5 yrs out---restriction has been greatly diminished over last 1.5 yrs -I have gained weight and wonder if anyone else knows if the lessened restriction is a result of esophageal dilation???

Why don't you contact your doctor?

are you saying your fill from 1.5 years ago has gradually faded or are you saying that you have had fills in the last 1.5 years but that what once would have kept you tight n losing/maintained is no longer having the same effect?

The latter. My band is almost full and the past 3 fills have made no difference. My surgeon does not use a flouroscope for fills, so no pictures have been taken of my band. He has not even suggested this as a possible answer to my problem. He suggested a conversion to gsv as an option. He has not offered me any answers as to why I do not have restriction anymore. Just gathering information... I do not have the money to pay for another surgery so I am trying to make the best of the one I have...

It sounds like you need a flouroscopy. It could be a dilation or slippage. Your doctor should be trying to get to the bottom of this. Everytime you go, make sure you tell him exactly what's going on and your concerns. It the fills were working before and now you are not feeling the same restriction, there is a reason and it needs to be investigated.

Sometimes the 5-day pouch test will help get the feeling back in restriction. It's an option at least. Good luck!

what is the five day pouch test, please? i seem to be in the same boat - i definitely got another half 4 days ago and i am no different - am filling in up on salads but this is not the way a fill goes for me.

plus - i had always read the slipp[age showed as mad overtightness? would welcome any info please?

Have you asked your Doctor to measure the fill amount already in your band? My clinic has different Doctors that do fills... there was a question of just how much fill I had so my Doctor measured it by using an empty needle to pull everything out into the syringe - getting the proper measurement and then going from there.

It strikes me that this would be a good way to ensure you have what you think you do in your fill.

Check out www.5daypouchtest.com. No need to purchase the plan, they have enough hints on there to do it without buying it.

thank you so much - bedtime for me now but just had a quick read and very keen to read more tomorrow. Im amazed that pretzels etc are slider foods - i fear a rude awakening tomorrow when i read it fully! my cat has his head on the keyboard now so think thats my hint to bid you goodnight n many thanks again :cursing: