I read someone else's post and thought I'd share my experience with newbies: If you're having difficulty keeping food or liquids down, make sure your body is warm and you are in a warm environment before eating or drinking. I am so tight that I'm nearly closed when it's cold outside or cold around me...I have learned that I simply cannot eat or drink unless the temperature around me is at least 70 degrees and I've been in the environment for at least 30 minutes. I've experimented with this over the course of a week and have determined that cold weather affects the tightness of my band; if you are having this issue, it could be your problem as well so try this before going in for an unfill.

PT if that happened to me I would be in BIG trouble with this darn weather we have been having on the East Coast this winter!!

It is true my band is a bit tighter when I am in the cold, I am still able to get liquids down though and I'm grateful for that. In this icy weather I will have something warm to drink before my meal so that my stoma is relaxed and receptive. I would probably be in a panic if I could not swallow liquids.

If your in the icy weather area's and you are having this same issue, I would totally consider a tiny (.2-.5) unfill until the weather warms up. Sometimes no matter where you go inside or out, that chill gets to ya. I know my bones were hurting those days when it was 6 degree's.

There were some mornings I woke up to 1 degree temps...OMG I just gave myself the chills thinking about it

I'm a little tighter due to the cold, but I still can eat and drink. I would worry if I couldn't drink, regardless of the temperature out. I wake my band up with warm coffee each morning. Does us both a world of good.

I guess that's why they recommend a cup of hot liquid (tea/coffee, etc) before a meal - to warm up & relax the band. I'm not sure I could cope with my band that tight though.

I actually find the reverse of your observation to be true... I find my band gets tighter when its hot & humid. Not sure why but it definitely does.