Boysaway

Can anyone offer a physiological explanation of why my band is so tight early in the day? I have difficulty even drinking in the morning and can't get solids down until late evening. Why is this? I would have thought a night resting would loosen the band, if anything. Any ideas out there?

Never had problems with acid reflux thankfully so hopefully not an issue. Thanks

Thanks Nanook. My problem is apparently severe post op swelling, and I did have a lot of scar tissue (adnesions) but the surgeons are confident they have desected all of it away and that is no longer an issue. Doc put me on Dexamethasone (steroid) and Domperidone (anti sickness and gastric motility agent) and it appears to be helping a bit, but only on 3 day course of steroids so will wait to see what happens after they are stopped.

Yes you need an unfill. Have this done asap as it is never a good idea to be too tight.

Can I appeal to those ex-bandsters who have posted their experiences on this topic to update and let me know how long it took after band removal before they could eat normally. I am seven days post op and am struggling with fluids still, and anything thicker than milk is out of the question. Some days can't get down anything other than hot tea. My surgeon thought I would be on normal texture food by now! Many Thanks

Hi StartingOver, I am five days post op from having my band removed due to intractable problems just like you have described. My obstruction was total just like yours so I had surgery 3 weeks ago to remove adhesions and scar tissue that the surgeon thought was causing the problem. Sadly it made no difference and nothing would go through, even though the band was well positioned. As my problems have escalated over several months and I was at a very low ebb by then we decided it was best to take the band out. So far so good as I have been slowly increasing fluids and am now on to Soups and milk which have all gone down. Just as well as I was without any calories or nutrition at all for 2 weeks during which I lost about 20 pounds, by starvation, and often dehydrated to the point of needing IV fluids. I have lost about 90 pounds plus in total but would have liked to lose another 20 pounds. Now my challenge will be not to increase my weight again, but I simply could not have gone on any longer as I was. Like you I had frequent PBs which must have significantly contributed to the problem. My advice to you is to avoid PBs at all costs even if it means staying on fluids for longer. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Aspirin, Ibuprofen or any other NSAID should not be taken orally when banded. These drugs cause stomach irritation and because in your pouch they will tend to land at the same spot when swallowed, ulceration and bleeding can occur.

I had almost identical symptoms in that my band appeared to be getting tighter with each unfill and even totally unfilled I struggled to get water down in the end. Anyway to cut a long story short I had surgery fully expecting to lose my band but they found the problem was caused by adhesions from the original op and were able to snip them away and release the stomach, which had been twisting under the tension from the fibrosis. My band survived intact and I have now got to follow the original regime and give it six weeks to settle down. Needless to say this was a huge relief and apart from gas pains I'm doing much better now. So there are other reasons for symptoms other than slippage or erosion. Kind Regards to All

Hi All, My problem is that my band seems to be getting tighter as I lose weight, despite having had a couple of unfills. This is contrary to how I understand the band should work, it should loosen as you lose weight, requiring occasional fills. At the moment I cannot eat or even drink Water all day until about 9 or 10pm when suddenly I am wide open and able to eat a fair sized meal. Some days I can't eat or drink at all, but the next day I can have coffee at about 11am, then Soup for lunch and a meal later. It is very variable but I am losing weight, mainly I think because of the days when I fast totally. I am going for an unfill next week (currently have 3.25mls in a midband) and am unsure whether to have a complete unfill to give my stomach a rest, as it often aches if I have PBed a lot. I am tempted to ask for this - what would you do?

Thank you Brandy, that's an even better idea!

I must admit I pushed that possibility to the back of my mind because I have no other symptoms of a possible slip, ie acid reflux or pain. I think I will ask for a complete unfill to give it a few weeks rest.

Thank you Tess

Another thing - I am almost never able to eat 'solids', only soup or slop consistency, such as mashed potatoes, minced beef with loads of gravy etc.

Here's the thing: Yesterday I PBed on coffee in the morning, didn't eat or drinkl all day but was able to eat at 9pm without a problem. Today I PBed on Water at lunchtime (first drop past my lips) so I couldn't have been swollen from the PB yesterday morning as it wasn't swollen last night. I don't understand this band. Thanks for your reply.

Also - I am tighter at 3.25mls than I was at 4mls last year. What's that all about?

My DH has told someone at my work and I'm devastated. He thinks I'm over-reacting and says he only told this person because he's proud of me. But for me, it was important to keep it a secret. I now feel under a lot of pressure to lose the weight quickly instead of steadily as I have over the first year, so I am hardly eating at all some days. I feel embarrassed when I go to work because I know she will have told others, so most people will know now. I wanted to wait until I reach goal and then tell the world but now that's been ruined. He doesn't understand and we have had a huge row about it. I'm finding it hard to forgive him.

Hi CarolynMarie, Would you mind sharing how much weight you have lost with the band in three years? Well done!

I also have experienced delayed restriction. I believe it happens when the fluid in your band and tubing are equalised, or even out a few days after a fill. In other words, the fluid moves from the tubing into the band, and makes a big difference because as we all know the level we are seeking is sooooo finely tuned.

I suspected as much, but feel so encouraged by her admission because she has only really visably started losing in the last year, but her band fitting was two years ago. This has helped me to stop feeling so discouraged at my own lack of progress eight months in. Brilliant effort Fern, if you read this, I salute you and know that you have most certainly not taken the easy way out. You are my new role model.

This also happened to me. I believe it occurs because the small amount of fluid in the tubing gradually over several days may move on to the band itself causing increased tightness. In my case I ended up in hospital on IV fluids and had to have an emergency unfill because for three days I couldn't even swallow my own spit and was getting seriously dehydrated. If you really can't get any fluids down you do need to go back for a slight unfill before you become ill. That's my opinion anyway. I wasn't charged for a subsequent unfill after a recent fill was also too much for me. Provided you go back within a few days, they shouldn't charge you. I'm still struggling with tightness and inability to eat the 'right foods' because they simply won't go down :smile2:

My guess would be that you are doing too much exercise too soon, and replacing fat with muscle, which weighs more. Only a guess, though.

I have the midband but am in the UK and no problems with fills. My understanding is that there would be no difference in actual filling from other bands, the port will be much the same. The capacity of the midband is less than most though, at about 7-8 mls, so fills probably need to be more conservative. Any lap band trained fill nurse should be able to manage it.

And of course, there's always the morning.......

Thanks, you look great, by the way!