Hey!

I've been pretty much a perfect lap band patient. Got mine in Sept 2008. I've lost 100 pounds. I'm in awesome shape, exercise everyday, life is grand. I found my sweet spot about two years in...and stayed with that the last 1.5 years or so....then in Feb., I started having all sorts of issues. In the end, found out it was my gallbladder. I had done quite a bit of throwing up from the gallbladder before a doctor finally said, "unfill the band, have your gallbladder out, and we will refill". He said that would give my band and stomach a break, settle down, etc. Plus, my surgeon for the gall bladder also does weight loss surgeries. (my original doctor is 1200 miles away, we moved.) Anyway...got my gall bladder out, got my fill back in and I feel great.

My complaint? I can eat more now than before my surgery! Same amount of fill (7 cc). Anyone experience this? Seems so weird to me. I'm scared to go get more fill because I settled on 7 ccs after going up to 8 ccs, and that was too much. How can the same fill feel so different?

I don't really need to lose anymore...I'm now 5'8, 150ish pounds...but there is a part of me that wouldn't mind getting down to 135-140, or not feel like I will gain due to not feeling as much restriction. I also feel like since I had the gall bladder removed about 3 weeks ago, I should just let my body rest before messing with my fills again....Any advice?

Let ur body readjust.in the mean time try eating the same amount.and if ur still hungry maybe a protirn shake (after 30 min) let ur body heal.goodluck .:-)

Others that have been unfilled totally have reported the same experience. Jachut had her fill removed for cancer surgery and hasn't reclaimed the same restriction, same with lellow.

I don't think anyone really knows why. Speculation is that ones loosened, the band moves just a bit, or that the fat beneath the band has been "flattened" and once the band is unfilled it is hard to get it back just the same as it was. I hope given time you find the same sensation, even if it is a bit more fill than was there before!

Absolutely, I could not feel the same restriction and my doc says this is not uncommon. I got too tight without even knowing it and have suffered weeks of heartburn before having an unfill last week,.a bit better but still need a bit more out I think.

Sigh, but im just doing whst I did unfillef, enjoying apples and salads and yogurt and all the stuff thst used to be so hard. The beauty is that becsuse I couldnt feel so much restriction, the unfill hasnt resulted in changed food intake either