I had my surgery June 2, 2011. My doctor has been going very slow with filling. I have only had 1/2 put in at a time. I am down only 40 lbs. Went in for a fill and he could not get it so a fluoroscopy was scheduled and after he filled me, he had me drink barium. I thought it felt like it went down, he said it didn't so he unfilled me and took almost everything out. I am now hungry all the time and feel there is no restriction. When I called them back he said that he will not fill me for quite a while because I must have been vomiting without telling them. He might consider a fill in the future. What should I do? I feel like I have lost the last year's work and suffering for nothing. He said to see a dietician and exercise. I have been doing alot more than when I started and yes I did vomit at times but it was when I would not chew enough or with certain foods.

That must be so frustrating for you. Hopefully your dr is working from a perspective of what he believes is best for you in the long term but it does sound as though you have communication issues which are making this process difficult for both of you. Good luck in getting back on track with your fills and your weight loss.

Down "only 40 lbs"? That works out to 3.3 lbs/week, and the average with the band is 1-2 lbs/week.

Do you have any ideas about why the barium wouldn't go down? Had you been vomiting or having any eating problems?

I know it's frustrating to have a big unfill but it's not good to live with a band that's too tight. It doesn't increase weight loss, and it can cause more serious complications like band slippage, or esophageal or stomach dilation - things that would be treated with a complete unfill.

As for the surgeon not being willing to re-fill you, I'd call back and ask how long is "quite a while." Is it a month? 2 months? Or what? Also, keep in mind that smart surgeons let the patient's upper GI tract rest for "a while" after an unfill because whatever prompted the unfill has probably caused a lot of irritation and swelling that won't resolve as long as the band is tight.

U might want to switch doc..my Doc is very.aggressuve when it comes to fills...I was band.June 2012 first fill 3.6..@July...sec.fill yesterday...5.9...ur Doc.seems like an a.hole

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