Is my band too tight? How many times do we see this question? A lot so let’s talk about it.

How tight you have your band is a personal preference. No one (including your doctor) can tell you how tight it has to be. This is something you have to decide for yourself. Personally my band is loose. The last time I had an x-ray my doctor commented that I didn’t have very much restriction. Oh well, it is what works for me.

I have had 2 unfills because I felt my band was too tight, but I know now that it wasn’t. So how do I know if my band is too tight? I ask myself these questions:

1. Can I get water/liquids down okay? If YES not too tight

2. Are my bites the size of a nickel or smaller? If NO not too tight

3. Do I chew my food at least 30 times before swallowing? If NO not too tight

4. Do I wait 1 minute between bites? If No not too tight

It appears that my eating habits cause me to think my band is too tight. When I eat correctly I have no problems.

My advice to anyone wondering if their band is too tight is, evaluate your eating by asking yourself my four questions.