I had my surgery quite a while ago, and have not had a fill in just over a year. My weight plateaued at 33 pounds last May and I was ok with that.

I have a ventral hernia that is getting bigger, and I had to stop working out in the early fall. I'm now starting the process to get that fixed.

Here's the weirdo thing. I had a head cold in February that resolved pretty easily. But about 10 days later I felt as if my band was tighter, and I wasn't able to eat as much and was PB'ing more.

Then I went through a few days in real pain. Saw my PCP who said it sounded like gastritis, and I did two weeks on Prilosec (which I just completed on Sunday).

I was remiss in going in for my one year post band checkup and getting my upper GI done. Things were ok and I really didn't have the time until now.

I went in this morning and swallowed three relatively small sips of barium (not pleasant, but palatable if you hold your nose, LOL). The barium did not got through the band. So I needed to wait about 35 minutes and they checked me again. Still nothing.

The radiology department called my bariatric doctor's office. They wanted me to come right in and get this taken care of, rush, rush, rush... And I've been living with this now for five weeks. The head surgeon, the lead on the team and the one who started the whole department, has made it crystal clear that he is the ONLY person authorized to fill or UNfill me because I have a compromised abdominal wall from many abdominal surgeries (ergo the ventral hernia - that is how you get them).

I talked to the office and told them that I do not PB everything and not at every meal NOR am I uncomfortable all the time. I said that if I'd been allowed to take a sip of Water to thin out the barium it would've gone through.

Bottom line - I go in on Thursday when the lead physician is in the office and he will take some saline out of my band.

Have any of you heard or experienced anything where a lot of coughing or sneezing has forced saline in the tubing into the band, making it inflate more? That seems to be the current theory we are all operating under, because everything else is fine.

Thanks for any and all ideas, responses, suggestions, etc.

I think that this happened to me a while ago. I didn't have the tests that you did, due to insurance problems. So that is how I don't know positively that this happened to me. But I really suffered for a while. Then, just as suddenly as this problem developed, it went away. With me, when something good happens, I don't question it!! So like I said, I don't know for sure what happened, but something happened. Something else to consider is what another bandster told me. She said that changes in weather and barometric pressure can make a band way tighter or looser. I asked my doctor about this, but Dr. No-Personality said there wasn't any documentation that he was aware of.

Well, I've rambled on and I don't even know if I answered your question. But hopefully there is something in this note that can help. Good luck. I will look to see how you are doing. Let me know.

I had my surgery quite a while ago, and have not had a fill in just over a year. My weight plateaued at 33 pounds last May and I was ok with that.

I have a ventral hernia that is getting bigger, and I had to stop working out in the early fall. I'm now starting the process to get that fixed.

Here's the weirdo thing. I had a head cold in February that resolved pretty easily. But about 10 days later I felt as if my band was tighter, and I wasn't able to eat as much and was PB'ing more.

Then I went through a few days in real pain. Saw my PCP who said it sounded like gastritis, and I did two weeks on Prilosec (which I just completed on Sunday).

I was remiss in going in for my one year post band checkup and getting my upper GI done. Things were ok and I really didn't have the time until now.

I went in this morning and swallowed three relatively small sips of barium (not pleasant, but palatable if you hold your nose, LOL). The barium did not got through the band. So I needed to wait about 35 minutes and they checked me again. Still nothing.

The radiology department called my bariatric doctor's office. They wanted me to come right in and get this taken care of, rush, rush, rush... And I've been living with this now for five weeks. The head surgeon, the lead on the team and the one who started the whole department, has made it crystal clear that he is the ONLY person authorized to fill or UNfill me because I have a compromised abdominal wall from many abdominal surgeries (ergo the ventral hernia - that is how you get them).

I talked to the office and told them that I do not PB everything and not at every meal NOR am I uncomfortable all the time. I said that if I'd been allowed to take a sip of Water to thin out the barium it would've gone through.

Bottom line - I go in on Thursday when the lead physician is in the office and he will take some saline out of my band.

Have any of you heard or experienced anything where a lot of coughing or sneezing has forced saline in the tubing into the band, making it inflate more? That seems to be the current theory we are all operating under, because everything else is fine.

Thanks for any and all ideas, responses, suggestions, etc.

Well, had an interesting morning at the bariatric doctor's. Turns out that my band/opening is NOT obstructed, but the barium showed significant swelling of the esaphagus above the band, and swelling (although not significant) of the stomach below the band.

His response to this was to UNfill me by 7cc for six weeks to give my body a chance to heal. Since this was a fast onset, we are hoping it isn't too late an that in six weeks I will be fine again and can start the process of band tightening once again.

I'm bummed, but not devastated. I knew that there was a big problem and that it was recent, so needing to be unfilled some was no surprise. Unfilling me totally was.

The trick for me will be to stay with the eating program so that I don't regain a significant amount of weight. I would be really upset if that would happen. I think (pray) that I'm far enough along to stick to my eating program.

Wish me luck!!

I know how you must be feeling. I've had my band "drained" more than once. Believe it or not, it wasn't that bad. You still have a little pouch compared to the original stomach size, if you know what I mean. (My brain is not working at all today. I was at the ER most of the night with my dad who is not well. Then off to work). Anyway, this is a do-able thing. Be sure to measure your food. Don't go over. It is more important now than ever to stay within recommended portions size. If you are still hungry an hour later, have a Protein shake or a very small snack. You see ? You can do this. Be glad it isn't something really serious that requires the band coming out! Six weeks will pass and you will be healed and back on your way. Hang in there. Keep me posted, please.

Well, had an interesting morning at the bariatric doctor's. Turns out that my band/opening is NOT obstructed, but the barium showed significant swelling of the esaphagus above the band, and swelling (although not significant) of the stomach below the band.

His response to this was to UNfill me by 7cc for six weeks to give my body a chance to heal. Since this was a fast onset, we are hoping it isn't too late an that in six weeks I will be fine again and can start the process of band tightening once again.

I'm bummed, but not devastated. I knew that there was a big problem and that it was recent, so needing to be unfilled some was no surprise. Unfilling me totally was.

The trick for me will be to stay with the eating program so that I don't regain a significant amount of weight. I would be really upset if that would happen. I think (pray) that I'm far enough along to stick to my eating program.

Wish me luck!!

Thanks, Slimmap, for the support. I'm not really upset right now (because I feel SO much better already but can still feel the rawness in my esophagus), just worried that I won't be able to maintain my current weight.

I can't work out or even walk or swim for exercise right now because I have this hernia that is in the way & bothering me. I'll try wearing double support garments & walking my dogs to see if that works, but usually I get too achy or in pain to go very far. Gaining more than a few pounds back is what I worry about. Last night I did ok with how I ate. Not perfect, but ok.

Thanks again.

You'll do fine. Just take it one day at a time. Or in my case, one hour at a time. You will see that it can be done. You won't gain weight. But you will probably stay the same. That is okay though. I think when I had to go through this ( 3 times! ) I stayed the same or lost only 2 - 3 pounds. Have faith in yourself. Believe that you can do it and you will.

Thanks, Slimmap, for the support. I'm not really upset right now (because I feel SO much better already but can still feel the rawness in my esophagus), just worried that I won't be able to maintain my current weight.

I can't work out or even walk or swim for exercise right now because I have this hernia that is in the way & bothering me. I'll try wearing double support garments & walking my dogs to see if that works, but usually I get too achy or in pain to go very far. Gaining more than a few pounds back is what I worry about. Last night I did ok with how I ate. Not perfect, but ok.

Thanks again.