Ask Dr. Curry

If you put fluid in and immediately cannot pull hardly any out, there is either a kink that is acting as a one-way valve, or the tubing is completely sheared off.  I have seen this happen just from friction where the catheter enters the muscle.  Fortunately replacing a port should not be nearly as much cost as your original band.

Good luck,

Hi! I've had the lapband for about 10 and a half months. I was at 2.75cc in a 4cc band after 5 small fills. My last fill was in March, and it seemed to give me pretty good restriction. I was sometimes tighter than others, but didn't ever feel like I was overly tight. For example, I didn't have to completely eliminate any one food group from my diet. Anyway, starting in June I started feeling ill. I'm not sure if this has/had anything to do with the band, but about 2 weeks later I started getting really bad acid reflux at night. I would wake up choking on my stomach acid. However, it didn't seem to change what I could tolerate during the day.

My doctor took out .25cc last Friday and the acid reflux has stopped. So I guess my questions are 1. Does this sound like the signs of a slipped band or just that for some reason I was suddenly too tight? and 2. Do you think  I would able to get my band filled again or will the same problems probably creep up again?

Probably just a little too tight, we see this a lot.  You may be able to be filled again, it's hard to predict until you try.  A barium swallow might help delineate the anatomy.

 I am 2 years post lap band. I have a 4cc band. I have lost a total of 145 pounds over the first 14 months. Also maintained for about 5 months.. then started getting very hungry and gaining a few pounds. Have had a total of 6 fills and 2 times removing some of my fill.... If I get to 3.3cc I start to have problems. This time I went in because I felt I had no restriction. He did barium swallows and it showed I was VERY tight, although I was eating almost anything and to much, and had no symptoms of being tight, no nause, vomiting anything.. I also was hungry... so my doc pulled me down to 2cc... and said my pouch had dilated that was why I was not staying satisfied. Then after 5 weeks, he did another barium swallow and it was better, so he increased me back to 2.6cc. I am still hungry and worried about my pouch. I asked about pulling all the fluid out and he said it was not necessary, that I had already gained back 5 pounds and taking removing all the fluid would make me gain more.. But, I am worried that the pouch may still be stretched out.. if I go on liquids for a while will it help to reduce the pouch, so I feel satisfied again, when I eat?? not sure what to do.. I have a great surgeon, but I am a nurse manager at our hospital and was his first case, so worried that maybe over the 2 years of doing these maybe he has not had this problem with others. I just want to protect my band and do what is best. Was not sure if this was a common problem and was doing the right treatment plan or if I needed to be unfilled. 

The less strain you put on your pouch the less likely it will dilate.  Whether the reduced strain comes from a complete unfill or softer foods it doesn't matter.  Most patients who get pouch dilation have to sort of learn to live with less restriction.  It sucks, but major restriction usually leads to dilation again in my experience.

 how long should I remain on soft foods or liquids to decrease the pouch dilation???

We usually recommend an unfill followed by 4 weeks of soft/liquid.

Hello Dr. Curry,
thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions. I am a bit concerned with my situation. In May found out I had a leak since I was always missing about 3 cc's out of the 6 that was put in. I had it fixed on june 6th and have had several fills since then. When I have gone in the last couple of times it looks like I am missing about 1 to 2 cc's. Is missing cc's normal? I am so afraid I may have another leak. Help!

Thanks for your time,
Kathy

Missing cc's is not uncommon now and then, but if it happens every time then I get concerned for a leak.  They can be very difficult to diagnose unfortunately.

Ok so I'm over a year into having my band and I'm going CRAZY!!!!!
I use to have this doctor that I could not talk to about ANYTHING. I was misarable for a year. Throwing up everytime I ate. Pains in my side that were crippeling.  I told him about it and he just blew it off or acted like it was something I was doing wrong.
I went to a new Doctor a few months ago and I love her! But I have this burning question. When she unfilled my band so I could have tests done the my band was only filled to like 2 cc's I have a 10 cc band. She has now put me slowley up to around 3cc's and i feel NO restriction. Unless stressed.  So I am wondering now that i am filled more and have no restriction is their any possibility that my band had some air in it? I really think I'm gonna ask her to go up to 5.5 cc's. Becuse If I don't do something fast and keep gaining weight. I'm going to fall back into my depression hole :(

HELP!!!!