I am having a bit of a rough time and need some input. I had an adjustment to my band in December. Doctor added a .25cc. Everything seemed fine for a few weeks. However, over the past week or so my band seems soooo tight. I am having trouble eating all foods and I have horrible heartburn. So much that I can't sleep. I have been taking antacids, but that doesn't help much. Tomorrow I am going back in for a small unfill. My question is....why did my adjustment start out fine and then eventually get so much tighter? Has anyone else had trouble with this? Is this normal/abnormal? Could it be an indication of a bigger problem?

Thanks so much for your input!!

Jen

Hi Jen!

Your problem is pretty common. It takes time for you stomach to acclimate to your band rather it's being filled or unfilled. That's why my DR will only do fills once a month. I'm glad your being proactive and going back to have a little taken out. Sometimes, we see people suffer with issues for awhile before talking to your doctor.

Good luck today!

Same thing happened to me. Ended up in the ER. It sucked. I got my fill taken out and I feel SO much better!! Even a little can make a big difference.

Same thing happened to me. Ended up in the ER. It sucked. I got my fill taken out and I feel SO much better!! Even a little can make a big difference.

Its just so strange. I had the fill on Dec. 5th and was doing fine. Then in the last few days I am so tight I can't take it. Its been way over a month and just started having a problem. How long from the time you got your fill and had to go to ER?

I got my fill in like the beginning of November. The the first week of Dec. I got really stressed out from work and some personal commitments and it just got mysteriously tighter and tighter in the course of 3-4 days. I thought it was from something I ate (maybe swelling?), or who knows, but actually I had been eating A LOT less than normal. I have learned that if I don't eat or drink enough, I get pain in my chest. I tried going back to a liquid diet for a few days, but it didn't seem to help.

Stress is a big one for me. Fill or no fill, when I am stressed out my band tightens up big time. It can happen to me out of the blue for what seems to another like nothing at all.

A great example is yesterday my husband and I were just sitting down after a stressful morning to have some lunch. We started eating and all was well, then the phone rang. We both looked at each other, it was his son. Nothing traumatic, but when the kids call it's usually never to just say Hi it's always "something".

So as the conversation progressed, both my band and my husbands when cinch. Not that we could feel that but we should know better by now, it happens often enough between calls from our kids and our parents! So wouldn't you know that very next bite...we both looked at each other with that same "oh shit" face, cause we knew the other was stuck.

Thank goodness we chew well and eat slowly, the food passed and we were both relived. The rest of our lunch went to the trash, and we watched a movie while the snow kept falling and piling higher and higher and thought I hope no one calls during dinner or it's gonna be a liquid one!

You may need to have a small unfill to only about .1cc. I know I did many times. It takes longer but it works. Hope you feel better.

I have problems with being tight in the mornings. I am not able to eat first thing or have anything cold. I have also found that my band gets tight when it is colder out or the air pressure is high. I thought I was going to have to get some taken out, but I tried a liquid diet for a few days and that seems to have helped some. I also found eating mushy foods when this happens is the best way to eat. I love navy beans now more than ever. I make sure that every thing I eat provides protein so I reach my goal every day. Greek yogurt packs tons of protein in a cup serving and makes wonderful smoothies.

I agree this problem is indeed common. I personally know many people who had a fill, and some of them felt it quite tight after several days. You have taken the right decision to go to your doctor.

OMG.... I am going through the same thing. I got a fill in the beginning of December and everything was fine, but the last week I have been so tight I can't eat. I also have been having heartburn the last 4 nights and sleeping on the couch with my head lifted, and last night was the worst night so far. I decided on Monday I am calling the dr because I am not sure what happened and see if I should get a slight unfill. I just don't like feeling this thight.