I dont post very often but I need some help. I have had my band for a year and a half. Lots of set backs along the way. I just had my port replaced in October and went for my first fill yesterday. Now I am too tight. My problem is that my doctor is 267 miles away. I made the trip yesterday but I really dont want to make that trip again if I dont have to.

I have tried calling different surgeons in this area since I just moved here this summer. No one wants to see someone elses patient.

Is there any chance this will loosen up given a few days. Or has anyone had any luck with getting an unfill from the ER or other source?

Yeah, few docs want to be the filler for someone else's procedure - that can be a sticky web to get woven into. Maybe post in your local area's forum and see if anyone there knows of a doc who will take on others' patients.

The ER would be hit or miss. For one, considering wait times to get in, let alone the wait of someone getting your doctor on the phone, or locating someone who has experience accessing ports, and balancing that against a ~3.5ish hour drive, you're probably looking at a quicker resolution from your surgeon. I know 2 bandsters who have had to seek unfills from ERs, and let's just say they didn't rave about the experience. I once needed an unfill from a doctor who hadn't done fills/unfills before, and it's not fun, and left me concerned about what exactly he might have done with that needle.

I pretty much had the same problem, and had to go to the ER. How about calling your Dr., and telling him the problem, and asking that he call the ER, or be willing to talk to an ER Dr. if they need to?

In my case, they unsuccessfully tried to access my port for WAY longer than I liked, then when I finally found out they had a flouroscope... they scheduled me in to see the radiologist the next day, and he did it, pretty easily and successfully.

It's worth a try. If not... you're gonna have to drive that 267 miles again.

I believe the ER can help you if you ask for a chemo nurse. They are familiar with ports for chemo.

The nurse who tried it out on me was supposed to be the portocath expert, and still couldn't do it. She said it was because those ones are so close to the surface, and ours (at least mine) isn't.

Couldn't you ask your doc to recommend someone closer to you for an emergency visit? He could call and explain the situation.

If you go to ER and they can't do it ask for a chemo nurse. If that is a problem ask for an oncologist. They do it all the time and under tricky scenarios.

Find a newbie oncologist in your area, someone that doesn't have a lot of business. Some folks have used them for a back up but really, an oncology nurse *should* be able to do it.

I was so tight I had to make a 250 mile trip twice! Once she unfilled it just a little, then it was still too tight and she had to completely take my fill out. It was not fun!

All three times I have had a fill it loosens up in a few days or one week. CAn you drink anything? My surgeon told me to stay on liquids a few days longer than he usually recommends to let the swelling go down.

Thanks everybody for the ideas. I did end up making the trip yesterday. I saw my surgeon's partner and we determined that he put in 1.5 on top of the 2.0cc that he put in at the time of my port replacement. He took out .5 and I drank some water and for a minute or two it seemed to go down fine but in the waiting room as I contiued to drink I knew I was still too tight. He ended up taking 1.0 out. Now this morning I am starving. I just can't win.

Lady, give it some time and take it slow. Baby your band and stomach right now and get back to eating good before you try for another fill. He may have taken too much out, but give your body a resting period. I didn't and I really paid for it for about a month and a half. In a couple of weeks if you can eat normal again with little or no pbing then think about getting a fill. Being too tight can really irritate things down there so my advice is to make sure you can get all your foods down really well before the next fill. Hope this helps.

I think maybe I was starving this morning because I hadnt had anything to eat or drink for 2 days. The rest of the day went very good. I had some tuna salad with a few crackers for lunch and I wasnt able to finish as much as I would have eaten last week. And I just got finished with meatloaf for dinner. No getting stuck no pb's. It is like perfect restriction. I had no desire to snack after lunch. It was a good day. I hope I dont have too much swelling and can keep this restriction. I am ready to get the rest of this weight off.