I had my lap and surgery 3 yrs ago and was very successful. I went from a size 22, to a size 14 and was loving it. It wasn't always easy, but I felt good about myself, my progress, and my habits. Then I started traveling with my job. The altitude and elevations didn't work. I started to also notice changes in tightness with my menstrual cycle. These are things that I didn't know before and things that really took me off guard. I had several unfill/refill/unfill/refills. I gained almost all the weight back. Then decided to start over. A fresh start. New outlook, knowing the sensitivity and how things bounced for me, I became more aware of my intake and tried to make better choices with less in the band. That really seemed to be helping. I am back down 40 lbs. Go me!!! Now, here I am, three weeks since my last fill, and feeling right again. Are there any other women out there who have more tightness with their cycles? I am experiencing acid, heartburn, and some vomiting. I am trying to manage and not run in for an unfill, but as I sit here with heartburn pain again, I wonder if I am making the right decision. If any of you have had this surrounding your cycle, can you tell me how you managed and if it passed when your period was over? I felt like, before this, I was at a great spot. Trying not to get discouraged.....

Hi there, I am new and just beginning to understand how my band works -- and at a time when peri-menopause is in full force. All I can say is that acid, heartburn and vomiting are not okay. Those are all signs that the adjustment is not right. Don't jeopardize your health or the band -- talk to your doctor about these symptoms so you can work out a good amount of saline. If it's a lot of filling and infilling during a time of hormonal transition, so be it.

call your doctor for medication. i take 2 prescription strength pepcid and have a anti nausea med i can take if i get sick. but i never have indigestion anymore. i did prior to surgery but the pepcid has taken it away. i never throw up because the anti nausea medication stops me from getting sick. i don't know when you got your fill but i know with my last one it took a full 3 weeks of going back and forth from mushies, liquids and solids before my pouch and band got used to each other with solids. one thing i am learning is having the band is patience. my doctor wanted me to wear a ring. if the ring was tight so could my band. so it would let me know to have caution with the first meal of the day.

Best wishes, I hope that you can work this out. Karen..aka..kll724