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Just because it didn't does not mean it couldn't. There can be some swelling around the band post fill which is why the doctors ask for liquids/soft foods for the next day or so.

Anything that gets stuck will irritate the band and make the swelling worse.

My doctor wants Clear Liquids for 2 hours and then soft foods the rest of the day. Each doctor is different though and you should follow the instructions of the doctor you put your faith in.

Does sound like gas or a sore muscle. Remember for Laproscopic surgery they put in a lot of air in stomach to make it blow up like a balloon so they have space to work. Some of it is still floating around for a few days until it gets absorbed by the body. That is why walking helps.

Awesome motivation, been getting pick me ups all week from you guys! Thanks a bunch.. Been in a little bit of a rut lately. This is the week!

Thank you for your feedback, will be getting my first unfill tomorrow

Take it slow after the unfill. I stayed on Clear liquids for the rest of the day and Protein shakes etc for another day before going to soft foods for a day. My doctor said it takes a day for the swelling to go down but I wanted to be cautious. Follow your doctor's advice though so if he wants you to be on a longer slower protocol.

Yes, too tight. Ive been there and waited thinking it would get better. Problem is that the band area gets irritated and swollen and then a small unfill wont be enough so you end up taking 2 steps back instead of a half step back.

I like Pure Protein bars, chewy and tasty, like a dessert. High in Protein and very low sugar.

Although the Bariatric Advantage bars - KetoGenX bars dont taste so good, they are high in Fiber and protein so they keep me full longer.

By the way, I like my doctor's practice a lot. They are out of Newport beach - The New Program. Check them out, not sure if they take transfers though.

Sounds like a bad experience and definitely worth keeping in mind if considering the doctor.

Please, do us a favor and fill out some details so we know you are a real Lap band patient and not an ex-employee with a grievance.

This is more for myself so I remember but comments are always welcome!

I have been stuck a lot in the past few months, been through un-fills, complete un-fill, fluoroscopy and have decided I will write down the things I should be doing all the time:

1. Never go too long without food - plan to have food ready for when I am hungry so I avoid hunger pangs. I make bad food choices when I get to that stage. I also eat faster and chew less which increases the chances of getting stuck.

2. Keep drinking Water - keeps saliva thin and keeps saliva from collecting around the band, makes me less hungry too. Start with a glass of Water when you wake up.

3. If I get stuck - take it easy for 2-4 hrs, go to drinking water, green tea and then Protein shake.

4. Irritated band - If I get so stuck that I my band is irritated at the next meal and I am still stuck - Go to Clear liquids for the rest of the day, Protein and soft foods the next day

When I don't follow 1-4 above I just keep getting worse till my band is so irritated that I need an unfill - avoid this!

I am printing and keeping this next to me. Will keep revising so I don't forget any lessons that my Master" Band has to teach me.

"Every Fill requires re-learning how to eat."

Band Lessons.pdf

Sorry, I will give it one more shot.

Basically drink just before your no drinking time starts. So if the doctor says don't drink anything 30 minutes before you eat then make sure to drink something just before. So 35-40 minutes before eating, drink 1/2 to one glass Water to flush out any saliva.

Some people follow Dr. Simpson's advice on waiting just a minute before drinking, in that case drink some Water a few minutes before you start eating.

Saw a different Doctor at my doctor's practice yesterday as my surgeon was out. He mentioned that not only should I not drink Water within 15 minutes before eating but also to make sure to drink some Water 15 minutes before eating and a glass full in the morning. This flushes out the thick saliva that accumulates around the band and makes the process of chewing and eating more consistent.

Huh! Makes sense, why didn't I think of that.

My hospital did weigh me. Most should I think as part of checking your vitals before surgery.

I have used them and like them especially instead of a morning coffee. My only complaint is lack of Fiber so I don't use it when I am using Protein Shakes as my main source of food (aka pre-band diet which I still occasionally do).

Stress is definitely a problem for me too.Try warm drinks like green tea or warm broth. shakes if too thick may take time. In similar situations I turn to prepared shakes that are thinner like muscle milk instead of blending them myself.

I then ease into thicker shakes and then soft foods over a few days.

Heat pack or a warm shower may also help.

Best of luck.

