest - about 39 lbs (sooo wanting to get to the 40 mark!). Then I started yoyoing....I never had a fill that stayed restricted! When i got my last fill, 6 weeks ago, I really felt restriction...i thought "ah ha - this is it!" Well, in typical fashion, it lasted a little over a couple of weeks. I had scheduled my appt for 6 weeks in between this time...instead of 4. So today..i go in, determined to ask the doctor why my restriction is again gone. Thanksgiving? We made turkey enchiladas..i had 2..plus rice...plus Beans. Doesnt that seem like alot???? I didnt fuss too much cuz i figured i was going in today and would get back on track. I kidded with the doctor that maybe i had a slow leak. Know what? he took out the fill and 8ccs. So in 6 weeks, still at 8ccs. So much for the slow leak theory. He decided to be aggressive and really add. Uh, he did, said he might have to unfill. I drank my 2 glasses of Water - slid right down. Wierd. Last appt 1.5cc's and i could barely drink...he had to unfill .5. Now he can add 2 or 3 cc's with nothing? He goes to take the liquid out, can only retreive about 7 ccs. Now he says..i might be right..i might have leak or defective band. WHAT???? I'm stunned. Well i was thinking driving back to work..and figured, wait..if i had 8 ccs and still had 8 ccs - thats not a leak. I think, when he put in the fill..that it didnt go into the port. I called to talk to him, before he started arranging a test and another surgery!!!!! This Friday i'm going back and I'm gonna have him re try. He did have trouble finding the port today. I honestly feel he just missed it. My theory for the unrestriction....could it be, when they fill you swell right? which is why you are on liquides 1 to 2 days..what if its swollen..causing restruction and over gthe next 2 week or so, the swellign goes down --- so i can eat nore..and its merely the fact that i might be one that need to have 9 or 10cc's in my band to be at my sweet spot??? Could it be? My band will hold 12 ccs. Does this make sense???? It just seems to me he need to try to fill again friday...i cant imagine going through a correction or another surgery....he said he's never had a band "leak" before.... THOUGHTS???? PS...im now down to a loss of about 33 lbs...i was at one time at like 38? my band was done 7/7. I feel like a failure for gaining back....

ok..heres my story NOW.... When i got my last fill, i really felt restriction...i thought "ah ha - this is it!" Well, in typical fashion, it lasted a little over a couple olf weeks. I had scheduled my appt for 6 weeks in between this time...instead of 4. So today..i go in, determined to ask the doctor why my restriction is again gone. Thanksgiving? We made turkey enchiladas..i had 2..plus rice...plus Beans. Doesnt that seem like alot???? I didnt fuss too much cuz i figured i was going in today and would get back on track. I kidded with the doctor that maybe i had a slow leak. Know what? he took out the fill and 8ccs. So in 6 weeks, still at 8ccs. So much for the slow leak theory. He decided to be aggressive and really add. Uh, he did, said he might have to unfill. I drank my 2 glasses of Water - slid right down. Wierd. Last appt 1.5cc's and i could barely drink...he had to unfill .5. Now he can add 2 or 3 cc's with nothing? He goes to take the liquid out, can only retreive about 7 ccs. Now he says..i might be right..i might have leak or defective band. WHAT???? I'm stunned. Well i was thinking driving back to work..and figured, wait..if i had 8 ccs and still had 8 ccs - thats not a leak. I think, when he put in the fill..that it didnt go into the port. I called to talk to him, before he started arranging a test and another surgery!!!!! This Friday i'm going back and I'm gonna have him re try. He did have trouble finding the port today. I honestly feel he just missed it. My theory for the unrestriction....could it be, when they fill you swell right? which is why you are on liquides 1 to 2 days..what if its swollen..causing restruction and over gthe next 2 week or so, the swellign goes down --- so i can eat nore..and its merely the fact that i might be one that need to have 9 or 10cc's in my band to be at my sweet spot??? Could it be? My band will hold 12 ccs. Does this make sense???? It just seems to me he need to try to fill again friday...i cant imagine going through a correction or another surgery....he said he's never had a band "leak" before.... THOUGHTS???? PS...im now down to a loss of about 33 lbs...i was at one time at like 38? my band was done 7/7. I feel like a failure for gaining back....

Your doing great Regina! Glad to hear!

Please help - im just not sure what to think any more. I had my surgery on 7/7. Pre op and post op i was on target and losing well....I got to a high weight loss of 39#'s....sooo wanting to hit that 40 lb. mark. When i had my last fill I was at 7 in an 11 cc band. I could only take 1cc that visit, because i struggled to get Water down. I had been stuck in limbo for weeks in a 227/228 lb. weight - after my last fill I finally dropped from where i was stuck..about 227/228 to 223.4. I was thrilled beyond belief! Now, here i am a couple weeks have passed..and guess what? Im back up to like 227.5 again. Im frustrated beyond belief. Sometimes i wonder if my band has a slow leak...i mean, i felt the restriction..but about 2 weeks into it...i seem to have less and less restriction ...and slowly the weight creeps back up. Tho I'm still watching what i eat. But anything solid means i gain! Once again I feel like I can eat more than I should be - and that restriction i HAD - seems to be gone again. Is this normal??? I just dont get it. I see the doctor 6 weeks after my last appt....so i go in i believe 1st week of dec. I'm tempted to call and schedule earlier....maybe at least a week..but...if i'm already at 7 in an 11 cc band...i dont really have much more room - right??? What happens if your band is "full"??? I thought that 'sweet spot' that eveyone has talked about was maybe gonna be there after my last fill...but now, i dont think so. Has anyone had their band totally filled???? Please - any feedback would be welcomed. I truly feel like a failure and i've worked so hard! My once 39 lb loss is now at 35 and i'm discouraged. Thank you..for reading...and helping...

Omg thank you for saying this (about the leak)..i swear i wondered if i had a "slow leak" in my band lol. I thought i was the only one who thought that! The thing is, i do feel a restriction at first..and it DOES last two weeks..and in that two weeks time i might lost 2-3 lbs...which i'm good with....its after that restriction goes away (right now, its gone) that those 2-3 lbs i lost, come back...and THAT is what frustrates me most...i finally lose, and then...just kidding cuz they're back! Your post makes PERFECT sense to me - the fact the band would loosen with a little loss, etc. I get that... I'm encouraged that you've reached perfect restriction! I was afraid of what would happen when i eventually got 11ccs in my band and what if i still had issues...but now i re alize they can put a little more in the band, if need be..and maybe..just maybe, i wont need that. I'll keep hoping that the next fill is it. THANK YOU...this really made me feel better!

Ok...I've avoided posting...cuz I'm frustrated to no end! What I've determined, is after a fill, i lose..and over the course of t he weeks folloiwng...it slowly creeps back up! surgery wt: 244.7 last weigh in: 223.4 this week: 227.5 WTF? (sorry!). I dont get it...its like i felt sooo restricted when i left the dr office..and now..nothing...I sometimes wonder if i have a slow leak! lol. I'm beyond frustration....i go in to see dr. again first week of December, i think. But the cycle of fill, 1-2 lb weight loss..and then weight regain over the next 3 to 4 weeks frustrates me. I just dont get it...I still am making good choices, tho the temptation to eat whatever is getting to me. I truy dont know what to do...i'm amping up my exercise...but it doesnt seem to be making much difference. I cant seem to hit the 40 lbs. loss mark...and i'm sooo wanting to be below 220. Its been YEARSSSS since i've been at this weight..but I'm not ready to be done losing. HELP!!!

Nope...still there...cant seem to budge..i get a fill, drop a lb or two....and after about a week...back up that 1 or so...i'm disheartened....

Im at a total loss of about 38 lbs. I cant seem to get below this. I go up and down a lb or two every week it seems. Very frustrated.

There were several of us that were banded on 7/7...i'm just curious - can i ask how much your weight loss as been (from pre op to now? I have been staying the same or up and down by 1-2 lbs for weeks it seems. I had hoped my first fill would help..b ut i'm still wavering back and forth... I'm going to have my 2nd fill on 9/23. I think i'm at about a 33 lb loss (i need to go update my ticker to be sure...)...just wondered how that compares to by 7/7 band buddies? I know everyone is different...just wondering if i'm average...:mad:

Just wanted to let the July bandsters that im going to be changing my user id...i'll post more later about this..just a personal issue..

You have a 5 cc band???? Wow..that seems INCREDIBLE small to me! My doctor uses a 10, 11 or 15cc band..i guess i never realized they came so small!

After what i consider 6/8 weeks of bandster hell, Im hopeful I'm out of it. I have now 8cc's in my 11cc band...and I think i have a good restriction... I hope beyond all hope that i'm now at my sweet spot...time will tell!

I love going out to eat still..and while i cant eat as much either...i always always always take my food to go...sooooo often later or the next day, its the perfect amount for a 2nd meal, and I have found I enjoy the food just as much on day 2. One morning i went to breakfast..ate very little, brought my food with me..and ended up having it for lunch. The splitting meals is good too - as long as you like what the other person is ordering, lol.

Wow..what amazing results--and some with very little fills (if any!)...thats something! I have had 3 fills - first one was 5cc's..the 2nd one was 2 cc's and Wednesday i had 1cc. My band holds 11cc. Ive lost 39.? - so i'm almost at 40 lbs. I have had weeks and weeks going upand down by a lb or two...I have felt that i can actually eat too much. Now this last fill, I think i finally feel the restriction i need. We will see. I too have any many "stuck" episodes...and i truly attribute that to eating too fast or too big of pieces. Hey, i get hungry and take too big a bite and not chew enough and bam - I feel it. Saturday i starving..but i had a hamburger..chewed very very slow (was concerned cuz i didnt know, if i had a problem, if i could get into the bathroom quick enough)...i was happy and content with 1/2 of that burger - that says alot! I am hoping that now I am at that sweet spot..i know that bandster hell stuff is real - cuz i truly had 6/8 weeks of it. The coolest thing tho..i went and bought new jeans - two pairs -and i bought them in the REGULAR department - not the plus size area! Yay!!!!!! I was sooooooooo happy! My birthday is next week = and I have the coolest outfit to wear to my birthday luncheon ! :wink2:

Ok..after a month of struggling had a slight fill on wednesday - and I can finally post a loss again... surgery wt: 244.7 last week: 226.0 this week: 223.4 My doctor did a 1.5cc fill, but couldnt swallow water, so he took out the .5 and i ended up with 1cc. This is now a total of 8cc's in my 11cc band. He told me to amp up the exercise (urgh).... We'll see..this is an all time low for me - I'm soooo wanting to get below 220 and then the goal will be to be under 200#'s..that almost seems impossible to me...but baby steps..I'll work towards under 220 first!