I, too, am having my band removed in June after 3 years and 4 months. Ever since I got banded, I was tight (4 cc band - didn't have the larger ones back then). The longest I was able to keep a fill was 6 weeks, and then an unfill. I tried fills four times, but it always resulted in feeling miserable -- like a lump in my throat, then an unfill. This has now developed into GERD (I had the ph test), and all the unpleasant symptoms associated with GERD -- breathing, acid reflux, etc. Saw a GI for an endoscopy, and have also developed barretts esophagus - a precancer condition.
After approx one year of discussing options with my surgeon, he did a floro, and has spotted a large hiatal hernia. Floros in the past never showed a hernia, so I have to guess it has been developing over time. Hopefully, the tight band caused the hernia which caused the GERD. I'm hoping that's the case, so once the band is off, everything goes back to the way it was designed.
I know it's been said here before, but, only you know your body. The doctors rely on research, so it's up to us to be persistent and ensure our doctors are listening and taking us seriously when our bodies react against the norm.