This is a long story. I am not going to shorten it because it may help someone in the future.

I had lapband surgery on May 28, 2009. I only wanted to lose 40lbs. I thought I would have lost that and then some by now. I was a cash patient. My surgeon used a facility that granted me free fills for a year because I paid in cash. That was a great deal since my surgeon charges $150.00 per fill. I thought I would lose my weight in a year and maintain my weight loss through the surgeon's office after my free year was up. This is where the nightmare began unbeknowst to me.

At the time of my surgery my doctor gave me a fill of 2ccs. I have a 10cc Lapband. I had really good restriction for nearly 3 weeks after surgery. I went for the 1st fill at the surgical center in July. I was given 1cc. I did not feel any restriction. Over the course of 8 months I've had 7 fills for a total of 7.8ccs. Each time I went, I would get a numbing shot because the NP thought my port was flipped and she had a hard time finding it. I would be stuck a minimum of 8-10 times before she would find the port. On one visit I saw blood in the syringe. I thought that was odd, but did not press the issue. The last time I went for a fill was 1/18/10. I whined that I felt no restriction. I begged for more saline. She did not give me more. I decided it was time to call my surgeon.

I saw my surgeon on 1/25/10. I voiced my concerns. He listened and said he could help. I did not believe him. I asked for numbing medication before the fill, but the nurse said I would not need it. Just as I was about to protest, my doctor found my port with one stick. He withdrew the saline to determine how much was in the band and only withdrew 4ccs. All this time the NP was not filling my band. I was told I had 7.8ccs. My doctor filled me to 5.5ccs. In only a few minutes I realized I was too tight. I could not get Water down. The small amount that went down felt like a golf ball was exploding in my chest. My doctor removed .5ccs and I went home with a total of 5ccs. The next morning I was throwing up foamy matter. I could not get a sip of water to go down. I threw up all morning .I went back to my doctor that afternoon for a complete unfill.

Sometimes when bandsters post with concerns about not feeling restriction, not many, but some people can be really mean and judgemental. One person in particular posted that some of us obviously do not know how the band works. That was hurtful. It made me not want to post my concerns again, however, there were many posters who were sincerely concerned and gave great advice. Thanks to you who really care. I lost 8 months of weight loss because the trained personnel were incompetent. I now know that the band can work for me. I will go back to my surgeon the week of 2/15/10 for another fill. The swelling from throwing up so much will be down by then. My surgeon will take it slowly. I do know that my port is not flipped. My surgeon found it with one stick, twice on the day of the fill and again the very next day for the unfill.

If you know you do not have restriction and you have gone several months without any weight loss do not be hard on yourself if you know you are following the plan and getting enough exercise. Talk to your doctor. Ask questions. Make sure you know how much saline you have in your band. Do not get discouraged. I have another 3 months of free fills at the surgical center, but I will not go back. It will be worth every dollar spent with my surgeon when the weight begins to fall off.

Edited February 9, 201016 yr by 2911plans

I have an appointment at the Fill Center tomorrow morning. This will be the first opportunity to let them know that I was not being filled properly. I am going to ask them to give me an additional year of free fills. Wish me luck!

2911, Good LuckI hope they honor their agreement with you. They should have checked the port and with drawn some. My Sureon and PA both do.

After 3 weeks of misery, I had a deflate. the fill isn't the problem. i had a sinus infection then have had probems with sinus drainage- coughing, vomitting,. unable To eat/drink. so after struggling with everything else, i bit the bullet and had a minor deflate, today, .8 cc. At least i can now get enough to drink. Maybe i can eat by Monday.

Edited March 20, 201016 yr by sue in ne

I went back to the fill center yesterday and spoke with the head NP. I met her for the first time. I explained what I had gone through and she was very understanding. I told her that my surgeon had filled me to 4.5ccs. She wanted to determine how much saline was in the band because she could not believe there was such a huge discrepancy. She withdrew the saline and recovered nearly 7ccs of Fluid.

I am so confused. My surgeon is the one who is wrong!!!??? I saw the saline for myself. She started with an empty syringe and withdrew the fluid and showed me how much was in it. She gave me another .5ccs for a total of 7.5ccs.

At least I have restriction now.

I had a fill on Friday 3/19/10. I am pretty tight right now. I can only keep liquids down. Sometimes if I drink Water too fast it will come back up. As tight as I am right now, I know I will be on liquids for a while.

I am curious. If you were ever too tight, how long did you stay on liquids before the band loosened or you went in for a slight unfill? It has taken 10 months to get to restriction and I do not want to lose it. If I can endure for a fews day, then it will be worth it to see the weight come off.

Thanks for your responses in advance.

I had a fill on Friday 3/19/10. I am pretty tight right now. I can only keep liquids down. Sometimes if I drink Water too fast it will come back up. As tight as I am right now, I know I will be on liquids for a while.

I am curious. If you were ever too tight, how long did you stay on liquids before the band loosened or you went in for a slight unfill? It has taken 10 months to get to restriction and I do not want to lose it. If I can endure for a fews day, then it will be worth it to see the weight come off.

Thank you 2911 for sharing your story with us. I found some encouragement reading it. I am one who had surgery in May too and haven't lost much weight at all. And have been really discouraged. I am 7.25cc in a 11cc realize band.

Every time i see the LAP-BAND® commercial i gringe. I havent felt restricted yet. I can eat over 1.5 cup of food at a time. So I go in tomorrow to get a fill. Yes, i keep a food journal and have been going up and down the 3 lbs so i can not wait to loose some weight and find my sweet spot.

I am praying that they will give me just the right amount to loose weight and get this party started so to speak.