Had surgery one and a half years ago. I lost about 20 lbs, and was never able to lose any more. The nurse practitioner I saw always made it seem like I was a failure because I was not losing. A friend of mine suggested that I make an appt with a surgeon in my practice. I saw the surgeon. My fill was to 9ccs, With a fill under floroscopy, the surgeon is now telling me that he thinks my fill was too tight, because when we observed it, the barium I drank was stuck before it even reached my band. Some saline was actually removed. I am so confused, and have not really been successful after 16 months banded. Does anyone know what is going on?

If it was stuck before the band, I don't see how your band was too tight? The fluid would have gathered at your stoma and not your esophogus? Surely you would have had many stuck episodes over the last 18 months if this were true? Are you seeing a bariatric doc or just a surgeon?

Was this NP part of the bariatric surgeons practice or just with your medical plan?

tmf

The surgeon was the one who implanted my band, and he is surgeon in charge at a "Bariatric Center of Excellence".The NP is no longer associated with the practice. Since I went there today, I still have no restriction. I don't know what to do or think. He told me to make a follow up appt for 6 weeks.

6 weeks seems like a long time for a followup appt!

You might be surprised that you will do better with less fill. When we are too tight (as you were evidenced by your Esophogram), we develop maladaptive eating habits to compensate and these foods generally are slider foods not conducive to weight loss. Sounds like the np at your practice mis-managed and overfilled you.

My follow up from my unfill was 5 weeks and I've heard everything from 1-6 weeks as being the norm, depending on the severity of the problem.

Good luck, hope this helps!

If you've only lost 20 pounds in 18 months and had a band too tight trying achieve restriction, perhaps you need a better understand of the band itself.

Please have a look at this link, I think it will help you considerably: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

Thank you. I read the link, and I think I understand. I will refer to it often, in an effort to remind myself of how the band is supposed to work. Just a little frustrated that after all this time, I have not had more success. :-).

great read Missy!