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Kate -True Brit
on 4/4/15 6:24 pm, edited 4/4/15 6:25 pm - UK
Topic: RE: Leak ? or is Dr not hitting the port right ?

My doc withdrew all saline to check before replacing and adding to it, and made careful notes every time!!! 

To check for a leak, they need to inject dye into the port and look under XRay. I went from good to nothing overnight about 5 years ago and it was a leak in the tubing midway between the band and the port. My doc thought it was probably because I had lost my internal fat and so there was excess tubing which had rubbed against newly exposed muscle. I had a quick op to cut out the damaged bit and reconnect the two ends.

Most leaks, however, seem to be from the port area.

i have never felt my port move. 

 

Edited for typos.

Highest 290, Banded - 248   Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.

Happily banded since May 2006.  Regain of 28lbs 2013-14.  ALL GONE!

But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,

   

Hislady
on 4/4/15 11:02 am - Vancouver, WA
Topic: RE: Leak ? or is Dr not hitting the port right ?

I would find another doctor he is that lax in keeping track of what he is putting in. My doc noted it in his written notes on my visit plus he pulls it all out before putting more in so he knows what is in there now and then adds what ever amount we've decided to add. This guy sounds like a flake.

I would ask a new doc for a fluoroscope so he can see if there is a leak that should show if there is one and where the leak is at. If there is a leak they will have to go in and replace or repair the tubing.

tn7393
on 4/4/15 10:43 am
Topic: Leak ? or is Dr not hitting the port right ?

The dr that has been doing my fills never knows on the next appointment what he put in, which concerns me. Now is saying that I may have a leak because the saline was not there. He put 4cc's in and I went back in two weeks and he said that there was hardly any there but he couldn't remember if he put two in there or 4cc.

I called another local dr at a large well known hospital and he said it could be he isn't using the right needle or hitting the port right - my concern is that I went from being restricted to nothing over night.

As I am thinking back - I remember before I thought I felt my port move. Has anyone ever experienced this ?

Hislady
on 4/3/15 12:24 pm - Vancouver, WA
Topic: RE: Going to get my band tubing reconnected

I am self pay for my removal I had no choice it had to come out, but my insurance has a clause that it will not cover anything related to bariatric surgery or complications from bariatric surgery. I am still waiting for the hospital to bill me over a year latter. I won't be surprised if it is $20,000 or more. All I can do is pay what I can pay over time. I couldn't live with the pain anymore, I could barely crawl out of bed! The insurance companies really don't care whether we can afford it or not nor do the hospitals they just want to make their share of the money! I already paid $4000 to the surgeon and anesthesiologist. I wish you luck just remember your health is very precious don't ruin it with long term damage.

Hislady
on 4/3/15 12:14 pm, edited 4/5/15 9:52 am - Vancouver, WA
Topic: RE: Pain and more issues since told my tube was ruptured

My advise if it is floating around poking your intestines you need it out now before it ruptures your intestine!! I've never heard of warranty covering replacement or repair of the band. I can say that from my time here over 8 yrs I've not seen any replacement bands working out. There are a few folks that have had replacements but they never seem to work as well as the original one and most folks end up having to revise to another surgery. Personally knowing what I know about the band I would revise to a different surgery since the lap band isn't very popular as WLS goes, very few surgeons do them anymore. No matter what you decide I would get that ticking time bomb out of you.

tn7393
on 4/3/15 11:19 am
Topic: RE: Going to get my band tubing reconnected

I am in the same boat - they are going to do the study under fluro next week - but my insurance wont cover the repair - what are you going to do ?

sheriberi29
on 4/3/15 7:00 am - Cleveland, TN
Topic: RE: Going to get my band tubing reconnected

Ugh ! My dr says no to fluoroscopy unless he feels there is a real problem, I had 9 cc now I have 7.5 but he said the port is under pressure so if there was a leak , all the fluid would be gone. So he gave me a full cc I was unable to hold down fluid for 4 days, he removed . 5 cc and was able to sip only fluids, lost 4 lbs but now it's been another week and I can eat a big meal if I wanted to. My insurance is a different one than I had when I was banded so they will not cover anything to due with my band, they said even if it became an emergency( which I think is bologna ) so 

my highest weight was 242, goal weight reached 140, now 170 

frustrating 

Nic M
on 4/3/15 6:10 am
Topic: RE: FREE - Unjury protein powder samples

This thread is from 2010. You might want to contact Unjury directly to get samples at this point. 

 

 Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI

 

kimkimmie
on 4/3/15 5:30 am, edited 4/3/15 5:30 am - Jacksonville, FL
Topic: RE: Going to get my band tubing reconnected

Thank you. I'm sorry this happened to you!! Did you check for a leak? Seems like the little connector on the tubing can get pulled loose with the type of surgery we had. If so did you get it straightened out? Wishing you well. It's extremely disheartening to pay so much for skin removal only to have the very surgery that was supposed to help send us right back to nearly starting over :(

~Kim 

***I was at 27 pounds lost on the day of surgery -- the loss shown on ticker includes my pre-op weight loss***
kimkimmie
on 4/3/15 5:18 am - Jacksonville, FL
Topic: RE: Going to get my band tubing reconnected

Hello :) They said my insurance is covering it BUT I have a high deductible plan so depending on the cost there's a high probability I'll be paying it all so using a surgery center. I had several fills greater than capacity so it basically told us there had to be a leak. To confirm he objected dye into my port and on the ex ray machine he uses to do fills with flouro, we saw the dye go in and as it moved through the tubing slowly flow out from its path (like smoke almost). Wishing you he best!!

~Kim 

***I was at 27 pounds lost on the day of surgery -- the loss shown on ticker includes my pre-op weight loss***
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