To All:

As you all know, the AGB stands for "Adjustable Gastric Band".  This is a procedure that I had done almost 7 months ago, 28 weeks to be exact...

All went exceedingly well until my second adjustment, 14 weeks ago.  A week after the fill, I reported that I thought the fill was a bit aggressive and that there may have been an overfill.  But, as I could micro drink water, I figured that I would survive.  Some days were better than others.  In casual conversation with the Doctors that I chat with, they all said the same thing.  Maybe some fluid should be removed.  But, I was stoic, I was going to stay on the cutting edge of too tight.  As I said, some days were OK.  Some were not.  Until about 2 weeks ago...

About two weeks ago, I developed a nagging, low-level, persistent, dull pain in the stomach region.  Drinking water was an adventure.  The nightly bouts with reflux got worse and worse.  For the past two nights, I could not sleep.  Every time, I laid down and fell asleep, my pouch would empty.  I thought I would drown.  Finally, when the stomach was empty, I would fall asleep from exhaustion.  Finally this AM had a talk with Dr Kuri ( My Fill Doctor ).  Based  upon the symptoms, he suggested a bit of inflammation at the site of the stoma.  The decision was to drain 0.5 cc from the band, and let the stoma rest for a week then reinsert the fluid to some level.

So, I am on liquids for 24 hours.  But, I can at least drink them..

You will not hear me get on my religious band wagon too often.  But every once in a while I have to vent.

Thanks to the higher power and the Serenity Prayer and to the makers of this wonderful device that permits you to take responsibility for your actions.  The Adjustable Gastric Band ( AGB ).

--
Wayne Smith