Hi,

Haven't posted before. Been banded since Jan 23, 2012. I have lost 30 pounds and haven't felt like I am on a "diet" for the most part. However, just got my second fill 4 days ago. I do know that it takes awhile for the stomach to "settle" after a fill. But even trying to get yogurt down hurts. The food does go through, so I don't think it's an overfill issue, but it is painful to eat. Anyone who has entered the magical "green zone", does it hurt to eat? I get a pain in my back while food is making it's way down. Even not being in the green zone I don't think I could overeat if I tried, but frankly if this is the green zone, I don't think I like it....

I am in the Green Zone and the only time eating hurts is if I take too big a bite or don't chew enough. Otherwise, no, it doesn't hurt.

I do know it takes me close to a week for my stomach to go back to normal after a fill. It's very touchy for that first 5-7 days after.

If I were you, I'd give a full week from your fill date and if you're still having the same problem, give you surgeon a call and see what he says.

Eating should not be painful. Unless you are stuck. Keep and eye on things, if you get to where you cannot get liquids down go in ASAP. If yogurt is not going down well, you might be a little too tight. I was overfilled once, I was having trouble with yogurt, got stuck on string cheese. When I got stuck on mashed potatoes is when I cried uncle.

I got half the fill I'd just had put in taken out. After things calmed down I went back a month later and had that put back in plus a little more.

You might try going on all liquids for a day or so and let any swelling go down.

Feel better!

Thanks for your replies. What I find confusing about the whole banded thing is, you have a pouch above your stomach. Theoretically food should make it's way to the pouch fine. If you're going to have problems it should be when the food is trying to get through the band. But it seems like after this last fill, as soon as I swallow, even water, I get pain running down my upper back. It does get through, eventually.

I had the same issue with yogurt and smoothies hurt going down. I was to tight. They unfilled me. 5 and IT helped a lot.

I had the same issue with yogurt and smoothies hurt going down. I was to tight. They unfilled me. 5 and IT helped a lot.

And I am beginning to think that I may be too tight also. I am going to try to ride it out til my next appointment. My fill doc is 2 1/2 hours away and I am seeing her sooner this month because of some other appointments I have there. So when they did an unfill, would you say you entered the green zone?

Unfortunately, no. Apparently I am very sensitive and anything over .5 filled At once and I swell up like crazy. But I couldn't even get down thick liquids like protein drinks and such. As soon ad they unfilled me and the swelling went down I was pretty loose again . But the next fill got me where I am now and I'm definately in the green zone! I just have top take it slow with fills and I'm okay with that. But think liquids and purees should never be a problem or hurt going down.

It is referred pain. It might feel like it is in your throat but it isn't. It's a bit like the way that people often get pain in arms or legs from a trapped nerve in their back. Pain is not always felt in the area that it originates from.

I just recently had a pretty good size fill and the first few days I was aloud to have real food again, I had trouble with getting it down and had to stop and try again later. I also realized that I was probably not chewing it like I should and that I needed to slow down. I did however over the weekend get my first stuck eposode. Until then I never understood what that meant. Honestly I think it had to do more with the fact that I had been driving for over 2 hours out of town and stopped to eat when I was absolutely starving. Not a good thing, because it was only baked fish, but even tiny bites will get you caught up if you eat too fast. Even the water I sipped to try and get it down hurt. I finally had to walk out to the parking lot and thats when I finally got it to release. Yuckkkk. That had to be the worst feeling so far. It really made it hard to even breath. At first I though I might have gotten too much of a fill, but I think I am ok. It just takes getting used to having patience I think. And a constant effort to chew and slow down.

And that's what I have been working on - chewing and slowing down. But after this fill for the most part I've been sticking to mushies and those even hurt going down. Last night water seemed to be not as painful so maybe my stomach is settling a bit. And I think I may be one of the overly sensative types. After surgery it took me all of three weeks to feel better. Lot of nausea and throwing up in those first weeks.

I have had that happen before and I was to tight. Sometimes you can go to liquids for a few days and see if your stomache is irritated and making the band tighter. If you are to tight then you will probably start to experience a cough at night or reflux soon.