I had my second fill on Tuesday and now have 5ccs in a 10cc band. The first day or so when I was on liquids was okay, but since waking up yesterday, I have felt pressure in my chest after swallowing anything, whether it be mushies or water. Is this normal? I can't imagine that I am too restricted with only 5ccs in my band...is this just a part of banded life, or do I need to get an unfill at the doctor? I have not PBed or had sharp pain, it's more like a dull ache or pressure.

If your band is tight in the mornings, you may feel a little pressure. Take smaller sips. Try drinking a warm liquid first thing in the morning. You want to be a little tight after a fill, or it is a waste. As you lose more wt, the tightness will go away, as your stoamch wall thins or the fats lessens, you will need a nother fill. This is the Lapband process. I have had 9 fills in 15 months, 9cc in a 10 cc Lapband. 10 lbs from goal. But if you get to a point when liquids wont stay down or mushies and that makes you slime or PB, you will need to get a slight unfill. Remember if you do upchuck any food at a meal, skip solid food on the next meal and do a protein shake, due to you may have some swelling at you band opening. Take your time and chew, chew till liquid. So the harder you work at exercising and watching what you eat the faster this restriction will subside. Good luck, it is worth working for..

I get this symptom after fills as well. However, it does go away if you give it a chance and if you are not too tight. If you are not pb'ing or in any pain and can ingest liquids, mushies, etc. OK then you should be fine.

One thing I had to learn after being banded for a long time is that I had to "relearn" my bandster habits after each fill. What that means is that I would take the small bites, chew to goo and eat slow like we are supposed to . . . but when I got tighter I had to go even more slow and follow the other rules to a higher level as well.

This pressure seems to be more of a problem after a new fill if I am eating a little too fast or a little too much. I also found that drinking hot tea or something similar a while before I eat seems to keep pressures down as well.

Just go slow and allow yourself a little adjustment time and you should be filling really good in no time. If it gets worse, definitely call your doctor if you start pb'ing regularly or if you have trouble with liquids.

I had to have my very first "un-fill" today because I was a tad too restricted. couldn't keep anything down, liquid or solid. Had 1/2 cc fill on Monday (April 20th) and went back today to have a little over 1/4 cc removed. I had lost 6 pounds since monday as absolutley nothing would stay down. The pressure was terrible and I had pb'd, slimed, thrown up, you name it I did it. Glad to have some of it removed so I can get back on to the normal routine again. This entire experience has been amazing. Have lost 72 pounds since September 24th and could not be more pleased. We all just have to keep reminding ourselves...chew, chew, chew. Good luck everyone!