Question for long-term bandsters.....

I am 4 years out from surgery this September and have maintained 165 - 170 lbs for the past 2.5 years.  I have not had a fill since last August and prior to that had gone 10 months without a fill.  In the last 2 months I have noticed I am getting hungry earlier in the morning and my portions have increased in size.  I also tried my first piece of bread in almost 4 years and to my joy &horror it did not stick!  I see this as a very slippery slope because for the first time since I stopped losing I have gained 3 pounds.  I have since gone back to following the rules but am still experiencing the early hunger and either needing larger portions or small portions more often to stave off the hunger.  My question to all the long-time bandsters is do we continue to need fills for as long as we have the band in order to maintain our weight??  I understood the choice of a band was a choice for life but my surgeon seems reluctant to continue to support fills (we have talked about a sleeve revision twice but I am really, really satisfied with my band and have not had a second of trouble that I did not bring on myself).  Thanks in advance for the advice!

I'm six years out and have not had a fill in over 3 years. I maintained my weight loss until about two years ago when my  Mom died. I, of course, turned to food and stopped exercising, so that's where my problems came from. So, for me, its carbs and lack of exercise. I have had gerd in the past and take a ppi daily, so I am not interested in having a fill. I know that having a band that is too tight is a problem waiting to happen.  My surgeon talked with me about a gastric bypass, but that is not a procedure I would do. So for now I am trying to recapture what worked for me in my early days...but its harder as I am older! I am interested in what the other old timers have to say. In the meantime, I try each day to make better choices and move, move, move. Good luck, on your journey.

Actually I was waiting  for you to say you were getting tighter so now I have to change my answer.  Over time it can lose some fluid just for no particular reason so a tiny fill of even .1 cc could be enough to get you back to a good spot. That said tho I would first try just following the basics from the beginning and go with dense protein first and then veggies. If after a few weeks that isn't working then maybe a teeny fill. Just remember NEVER go too tight, that is the beginning of nothing but trouble. That is what I would do if I were in your situation. Good luck!

I was 4 years out last month and expect to get a small fill in a few weeks.

It has been 10 mo ths since I saw my surgeon and I have gained about 12 pounds.   I want a fill.

I believe that we lose a little fluid annually .. Absorbed by the body, or a slightly gas permeable system.

I am seven years out and my last fill was somewhere around 5 1/2 years ago. So in my case, doesn't look as if I need ongoing fills. And that seems to be true for all the long term vets I know IRL as opposed to online. But I have seen one or two post on here that they needed small fills further down the line. My own doc said if shouldn't happen once we stop losing weight but clearly for some it does!

So you haven't had any adjustments at all in 5.5 years?

Very cool!

No, I was answering the question about if we need fills long term.  I was not intending to mislead if that is what happened! As you know, I had a tubing repair a few years ago - although after the op, I was given the same level of fill I had before the leak.

But I have had two tiny defills. Both of 0.1 ml.  One was a few years ago, forget when exactly.  The other was a few weeks ago. I think you know that as you commented at the time.

Ohhhhh yeah, I guess I forgot!

Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind sharing, why has your surgeon been discussing a revision with you? It seems like you've been pretty successful with a 165-170 lb weight loss with a recent 3-8 lbs weight gain. Did that initial 170 lb loss get you to your goal weight?

Thanks to everyone for the info!  I was hoping not to need lifelong fills and plan to go "back to the basics" and see if I can get back on track.  I am not sure why my surgeon has asked me to consider the sleeve since I have not had any issues (no GERD, good weight loss, no slips or hernias -  I could be the poster child!)  My answer both times has been a resounding NO!  I truly believe I have found the tool for me.