I was told by my nurse specialist with our lapband program that I can only have 3 fills my first year. Has anyone else been told a limit?

My doctor is aggressive with fills. Fills it until you're completely restricted and the Water just sits in your throat, the takes pulls out tiny amounts at a time until it just trickles down. I see that some have several fills at set amounts of 1cc at a time or some have larger fills.

What do you guys think?

That is how my doc does the fills ( however i am not limited and I would not call mine aggressive ) he fills the band up, then slowly allows it out , but its also done under flouro, But that is also not a guarantee that you will not become too tight. Im PRIME Example of that ! Knowing what I know now, no way i would go to someone who only allows so many fills, limts when you can get fills, or schedules them in advance . Wouldnt do it . I personally do not think that would work .

I think that allowing only a certain amount of fills is setting patients up for 2 steps forward 3 steps back kind of thing.

I had 5 fills my first yr and 3 unfills , ( I swell easily ) and i only have a 4cc band . So no i dont personally agree w/ that .

Mindy

I was told by my nurse specialist with our lapband program that I can only have 3 fills my first year. Has anyone else been told a limit? What do you guys think?

i would have been screwed. in a yrs time i had 8fills & it was only by fill #5 did i feel "some" restriction. #8 was what gave me my sweet spot - but after 3 months i had gotten tighter, and subsequently have had 3 unfills.

my fill schedule was one that i could have gone every 2wks. i typically waited longer to see if the fill "would" kick in - like i had read so many had said. i averaged every 4wks.

first i've read on a time limit....i was self pay and had a free fill schedule the first yr or 10 (no charge for unfills).....

I have never heard of that either. Something doesn't seem right about that. Not everyone is the same - as we know from the posts we read here. Some take one or two and some take many more. How can they say that 3 will work for every patient?? I too have 10 fills that are included in the cost of my band. I'm hoping I don't have to have that many... but who knows?? I would check with your surgeon if I was you - maybe the nurse specialist meant something else - could she have meant that 3 fills were included, or covered, in the cost of your surgery and any over that you might have to pay for??? Don't get stressed out about it - check with your doctor. Good luck to you. Take care. Becky

I have never heard of that either. Something doesn't seem right about that. Not everyone is the same - as we know from the posts we read here. Some take one or two and some take many more. How can they say that 3 will work for every patient?? I too have 10 fills that are included in the cost of my band. I'm hoping I don't have to have that many... but who knows?? I would check with your surgeon if I was you - maybe the nurse specialist meant something else - could she have meant that 3 fills were included, or covered, in the cost of your surgery and any over that you might have to pay for??? Don't get stressed out about it - check with your doctor. Good luck to you. Take care. Becky

Becky brings up a good point . Maybe its just 3 fills , which that even is a little low , who is your doctor ? Maybe you can find someone else on the board who has seen him and ask them about it ?

My doc when i had my surgery had the first yrs fills and after care visits free now its 6 months .

But i would check

Mindy

I have unlimited fills. However, my doc also fills you to the max and lets the water sit in your throat till it begins to trickle down. Theres also the issue with the evaporated solution.. Because you can get 5cc and the next appt only have 4cc in the band... So you need the unlimited fills.

I was banded April 28th and had my 5th fill last week. Just beginning to feel restricted. Down about 28 lbs. (a bit slow in my opinion) My doctors feeling is slow but sure. He said he will give me as many fills as it takes to get to the point where my appetite is curbed and the weight loss a bit quicker. He seems to be a bit conservative when giving more fill at one time. A bit frustrating if you ask me.

I was banded April 28th and had my 5th fill last week. Just beginning to feel restricted. Down about 28 lbs. (a bit slow in my opinion) My doctors feeling is slow but sure. He said he will give me as many fills as it takes to get to the point where my appetite is curbed and the weight loss a bit quicker. He seems to be a bit conservative when giving more fill at one time. A bit frustrating if you ask me.

I haven't thought to ask about how many fills, per year or lifetime. I guess I ought to know that!

In bandster hell, hungry and 3 weeks till 3rd fill..

Thanks:wink2: for your replies everyone... I have an appt on Tuesday and I am going to ask. Maybe its only 3 covered with the band operation and the rest is a nominal charge. I don't think I want another fill now anyway, things occasionally hang up, haven't PB'ed, but don't want too either.

My surgeon insists on seeing me once a month for the first year to follow my progress. I feel it helps keep me honest and accountable...he bills the insurance but its not covered and they tell me no charge when I check out. (I think everyone has an angle sometimes!)

Thanks:wink2: for your replies everyone... I have an appt on Tuesday and I am going to ask. Maybe its only 3 covered with the band operation and the rest is a nominal charge. I don't think I want another fill now anyway, things occasionally hang up, haven't PB'ed, but don't want too either.

My surgeon insists on seeing me once a month for the first year to follow my progress. I feel it helps keep me honest and accountable...he bills the insurance but its not covered and they tell me no charge when I check out. (I think everyone has an angle sometimes!)

If you have insurance i am wondering if its not that the insurnace covers 3 or 3 are included w/ the insurance then after that you have to pay a copay ?

I have heard of that . I would ask for sure. maybe find someone else w/ your insurance in the mean time see what they say ?

i just got banded on friday, and my dr. said every six weeks for me to go in and get fills

my dr says every six weeks too

I don't understand these restricted schedules. Everyone is different and reacts differently to fills so they should have the flexibility to get one as needed. Usually you wait 6 weeks after surgery to alllow for healing but after that, it should be according to how your band and pouch is adjusting to the fill. I've been banded 3 months and have already had 4 fills. It turns out I'm pretty sensitive to fills so after the initial fill of 3 cc, I've had .5 cc each successive fill for a total of 4.5 cc in 8 cc band. I was self pay and the first year of follow up care and unlimited fill adjustments were included in the price. But even if it weren't I'd pay to have the number of fills/unfills needed to maximize the band. Why pay so much to have the surgery and go through this process only to have the band working at less than full capacity? It is a tool but like all tools, it needs to be fine tuned for maximum results.

sounds like it could be an insurance issue.

My doc tries to have patients where they need to be in 3 months. I have been going in every 2-3 wks for fills.

So interesting how everyone is different.