Hi All,

My problem is that my band seems to be getting tighter as I lose weight, despite having had a couple of unfills. This is contrary to how I understand the band should work, it should loosen as you lose weight, requiring occasional fills.

At the moment I cannot eat or even drink Water all day until about 9 or 10pm when suddenly I am wide open and able to eat a fair sized meal. Some days I can't eat or drink at all, but the next day I can have coffee at about 11am, then Soup for lunch and a meal later. It is very variable but I am losing weight, mainly I think because of the days when I fast totally.

I am going for an unfill next week (currently have 3.25mls in a midband) and am unsure whether to have a complete unfill to give my stomach a rest, as it often aches if I have PBed a lot.

I am tempted to ask for this - what would you do?

Also - I am tighter at 3.25mls than I was at 4mls last year. What's that all about?

I am just wondering if you are experiencing swelling after your PB episodes? When you PB is it on solids or liquids at first??? It must be something like that to explain the variable episodes?!?!?

Do you go back to liquids for a couple of days to give it a rest, then advance slowly to full liquids and then soft?

Hope you feel better!

Here's the thing:

Yesterday I PBed on coffee in the morning, didn't eat or drinkl all day but was able to eat at 9pm without a problem.

Today I PBed on Water at lunchtime (first drop past my lips) so I couldn't have been swollen from the PB yesterday morning as it wasn't swollen last night.

I don't understand this band.

Thanks for your reply.

Another thing - I am almost never able to eat 'solids', only soup or slop consistency, such as mashed potatoes, minced beef with loads of gravy etc.

Hmmmmm.... sounds so very frustrating for you. I wonder if you would benefit from an upper GI to check band placement...wonder if its slipping, or just too tight?? See what your doctor suggests. It shouldn't be like that, and I'm afraid you will get too discouraged soon. While we all seek to lose weight, we certainly don't want to be miserable while we do it!!!!:angry_smile:

Thank you Tess

I too immediately thought of a possible slip.

I must admit I pushed that possibility to the back of my mind because I have no other symptoms of a possible slip, ie acid reflux or pain. I think I will ask for a complete unfill to give it a few weeks rest.

I probably wouldn't get a full unfill.. of course thats entirely up to you.

I would ask for 1/2 of what is in the band to come out so that it can rest then have mini fills later in the future.

Thank you Brandy, that's an even better idea!

I'd go for the upper GI. If there is no slip, then take out half. But if there is a slip, you need a complete unfill to have your band go back into place. GL.

I agree with others that indicated you should have an upper GI, or at least check band placement under floro. Having a good portion unfilled and letting your stomach rest is a good idea, but if there is a greater problem it's better to know now, get it fixed and more on.

~Lori