I am so discouraged. I had my third fill this week for a total of 6.3 cc in my APS 10 cc band. I still have no restriction at all. As a matter of fact, if it were not for the 5 scars from surgery, I wouldn't even know that I had a band. I realize that I have a lower starting BMI than most people, but my numerous comorbidities (including severe acid reflux that was corrected surgically due to a hiatal hernia) made me a good candidate for the band. The surgeon told me immediately following surgery that the band was "just spinning there" and that I would probably have a difficult time with the post-op diet since I wouldn't feel restriction. But 2 months and 6.3 cc later I am still left to my own inner restraint/willpower, which has totally gone by the wayside. When I go in for a fill the nurse practioner always withdraws at least 1 cc to make certain she has correctly accessed the port before adding any more. This time I begged the surgeon's office into letting me come back for another fill in 2 weeks (they will only put in 3-5 cc each visit), but I am really wondering if perhaps I was really not a candidate for the band and it will never inflate enough to give me any restriction. Has ANYONE had or known of someone with a similar issue? This is REALLY troublesome, but the office's response is one of, "Oh, well... you can't compare yourself to others." I realize this, but COME ON! 6.3 and nothing?

Edited December 22, 200817 yr by jeannebs1

Hi,

When I read your post, I had to double check the name on it to make sure that it was not one that I had previously written!! I was banded on July 21, 2008 and have 7.5 cc in a 10 cc Realize band and am finally beginning to feel some restriction. It has been so frustrating to say the least. If I tried really hard and lost a few pounds, my doctor wouldn't fill me because she said that I was doing well, so the next month I ate until I was satisfied and thus gained the weight back. During my last visit, I was insistant that I wanted to know why I could eat 3 slices of pizza or an entire sub with no problem if I supposedly had a stomach that would only hold 1/2 cup. She decided to order a barium swallow (which they had discontinued doing after the surgery because no one had ever had a problem). Well low and behold I have a hiatal hernia caused by the procedure which is larger than my new stoma, so I now have 3 stomachs except the one is not supposed to be there and is weak. They said that explains why I have been able to eat so much and not feel anything. It only happens in less than 1% of the surgeries and since my doctor had never had a case of it happening, they decided to discontinue the barium swallow. Now I have to meet with my surgeon on Friday to see what my options are. I'm assuming that I am going to have to go back for surgery to repair the hernia. Is that going to mean that the band is no longer an option for me since this happened the first time? I've wasted 6 months and a lot of psychogical damage and am worse off than I was before I had the surgery done. At least I finally have an answer and it is not just in my head. I hope your situation is getting better.

Sincerely,

Linda S

Dear Linda --That is a MAJOR bummer! Do you suffer from acid reflux at all? When I had my lap band surgery the doctor saw that I had a hiatal hernia (quite large, actually) and repaired it on the spot. Since then I have not had another episode of acid reflux (thank heavens!). I am so grateful that it was repaired and I hope that your situation can be rectified, as well. I would assume that the repair can be performed laproscopically. I did not realize that a hiatal hernia could negatively influence the effects of the lap band, so I am very blessed that my hernia was repaired at the time my lap band was seated. The surgeon even gave me a picture of the hernia (before and after repair - very interesting!) as well as a picture of the lap band. He predicted at that time that I would probably take longer to reach restriction than the majority of his patients since I did not have a lot of fat around my stomach. (I carry my fat lower on my body.) Unfortunately, I now have 7.4 cc and am still not feeling restriction, although I know that I cannot gulp my Water the same way that I used to. Did you have a lower starting BMI? That appears to be a pervasive theme here.

Good luck and best wishes to you. I hope that all will go well with you!