I notice I've had to get an unfill around my period or have hard time digesting meat.

well speaking from my own experience, i retain water when i get my period. water retention and swelling will make the band tighter at certain times of the month. granted i didn't ever have to get unfilled. i didn't run myself that tight. i just had to be more careful about what i was eating during that time of the month.

I have learnt that I must be very careful around the time of my period as it definitely tightens. My nurse told me this is normal and to just to go back to mushy foods for a couple of days.

Yes, I also have to resort to protein shakes or soft foods anywhere from 3 to 5 days before my cycle starts; I don't go for an unfill

Think of the band as if it were a ring on your finger but it's a ring around your stomach, which is a muscle. If you retain Water from TOM, sodium, illness, it only stands to reason that your stomach will swell just like other parts of your body swell. So, the lining of your stomach will swell which makes the stoma a smaller hole.

tmf

Makes good sense, that's what I've been doing. Thanks you guys:)