Having the flu and tightening of the band. Need help.

[bluegudren 156]

I have been at the same fill for over 2 months. Happily losing 9-10 a month. Got sick last Monday. Been coughing and fever. Have been on a z pack, codeine, sudefed and ibuprofen. I have been cutting the pills to get them down. I feel as though my band has tightened itself. I can barely drink Water and I feel all these pills are getting stuck. I feel pain in my left upper mid back area. Very tight today, but yesterday i was able to eat 3 large tempura shrimp just fine. No pain. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I go to the er and get some Fluid out? I don't want to mess up my green zone if this will pass.

[kandiB 150 7]

I wish I could give advise but Im still very new. My surgery was March 2014 so I haven't experienced anything like that yet. Sounds like your weight loss is great though , i'll be glad when I reach the green zone I would get checked out if it lasts more than a day or so. Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

[2muchfun 8,927]

Some ERs won't unfill you? Does your bariatric doc have an emergency line you can call?

We should always err on the side of caution with these episodes but I know if it were me, as long as I can eat 3 large shrimps, I'd wait till Monday.

BTW-Ibuprofen is an NSaid and most all docs mandate we don't use them. I still do on occasion but if you can get some pain relief from Tylenol you'd be safer?

[CherieRyde 227]

I was told that my medications from now on need to be crushed, liquid, or Water soluble otherwise there's a chance that ulcers or other complications can develop. I'd cal your surgeons after hours line and see what he/she says.

[bluegudren 156]

My surgeon doesn't have an after hour number. I have a emergency center that does treat lap band patients. I didn't have a problem until I had to take all these pills! I just ate another shrimp. Went down fine. I think I will be ok until my appointment on Tuesday. It's just pretty scary when you can only drink one cup of Water in 5 hours. This week was the first week I had to take any pills in 6 months. All my Vitamins are gummies or liquid. I only took the one Azithromiacin this morning and cut into 4 little pieces. No Sudefed or Ibuprofin today. I think I will live. I just hope the 2 Ibuprofen didn't hurt me. Thanks y'all!

[terrydumont46 1,954]

you maybe a bit dehydrated from the fever so the pills are getting stuck due to dryness. try putting your pills in applesauce or yogurt and take it that way. at least drink some Water before you try and take a pill. if you can eat shrimp you aren't tight. drink more than your usual amount

[bluegudren 156]

It's really strange bc shrimp and crab go down but when I drink Water it feels like its right up on my throat and I am about to choke. It even comes up. I know I am dehydrated. I have been able to only drink 16oz of water a day for the last 3 days. I have to fall asleep propped up so liquid doesn't come up in my throat and choke me.

[bluegudren 156]

I went to the doctor yesterday. They did the barium X-ray while I drank. Literally, the barium stopped at the band and would not go any further. The barium ended up coming up 10 minutes later. I knew something was wrong! Apparently when you are sick, and have a lot of phlegm, that hole can get plugged! Mine was plugged with mucus. They took 5 cc out of my band. My stoma was stretched and I was entering the beginning stage of a dilated band. So I am back out of my nice green zone that I had before I got sick. I am back in bandster hell on full liquids for 2 weeks and no restriction. But I am glad I went in. I was very dehydrated and getting very little food. Here's to starting over! Cheers!

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

I'm sorry to hear this, but I'm very glad you're feeling better.

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@bluegudren don't be upset, that is the beauty of the band. We can loosen it when we need to and get right back when we are better. My hubs was sick and had his Fluid taken out. Then taken out half way when he went in for Hip replacement surgery. It was important for him to be able to consume high amounts of Protein and medications to heal from that surgery.

When I was sick with the flu, I did the same thing I had some Fluid taken out because yes your stoma can get clogged up! Also I just want to let you know what my Dr. told me. NSAIDS like Advil, Motrin, and Aleve can cause stomach irritation as well and even though it's not "bothering" us it can make the belly irritated enough to swell the stoma shut. If you can take Tylenol or even aspirin as needed but try to steer clear of the ibuprofen and NSAIDS.

As soon as your all better and feeling well give your doc a call to have the fluid put back in. I hope your feeling great again soon!

[Bandista 7,466]

So glad you got in and that the issue is resolved -- hope you're feeling much better now. Be well!

[bluegudren 156]

I go back Monday to see if my band went back to 1 o clock position. Praying that the mushies helped. I have had no sliming and no vomiting. It's been nice. But I have sill have this respiratory infection. I have been reading in this forum and have read that being too tight can cause reflux induced pneumonia. Does anyone now about this?

[bluegudren 156]

I went back in to get another barium X-ray to see if my band has returned to the 1 o'clock position. It has! Very happy. But they won't fill me back up for 2 more weeks. In these last 2 weeks being un filled, I gained 8 pounds. So much for my green zone happiness.

[kpurdy68 25]

So glad you went in and are better now. Did they say why the shrimp didn't bother you?

[bluegudren 156]

It was the timing of the mucus in my stoma and uncrushed antibiotics getting lodged. Pretty sure. Still un filled. Gained back 10 pounds the last 18 days. Joy!