Missing in Action having needed surgery

Hi all, I haven't had an opportunity to come in for a while.  Life is keeping me very very busy.  Still working both jobs.  I was in Marquette for 4 days with my daughter for her college orientation and this weekend will be my first weekend off from work in a while.  When I have been off, I've been busy beautifying our yard. Anywho, I just wanted you all to know, that for many many many months I've been struggling and doing my best to eat properly.  I'm not eating bad, but too much which has been the case all along.  Finally last week I decided enough was enough.  I have known that something hasn't been right with my band for many many months and why the person doing my fills didn't notice this is beyond me.  At this point it is possible that my band was damaged during my first fill back in Nov of 2006 because when they went to do my second fill on Dec 27th of 2006 I had no saline in my band, my Dr attributed it to air in the band or a leak.  As noted in my records he states having difficulting do my first fill and yes my first fill was no picnic. So for the past 20 months now I have had 12 fills and as of 3 months ago they believe my 4cc band (which they say can hold more) was supposidely at 5.3cc's!!!!!!  Well finally they decided to draw the fill out at see just what I had in there.  THERE WAS NOTHING!  So at the beginning of this month they filled me up until I actually for the first time every had to drink my water slowly that was 2.8cc's.  Well that was too much, for three weeks I couldn't eat, well I could, only I had to puree everything.  Since I had to go to Mi, I called them to remove some of the fill.  They removed .4 so I was at 2.4cc's BUT within 2 days of them removing the .4, I again totally lost my restriction.  So everything I called because I knew I didn't have restriction, most likely I had lost the entire fill which meant every single time I got a fill I was starting out all over again and again and again.  I managed to only gain 13 pounds back  which means I'm still down 53 pounds, but according the the dr. I haven't lost anything in over a year.  I'm at 186 and despite the fact that I bought a bike and I'm biking to and from work, (5 hilly miles each way) I'm still not losing.  I am watching what I eat.   I haven't had a hamburger or hot dog in 20+ months and since I don't have restriction I'm going to have a hambuger sometime before next Wed. and I'm going to enjoy a hot dog. Next Wed I will have a thirty minute procedure to repair my lapband or more basically my port.  Once again I will be starting over again.  Really sucks as I am almost 2 years out and well, I never got past the second month with a working band. Do I think the band is worth it??????  I don't know anymore.  Yes and no.  Have I started wishing I would have gone with RNY yeh sometimes.  This has been such a hard hard struggle for me.  All the time I thought I was failing, but really my band was never working basically I managed to stay on a diet for 20 plus months, but it would have been easy to totally fall off the wagon due to no restirction time and time again.  I'm disappointed that no one at my Dr's. office started questioning all the fills I was getting and wondering what was going on.  Obviously I was never at 5.3cc's as I couldn't handle being at 2.8cc's. So I just wanted to update you all.   Kathleen

How awful for you!!!  But at least now it will get fixed and you'll be on your way.  Don't let this get you down.  Things happen with this surgery and we just hope it doesn't happen to us.  Could have been worse -- the band could have broken and you would LITERALLY be starting over. LOTS OF CONGRATS TO YOU for not gaining.  Just shows you have the resolve to do this once things get fixed.  THAT IS A HUGE STEP!!!! Keep us posted on your surgery and how the loss goes.  We are here for you. XXOO

Kathleen, I have been thinking about you since I last saw you at the mall and when we had discussed this issue you were having, sorry to hear that you will need to have surgery to correct this problem. I am sending prayers your way for a safe surgery and speedy recovery. Take Care, Erika :)

I'm sorry to hear about your struggle. Hopefully you will some good advise from some banders.

I dont have alot of advice, because I am a newer bandster.  I just had my 4th fill this week, so now I think I have 7cc's in a 9 cc band.  I think I am at a good point now...and finally starting to lose weight again.  The restriction works really cool.  My advice would be to give it another shot.  I think you would be happy if it was working correctly.  Good luck to you

Hey Kathleen!!! I'm so sorry you've been having trouble with your band.  But I do have to say CONGRATS for keeping most of the weight off despite that. That is AWESOME and in itself says that when they get this resolved, you will be working that tool and reaping the rewards. Hang in there and don't be a stranger.   (((Hugs))) Michelle

Kathleen, Bummer.......But hey, look how much you have lost and kept off on your own bacically. Good luck next Wednesday, I hope it all goes well. Kelly

Sorry to hear that you have been having problems. I hope they can get you headed in the right direction. I will say a prayer for yuou on Wednesday. Also....congrats on maintaining your weight loss. That is awesome!! Hugs, connie d

Well, you've done really well on your own! I think your avatar looks good and when I saw it, thought you must have lost weight. The biking on those Duluth hills must be helping. I'm glad to hear you'll be getting your port (and tubing?) replaced. With your determination, you'll be losing again! I hope it all goes well. My doc always pulls out the saline to check to see how much is there - hope you can convince them to do that for you from now on! Jean B.

Thanks for the support everyone! I just had someone post in the lapband forum that they had a port/tubing revision last Fri she said it was a breeze and she's already losing agian and enjoying having restriction so I'm very excited. The thing that bugs me is if the Dr. punctured this thing when he did the first fill, why does my insurance have to pay for it?  Not only that, but I haven't fully met my deductible which means I'll have to pay the difference.......  That kinda stinks. Well at least I know there is know way I could have handled my 4cc band filled to 5.3cc's when at 2.8cc's I couldn't even handle some of the foods I pureed.  But 2.4 for the 2 days that it held was good. I biked again today to work and it sounds like it's going to be a great weekend here and since my daughter borrowed my car (her soon to be car) to go to the cities this weekend I'll have a chance to get some more biking in.  I've got 35 miles in this week so far.  I've managed to stay on course with eating, it's just I'm eating more than I should.  Last night I did have a beer braut with saurkraut on wheat.  I knew I wouldn't be able to have anything like this again once I have restriction.  My significant other was going to take me out for a coney last night, but he like my brauts better.  Tonight or Saturday he taking me out for a really really good (not McDonald's) hamburger since I can't eat those either when I have restriction.  I've been craving salads and cucumbers the past two weeks so I've really been enjoying them! Here's to finally having a band that will work.  I'm hoping this will make it more like a breeze since I've basically done the first 54 pounds on my own mind you I was down 66 pounds, that was back in Jan.  Thanks again everyone for the support! Kathleen