TT with Lap-Band and Unfill

Hi All,

I posted 5 days ago about the Lap-Band and NG tube. Dr. L replied to my post that I should have an unfill before I have my PS January 18th.

That being said, I have some questions.

1. Were you completely unfilled or partially?
2. How close to your PS date?
3. When were you refilled? How long after your PS?
4. How much saline was put back in? All at once or in multiple fills?
5. How did you handle being less filled, not exercising and hungry without weight gain while you were recovering?

Thanks again to all for their support and experienced wisdom!

Diana

I had my TT the day after Thanksgiving.  Neither my Plastic Surgeon nor my Bariatric Surgeon felt that my Lap Band should be unfilled unless I wanted to do so.

I did not have an NG tube (at least not when I came out of anethesia) so that may be the difference.

While we all have similarities, we also have a wide variety of differences.  I strongly advise you address your unfill and refill questions to Dr. L and your bariatric surgeon so you all are on the same page.

I can tell you, after my TT, I have been a bit tired and sleeping a lot more than usual.  I am quite content with walking for exercise at the moment, both in terms of energy and promoting healthy healing.

Since I did not have an unfill and had restriction before surgery, hunger is not a big issue for me.  I'm not having a weight gain issue.

Best wishes with your surgery, your subsequent healing and your happiness with the results.

Lisa

Thank you Lisa for recounting your experiences. I have an appointment with my PS on December 15th and have 26 more questions to ask him and most definitely the questions about fills.

Diana

Diana     Doc will give you an anti nausea pill to take before surgery.   It lasts for 2 days.    Most helpful as I usually am sick after surgeries.  Not this time.  

 I had a TT done in Dec 06.  The PS who did mine is also a trained lapband surgeon.  He required that my band be unfilled for surgery.  I was unfilled the day before my TT, and my PS gave me the go ahead for a refill at my 2 weeks post of appt.  I was completely unfilled....With the amount of pain meds I recieved after surgery, Im glad I didnt have to worry about the band.  I spent so much time laying flat after surgery that Im sure my pain meds would have just layed in my pouch.  Plus i was a little sick to my stomach after surgery, so I wouldnt want to add to the discomfort by maybe having a tight band.   When I was in my Lapband Drs office waiting for my unfill, I spoke to a female who was there because she had been having trouble with terrible reflux.  She said she had never had ANY reflux untill she had her breast augmentation 6 wks earlier.  She didnt have an unfill (per PS recommendations) and she woke from surgery with reflux, and it had never subsided.  Best of Luck
Theresa R

Thank you both Caroline and Theresa for your replies.

Diana

 Hi Diana-

i was not unfilled.  I did have my port exchanged for a low profile port.  I had .6ml in the system and that amount was put back in.  For the first 24 hours I felt pretty restricted and now 3 days out I feel maybe a little less restricted than before.  My WLS said to wait a minimum of 3 weeks before touching the new port and to stick to liquids/soft foods if I still felt tight.  I'm making an appt to see her another 3 weeks and may ask for a little more fill.  I've always had great restriction on very little in the system (at 1ml I'm puking water...).

Good luck!
Dana

Hi Dana!

Thanks for replying. I've been following your progress as you've been posting as I was born and raised in NY, we have that connection. ( Read you can move the girl out of NY, but not NY out of the girl!)

I went to my preop visit with my PS and he will not be having me unfilled unless it becomes an issue after surgery, with keeping things down etc. He will most likely be moving my port a little to the right of center as he feels that after the TT is done, the port might end up to much in the center of my stomach.

Have a blessed holiday!

Diana