I had my surgery on June 12 (11 CC Realize band). My first fill was in mid-July. I've had three fills total, and the nurse has put 8.5 cc total into my band, but at my second and third fills, she couldn't draw back out as much as I should have in there. At my last fill she could only draw back out 7 cc.

Is this within the range of normal? Can 1.5 cc be "hiding" in the tubing?

I'm definitely feeling less restriction now than I did a week after my most recent fill. Hoping I don't have a leak. Any thoughts? Thanks!

What was their thoughts - were they concerned?

I've only had one fill, but they told me it was okay if at the next fill there was up to 1cc difference from what was put in.

Just to calm yourself, I would call in the morning to double check

I had the same thing happen and I was concerned. I was told not to be as they do not draw everything out.The Dr explained it as being an adjusted fill total - I got very confused but I assume that it is not a problem.

I'm going in for a check in a couple of days. The nurse told me to call and come back in if I could eat more than a cup of food at a time. I can definitely eat more than that, though I'm trying not to. She did say that if I didn't feel good restriction after the most recent fill, or if it didn't last, she would want to check whether I have a slow leak.

Caroline,

I just saw your post and thought I would respond. I was banded July 08. I believe shortly after my first fill there was a leak because of the amount that was being drawn back out of my band. I also wasn't staying restricted more than 3 weeks. The closer I got to the "sweet spot" (more fill) the faster the restriction would disappear but I never lost more than 2 cc before another fill. My Dr.'s office allows for a 1 cc variance from the last fill because all the liquid may not be pulled out. After having them track it for 7 months they confirmed/felt I really did have a slow leak. At one point I had to stay away 8 weeks just to see the 2 cc loss. I just had a port replacement and my first fill. I feel like I lost a lot of time and started gaining weight because my band would not stay tight. I would stay on it and not let it drag on if you can help it. : ) All is well now!

I've had the same thing happen to me with the Realize Band. I think part of the issue is it's a low pressure band, which makes it more difficult to draw out all the saline (at least that's what I was told) by a nurse.

I was convinced I had a leak, because I didn't get good restriction until my fill amount was well over 9cc (I have the 9cc band), coupled with the inability for the doctor to retrieve all the Fluid he had given me. My last two fills were under fluoro, and during the first of those two, it was obvious that my band was giving my restriction, but I just needed more to reach an ideal level of satiety.

My last fill was called a pressure fill under fluoro. The doctor hooked a gauge up to the the fill needle to measure the pressure of my band. It was high, but not off the chart, and he said he had a few other patients who needed that level to get good restriction. My last fill was .5cc, and although I stopped counting, and that was probably about 11cc total in my 9cc band.

That was the fill that did the trick. I have amazing restriction. I can still eat just about any type of food, no pb'ing, reflux, etc, but with 1/2 cup meals I stay satisfied 4+ hours. I rarely feel hungry in between meals, and when I do, a drink takes care of it. That's what I was counting on with the band.