stretching the band

can you stretch out the band?  Does anyone know?  I've been getting sick and throwing up at times.  I couldn't eat  very much before and now it seems I can eat more.  I've been afraid to get another fill.  I think it would be to much.  What do you guys thing?  Thanks RERE

You can't stretch the band, but you sure can stretch your pouch and cause a slippage (where the lining of your stomach migrates up above the band).

It is pretty normal that your ability to eat more happens when you lose weight.

Think about the band as if it were a belt on a pair of jeans.

If you lost 10 - 15 pounds, you would need to tighten the belt --- just as every 10 - 15 pounds of weight loss may mean that you need to tighten your band with a small fill.

If you are not losing weight, and rather you are just slowly eating more and more over time, you may be stretching your pouch ----- it is important to see your doctor regularly to monitor your progress for that reason.

If my surgeon sees a patient every month or so, and sees no weight loss for weeks on end, with the patient reporting that they are eating more and more, he will check things out with fluroscopy or an endoscopy.

Kath's description of how the band needs to be "tightened" like a belt is perfect.

If you're regurgitating, vomiting, etc. frequently and you're sure your band eating skills are good (take tiny bites, eat slowly, chew very well, etc.), you need to check in with your surgeon.

Jean

The band itself can't stretch but the pouch above it can. usually this can be corrected by an unfill for a while. But if you think this has happened, you need to see your doc.

Eating more happens naturally as we lose weight. The fat under the band shrinks like all our other fat and so the band becomes looser; that's why we need fills.

But if you are throwing up and sliming, you are too tight, not too loose! Or eating carelessly.

Sounds to me like a visit to the doc/nut might be a good idea.

Kate