Unlocked Lapband 3 months post-op
I just came home from the doctor and it turns out the locking mechanism on the band has come unlocked.
This all started about 3 fills ago when I was feeling little to no restriction. Needless to say, I have been steadily gaining weight since my surgery. Still not at my pre-op weight, but damn close. At that point I had 4ccs in a 10cc band and the doctor kept reassuring me that this was a "big one" and should do the trick. I went for another fill this past Tuesday (March 22) and the PA gave me another 1cc fill, bringing me to 5ccs. She gave me a glass of water, which I drank no problem in the office, and she was baffled as to why I wasn't feeling anything at all. I told her that I never have felt any restriction before, so I wasn't as surprised as she was that I was able to get down a bottle of water. She gave me a protein bar in the office and that too went down no problem. After seeing that she scheduled me for a barium x-ray which I went for yesterday.
I dropped the CD of the films off at the office, and while I was there, the surgeon gave me another 1cc fill, for a total of 6ccs. Still felt nothing. He said he was going to take a look at the films and call me today.
He called me about 4pm and told me he thought the band was unlocked based on the xray, but he wasn't totally sure. So I went into the office and asked the PA to give me a BIG fill, and if I still felt nothing, I would be convinced. She gave me a full 10cc fill in my 10cc band, which she said would cause me to not even be able to swallow. Sure enough, I was able to take quite a few sips of my water bottle. SO, she took all of the saline out of the band, and I am waiting to hear from the doctor as to how to proceed.
Needless to say, I am devastated. My surgery was just this past December, and already I have had a complication. The doctor said this has only happened 1 or 2 times in all the surgeries he has done. He said fixing it is no real trouble, but still, it's another surgery, going through another round of anastesia and recovery, etc. etc.
I am requesting a new band altogether, but only if he can leave the port intact. The PA said he should be able to do this, but she wasn't 100% sure. The worst part about the last surgery was the incision pain, and if I can avoid that, it won't be sooo terrible.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? The PA said this isn't anything I caused, just a faulty band.
Any advice would be helpful!
Alyssa
This all started about 3 fills ago when I was feeling little to no restriction. Needless to say, I have been steadily gaining weight since my surgery. Still not at my pre-op weight, but damn close. At that point I had 4ccs in a 10cc band and the doctor kept reassuring me that this was a "big one" and should do the trick. I went for another fill this past Tuesday (March 22) and the PA gave me another 1cc fill, bringing me to 5ccs. She gave me a glass of water, which I drank no problem in the office, and she was baffled as to why I wasn't feeling anything at all. I told her that I never have felt any restriction before, so I wasn't as surprised as she was that I was able to get down a bottle of water. She gave me a protein bar in the office and that too went down no problem. After seeing that she scheduled me for a barium x-ray which I went for yesterday.
I dropped the CD of the films off at the office, and while I was there, the surgeon gave me another 1cc fill, for a total of 6ccs. Still felt nothing. He said he was going to take a look at the films and call me today.
He called me about 4pm and told me he thought the band was unlocked based on the xray, but he wasn't totally sure. So I went into the office and asked the PA to give me a BIG fill, and if I still felt nothing, I would be convinced. She gave me a full 10cc fill in my 10cc band, which she said would cause me to not even be able to swallow. Sure enough, I was able to take quite a few sips of my water bottle. SO, she took all of the saline out of the band, and I am waiting to hear from the doctor as to how to proceed.
Needless to say, I am devastated. My surgery was just this past December, and already I have had a complication. The doctor said this has only happened 1 or 2 times in all the surgeries he has done. He said fixing it is no real trouble, but still, it's another surgery, going through another round of anastesia and recovery, etc. etc.
I am requesting a new band altogether, but only if he can leave the port intact. The PA said he should be able to do this, but she wasn't 100% sure. The worst part about the last surgery was the incision pain, and if I can avoid that, it won't be sooo terrible.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? The PA said this isn't anything I caused, just a faulty band.
Any advice would be helpful!
Alyssa
Life is a journey, not a destination** 
(deactivated member)
on 3/27/11 11:38 am - Charlotte, NC
on 3/27/11 11:38 am - Charlotte, NC
I'm SO SORRY to hear your story. At least you have been persistent and it should NOT have taken this long, in my humble opinion. It is bad enough that the device failed, but to go in so many times, have them put fluid in the band and you still gain weight:? Also, probably a good idea that you insisted on a whole NEW device as long as you will have to have another surgery...GOOD FOR YOU! 
I wish you the BEST of results and a speedy recovery with your new band! You HAVE to be your own advocate in your health care these days!
Holly
I wish you the BEST of results and a speedy recovery with your new band! You HAVE to be your own advocate in your health care these days!
Holly
Thank you! From what the doctor said, it could take a little bit of time for the fills to effect anything, so he thought nothing of it at first. But, 4 fills later, he started to get concerned. Will speak to the doctor to schedule the surgery tomorrow... hopefully he can get me in this week. Thanks for your support.
Life is a journey, not a destination**
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