No Weight Loss - Slippage?

I'm hoping someone can help because my surgeon seems to have no interest.  I had the realize lapband surgery 9/07/2010.  I've had 4 fills.  I have no food restriction, can eat mostly anything I want and lots of it.  I've not seen my doctor since the surgery, when he told my husband, the pouch was about the size of an extra large egg . . Yet at every appointment for a fill, I see  someone for my vitals, a therapist offering support group info, a dietiician and then the PA does the fill.  Never the doctor.  Have complained since having the surgery of sometimes a burning sensation in my chest when I eat, not frequently but occassionally.  I've told them of eating whatever I want, with no restriction.  Sometimes if I eat something without chewing it well, I have extreme discomfort around the sternum, but it usually goes away after about a minute.  I've never, ever thrown up. 

I lost most of my weight prior to surgery, doing the low carb diet, as requested by the surgeon.  Prior surgery weight 229, Pre-op weight, 218, Current weight 212.  Six pounds in 5 months.  Today, I had a quarter pounder from McD's WITH fries, and was not uncomfortable at all . . that will be my only food today.  I'm still full, almost 6 hours later.  Bagels with cream cheese, no problem, but a sub sandwhich . . . two bites and I'm done - why? 

Any chance of slippage, erosion, or a leak?  Think my band holds 10cc, and I'm filled to about 5.

Imagine you spent 2,000 on a television and it wasn’t doing what you expected it to do – what would be your next step? Speak to the person who sold you the television. And if that person wasn’t kept giving you a different “sales man" to deal with, what would you do next? DEMAND TO SPEAK TO THE PERSON WHO SOLD YOU THE TELEVISION !! Well do the same with the DOCTOR !!

Remember you are the client/consumer. If you’re paying for a service, you want the best service for that money. If you feel you’re not getting the support from your Doctor, then you need to go to another Doctor. You are worth THE BEST because YOU ARE THE BEST !!

Now about the fills, Fills are very different for everyone. The first thing to remember is how the fills are done. Some doctors do it under fluoroscope (x-ray and barium drink), while most do it “blindly". If under x-ray the Doctor can “see" exactly how ‘tight’ the band is, compared of a Doctor who puts in .5 cc in at a time. Sometimes it takes fewer visits to get to the “sweet" spot with fluoroscope then with blind. My first fill was around 6cc then the next one (one year later) was another 3. I haven’t had on since.

To me it sounds as if you’re not restricted enough, HOWEVER those symptoms you are experiencing may indicate something. I always suggest, it’s best to call the Doctor (and DEMAND TO SEE HIM) and hear “that’s quite normal" instead of “why didn’t you contact me when this first occurred"

Good luck and know I am here for you.

Well, it's time to insist on seeing the doctor to speak to him about your situation.  I have not been a big loser either with the band, but truthfully, I cringe reading what you are eating, the amounts, and the fact you're not in agony.  Just thinking about eating those things makes me shudder.

I'd be interested to know who your doctor is.  Mine has a PA too, but was always up to me who I made my fill appt with..

Good luck and don't give up. ")

It took me a really long time to get good restriction.  I have an 11cc band and didn't feel noticable difference until about 8.5ccs.  I now have 10.4 and am in a good spot, but it's taken a lot of fills,  The PA who gives me fills said that she has noticed the realize band usually requires more fluid than the lap band for most folks to get proper restriction.  It's great that you can feel full for so long, but I don't think you should be able to eat that much with proper restriction.  It's also better for your metabolism if you are eating every 4 hours, as opposed to eating once a day.  I have a burning sensation on rare occasions and I just assume it's heartburn.  The discomfort you feel in your sternum might mean you need to chew into smaller sizes,  Good luck.  You can also always request an upper GI.  They were going to do one on me, but I finally got to a better place.
Kris