Is my band too tight?

[Bigbandbetty 12]

I have had my band for 18 months, I live in the UK. I have hardly lost any weight, 12lbs. I had a fill 2 days ago to take me to 7.5 mls in my 10ml band. I can't eat, don't feel hungry (????) but I can't really drink much either. I can sip liquids. Warm liquids are easier. If I take more than a sip, I get pain, hick ups and belch. How long should I wait before assuming that it is now too tight? I have never been in this position and have never really felt that the band was working for me. I don't want to 'cry wolf' if I just need to stick to sipping for a few days. Is this how you feel when entering the green zone? I accept the stomach will be irritated after a fill, how long should I allow it to calm down? It's about time it started to work for me but should it be this difficult at this stage? Any advice will be greatly appreciated right now my band aider friends.

[B-52 7,113]

Sounds a lot like my experience with my last and final fill....

After a week of not being able to eat anything solid, I called my Dr.

He talked me into waiting it out....it took me a month to get used to it and everything to settle out. the more I tried to eat, the more irritated and tight the band remained...

But keep in mind, my Dr. knows ME...Knows my bad habits...Knows what I needed to change about myself if I wanted the band to work. So he may not give the same advice to all his patients.

BTW, over 4 years later, and there are still days I have to sip Water...especially first thing in the morning....get that infamous gurgling sound. I can never gulp Water down...I can never drink fast.

[Bigbandbetty 12]

Thank you soooooooo much B52! I read your response earlier today in a quiet moment at work. Things have improved very slightly. By midday I had managed 1/4 cup of juice. In the afternoon I managed a large cup of clear beef stock over three hours and then this evening I have managed 2 cups of Water. I am hopeful that I don't get reflux in bed tonight. If I survive.....my plan is to stick to clear fluids for a few more days. At least I'm not going to dehydrate now. I realise now that for 18 months my band has not been allowed by me to work for me. Now I have an adjustment that takes me closer to what I had the band fitted for in the first place. I feel more confident to persevere with it now. Thanks very much from bigbandbetty in the UK :-)))))))

[txDebbi 2]

Sounds to me like you have too much Fluid in your band. You HAVE to eat!! I would definitely call your Dr. and see if they can take a little out. 7.5mil in a 10mil band is a lot. Did you drink Water after your fill, before you left the Dr.s office? That should have told you right away if you were too tight. You cannot live on fluids, but if that's what you are going to do, make sure you are drinking Protein drinks!! You don't want to loose all your sources for Vitamins and you have to have Protein. Good luck!! I just got a fill last week (.3 to a total of 6.1) and am having a lot of heartburn. May have to have .1 taken out. Trying so hard to gret in the green zone. Not easy, but too much invested to quit. Take care.

[Bigbandbetty 12]

Thanks TXDebbi. Just trying to drink my first warm drink of the day. Three sips and pain in the holding pouch area with each sip like yesterday morning. One bout of reflux in the night. So that's an improvement. Things got better as the day progressed yesterday. My surgery package has support for me in a 24hr helpline included & I know that they will recommend a downward adjustment from what I am learning from my friends on Bariatric Pal. If I can get fluids down and keep them down without reflux or pain, I will push on for a few days more. If I can stand it. I'll call the help, one and discuss the situation too. We can't access our Doctor. I will let you know what the help line operative suggests........

[Bigbandbetty 12]

Well, it's bedtime. I have managed to drink fluids all day. I have just had some Natural Ketosis almond oats. This has, I think, passed my pouch. No pain. Small glass of Water, down. Maybe I will survive. Maybe my band has taught me a lesson. It's work tomorrow for me. Thanks for all your help so far. I will post tomorrow and let you know how I get on overnight. Fingers crossed.

[Bigbandbetty 12]

The last 11 days have been very difficult. I am managing fluids and just about managing a Protein Shake. Finally the restriction is there. No hunger at all but not a chance of eating anything solid, even really well chewed solids. I have reflux at night.mi can't eat at all until mid afternoon (even then it's only Soup or a Protein shake) I have an appointment on 21st March with my Bariatric nurse. I am expecting an aspiration to reduce the mls. I won't be sorry even though this is the first time I gave felt restriction and list weight since the fitting. Good? Bad? Not sure. I think it'd too tight at the minute. I am hydrated which is the main thing..

[gail10 17]

Bigbandbetty, all sounds too familiar, who are you attending, I'm in the UK too.

I had a tough time like you're describing a couple of years back and was miserable, I ended up getting my band emptied which I now regret (I'm now 4st heavier than my starting weight) sometime 0.1ml can make all the difference but you'll need to give everything time to heal as you've been sick etc. everything will be inflamed.

I got a fill for the first time again 2 weeks ago, I felt it tight in the beginning and was slightly panicked but now 2 weeks on I've managed fillet steak, veg & potatoes for dinner, albeit it was 3oz of steak & it took me half an hour to eat but it was 'normal' food. I'm going to need another fill as I'm feeling hungry in between meals but I won't be going too far this time round, slowly slowly does it.

Good luck and hope you get on ok with you're un fill & you feel better soon.

[KateP 359]

Another Brit here. You sound way too tight. I am paranoid about being too tight - I think that is part of the reason I still have my band after nine years!