Suddenly Too Tight. Seeing doc on Tuesday.

Had my lovely band installed almost two years ago, and have been feeling too tight lately. I know its a problem when I cant eat protein or solid until evening hours. Don't want to harm myself or my precious, expensive band and know its not healthy to continue this way. Some days even having a hard time drinking clear liquids. So I am going in for an adjustment.

Hoping I just need a tiny bit taken out to be comfortable. All my adjustments have been additions thus far, so here's a new first for me.

UGH, I dont like the needle though!!... Have to go in on an angle and takes a few tries to get my port. waaaaaaa

I know, what I need to do so I will do it and still love my band!

Question for the band grads... how many times have you had fluid reduced and how much at a time?

At about 3 yrs out I had to start getting fill out because my band kept tightening most likely from scar tissue build up underneath it. My first reduction was 1 cc, a few months later I had another cc removed. After several more months I decided it was just too expensive to keep getting reductions at $225 a pop, so I had it completely unfilled and that was 6.5 ccs. I have done better with it empty than I ever did with fill in it. I only lost 20# with the band in 3 yrs. I haven't lost anymore but I also haven't gained so I'm good with that. It is so nice to be able to eat healthy food again. I do agree that the worst thing a person can do is keep a too tight band, that is nearly a guarantee to a revision.

I only had fluid added for the first year.  After that, I would get 1cc and have .5 out, get .5 get .25 out.  They said I was very fill sensitive. I started having unfills at about 3 years out over a 9 month period as after about four weeks it would get tighter again. The band just kept tightening up.

I got to the point where I couldn't eat nor barely drink last summer, so I made an appointment for an unfill (I thought it would just be slight) but the dr explained that due to my symptoms he had to take everything out. That lasted for 2 weeks and then he sent me for an upper GI which showed that my band had caused some serious damage. He immediately scheduled a removal.....and 5 days later my band was gone.

I had the picture perfect Band life.  then suddenly, after not having a fill for over a year, my band tightened to the point where I couldn't eat until late afternoon.  I started eating slider foods because I was vomiting everything else.  I slimed every time I ate.  It was dreadful.  I, also, couldn't even drink my protein drinks without sliming!

I went to the my doctor and he emptied everything out.  My problems resolved about 80% with a total empty band.  I had an UGI which showed dismotility.  I was having severe nightly reflux, coughing and my voice was starting to change due to the acid in the my throat all night. 

My doctor suggested we remove the band.  I asked to revise to the Sleeve.  I was approved in less than 20 mins. 

When my surgeon got in there, he said he had never seen so much scar tissue and he had never seen LapBand tubing wrapped tightly around my internal organs.  I thought I had a hernia because when I did anything strenuous, it hurt.  No hernia, just tubing around my organs.

I had random tightening in my 2nd year with the band and had to return for several unfills. I don't remember the exact amounts I had out each time, but it seemed like 3-5 weeks later, my band would tighten up again. So, eventually I had a complete unfill and revised to the sleeve.

I personally wouldn't put up with not being able to eat solid foods until the evening, but you need to rush in for an unfill any time you have a hard time drinking clear liquids. People can't live like that.

Good luck,

Lindsey

Same story, my third year. Same advise!