I was wondering if anyone has the same problem as I do and if you have any suggestions as to what to do about it. In the mornings my band seems to be so tight that at times liquids are even difficult to get down, solid food is almost impossible for the first 2 to 3 hours. It's weird because it almost seems like this band has a mind of it's own sometimes I could eat a bowl of pasta or bread goes down fine then the next day everything is a problem. Any good reading or something to help me understand how this works? Iv'e been through many adds and subtracts and have never really found that magic spot. Thanks for any feedback!

I'm the same way, as with many of us. I usually drink a Protein shake for Breakfast about 8ish. Then around 10:30/11 I get hungry and will eat a Protein Bar. I find if I take small bites and chew well it goes down ok. Sometimes it gets lodged a bit, and I have to wait and take even smaller bites.

By around 1ish I can eat more food, and by dinner I can eat a lot more quantity of things. (I really wish it was the other way around, since dinner was my bad time before on overeating.)

I always start out my day with coffee or hot tea. The warm liquid helps loosen things up for me. If I drink the warm liquid, I can usually eat in about 30 minutes if I'm hungry.

Try a thin protein shake or warm tea/coffee. A warm drink can help loosen up your band a bit.

I know someone who says "the band is a fickle b*tch", meaning that you never know what it's going to let you eat.

I think we all had those days pre-op too, we just notice them more now.

Anyhoo... have you tried starting your day with a warm drink of some kind? coffee, tea, hot Water with lemon, are some common things that people drink.

I get up, have coffee with my Vitamins & supplements, then have my breakfast. I rarely do Protein drinks, unless I'm in too much of a hurry to eat.

And it's very common to get looser as the day goes on. Sometimes it helps to drink something cold to tighten up the band.

I don't know that there's any literature that explains why the band is so changeable, but maybe someone else can point the way to some.

I'm not sure what you mean about magic spot. If you mean the amount of fill that keeps you satisfied on a small meal for 3 hours or more.. my doctor calls that "the green zone". It's described well at The Preferred Weight Loss Surgery | LAP-BAND® It can be elusive and especially if you're a woman and still experiencing monthly hormonal fluctuations.

Hang in there, it does get easier eventually.

My band is always tighter in the mornings. I start with coffee in the morning and then around 9:30 or so I can have a bowl of oatmeal. I've actually gotten used to it and it doesn't bother me anymore. Sometimes I just wait till lunch to eat.

I haven't eaten actual food for breakfast in about a year. I am tight every morning, so I drink a Protein shake as I sit in traffic on my ride to work. Sometimes I have to take small sips. I have learned that we all become dehydrated to some degree overnight, and if you are not getting a normal amount of Water daily you can definitely be tighter as a result. I drink a cup of herbal tea when I arrive at work and I try to get as much water in as possible so that I can eat lunch. My blood pressure medication contains a diuretic so I have to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, otherwise along with my band being tight, I also will suffer from foot cramps (like last night... ughhh!).

I am happy and satisfied with a Protein Shake for breakfast, but many prefer food. I would say try the warm liquids in the morning as suggested here, and make sure you are hydrated overall. This could do the trick and you will be able to have real food for breakfast in no time.

Best of luck to you.

~Fran

My doc said that the band is usually "tighter" in the morning. Something to do with the combination of not having been expanded since the day before and laying down for an extended period of time. Based on this info, when I start getting fills, I will schedule them for the afternoons.

In the Mornings I hardly eat until around 11 am. But around 7 pm I can eat anything. For example 12' (yes 12') Subway Veggie Delight Sandwich or a hugh Gyro Wrap with lots of veggies.

Thank goodness! I thought it was just me.

I've recently noticed the tightening in the mornings and it really freaked me out. Normally I have a hearty cereal but recently went away for a weekend, went down stairs for the continental breakfast and was not amused when I could barely manage to get the scrambled eggs (minus toast) down and stay down.

It was kind of disconcerting, as I was going to be out and about on tours all day and would rely on a good breakfast to get me through to my next "feeding". Normally I tend to have breakfast about 2 hours after I wake up. I thought it was interesting that I'm now noticing this as I was banded back in April (2010).

Skylla

In the Mornings I hardly eat until around 11 am. But around 7 pm I can eat anything. For example 12' (yes 12') Subway Veggie Delight Sandwich or a hugh Gyro Wrap with lots of veggies.

I would never be able to get a footlong sandwich any time of the day in. I mean I can eat some bread depending on how it is prepared but it is tiny nibbles and crusty ones at that. My band is very tight but I can still get down most things. But geez, I couldn't imagine a footlong.

If you were able to eat Breakfast, even a Protein Shake, I bet your desire for a footlong would diminish or at least dwindle to only wanting a six inch. Unless you keep a loose band.

In the Mornings I hardly eat until around 11 am. But around 7 pm I can eat anything. For example 12' (yes 12') Subway Veggie Delight Sandwich or a hugh Gyro Wrap with lots of veggies.

Uhh...just to be clear, you mean a 12 inch sub, right? (' = foot, " = inch) LOL Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I am also tight in the morning. I just drink a protein shake, by lunch (around 1130-12) I am fine. My doctor knows - she is Ok with me drinking a shake for breakfast & told me if I still had trouble to drink something warm to loosen up.

I agree with the above. I'm tight in the mornings and drink a warm cup of tea. That usually does me fine until about 1:00 for lunch. As the day goes on, I too, can eat more and more. :blushing: