Confirmed! Leak Not My Imagination

[bcf_momma 1]

This is my first time posting- I had my 4cc lapband placed 7/2003 and have not had any problems until January of this year. I had gone from a size 22 to size 10/12 and was able to maintain that for approximately 6 years, then in January I suddenly lost all restriction in my band. I have now creeped up to a size 18 (yuck) and went to see my band dr in June. He did a fill under fluoro and said that my band was empty. My last fill in 2005 was documented that I had a total of 2.5 cc. He then put in 1.5 cc and I was to return today. From the fill last month I never had restriction either. So today I went in- when he withdrew- Nada!!! He put in 1 cc of saline and then I'm to return Monday to confirm a leak. I guess my question is for those that have had leaks how was it confirmed? repaired? What can I expect from this point? Any advice or sharing of experience highly appreciated.

[Gigi_Girl 77]

I am in the same boat. We suspected that my band developed a leak a year ago. My weight has been steadily creeping up since then. This year I have had 3 fills preceded by aspiration of the Fluid to measure. Each time there was less Fluid than the last. The most recent unfill was only able to get 2 cc out of 7 cc that had been filled only a month prior. Note that what is being extracted in not clear saline, but suspected to be body fluid being sucked into the tubing.

It took insurance 4 months of requests and denials before they finally agreed to remove and replace the band. The reason for the denial was my policy says "only one weight loss surgery per lifetime". They finally understood that the leak was a defect thru no fault of my own. I was estatic when I received the insurance approval letter this weekend. I call Monday to schedule surgery! It is such relief, almost like I won the lottery!

[bcf_momma 1]

GiGi_girl, what insurance do you have if you don't mind me asking? Well, I was suppose to have my follow up with dr today but he had an emergency in OR so I rescheduled for tomorrow I really want to get this straightened out and fixed. Now, I really hope that my insurance doesn't try to deny the repair or replacement. It is the same insurance company as before but different employer and plan. Not sure what difference it will make. Well I am excited for you and know what you mean about feeling like you won the lottery. Thats exactly how I will feel once I am back on track as well. Take care and let me know how you do

[Gigi_Girl 77]

Thanks for the well wishes. I am counting the days until I start on liquids. That sounds strange, but I am ready to get this going again. I have BCBS of Alabama. I understand their hesitation on fixing, since literature says more and more band patients are asking for revision. But, I believe not fixing problems in the long run will be more expensive for them. Good luck to you!

[bcf_momma 1]

Well my appointment didn't go as planned. It appears as if my Dr is just incompetent, ignorant or both. Basically, he is still blowing off my concerns and the concern of his PA (I guess he feels he is the Dr and he knows best) but refuses to even entertain the idea that I have a leak even though when I went in every time now the correct amount of Fluid is not present. He just wants me to keep coming in every month for fills. I am now looking for another surgeon. It really bothers me that my Dr is this way because at one time he was a successful, caring surgeon. Now it seems that his practice is dwindling and he is not listening to his patients. He just only wants me to count my calories. Trust me, it is so much easier to count calories if I had a functioning band. If I did it the way he wants, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL AT IT, I would have never gotten a band in 2003. I'm sorry, just frustrated.

[Gigi_Girl 77]

Sorry to hear about your experience. Hopefully, you will like your next surgeon better. Don't forget to ask for a copy of your records to take with you. You don't have to explain why you want them, just tell them that you want a copy of all of your records. That implies you are going elsewhere, seeking counsel, etc. Let them wonder.

[timetobefree 5]

BCF, I am sorry - I had a very similar situation. I actually had my ex-surgeon tell me that bands can't and don't develop leaks. Really?! Then why should my band have 9 cc in it and you can only extract 4 cc? And why did I have good restriction, you add 1 cc more, and suddenly I have ZERO restriction? He kept telling me that we'd just keep trying to fill it. Um, no, we won't. It's expensive, it's time off work, and I am self-pay. His office would neglect to call me back for weeks on end, despite numerous messages and promises. I finally gave up on them.

I found another surgeon who removed my band on Friday. I am revising to sleeve in November. This level of maintenance along with the issues the band was causing (slips causing scarring, etc.), and I am just done with it.

[fischymom 1]

This is so much my story!!! I origanilly was banded July 2007 and had lost 90# to reach 155# . In August of 2011 I started to notice that I gained back my appitite and slowly put back on almost all the weight I had lost. I was scared to go back for fear that they would take out my band and I would not be able to get it replaced. Long story short I went in and they descovered by some trial and error that my tubing had broke. I had surgery to fix that, then I developed infection in that incision. They made the decision to remove my band and let my heal for 2 months. I went back for a 3rd surgery to replace the band and now 2 months out and with 6.5 cc I am finally restriction like I should. I had lost about 7 pounds in the first 2 months but am now in the 1 to 1.5 # a week area. I still have a long road to get back to 155# but I will return!!

