I've had a sore throat and hoarseness since Wednesday so I went to the doctor this morning and was diagnosed with viral tonsillitis (happens to me about once every year or so,but this is the 1st time since my band). Since it's viral, they could not prescribe antibiotics and instructed me to drink lots of fluids and gargle with salt water... Typical treatment for a sore throat. Anyways, for the past week or so, I have finally felt restriction in my 7.5 cc band. Then all do a sudden, when this sore throat started, I have barely been able to take liquids, including the liquid Tylenol I'm taking for the pain. I haven't vomited, only "foamed" with dry heaving and (lots of) burping. I'm getting enough fluids down to suffice and there is no pain around my belly, so I don't feel a trip to the ER is necessary at this point. I scheduled an appt with my after care provider for Monday, and I'm going to request a small unfill and barium swallow test, just to make sure everything is okay. I feel like I was going into the red zone prior to my recent sore throat. But for the time being, I wanted to ask, is it possible for an illness to cause the band to feel tighter than it actually is?

Oh yeah! Your body stores extra fluids when we get sick. So, the lining in your stomach can swell a little which can make a difference in the size of your stoma. If your rings feel tighter, so will your band most likely.

yes your band can be tighter when you are ill. if you are not able to get enough liquids down you may have to have a unfill while you are sick. I suggest hot tea and just sipping on it. hope you feel better soon

Yes, no question about it for me. Even hot tea is not going down for me. I've got an unfill scheduled for tomorrow (Monday). My stomach swelled up due to taking 3 days of Advil for backpain. Even though I stopped the Advil on February 20th, and even though it was a short course of a small amount, it was enough proof to me that anti inflammatories + stress of illness (in my case, pain), makes a band close. I tried to wait it out, but PB'ing Water, tea, all liquids, and an inability to swallow anything solid is no way to live, and can cause a lapband slip or erosion.

So I'll unfill what is necessary tomorrow, let my stomach heal, and get refilled when everything recovers. I'm glad you are doing this with a barium swallow, as they will get an accurate reading on how restricted you are, and be able to adjust the band accordingly. Love that my place ONLY does fills/unfills this way.