Frustrated

I went to my surgeon yesterday and got a 2cc fill bringing my total to 6cc in a 14cc band.  At one time, I had a little over 7cc in my band, but had to have an unfill after somehow irritating my band and causing swelling which caused me to be unable to even drink water.  This happened about 5 weeks after the fill.  So, I got the first unfill and when I went back I got a little more taken out.  Then of course, I was way too loose and I gained a pound.  Now, I'm sore and in pain.  It feels like I have hearburn just sitting in the middle of my chest.  I haven't been able to even drink more than three glasses of water today.  I don't think this is normal.  I've never felt like this after a fill.  I don't know if it is due to the 2cc's being too much or the incredible heat here making it seem tighter, if it will get better, or what.  And, I'm pissed because I have to pay $40 copay for every visit.  Now, I know that's better than being self-pay, but I'm on a tight budget.  And, my surgeon is only in his office on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Does anyone else experience this after a fill?

Sounds like your a bit tight. I have had similar experience to you, and I am self pay- about a hundred bucks everytime he accessed the port. Very frustrating. I would call your surgeon for sure. Mine came in on a day he isn't usually in the office to do an unfill. He was at the hospital down the road.
I hesitated to get unfills, thinking it was maybe swelling and didn't want to be loose. I suffered longer than necessary and when I did get an unfill I had decent restriction for a little while. Hope you feel better soon. I suggest that until you can get into your doc. you do your best to ge****er in and stick to protien shakes. I have found watering down the shakes helped keep them down. Good luck.

My surgeon always told me that if I couldn't eat 2-3 oz of lean protein and have it keep me full for a few hours, then I was either too tight (if I couldn't keep it down) or too loose (if it wasn't keeping me full for very long). It was the perfect guage for me. I didn't lose a lot of weight really quickly but averaged 10 lbs a month until I finally reached a weight loss of 180 lbs. I guess I was lucky because I'm self pay but my doctor didn't charge me for any follow up visits, so I went in to his office once a month and a couple times more often to adjust my band a bit more or less. Even though it's going to cost you $40, I think it's a good idea for you to go back to your doctor and have him adjust your band. At least tell him what you've been feeling and let him give you advice.

Good luck!

Call your surgeon. They may have emergency protocols that would make them accessable. In the meantime try some warm or hot drinks. Yes, the heat will affect the band, as will dehydration. Try prilosec for the heartburn and if it is bad at night sleep with your head elevated.

You may find that you can not tolerate the amount in your band that you did before. I had 4.5cc in mine last fall but when it tightened up suddenly I had a 2cc unfill. I now have 3.5 cc and am just about right. Loose enough to eat 3-4 oz of dense protein and satisfied about 3 hours. I usually am hungry between meals and if that happens I have a protein snack and count it in my daily totals. Any more fluid in would end the hunger but I would feel too tight. Better to be a tad loose.

Good luck, I hope you can get some help.
Sue

Thanks to all of you for your responses.  Since I am still having problems drinking water and I threw up this morning, I called my surgeon's office and they gave me an appointment to see my surgeon's collegue since my surgeon isn't in the office.  And, the copay is waived.  Apparently, they have a window after fills where an adjustment can be made with no charge.  Thankfully, lol.