Hello.. I've been an occasional "lurker" at this site but thought I'd share my recent complication with others. I was banded in December of 2006, had my first fill of 1.1 cc two months later and as of yesterday lost a total of 34 lbs. I started at 195 and now weigh 161 lbs.
After fill, I had some restriction, steadily lost at an average of 1.2 lbs./week but two months ago spontaneusly began getting tighter, pbing with great frequency and the last two weeks could eat little to nothing and finally, not even Water would go down. I WAS SO MISERABLE!!!!
I flew to my doctor and had a fluroscope (?)/barium check. No slippage, no stretched pouch -- I simply had so much swelling that nothing could go down and I was 1 cc of the initial 1.1 cc was unfilled. The relief and comfort was almost immediate. The "coffee grounds" and dark sputum is in fact blood from a very irritated esophogus or blood vessel.
When I started the pbing, I should have immediately gone to total liquids and not created the viscious cycle of pbing, swelling, pbing and swelling that resulted in total closure of the opening.
I will return probably in July and the dr. recommended a slight fill of .4 cc. Sometimes spontaneous tightening due to weight loss, stress occurs and the pbing/swelling cycle exacerbates it. I am less worried about weight gain right now then I am about not getting in adequate fluids and nutrition.
Just thought I'd share my experience.
sumatragal:)
The coughing, spitting up of "coffee grounds" was in f