Unfilled Band too Tight..frustration...

[ms.lissa 4]

Recently it got really hard for me to keep solid and fluids down to the extent that I had to see my doctor...after consultation, I managed to deal with excessive acidity and nausea with prescribed meds...and since a barium swallow test then said the band is okay but tight-ish, I have been less anxious in that regard. ..

However weeks in..I still cant eat solids without choking up and feeling pain and sometimes retching... I can have fluids and Water though really slow.

Overall though I feel like my band just feels too tight...I have not had a fill at all yet since surgery to put the band was in mid September 2014...the weighing scales still shows me loosing weight...but the difficulty in eating anything remotely solid big or small (even say sip soft stuff like pureed fruits, or a bite of chicken thats really really chewed up and so on) except clear soups/oats/porridge is making me wonder if I should have done a sleeve procedure instead.

Is there anyone who has experienced something like this? Any thoughts or ideas...feeling a little alone about this and not sure if my family will get what am going through..

Eating out or with company is an excruciating nightmare...I barely get two spoonfuls of broth or soup... I crush or split regular sized pills into two before swallowing so they pass through without slimming or discomfort...

I must admit, I am feeling low.

I feel like giving up on the band is like giving up my fight to regain a healthier weight goal... not to mention the fact that a lot of money has already gone down the drain already...

Anyone out there with some insight or ideas...?

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@ms.lissa I'm sorry you are having such trouble. I would advise you to speak with the surgeon who performed your surgery. Ask them if any Fluid was placed in the band during the surgery. Even a primer as this could be adding pressure to the band and the swelling you have internally. Removing even that tiny bit and any air could bring some relief.

Acid reflux is a cause for irritation to the stoma. Though you may only feel it as it comes up the fact that your stomach is very acidic all the time can be causing this additional swelling. Try using some ice pops to get some hydration in and reduce some of that internal swelling as well. If you consume beverages like tea or coffee cut those out as they also tend increase the acid in the stomach. The same for any type of sauces or citrus juices/fruits you may be consuming. Try to stay bland until you are feeling better.

I would also ask your Dr. to recommend a Gastroenterologist to perform an upper GI or endoscopy to check the actual placement of the band and see what kind of environment is going on in your stomach. This will help the doctors to determine what type of treatment you might need to reduce the acid and allow your stomach to heal and reduce the swelling in the stoma as well.

A good pro-biotic won't hurt, and you can get capsules you can open and sprinkle in Soup, or in Water.

Feel better and please let us know how you are doing!!

[NoMoBand 278]

This did happen to me and symptoms are very similar, except that the symtoms appeared a few months after surgery for me. My doctor put in 3cc's in the band during surgery and I did fine at first and could eat very little, then hardly anything at all. Thus my first fill was a slight unfill. Turns out that some of us only require very little in our bands to reach that sweet spot. I can only handle 2cc's in my band without it being too tight. It sounds like a slight unfill will do the trick, in my opinion. Jake.

[hockeymother 178]

Same! I was over filled which cause me to get stuck so often that my band slipped. Chronic acid reflux is a sure sign of a slipped band. I had an X-ray, an upper GI and still my Dr said it was what I was eating. I finally begged him to look at it again and sure enough, a slipped band. He did a revision surgery 2 months ago and instant relief. Now I have to start all over but what a relief. There is nothing worse than constant stuck feeling, not being able to eat and still have acid reflux.

[Soexcited 64]

I just had a fill today and im soooooo tight i cant even sip Water, its such an uncomfortable feeling!

[Soexcited 64]

I just had a fill today and im soooooo tight i cant even sip Water, its such an uncomfortable feeling!! Im going back tomorrow because this is crazy!

[rhya2k 31]

Had same problem got .03 cc removed and I'm s whole new person. Don't ever suffer from being too tight not worth it