Hello Friends,

I have been mostly been lurking for months now. I check in almost daily to:

-- See how everyone is doing.

-- Check out all the new people joining this wonderful forum.

-- And on occasion participate in the discussions

I guess I have been feeling very frustrated at my progress. It is a similar story to some I am sure, trying to get to a decent level of restriction so that I can start losing again and pick up where I left off after my initial 14lb weight loss… all of which I might add came right after surgery and has wavered back and forth between the same 2-3 lbs since Feb. ’04. I know, I know… many have gone through the same thing. :cry :cry :cry

BUT, now I am crawling back and asking all of you for the wonderful support you gave me in the beginning when things weren’t quite going my way with my insurance company. I know you all don’t hold grudges (I hope;) ) … I need to snap out of this and get back to this ‘journey’ and once again participate in this FAB forum and enjoy my great online friends. :D

So, here is the deal. I have had 5 fills and each was 6 weeks apart except for the last 2. With each of my first 3 fills, I would lose restriction by week 3 and when the doc would try to pull out the fill she put in 6 weeks ago, she could only get .2 - .4 back out. She suspected a leak. Well, all of that appears to have been confirmed today. I had a fill with the contrast solution under Floro and we had hoped the leak would be at the port site (less of an issue to repair, less pain, less evasive, etc.)… BUT, NOOOOO! My leak is right at the band site!!! You could see swirling lines of the contrast solution floating around the band on the film. My doc is now contacting Inamed because she thinks it is a defective band and I will have to have it replaced. Waiting now for more word on what’s next.

On the way home from the hospital, I started to wonder if maybe my body is trying to ‘attack’ the band and this is why I have a leak. Has anyone heard of such a thing? Can this lead to erosion if the band ‘wins’?

I promise to participate more. All of you have been so helpful to me and I want to feel more a part of the group.

Thanks (as always) for listening.

Hi Claraluz & Alex,

I heard about this being used in a leaking band on another site. That person mentioned that it is the same contrasting Fluid they inject into the bands when checking under floro for a leak. The abbreviated name is Omni, I cannot remember the full name.

Anyway, this other person said that she referred to it as 'fix a flat' and her doctor said it was something like that, but she had to sign a release form before the doctor could use this vs. saline. Not sure what the form releases the doctor from, but maybe if it causes some damage to the band over time the doc cannot be help responsible.

I told my doc about it and she is emailing Inamed to ask them about it.

I will keep you all in the loop. Right now, my doc is on vacation for 2 weeks, so it might be a while before I hear anything new.

Thanks again for all the support.

Anne

Keep You head up. I am glad that you know what is wrong now!

Rica

Anne, sorry to hear about the leak. I know that you have suspected for some time that something wasn't quite right. I hope it can be easily remedied. Hang tough, it will get better.

Thanks everyone, I will keep you all posted.

Wow.....now I'm nervous! I have had some concerns about a leak as well. I went in for my 1st fill in September and I had it done under fluro. 2 weeks later I had no restriction so I went back in and they said that the fluid was gone. They told me to not worry until the next fill lost its restriction...well here I am and I can eat about 3 cups of food!That fill was about 3 weeks ago, Yikes!

I am really nervous because I had my band done by Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico. I can't afford to pay for another surgery! Does anyone have any advice for me? Has anyone experienced difficulties and had a positive experience with their Mexico Dr.s stepping up? How common are leaking bands? P.S I love this website, it rocks!

In need of advice....

Kimmy