Hey everyone

I am 14 months out of surgery and I have lost an estimated 40 lbs. I have a 14cc band and I had 8.5 cc in my band. I have no experience of stuck food or pbing. I went to the doctor Wednesday and learned that I gained 2 pounds over 1 month period. My doctor did a flouro fill on me today and instead of putting fluid in he took fluid out -saying that I am to full ???? I explained to him that I think I actually need some fluid because I find myself eating alot but he tells me to eat the right foods and see him in 2-3 weeks. OMG If I wanted to diet I would not have put myself through this surgery and just starved myself. I am very frustrated and in serious thought of finding a new doctor !! It seems like he doesnt listen to me when I tell him I can eat alot I want to be able to only eat 1 -2 cups of something and become FULL. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated

Edited May 15, 200917 yr by baby deons mom

Having gone for a second opinion and changing doctors because of it, I am a big proponent of getting second opinions. My former doctor was inexperienced especially in follow up care and it showed when I developed problems. You need to feel comfortable with your doctor, have things explained to you and have your questions answered. If you weren't having problems - why did he do an unfill? Were you eating high calorie slider foods that can cause weight gain when you are too tight? Or were you just able to eat too much of regular food without problems of reflux or heartburn or pain? When was your most recent upper GI? Did it show that you were too tight? But as far as dieting - that is something that you will have to do for the rest of your life even with the band at it's proper fill (sweet spot). It just means that smaller amounts of healthy foods will satisfy you and cause you to lose weight. Many with the band continue with weight watchers or some other program. The band is suppose to help you with that by causing satiety with smaller amounts of food. But dieting and exercise is a part of the whole band experience. That being said, I know from my experience that the band will never work like that for me and have accepted that I will just have to calorie count and use willpower and exercise. I am unable to reach my sweet spot and will not tolerate pain, reflux or heartburn. How I think the band will work for me is to keep me from being able to eat the amounts of food I ate before, but as far as causing me to lose weight - well not so much (maybe a pound a month). I was banded in Sept. 08 and have lost 13 pounds from the band but my overall weight loss is 70 pounds (most from my own and all that pre and post op dieting - especially with liquids only). So each of us have to reach a point with the band where we can work on being healthy and feeling good. I hope you find that point. Good luck.

Hey everyone

I am 14 months out of surgery and I have lost an estimated 40 lbs. I have a 14cc band and I had 8.5 cc in my band. I have no experience of stuck food or pbing. I went to the doctor Wednesday and learned that I gained 2 pounds over 1 month period. My doctor did a flouro fill on me today and instead of putting Fluid in he took fluid out -saying that I am to full ???? I explained to him that I think I actually need some fluid because I find myself eating alot but he tells me to eat the right foods and see him in 2-3 weeks. OMG If I wanted to diet I would not have put myself through this surgery and just starved myself. I am very frustrated and in serious thought of finding a new doctor !! It seems like he doesnt listen to me when I tell him I can eat alot I want to be able to only eat 1 -2 cups of something and become FULL. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated

Can you give us an idea of what you eat in a day, amount and specific foods? That may be a start.

I would definitely look into switching doctors. If your doctor can't take the time to stop and listen to you then he's not worth keeping. You have to put you first.

when you decided to get your surgery ,it was pretty clear to be on a strict diet the rest of your life. it sounds like you are not eating the right foods or your not working out. i wish you good luck ,but take a look at your habits. before you judge the doctor.

Whether you're eating the right foods or not, your doctor should have explained the unfill to you rather than just hashing out instructions and stripping you of your saline.

You deserve more info. Get a second opinion. JMHO.

Habits aside (we all need to be honest with ourselves there), I tend to think that any doctor who knew anything about lapbands would know first and foremost that everyone's body reacts differently. Therefore no matter what some fluoro screen shows, its the restriction you FEEL that is the reality.

Fluoro would have to be the most overrated tool! It encourages overly agressive and large fills (because doctors can SEE Fluid getting through so they then fail to account for how the body may react, rather than take it slow and small and build up cautiously) and now here's an example of it forcing an unfill - all because the doctor thinks he can SEE what the situation is, so that's all the evidence he needs! You know what you feel and that's what you ought to go by. The fact that he thinks that he can tell by looking and doesnt seem to understand that what your body perceives is different would make me question his experience and knowledge. Even though he's probably being cautious, trying to save you problems and basically do the right thing by you.

Thank You everyone for your advice:-)

Jachut and jlray especially because your saying everything I feel. Just because the flouro fill shows one thing doesnt mean I dont know how my body feels. I mean me of all people should know how I feel as far as restrictions goes. Sometimes its good to know that your not alone because my family does not have a clue when I become frustrated with the doctor and the band .

BTW I do not eat the way I used to pre- band .. hence the 40 pounds I have lost. I dont sit and eat bons bons and ice cream all day and think the band isnt working for me. I do try to make sensible and healthy choices when eating but like everyone one else I too have slip ups. I eat way less then I did before I was banded. I am not JUDGING the doctor all Im saying is he only knows what he has been taught and does not have a band inside of him. He does not know FIRST hand how restriction should feel, he only goess off of what patients tell him and what he thinks is the correct fill from the Fluoro.

Again I just want to THANK everyone for your advice and for letting me VENT ... Guess I was just having a bad day:-(

I think that how your body FEELS is important as well. That being said, perhaps your doctor feels your are not getting enough calories. Perhaps he is assuming rather than knowing. I would ask him to clarify.