Banded 2007

Hi

I was banded in 2007, I went from 268/148 and recently I noticed  I was able to eat more and was gaining weight. I went to see my doctor and I had hardly any saline in, he added 4cc and is going to have me come back in 2 weeks to see what is in there. I am worried I have a leak, I have never had this happen. With the 4cc that he added, I do feel a little different, and I am not as hungry, but I do not feel as restricted as I was. It seems like I went from tight to nothing in a matter of a week. Any words to ease my worries ?

This won't ease your mind but I need to let you know that rapid decrease in restriction(especially after so long) can also be a sign of erosion. The band erodes into the stomach which if left undetected can cause sepsis or poisoning of your stomach and insides and can be deadly. It often cannot be seen from the outside and they sometimes have to do surgery to see if that is what the cause is.

Now if you are very lucky it is just a leak somewhere in the tubing or port so don't let this just go on by without keeping a close eye on it, your life could depend on your vigilance. I wish you the best and hope it is nothing more than a leak!

Probably a leak.  About five years ago, I went to bed with my normal level of restriction and woke up the next morning with none.

i had a leak in the tubing midway between the band and the port. Quick operation ( in through an existing incision), chopped out the leak, reconnected the ends. I have been fine ever since.

cause not certain, but probably due to the lack of internal fat meaning there was excess tubing which rubbed against harder muscle. 

Thank you so much - how did they find your leak ? and was the fix a day surgery operation?

Thank you that eases my mind a little - My surgery was originally covered under my insurance and now it is not, I am hoping for the best and at the worse, a leak, was your surgery day surgery to repair the leak? and how did they find the leak?

The doctor injected dye into the port and looked under XRay to see where in the tubing it came out. It was day surgery and recovery was very easy - just the one entry point and no internal sutures etc.. I am a Brut and do can't quote costs really but it was £2200 which I think is somewhere around $3500. But that was about guve years ago, 

Thank you - I go back next week on Friday to get the fluid checked to see if it is still there, I will keep you posted. You have been a great help