I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. Any comments out there?

I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. Any comments out there?

I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I don't really feel it. I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. I think you might be too tight if a warm Fluid in the morning is too much to handle. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. Any time that drinking fluids is a problem, being overfilled is the likely culprit. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I only give fills 4 weeks to settle down, because the longest time I have heard of for a delayed-action fill to kick in was four weeks. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. The answer for that is getting TINY fills and unfills. That's hard for you because of time/distance/money. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. I think you have given it enough time already.

The following is from a post that I wrote a long time ago:

"How does a Lap-Band actually work?" This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Thanks for your lengthy and detailed reply Wendel! I appreciate it very much. I seem to be doing a bit better now, but I haven't ruled out a small unfill. I am just going to give it a little more time and see what happens. Again, thanks!

Hi there

Sounds like you have a good fill to me. Most bandsters are always tight in the morning like that and loosen up throughout the day. As long as your getting food down and your not having reflux I wouldn't touch it. Welcome to the world of being a bandster

Thanks for your lengthy and detailed reply Wendel! I appreciate it very much. I seem to be doing a bit better now, but I haven't ruled out a small unfill. I am just going to give it a little more time and see what happens. Again, thanks!

You;re very welcome!

This is on a different topic. I see you were banded by Dr. Kuri in 05 and then re-banded in 06. Can you please share why you needed to be re-banded? I'm scheduled for Dr. Kuri next week.

Thanks

I've felt this very thing! I was just filled on 9/27 and I've felt the muscle tightness in my throat, too. My doc has his patients do liquids for 24 hrs following a fill, then we can continue eating solids as normal. I've been taking it slow and have been doing well so far. I did get s'thing stuck the first time I ate some solids (scrambled eggs), but that was b/c I'd been used to taking bigger bites. I've since adjusted and am doing okay.

But I thought it was weird, too, about the throat tightness. What's up w/that??? I can get liquids down fine and my food (as long as I chew like a good Bandster).

Maybe it's just residual swelling...I guess I'll give it about a month and see how I do.

I'm glad you posted this!

I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. Any comments out there?

Just doing a little research about this...maybe it has s'thing to do w/the vagus nerve. Maybe that's why we're feeling some throat tightness...I see that the vagus nerve controls some of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles...hmmmmm...I think I may be on to s'thing here...I'll continue to research.

I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. Any comments out there?

I had my first fill exactly one week ago. I can't eat mostly anything. I get full right away. Not only that, after a certain amount it gets stuck there and sometimes I had to go throw up or it just stays there.

The funny thing is that the first week I was fine, maybe a little tense and tight feeling in my throat. One week after is like my body noticed the band has been filled and it rejects whatever food it does not want. :omg: I had 1.5 cc. Is that normal? I mean it is ok with me but I just want to know if it is ok.

All,

I found out recently that I am highly allergic to MSG. monosodium glutamate that is a food flavor additive in most Soups, chinese food and some dressings. The symptoms are tightness of throat and drainage. It is worse in the mornings.

I have almost choked to death because of this allergy.

MSG Facts

helpful list of suspects:

Battling the MSG Myth: Campbell's Soup...Hellmann's salad Dressings...

I had my first fill exactly one week ago. I can't eat mostly anything. I get full right away. Not only that, after a certain amount it gets stuck there and sometimes I had to go throw up or it just stays there.

The funny thing is that the first week I was fine, maybe a little tense and tight feeling in my throat. One week after is like my body noticed the band has been filled and it rejects whatever food it does not want. :omg: I had 1.5 cc. Is that normal? I mean it is ok with me but I just want to know if it is ok.

This is pretty common actually..fills can fluctuate. Although other things do effect how tight your fill feels. Number one for me is stress..number two is if its that time of the month, I'll be super tight. Also if I'm sick at all..i'll get alot tighter. You'll learn how your band is. Just takes time. If you can't keep anything down or drink then your fill turned out to be too tight. Sounds to me though that u just need to go on some liquids for awhile and let things calm down. Like anything..if your really worried about it talk to your doctor. Take care

Diane

Brandy - I don't feel food going through my band. My 10cc band was completely filled and then my doctor put in an extra .2 (for pressure he said). I was fine for about 6 weeks ... it was great because I finally felt the restriction that everyone was talking about .... then, I don't know why, but all of a sudden I couldn't keep any food down and had to have an unfill - my doctor took out 1.2 ccs and I gained back 5 pounds in two months.

Yesterday he put a little fill back and I'm hoping the same thing doesn't happen again. You're probably already doing this, but for the tightness in your throat, maybe you have to eat a lot less at each sitting, but eat more often to make sure you get enough nutrition. My doctor told me that if you eat too much volume, it sits in your esophagus. Don't know if that's the case with you, but just thought I'd mention it as a possibility. I hope everything works out well for you.