Been gone forever & having a problem

I am 4 years out out. overall I would say the band is successful & while I have more to lose it has done it's job. I have lost over 100 pounds. It irritates/frustrates me but for the most part I am cool with it.

Over the past week I have been able to eat fine. Saturday I had steak for dinner. Sunday I had my coffee and wasn't able to eat breakfast. Later in the day I was able to eat a little bit of eggs for dinner but otherwise it was not a good day. Yesterday I couldn't even take my vitamins & struggled with my liquids. Today I can tolerate some liquids but not all and it hurts. I haven't even tried solids.

I think I am dehydrated. We were on vacation last week and I don't know what else it could be. It couldn't be the flight because I was fine after our departing flight. I have been trying to get in as much water & other fluids as possible but they are only going down maybe 40-50% of the time.

I can't go to my doc unless it gets really severe. Does anyone have any tips to help loosen things up? My usual tricks aren't working.

Keemers,
You and I had surgery at about the same time. I am also having some problems (see my post). 

Did you have any trouble with the steak?
When I am feeling tight hot liquids seem to go down easier. (I'm sure you already know this) Try warming a protein shake.
If you are a little dehydrated, that will make your band tighter. Do what you can to get in more fluids. Don't what  too long to call the doc if this doesn't clear up. Dehydration can be dangerous.

why can't you go to your doc unless it gets really severe?

dehydration is pretty severe.

Sudden tightness can be a serious sign.  I would consider this and urgent matter and see your surgeon.  Even if you're dehydrated you may have let it go to far and won't be able to rehydrate yourself just by drinking liquids.  If you are having trouble with liquids go to the doctor.  There's only one way to know if it's a slip or something else and that's an upper GI or Endoscopy.  Please don't take any chances with your health.

Lisa O.

 I am able to drink hot liquids with out a problem. They are slow going but they go.  They just aren't loosening my up like they usually do.

 I can't go to the doctor because I have no insurance and I can't afford to pay out of pocket for the visit. Once upon a time my surgeon told me that because I had my surgery there i would be covered for the duration. However, none of his office staff had any knowledge that he said it when I mentioned it to them. Now he and all of the other original docs have moved on.  No one in that office is going to honor the agreement I had with him when there is absolutely no proof. 

I drank a cup of hot tea earlier and it went down ok. I also ate 3 potato chips and they went down! I know it wasn't the best thing to eat but i decided to give them a shot because of how easy they usually go down. I feel like this is progress. I may venture into some yogurt this evening. 

If you're having luck with warm liquids, I might be more inclined to stick with warm soup like a cream soup or thin oatmeal or cream of wheat rather than something cold.  I would hate for you to undo any progress or maybe thin it down in the blender with a splash of juice and drink it as a smoothie.  I'd agree that you shouldn't wait too long but understand your dilema too.  Just go slow!

Hope you are feeling better I was banded around the same time and I get sensitive with flights. In fact my doc always removes some before I travel just to be safe. If I were you I would just stick to all liquids for a while then mushies then progress just to be safe but if this doesnt work you will have to go in..