Help! Strange band experience

[MellieW 0]

So I've decided my band is possessed. I'm 7 mos post op and am finally feeling restriction with approx 5 cc in my 10 cc band. I went in last Friday for a small fill (between 1/4 cc and 1/2 cc) and since then I have been very tight.... so tight, in fact, I seriously considered going back to get a slight unfill Monday morning because I was getting stuck on my Water and bringing most everything (mushies or liquids only), including my Water, back up. I decided to give it a couple days though thinking swelling could be contributing to the tightness as well as the small adjustment. Because the last couple days were so rough I decided yesterday morning that I would stick to liquids only. While I was able to slowly get my water in, I wasn't able to eat until late afternoon/late evening and then it took me over an hour and a half to get down a can of chicken noodle Soup (without the noodles) and about a hour to get a Protein shake in. It was a fairly miserable day but I didn't bring anything back up so I felt triumphant. Today, however, I'm completely wide open!

I woke up this morning and, as I normally do, got my water bottle and started very slowly. I took small sips to test my band and I could feel that it was draining slowly but it was going down. As the day has progressed that clogged drain feeling as completely subsided so I thought I'd try eating. I started very slowly with yogurt and again, that went down very easily. So, this evening I thought I'd give dinner a try and, miraculously it seems, I had absolutely no issue getting anything down! Although I took small bites I didn't have to take itsy bitsy bites as I've had to do over the last few days and I was able to eat 2.5 oz of chicken and a small side of okra in about 25minutes with absolutely no problem! It doesn't feel like I've even had an adjustment now! Has anyone else ever experienced this?? I'm completely baffled how overnight I have literally gone from bringing up everything I take in to being so open that I can eat solids as though I don't have a band! What the heck?

I'd love to hear from anyone who has experienced this as well. I guess I'm a little nervous about whether this is "normal" or not. I was terribly concerned about all the throwing up I'd been doing over the last 4 days so now I guess I might be worried something has happened to my band although I know that's not likely, as I'm not having any pain or symptoms of a slipped band. I guess I just need reassurance that this can happen and all is well. Anyone else have this bizarre band experience??

[eko 1]

My last band adjustment was also a challenge, although I did not throw-up, I did get stuck a lot more than usual. I suddenly learned that I could not eat as soon as I use to in the morning (stuck on scrambled eggs), I just had to give it more time for the band to open up. I also went back on softer foods for awhile, but now the band and I have come to terms and I am back to my normal diet. I think there is some swelling with band adjustments that just take little time to go away and every adjustment requires a renegotiation in the relationship with your band.

Hope things continue to improve for you.

[JenB78 0]

Hi Mellie,

I am 2 years post op, and I will tell you that you are not losing your mind LOL. The band is a very fickle little fellow. There are some days that I cant eat anything solid until around 1 in the afternoon. Other days I am like an open chute (those are the scary times) Sometimes my morning coffee makes me gurgle, some days it doesnt. You have to learn your band, and that totally takes time. You just try everything carefully.... because honestly you never know. I know that when you get a fill, it can take several days for everything to "settle" per say. So whenever you get a fill, dont make any hasty decisions until at least a week after the fill. And then the fun part start right before you are about to start your period. The week before my period, my band is crazy tight and things that I had been able to eat previously make me puke. I love my band to pieces, but he sure cant make up his mind and that gets annoying at times. But my lil band has helped me lose 120 pounds, so the love outweighs the hate Good luck, you will be fine

Jen

[MellieW 0]

Thanks, eko and Jen, for your replies.

You're right, Jen, this band can make you feel like you're losing your mind at times, so it's nice to know I'm not the only one experiencing this phenomena. It was just a bit unsettling that I was completely open yesterday after being completely closed off for the better part of 4 days. It's just scary to think after 7 months and 5cc's that I still don't have any real or lasting restriction. It seems I'll never find that ever elusive "sweet spot" other bandsters speak of.