Why do I feel so constricted getting a fill?

Hello, I am brand new here. I have gotten 3 fills and each time I have 'issues' it seems. The first fill I had problems with a nerve hurting under my collar bone whenever I would eat. The 2nd fill I had the same problem only it seemed to last for forever - actually had  an upper GI done - they tried to take some fluid out but were not able to access my port. I had another appt. sceduled and during that wait time - it seemed to get bet so I waited. It did get better. That fill was in Nov. 2010. I just recently got another fill of only 1cc and it seems like it's too tight. I don't know if I should wait again, or go back. Is it normal for my upper chest to feel tight? Is it normal to go back to a liquid diet? It's almost as if my insided swell up again each time I get a fill. Is that normal? This time as of today it's been 5 days since getting my last fill. I am just now able to eat, but drinking is hurting and has been. Should I wait it out? Or get some taken out?...and what is a slider food? I see it all over the place.

get back in your car and go get some taken out.

Eating if you eat slowly and chew right shouldn't ever hurt. Never should drinking hurt unless your doing soda or something else with carbonation. Carbonation causes gas to build up and some of us have a hard time burping now days. Not all of us, but some of us. That the only scenario I could think of that would hurt to drink.

FILLS:  Most people do a day of liquids or mushies before attempting to eat solid foods after getting a fill. Is your surgeon not talking to you about all of this? The reason we do liquids or mushy is because everything is swollen. It takes a day to calm everything down again.

Sliders are what we call foods that won't get hung up by your band. You know how it's hard to get down steak and dry chicken. Stuff like that.   Well chili and ice cream aren't usually things that will cause issue. They SLIDE right through.

Give your office a call and be sure to mention the tight upper chest feeling!  Don't wait, it most likely will not get better.

Oh- and I almost forgot. WELCOME!  I'm glad you found us. Most here are pretty helpful and will give you honest straight forward advice based on their experiences. It can be very helpful.

I'm sorry you've been having problems with your fills, but overall you're describing "normal" reactions. Immediately after a fill you may feel way too tight, partly because of irritation from the fill (because the band fits the stomach more closely) and partly because you have to re-learn your band eating skills in order to accommodate the increased restriction. Most surgeons advise their patients to follow a liquid diet for at least 24 hours after a fill, then transition to purees, then soft food, then solid food.

The discomfort under your collar bone - do you mean in the center of your chest, near your band? If so, that may be triggered by food trying to pass through your stoma. Or is it right under your collarbone, nearer your left shoulder? If so, that may be triggered by irritation of the diaphragm (from its proximity to your band), which refers the pain to the left shoulder.

However, you shouldn't be having problems drinking liquids 5 days after a fill. Does the temperature of the liquid make any difference? I find that hot liquids tend to lubricate and "open" my stoma, whereas cold liquids seem to close it up.

What does your surgeon have to say about all this? Maybe you need smaller fills - .5 cc instead of 1 cc. Or maybe you need to work on your eating skills (eat slowly, take tiny bites, chew very well, don't drink while you eat) and/or make different food choices (avoid dry meat, very fibrous or raw veggies, or carbs that tend to be gummy like bread or pasta).

Living with the band should not involve daily pain and difficulty. If it were me, I'd have a small unfill and wait two weeks until my upper GI tract calmed down, then get a small fill. After that small fill, take it very slow and easy introducing foods back into my diet and work hard on better eating skills. If you experience pain or a stuck episode or PB'ing (productive burp/puking) or sliming (excess saliva), do not go on eating the rest of the food. Stick to a liquid diet for 24 hours, then try a slightly thicker food like yogurt, then try pureed animal protein, runny oatmeal, applesauce. etc. Then try soft food (food that you can cut with the side of a fork, like fish). Then try solid food.

A slider food is a food that slides through your stoma easily. Different people have different tolerances, but common sliders are ice cream, yogurt, mashed potatoes, pudding, etc. Also, very thin crispy or puffy foods like potato chips, Cheetos, thin crackers, and popcorn can be sliders. Slider foods tend to provide too many calories for too little satiety.

Jean

5 days...thats not normal jean. I could see 2, but not 5.

I agree

Thank you! Thank you! Thank You! for your words of wisdom....OMG - this is such a relief to know that others have an answer. I had mine done at a teaching hospital and have had issues that my doctor is unfamiliar with. Apparently they are not unfamiliar issues though. I have an appt. for Friday for an appt. to get some out. I had 1cc put in, should I just have like .5 taken out then? 

I would have .5 cc removed, but talk to whoever does your fill about what's been going on and see if they have anything helpful to say.

I have an appt. for Friday to have an unfill - I will talk to him about how much to remove. Thank you so much!!