Can Anyone Tell Me What Their Perfect Fill Is ....

Maybe you all can help me out here !I know this question has probably been asked a millon times but I'm going to make it a million and one ! Last month I got a fill which put me at 2.0 in my 10cc band and there was some missing from my last fill. Needless to say one month later I knew I had to get in for another fill because my restriction was not lasting so I went for another fill today and again I had some missing he put in 2.4 . I told him I was worried about it and he said it was nothing to worry about that some just probably leaked out before he took the needle out and the port closed... at least that is how I understood what he said . I think he is being to conservative with his fills and should allow for the leakage if that is the case . I go back in three months and if I have more leakage should I ask him to do a test to see if if anything is wrong ? Its getting expensive forking out $150.00 a month for a fill and having hardly no restriction ... of course I know I don't have that much in my band and maybe when I get that perfect fill it will work . Yikes ! This has me worried . On the up side I did lose 5 lbs. this month but it wasn't easy . ~ Cindy

I had the exact thing happen to me in September. My fill level went from 9cc to 5cc. They tested my band for a leak and found nothing so the doctor said that the fluid "aspirated" when the fill needle was taken out. What a waste of fill money...

Thanks Marcia for telling me that ! I guess he knows what he is talking about then . I am self pay and my insurance won't pay for any test I have done on the band but still if it keeps up I may have to be tested for a leak . I hope not though . ~ Cindy

I just had this really weird experience with my doc which may have some relevance. He put in sterile water instead of saline! I suppose that was better than sulphuric acid but slightly concerning!!! However, no harm done. But he explained that the reason he had to take it all out and replace it with the correct saline was because we need the salinity in order to prevent the fluid leaching out. My chemistry and biology are very shaky but I seem to remember tha****er moves towards saline and vice versa so that without salt in our bands, the liquid could move out into the body. This is possibly a loopy suggestion, but are there different levels of salinity in different saline solutions???? Kate

Thanks Kate , I don't know but I will certainly ask my Dr. about the saline solution when I go back . ~ Cindy

Cindy, As soon as I figure it out, I'll be happy to tell you! I had a few fills w/ some evaporation in the beginning but seemed to do well after that. I did need one un-fill (I'm not a big fan of getting stuck!!) I've got a 10 cc band as well and I'm still at less than 6 cc's. I can't say that I have great restriction and I haven't really 'buckled down' after the holidays..... but I'm about to!

Thanks Ann , I never realized this was such a common problem . Getting stuck with the needle doesn't bother me as much as the $150.00 for a fill that lasts less than a month ..... I could buy a nice handbag with ...lol ! Not that I need another one . ~ Cindy

My Doc says that when a band is put in it is completely empty. (no air no nothin) so when you get your first fill it kinda "sucks" in some saline to become "at rest" instead of collapsed in. I hope that makes sense. I lost about .5cc in my 4cc band to make it "at rest" as she calls it. I am now at 2.75 but that does not count the .5 that seemed to disappear when it was initally put in.

Thanks Angie , This was my fourth fill actually fifth if you count the one unfill I had . I had fluid missing the last two fills I've had . Hopefully it will resolve itself . I just want enough to keep restriction for a while . ~ Cindy