I just swallow it bitter but I have heard of some people mixing the crushed pills with yogurt.

One thing I did was talk to my internal medicine doctor and the endrocinologist after my initial consult with the surgeon. Both of them had recommended me to go to the surgeon to get a lap band and I had come back to them after the presentation convinced I should do a Gastric Bypass. Both of them then basically said that it was not warranted in my case and got me back on track to get the band.

They both said that more aggressive approaches can be tried later if required. Also I have been going to both the doctors for years and they have other patients with WLS surgeries to they did have an unbiased opinion I could rely on.

Even with the complication I am seeing, with a possible slip, I do not regret that decision. I have lost a lot of weight and believe I can work through my issues.

Best of luck with your decision and your journey.

Oh, and Labwalker, I think your band is a little too tight.

Ha Ha Ha, I agree. Much as we like seeing positive stories on the forum, all questions and experiences are welcome. Positive or negative, these discussions do keep us informed. I personally am more discouraged by people who come down hard on the negative stories/comments than the comments themselves.

Life is no utopia and I am done pretending that it is...

...That is one of the reasons I got the band.

I went with the advice of my Family doctor and Endocrinologist, even over that of my Bariatric Surgeon. The Bariatric surgeon recommended the solution that gave me the best weight loss. Both of the other doctors told me that in my case a less intensive solution was warranted and if required we could look at more aggressive solutions later.

Ask about an endoscopy maybe? Th upper GI is the area between your throat and stomach (upper part). In an endoscopy the put a camera down your throat to see what may be going on.

Ulcers, acid reflux and things like that can cause these symptoms, I think. I am in a somewhat similar situation, removing Fluid down to 2 cc now. I have lost a lot of weight so I dont mind this so much. One thing I do is go to a day or 2 of liquids when I start getting stuck to give it a rest. I think that the constant getting stuck does irritate the banded area. Possibly make it have swelling and scarring which could mean increased restriction without adding fluid...

I am by no means a doctor so I would look to professional advise but an Endoscopy sounds warranted.

Great job!

It is interesting to hear about your acid problems

I had some moderate heartburn at one point, and my doctor had me rush to see him that day for unfill. It was hard because he's 45-60 mins away from me, but I RAN to him in a panic. Now its weeks later, no weight is coming off due to no restriction, and i still have some mild intermnittent heartburn.

I wonder if I need daily antacid to solve my issues?

I think sometimes the acid makes me tighter and sometimes being tight makes my heartburn worse. It is a vicious cycle. I used to think that I should not take antacids long term but my doctor has convinced me otherwise. I think being consistent with my antacids will also take some of the unpredictability out of the band tightness.

That is one reason I am not completely sold on the fluoro fill. All it shows is that the Fluid can pass through at the moment and you are not too tight. Drinking a glass of Water does that for me.

I am fine the day of the fill and the next week or so but I get tighter later, which brings me back to smaller, more frequent fills.

I am in a similar situation Going between too tight and too loose.

I am currently too loose but I needed that break I believe, to give my esophagus a rest and to focus on eating solids again. I have put on 12 lbs since I was loosened but a lot of that is Water weight lost due to dehydration.

I have decided that I would prefer frequent small fills (say 0.2-0.4 cc every 4 weeks). This will allow my eating habits to adjust to my new band situation, I will get to green zone when I get to it. I am also ensuring I remember to take the daily antacid prescription as I believe that was a contributing cause of being too tight as well. My endocrinologist reminded me that the extra acid is bad for me anyways as it puts more stress on the banded area of my stomach and he also wants me to stay on it long term.

I am also focusing on getting more exercise in. I am bicycling frequently and playing some tennis and making sure I make the best of this coming summer. That is my goal for the next six months. Do the things that are right for you and the weight loss will happen as it happens.

Best of luck.

I have decided that I will only do small fills as a larger fill usually causes problems. I suspect it is too big an adjustment of habits and it is a vicious cycle. Too much change causes discomfort, discomfort makes me tighter and the cycle continues.

So got stuck on some lamb this Memorial day weekend. Had one tablet of the Papaya enzyme and 30 minutes later I PB'd the lamb.

It works! It works!

Inspired by you guys. Did 12.5 miles in one hour on the local trails today. Haven't had this much fun biking in 7 years!