Hello Everyone,

I'm trying to see if anyone else has had the same problem that I've been experiencing and if so what they've been doing about it? The last three times I've gone for a fill everything has gone according to plan and I've had no problem swallowing down the Water my doctor gives me afterwards. Then I get home and attempt to have some milk and it won't do down, nothing will go down, not even water. I don't understand why this happens. I'm very frustrated because I then have to call my doctor and go in for an unfill the next day. My band was not too full before I went for the fill. I'd been eating whole sandwiches without an issue so I know I needed the fill. Anyone have this problem? Is there anything I can do without having to call my doctor again?

Thanks!

I am only 4 months out - but this is my thought -

We swell after each fill, but you are drinking the water right away before the swelling really occurs.. my thought it you are swelling on your way home making it hard to drink.

I have heard hot tea can help with swelling maybe have some of that teeeeny tinny sips when you get home and wait it out for a day or so --- I have had this problem and i just struggle through it,, taking the smallest sips of crystal light, hot tea that i can manage -- it gets better by the end of the day after the fill...

That's totally swelling as it takes a couple of hours to kick in. Can you go for less aggressive fills more often? Maybe see if you can get the doctor to give you some sort of anti-inflammatory if you are prone to more than average swelling?

Maybe you should get the fill, then go shopping or something for a couple of hours in the vicinity of the offices. Have a coffee and if its OK go home - if not you are close enough to go back in and tell the Dr that you might need a little fill removed.

It is swelling that occurs about 2 hrs after the fill. Some doctors recommend that you revert back to liquids for 24 hrs. I find that a cup of hot tea helps me. Some days I am too tight for more than liquids and other days, I can eat just fine. I have a fickle band.....

It's always reassuring to read a post you can relate to. I just had my 2nd fill last week since being banded in Sept 09 and I have had far more trouble than I did earlier. I think I did not respect that swelling does occur and you have to eat like post surgery until the swelling goes down, which is probably different for each of us. I have been PBing every day, but I realize that I am also eating too fast and too much. Before the fill, I could do this but after each fill you have to adjust your lifestyle again. I now realize that I had similiar problems for actually a few weeks after my first fill but didn't relate it to the fill however I was eating slower and less at that time than currently. I will try liquids again for the next week and see if that makes a difference. Good luck finding the right balance

I agree with the advice to go with slightly less aggressive fills.

I'd also avoid milk immediately post-fill. It kind of gunks up the esophageal mucosa/stomach mucosa and can be hard to take right away. I'd stick with clear (and for me, warm works best) fluids.

If you don't want to call the doctor for a little unfill, I'd sip, sip, sip very slowly ALL DAY LONG. Little sips add up to adequate fluid---and if I were able to achieve that, I'd try to hold off to see if things loosened up with a bit of time (as swelling goes down).

A really good gauge of your hydration status is the color of your urine. It does NOT need to be clear to indicate good hydration; if it is pale yellow, you are a-okay. If it is very dark, you do need to bump up your Fluid intake; if you cannot achieve this by drinking, then it's important to see the doctor.

Good luck!

I have had the same problem with 2 out of 4 fills. I didn't call the doc, and at some point the next day was able to tolerate water again. I would wait until the day after your fill if I was you. Like already mentioned, some of it is due to swelling. Of course, if you can't keep down fluids by the end of the day after your fill I would call the doctor for sure. It's important not to get dehydrated.

I agree with the poster who suggested that you not do milk for a few days after your fill. I tried V8 too soon after my surgery and was forced to go back to clear liquids for a few more days. I got a fill yesterday, my second. I now have 2.75 cc in a 4cc band. I can do V8 so far just fine and the Adkins protein shakes also go down fine. I am doing mostly water though until tomorrow!! Hugs!!!!

My doctor tells us to stick with clear liquids for 5-7 days after each fill. Normally, I do clear liquids for one day because I get so hungry the next day that I have to have something, so I have soft foods. If I ever have trouble getting anything down, I stop eating or drinking for six hours. Sometimes, it's hard. If your blood sugar gets low, suck on a hard candy. This will help! Then, I'll do hot, clear liquids for the rest of the day. This loosens up whatever is stuck, and it helps get rid of the mucous. Every morning, I drink two cups of water. If you have a tight band and have problems eating, try a cup of something hot or warm. Just don't have dairy when you're having band problems because, yes, it will give you more mucous to deal with. I've had the band since 2007; I'm pretty much an expert at this point. :smile: Good luck!!!