Heads up...

I just want to give a heads up to people who are questioning their success with the band. I was banded Sept '08 and I had lost approx. 30 pounds. I went to the doctor to get advise on "why" my weight loss was so slow. He asked questions... and then suggested we actually see how much saline I had in my band. I was told by the nurse, who was adding the saline, that I had 8.5 cc. Come to find out...she was adding half the amount of what she was telling me. I had a little under 5 ccs in my band. DUH... no wonder I had little restriction... I thought it was me !!!  I now have 7 ccs in my band.... and I can sure feel the restriction.
Needless to say that nurse no longer works at that office. My advise is to go and have a saline check before throwing in the towel.
I don't know why this nurse felt the need to play with my mind and my body... unfortunatly there are some deranged people working in the medical field.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that she was deranged or playing with your mind/body.  People make mistakes, bands have leaks, lots of things can happen.

The problem most with bands have isn't a lack of restriction, it's an inability to have a sweet spot, scar tissue forming under the band and providing too much restriction (obstruction), band intolerance, slips, erosion, all kinds of problems.

I had a band and spent the majority of my banded life unfilled or underfilled.  One day I could eat a huge steak in a sitting and the next day I couldn't swallow my own saliva.  People have band problems for various reasons.

Reggie,

Thanks for the info... It's good advise... I'm in the process of trying to get a band over RNY (From 16 years ago).. 

Question....  Is it painful to get the band fills done?   Also how long did it take you to lose the 30 lbs?

Thanks,

Jeannie

Fills hurt sometimes but they do not have to hurt.  If they can't find your port and they have to keep digging that can be an ouchy.  But most times it's no big deal.

If they struggle to find your port and you just can't stand it make them stop and tell them you want a fill under fluoroscopy and it's totally pain free that way.

What is fluoroscopy ?

Moving xray.

Have you ever had an upper GI where you had to drink barium and the doctor could watch the barium moving through your esophagus and down into your stomach?  That's fluoro.

When they use fluoro to do a fill they can see your port and get it on the first stick.  Then they can see your restriction and see how fast the barium flows through your band.

Most doctors in the US don't use fluoro but doctors in Mexico do.  It's the cost.  I'm driving distance from my MX doctor so I always had fills under fluoro.  In the US it is hundreds of dollars.  In MX it is $75.00. ;o)

Sorry this took so long in answering... My experiance with fills were very painful !!! I hated going for my appointments. In January my surgeon did the fill and I didn't even know that he'd inserted the needle into my stomach. Most people report that the fills are not painful... but my first 4 fills from that same nurse were horrible. I really beleive that nurse didn't know what she was doing. It was commented that there were other patients "experiencing" the same thing I did. I mean... I have never felt so much restriction like I do now...and I was suppose to be at 8.5 ccs? No way... I am at 7 cc and I am definatly restricted !!!  My 30 pounds came off in six months. I know I should not compare the time frames...but it was much slower than most...but at least they are gone.

Good Luck...