Okay, I am more of a lurker here, but I have learned so much from the others on the site, that I thought I would post my experience so that someone can learn from me too.

Some of you may recall last summer I had complications of total blockage with my band while on vacation in Chicago. I had a hell of a time finding an emergency doctor to unfill me, just so I could drink water! I finally had to drive to Madison, WI and there was a doctor there that unfilled me, although he was very far from a lapband specialist! I think I could have unfilled myself better if I had the right tools!

So, anyhow, fast forward to September 2006, I went back to Mexico and got my fill. I went with 1.7cc in a 4cc band. Felt great, before the complications in Chicago, I was at 1.9cc. About two weeks after my fill, I got so completely restricted, I was unable to drink Water again. So, back to Mexico we go. He took me down to 1.5cc.

I felt great for about a month. Then I was completely restricted AGAIN! The doctor checked for slippage and everything else. Everything looked great. Dr. Romero said that he wanted me unfilled completely for 3 weeks to relax everything. So in three weeks, I go back and get 1.4cc and everything was great, AGAIN.

Then between Christmas and New Years, I was completely restricted again. I suffered for about a week, thinking if I drink warm liquids and no mushies or solids, it will work itself out. New Years day, I was so dehydrated, hungry, weak, sick, I couldn't hold my head up. I called Dr. Romero in Mexico and he said to get down to Mexico ASAP. Now, mind you, I am on vacation in the desert with my family camping, so we have to pack up and get to Mexico and back out of Mexico on New Years day, YUCK. So we get there and Dr. Romero unfills me to 1.2 cc. Once again, great for about 6 weeks.

This past week I started to get restricted to the point of barely even able to get water down. I went back to Mexico, and told him to take 1/2 out. So he didn't quite take 1/2, but took me down to .8cc in a 4cc band.

I feel great right now. I feel like I am restricted when I lost all of my weight, which is a good restriction. So, hopefully this time it will work.

What I don't understand is how come I had up to 1.9cc and did fine, and now I am all the way down to .8cc and feel like I have good restriction??

I watched what I did, what I ate, everything, and still had all these complications. I was so worried about slippage, but the band is perfectly in place! Dr. Romero has instructed me to take 2-3 teas. of Maalox 30 min after every meal to help this. Ew, yuck. But I am doing it, ha ha.

I have lost 75 lbs and I am about 20 lbs from goal, and I feel that I will make it by the summer. I have no regrets about getting the band, I just wish that I knew why it is so different for me at different times. It drives me crazy sometimes!

I just wanted to share my experience with all of you so that someone who is so confused with the same problems may relate.

oh my gosh girl - what you have been through! I hope this last round works for you. Since you are losing so much weight do you think your band is getting tighter? Also, I don't understand it either but you'll notice I have less in my band then I've ever had yet still have seemingly more restriction/better restriction then at higher fills. fills are such a mystery to me and apparently my roadblock to losing weight so at least I am glad you are/have lost weight.

I also notice now around my period i am tighter than a drum and while i can still do liquids, solids always pose a problem during the week before and sometimes during my period (again you'd think I would be a toothpick)

Just keep your focus on the end result - you are almost there and your band is in good shape. Who cares what the amount of saline is when in the end it is working for you.

It is most imp to be comfortable and feel good and be able to eat normally - you know how miserable it is to be obstructed - it is absolute hell.

i love dr. romero and go to ortiz office for most of my fills - good luck to you and thanks for sharing - as you can see there are others (maybe not quite as severe) but have that have trouble with these damn fills.

My fills unfills have cost me almost as much as surgery but i refuse to give up (at least until i reach the two year mark) then I've decided i will just accept wherever I am.

take care.