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Hi. I was banded on September 19, 2008. I am curious. I had my third fill on Dec. 18th, which has given me REAL restriction. I'm learning how to deal with it all.

I was wanting to know what you think, or have experienced, in regards to band tightness. Why is it that my band is REALLY tight some days and looser other days? It is usually tight in the mornings, and I know this is kinda common - but why?

I can eat something one day and have no problems. The next day I try the same exact food, and I have all kinds of problems. Of course I know that if I don't follow all of the eating rules, that can cause issues. And I also know that some foods just don't agree with some people. But.... what causes the day to day fluctuations with the band's tightness? Stress??.... hormones?? (I don't have periods, but I do still have ovaries), the moon??, the tide??, the rotation of the earth?? Any opinions, theories, or facts that anyone can share with me will be greatly appreciated. Becky:unsure:

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Well I certainly can't provide any solid medical advice, but I too experience the same thing - and I think most all of us have or will at some point in the journey.

The logic I apply is that your pouch is tissue. Tissues seem to be their most firm after a restful period of sleep. That would make your pouch firmer in the morning than in the evening.

You've already hit on most of the other variables that effect perceived restriction. Of them I think stress and anxiety are some of the worst offenders.

As long as your able to ingest sufficient nutrition I wouldn't be too concerned about it. My calorie intake varies anywhere between 1,000 to 3,000. I prefer to cycle my calories anyway so if it's a really tight day I just use it as one of my light calorie days.

Good luck!

Brad

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Becky,

My saying is "The Band is a fickle, fickle thing." Embrace its fickleness cause you will be dealing with this for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. What makes it fickle? Stress, hormones, dehydration, Water retention, stomach inflammation, weather, altitude changes, humidity changes, and... it has a mind of its own. Honestly. Some days my band is weird just because IT CAN BE. LOL. That is a veteran's insight. I wish I had a magic answer for you, but that is as good as it gets!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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