[pdillow 1]

Well my appointment didn't go as planned. It appears as if my Dr is just incompetent' date=' ignorant or both. Basically, he is still blowing off my concerns and the concern of his PA (I guess he feels he is the Dr and he knows best) but refuses to even entertain the idea that I have a leak even though when I went in every time now the correct amount of Fluid is not present. He just wants me to keep coming in every month for fills. I am now looking for another surgeon. It really bothers me that my Dr is this way because at one time he was a successful, caring surgeon. Now it seems that his practice is dwindling and he is not listening to his patients. He just only wants me to count my calories. Trust me, it is so much easier to count calories if I had a functioning band. If I did it the way he wants, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL AT IT, I would have never gotten a band in 2003. I'm sorry, just frustrated.[/quote']

This is so like what I am going through right now. I got my band in June of this year and, after the initial restriction from the surgery, I felt none at all. My doctor had trouble finding my port for a fill, and after several tries he just gave up and told me to fill up on Protein and vegetables and to chew thoroughly. I was able to find a doctor who did a 3cc fill in my 4cc band and when he tried to withdraw the Fluid it was all gone that quick! I do have a leak and am going for repair surgery on Oct 29th. I am so glad that I found this doc! I would like to hear about the after effects of this type of repair surgery.

[okiekatt 40]

Hello Everyone : (

I am so sorry, I know what it’s like, not only to hear the words you have a leak but everything that leads up to it, the weight gain feeling like a failure the disappointments with each fill thinking this might be the one to restrict me, getting the lectures on what to eat and how to eat each time I went in, I was going in every 3 weeks for 5 months before they told me they thought I had a leak and it was confirmed on a port a gram, had to have a second surgery the do a port replacement.

I finally reached my "Green Zone" 1 year and 4 months after my 1st surgery

Its been a struggle but I have not given up yet, but I do feel you pain

[Tabby Ann 10]

Same thing is also going on here. I was going in every 2 to 3 weeks hoping for that restriction that never came. Finally they checked and I was leaking. They said it was very rare. Reading this thread it doesn't seem rare at all! They got me in really fast to fix the problem. I go in tomorrow at 10:45 and they said it takes about 30 minutes. I sure hope this works! Good luck to everybody and keep on keeping on! We can and will finish what we started. Tabby

[Rojasanoll 920]

Prayer's and well wishes for all "banders" who have had the band quit working. They all sound like defects to me and should be replaced by insurances. Diabetes, High Blood pressure and maybe conary heart disease will cost the insurance companies alot more money than replaceing the band for a second/third time.

Best wishes

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

Same thing is also going on here. I was going in every 2 to 3 weeks hoping for that restriction that never came. Finally they checked and I was leaking. They said it was very rare. Reading this thread it doesn't seem rare at all! They got me in really fast to fix the problem. I go in tomorrow at 10:45 and they said it takes about 30 minutes. I sure hope this works! Good luck to everybody and keep on keeping on! We can and will finish what we started. Tabby

Tabby... what did they do to fix your leak? Im starting to think this may be my case also... i start out with good restriction and then it very little restriction.

[rbankston30@yahoo.com 0]

Hello Everyone : (

I am so sorry, I know what it’s like, not only to hear the words you have a leak but everything that leads up to it, the weight gain feeling like a failure the disappointments with each fill thinking this might be the one to restrict me, getting the lectures on what to eat and how to eat each time I went in, I was going in every 3 weeks for 5 months before they told me they thought I had a leak and it was confirmed on a port a gram, had to have a second surgery the do a port replacement.

I finally reached my "Green Zone" 1 year and 4 months after my 1st surgery

Its been a struggle but I have not given up yet, but I do feel you pain

[rbankston30@yahoo.com 0]

I went to see my Dr. today and was told that I more than likely have a leak in my port. I noticed in Nov 2011 all the sudden I had no restriction. I am a self pay and couldn't afford to go and get another "fill" until July 2012. I was thinking that I was just needing another one. I still couldn't feel any restriction after my fill in july. So today they determined I had a leak. My question is, the port is defective and since I am self pay I will have to pay to get this taken care of. Shouldn't the company that made the band be responisble and reimburse the dr for the cost of replacement? My Dr and nurses are really be nice about the whole thing, but I don't have the amount they are asking to pay out of pocket. How did this work for you?