huge problems with poor restriction level.

pjrugby · February 17, 2008

hi all

has this happended to anyone.. if so what did you do ,, how did it go ? I would be grateful..

in summary

Lap band fitted in may 07 - no restriction

Ist fill under x-ray June 07 - no restriction

2nd fill under x-ray about August 07-some restriction which lasted about 2wks then subsided.

3rd fill under x-ray in October 07, great restriction (but with no pb ing at all) this lasted for for about 5 weeks , which then subsided :girl_hug:. After the main feeling of restriction had gone i could not eat as much as I could eat pre-surgery. but could still eat and drinks lots.. downing a pint of Water was not a problem. In october 07 i was told about 10.5mls in total had been put in my swedish adjustable gastric band, and there was no more room.

i have just gone back to the hospital very upset. My BMI began at 38 and its still 34 now !! The doctor has no suggests as to why the feeling in October has subsided.. he said either there is a leak or i forced two much food down which made the band stretch (how on earth could i have done this.. surely if i did this i would have pb'd) . I have never ever forced food down or caused myself any pain.

So this week i had another procecure under x-ray.. I discovered that the band is secure on my stomach and looks good.!! the doctor withdrew 6.5mls out of my band. He then flushed through dye and x-rayed it .. he said there were no leaks and said he could only fit 5mls back in. I questioned him lots;

He said although we had worked out that 10.5mls in total has been put in.. he only took out 6.5mls. so where have the other 4mls gone? he said he could not get the whole amount of Fluid out.as some will stay in the band/port (that makes sense) then he said some must have evaporated (how on earth can this happen.isn't the band a sealed unit ?). He couldn't elaborate. He then told me that sometimes the band can bulge out - on the wrong side. not the side wrapped around my stomach. so if this happens the restriction won't be on my stomach..The doctor then starting telling me about other procedures on the market which are much better.(not good to hear).

I have a few weeks before my consultant appointment. But am so stressed about how poor this band has worked.

And guess what.. restriction is so so so poor, its not there at all !!!!!!!!!!!!

god this journey is going so badly i am so fed up. i wish i hadn't started it all.

sorry this has gone on a bit.. sorry if its not that clear..

i am so happy for you guys that it has worked for.. but am so distressed that my journey has been so negative.. as you will all be aware, the more negative the feels the more junk food i want to eat. and the more of a failure i feel (am sure that sounds familiar to a lot of you).. This band is just not working as it should.

with kind regards and best wishes

JaxBandster · February 17, 2008

Unfortunately I don't know much about the Swedish lap band, just the Allergan band. I have heard with the Allergan band that you can take out alll of the fill, wait for a couple of weeks and then start filling again. Supposedly, this results in a feeling of starting all over again with fills. Like I said, I have heard this about the Allergan band, not sure how it is with the band you are talking about.

The only other thing I can suggest is the possibility of either getting another type of band or the sleeve?

I'm sorry to hear that you are having such difficulty.