Really having a hard time with my band...

[allisonpaige 0]

I've had my band for just over 4 years now and at one point was down nearly 150lbs from my starting weight. About a year ago I had a problem with my band being too full and I was unable to eat for several days, I ended up taking some Fluid out (for the first time in over a year) and ever since then anytime I try and have more fluid put back into my band even if I add less than what was initally taken out my band tightens up to the point where I can't eat/drink. For this past year I have kept my band on the loose side and just tried to maintain my weight with diet and exercise, but I recently stepped on the scale and realized that I've gained back nearly 60lbs! I just had more fluid put back into my band because clearly I was needing some restriction but now yet again my band is too tight and I haven't been able to eat or drink anything for the past several days.

I'm getting exteramly frustrated now because it's either I can just leave my band loose and gain back weight OR I can fill my band and be unable to eat... I don't know what to do, and really dont have anyone to give me any advice on this but it really is getting to the point where I almost regret getting my lapband all together. I've gotten a taste of success and what its like to be at a healthy body weight and now it seems that my body is just completely rejecting my lapband all together.

I've gotten several xray's to see if I had any sort of complication at all as recent as last week and nothing is abnormal about my band and so far my doctor has no idea why I am having so much difficulty with it.Any advice at all would be extreamly helpful at this point, or even just someone out there to talk with about whats going on, I really am starting to get discouraged.

[Fluffy_Gurl 3]

Im only recently banded and cant provide too much advice. But i can offer you some support. Hang in there. Hopefully things will get better for you and your body will adjust to having more fliud in your band. Have they tried just adding .1 cc or other small amounts at a tie to see if your body would tolerate it better? I wish you the best of luck! you have already made it so far in this journey dont give up! We all know this is a lifetime struggle for us as it alsways has been, hopefully you will win thi sbattle!

[isaviolinist 11]

I'm not having the exact same issues as you but I did regain 50 pounds and then re lose it in the past couple of months. It was a real downer when I started re losing as I had to face the fact that I had regained so much weight. But I believe it was a learning experience for me and has made me even stronger in my resolve to lose. It can be that way for you too. While it stinks that you're having band issues (which you should continue to address with your doc), start doing something to get yourself back on track today. Start exercising or logging your food or cutting back on the high calorie foods. Take a walk! I love walking - you burn calories and it doesn't even feel like exercise. If it's too cold outside, it's a great time to walk laps in the mall with all of the holiday displays up. I'm here to help if you need a hand or some advice/motivation to get yourself back on track. The hardest part was restarting my exercise, logging, healthy eating etc. But once you start, it becomes part of your routine and gets easier!

[Kimper 0]

I can kind of relate, because I'm pretty tight after a fill too. I can drink, but have problems getting solids down for about two weeks. Try drinking something warm (tea, coffee, hot chocolate...) then see if you're able to tolerate a meal. I'm not sure if it's just me but drinking warm stuff usually does the trick. Cold stuff makes me feel tighter- it's weird. Even the cold weather seems to make my band tighter. Dr. can maybe keep lowering your fills by 0.5 cc (give or take) until you have good restriction & you're still able to tolerate foods.

[Tralynn222 17]

I too am 4 yrs out and have had a similiar story to yours. I had to have a complete unfill in Oct 09'. Went through 2010 without any saline at all and gradually put back on 30 lbs. In Oct '10 I decided to put this "tool" back to work. At that time my doc gave me 4 cc's and I was able to eat anything I wanted but still watched what I ate and exercised. Today I went back for another fill and I had gained another five pounds since Oct. Talk about frustrating.

What I find for me (I'm 41) that during my TOM is when my band gets really tight. It could be the week before, the week during or even the week after, and sometimes all three. It's very unpredictable. Also, I think I'm pre-menopausal, so my hormones make it tight on a whim as well.

Now this may not be what's causing your tightness, but perhaps it is. It's just something to think about.