I have read somewhere that some people are tighter when they're only their monthly cycle... anyone experience this? Reason being - I was given my 2nd fill 11 days ago. The first week felt really good - what I would think was ideal. Eating early morning was a little rough but I hear that's normal. Well now on my period, day 2, and I couldn't even eat fish. FISH - baked fish, like the easiest protein in the world to eat LOL. This morning I didn't feel like eating (my period does that to me a lot) so I hit Smoothy King and got a gladiator proteinshake (a small fills me up). So when I went to eat my lunch (actually tonight - I work nights), I started eating my fish and didn't get more than a few bites in and it just didn't feel right. And before you ask, yes small bites and lots of chewing. I quit eating - figured I would just try again when my stomach felt better. Well 5-10 minutes go by and my food comes back up. It wasn't like I even threw up - it's like I opened my mouth and it was coming out. It wasn't even really after a burp. It was the weirdest feeling. Has anyone experienced this? I'm a little nervous...

I am tighter the day or so leading up to TOM. In general I am tigher in the morning. I would say I am at restriction but I don't have trouble eating like you are having. I would see how you are the week after TOM. Fills can take 2 weeks to really hit. It could be that you'll find that you are now to tight and will need a slight unfil.

I am feeling the same way you are. It is time for my cycle and everything i eat is coming back up. I just received a 2nd fill last week and I am 2 months post op today. I guess I will go back to liquids for a week or so. This is so not right. I am feeling so bad and I am starting to doubt myself as to why I even wanted the band. I know this is just an emotional issue but I dont feel like I am losing weight like others and that become discouraging.

I totally cannot eat the day before my period starts and maybe the first two days of it. It is a major struggle. And then, poof, back to normal. Periods suck.

yes... i'm extremely tight for about 3 days where i can't eat so i survive on shakes!

I was banded 4 weeks ago and the is my first monthly since then but I have noticed it feels tighter today than last week. Maybe from boosting and hormones? Bad part is I am still having huge chocolate cravings!

I can eat and crave a week before even though it may be smaller portions because I keep a tight band but the day before and the day after it starts...I can get stuck on very soft foods including protein shakes if I am not careful. My doctor thinks it may be due the period and it only occurs right before it.

Significantly tighter about 4 days before, until about a day after.

This did not start for me until about 3 years into my band.

BTW, other things that tend to make bandsters tighten up include:

* Barometric changes

* Pressure changes (flying, diving, etc.)

* Humidity changes, but that's not wholly separate from barometric changes, I don't suppose

* Stress

The resident theory used to be that it was related to Fluid levels in the body. That makes sense. The pressure changes not so much. Period = Water retention = "swollen" insides = tighter band. Or something like that.

I never even thought about the band being tighter during a period. I'm having my IUD removed tomorrow, and haven't had a period since April 2007, before my daughter was conceived. I have a feeling this first one is going to be awful. Now I'll be tight, cranky and bloated!

Thank you ladies so much! Nice to know I'm not alone in this craziness. I actually ate yesterday (went easy) and so far things seem to be pretty normal. I haven't attempted chicken or anything yet but tuna is doing fine.

YES! It starts a day or two before and lasts about 4 days for me. I have to break rules and eat mushy foods during those days if I want to keep anything down. And I tend to lose track of the days, but as soon as I start to struggle on chili I know it's coming!

Well.....for me I think during TOM I was not tight at all!! Then the day after....marked difference in tightness, much more tight. Very weird.