5 years post-op Lap Band - have been inexplicably tight for 2 weeks now

Hi all,

I am 5 years post op as of February of this year and I've done well all in all.  My band always tightens before my period, when I'm very stressed out and when I'm sick with allergies etc.  Otherwise, I am comfortable with my sweet spot where I have been for over 2 years.

 

The last couple of weeks, I have been tight and although I have only gotten stuck a few times where I had to throw up, I am having trouble getting food down and when I do, I burp and burp which is embarrassing.  My doctor is an excellent surgeon but he has never done any follow up tests like I have heard some doctors do, to see how the band looks and I guess how the organs like stomach and surrounding look.  Do you guys have follow up tests years later and if so, what tests?  Can they see if there is an issue from x-rays or scans or whatever it is they do?  I am not having any pain at all and wonder if it could just be from the pollen although I feel pretty okay despite the tree pollen falling.

Thanks for any input!

Many of us find after several years out the band feels tighter because scar tissue builds up between the band and the stomach. While it may well be allergies it can also be this scar tissue build up so if I were you I would have my doc check to see if there is any blocking where the band is. There are several test they can do to check it and sometimes the tests show nothing but on removal of the band they find scar tissue. So keep an eye on it but never go for long periods with a tight band it is much better to have a tiny bit of fluid taken out so that it is comfortable and working again. Of course any time there is pain or a lot of stuck or vomiting contact your surgeon immediately!

As Hislady says  bands sometimes tighten because of scar tissue build up. This has happened to me twice. I honestly can't remember the exact timing but at something like five years and then at seven years post-op. My only symptom was very mild night time heartburn. Many people might not even have gone to their docs - I wasn't waking up choking or anything like that and wasn't having problems eating. But I am paranoid about being too tight!

Each time a tiny bit of saline was removed, just 0.1 cc and both times it sorted things out for me. 

You mention pollen. Allergies can cause the band to feel tighter, especially those which create mucus. That isn't particularly my own experience but from reading on here.

I used to have an annual barium swallow but I moved two years ago and my current doc prefers not to do them routinely because of the unnecessary exposure to radiation. 

Thank you Kate and HisLady, very helpful.  I hadn't heard about the scar tissue building up over the years but that makes sense.  I was able to eat some very well cooked lentils and quinoa for dinner tonight without much problem so maybe things are improving.  I hope so!

 

Thanks again!

I will be 5 years out next month.

In that time, I have had 2 endoscopes ... Due to stomach pain or discomfort that turned out to be ulcers.

Those were cleared up quickly with meds and the second endoscopy was a 2 year later re-check which was clean.

I see my bariatric surgeon at least once a year for a small fill and catch up.

I always feel tighter during allergy season ... I take Claratin daily for 2-3 months of the year andi eat more carefully during that time.

I've been there. Had some vomiting and GERD issues. My Sx removed some fluid and I went back a month later to have some put back. I've gained 11 lbs and I'm going back in 2 weeks for another fill. There is such a fine line about a fill amount that works for each individual. Mine got messed with and I'll be paying for it for months to get these 11 lbs off again.

The last nine months I had to go and get an unfill almost monthly.  They took some out and it would be great for a little while and than it would tighten up and I would go in for more out.