Anyone else have this problem...?

[allisonpaige 0]

Hello all,

I just joined this online forum today because I've been having a bit of a problem with my band and was wondering if others out there were experiencing the same thing...

I was banded about 4 years ago in June of 2006. At first everything was easy, eat until your full and still some how loose a bunch of weight. I found a good fill spot that allowed me to restrict my food intake but was still able to eat without having anything get stuck. I hadn't had any need to go into my LB doctor for well over a year when all the sudden my band tighten up on its own, so much so I couldn't drink Water even. Needless to say I went into the doctor and he took pretty much all of my Fluid out and told me I had a case of gastritus, well alright then problem solved I thought. Came back into the doctor and got my band refilled pretty much to the same place it was before. Ever since then my band will tighten up to an uncomfertable point every month around the time of my cycle. Does this happen to anyone else at all?! And how do I prevent from this happening every single month? I've a college student for crying out loud, paying for defills and fills every month is not really an option for me since my insurance doesn't cover anything so it's all coming out of my pocket... Also, I just transfered to U.C Davis in northern california so I no longer live nearly my lb doctor, so does anyone out there have any tricks to help loosen things up when your band is acting up like this?