Hi , i was banded in 2006 and managed to lose 7 stone but by 2009 i was having lots of problems with acid and reflux. I was advised to have my band emptied to try and relax my stomach back into shape but although it worked for awhile, my problems gradually got worse and worse. i started to have 'drowning' incidents at night, dreaming i was drowning and waking up with all this fluid in my lungs. I had infection after infection and several incidents of aspiration pneumonia. Although i had my band done privately i managed to be seen by a NHS surgeon who operated and repositioned my band. In the interim period i had regained 3 stone of weight. I am now trying to reach the fill point when i can lose weight again but finding it difficult to get my band to the correct point. Minor fills (0.2 of a mil) and my band is either too loose or then next time too tight and then i had a further incident with reflux 'drowning' and ended up in hospital again with pneumonia. My lungs are taking a long time to recover and i am still not loosing any weight despite calorie counting and trying to do as much exercise as possible.

Im so sorry to hear that your having so much trouble! Lung issues are nothing to take lightly, I can't imagine what it is like to try to exercise! Have you seen anyone else to see if there is anything else going on that is not band related? I feel horrible for you!

I've just seen a thoracic surgeon. He doesn't think there is anything else going on but is sending me for a scan to make sure. He says it can take up to 6 months to see any improvement in your lungs after pneumonia.

He's right.

Focus on regaining your health before getting too stressed about your band.

Pneumonia is nasty and even though I didn't have it as severely as you, I remember it taking a long recovery period.