decision makeing week

I took a week off from work to make some decisions on some issues I have been having. I have spent the last 2-3 months only getting 1/4 cup of food down a day and about 8-10 oz of fluid in due to getting everything stuck and night time GERD. I went to my surgeon on Tuesday he said he believes that I am too tight and took 3 cc out of my 7.5 cc filled band. Mind you I am 2.5 years out have lost over 100 pounds and have not had any trouble with my band. My last fill was 1 cc in Oct 2012. He told me that the un-fill will relieve my symptoms immediately if it is too tight, if it is a slip then I will have some ongoing problems with GERD. Well it has been 2 days and today I ate a burger from Wendy's on my way home from town. I just vomited the last bite. I am concerned that this is more a slip than a too tight band. I am going back on softs and protein shakes for the rest of this week then will try again with solids on Monday. The thing I fear the most is he told me that if I start vomiting again to call him immediately and he will meet me at his office. He really did not explain any further about this comment. Am I asking for a further un-fill or is he going to put my butt in the hospital to remove the band? I know one persons experience is not everybody's experience but it does make me wonder what he meant. I was too concerned about the thought of having to go in to surgery again or to lose my band that has done such a great job so far to ask him what he meant.

I was told when my band was unfilled completely that I needed to be very careful eating.  The risk of a slip is high.  Eating a burger isn't a great idea, I would really go easy for a while.

My reflux became worse after unfilling, eventually requiring my band to come out since I couldn't eat any solid food.

Thanks for the reply; He really did not tell me to go back on softs or protein shakes. He just un-filled me, and informed me if it is too tight then I would have relief immediately. Which while I was in the office I drank 16 oz of water straight down without it getting stuck, which lead me to believe that I was just too tight. Now today I am rethinking the burger thing. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten it, but I could only get a 1/4 of it down. I believe my band just taught me a lesson. I should have just gone by my instincts and went with a protein shake instead. Thanks I will stay on the soft and shakes for about 7-10 days instead of 4 days.

"Well it has been 2 days and today I ate a burger from Wendy's on my way home"

I misunderstood...I thought you ate the entire burger and the last bite came up, I didn't have yo stay on liquids, but just had to be careful when eating.

Any time I got a fill or un-fill, I was told to go back to liquid protein/shakes for 24 to 48 hours than mushies 24/48 hours.  Both filling and un-filling cause irritation/swelling to the stomach.  Where you able to eat Wendy's before the un-fill, if so I would say you weren't to tight.  If not, you shouldn't for sure eat it after.  I was never able to eat a hamburger bun without getting stuck/vomiting.

Thanks for the reply; I have been eating Wendy's burgers for years but I take the bun off and eat just the burger and the toppings. I have not eaten bread since I have had the band placed due to not tolerating it. My previous surgeon tells me to eat soft food for the day of the fill, then can eat more solid foods the day after the fill. I have never had to have a un- fill until this past Tuesday. My new surgeon did not instruct me to eat softs for any period of time. My original surgeon moved so I now have his colleague, which is very versed on the band, but I believe he felt that I probably already knew to go on softs and shakes, due to that fact that I had already started them when I was having increased problems with solids for the past 2-3 months. I believed that me being able to drink 16 oz of water without getting it stuck was the resolution I was seeking after he unfilled me. I felt that since that did not get stuck then I could graduate back to eating semisolids like ground beef.

Got it!  I eat the burgers the same.  I like the Wendy's burgers best of the fast food burger.  No buns for me when banded either.  I hope all turns out well for you.  Keep us updated.

After band surgery we must be very much care full for our diet. As we cant eat whatever we want, more oily food, cheesy food. etc. And the exercise  that should be done must be under the guidance of doctor.

Thanks for replying: I have been exercising and watching my diet. My Nut and Surgeon are very pleased with my success. They have put me in the top 5 of the most weight lost from the band since date of surgery. There were 25 bands placed the week of December 27th 2010. I have learned what I can and cannot eat with my band through the past 2.5 years. I know my band is still educating me because there are still things I would like to eat but it tells me not to. I have spoken to my Nut and she states as long as I keep it in moderation I can eat some oily type foods such as a hamburger. Mind you the last fast food burger I had before this one was 3 months ago, when I was able to eat just fine. I do not believe the burger started this problem and neither does my surgeon. I eat mild cheddar cheese 4 chunks everyday for breakfast along with1/2 cup of scrambled eggs both are full of protein and have not had any problems. My surgeon states sometimes we can over fill ourselves on the right foods and dilate our esophagus or pouches which can cause the GERD at night and the inability to keep foods down. These are the symptoms I have been having for the past 2-3 months. This is the first time I have ever had GERD, and was unable to keep foods and liquids down in my lifetime, not just the life of the band so this is all very new to me. The last 3 days I have been taking Pepcid and it seems like the Pepcid is working so far. I have not woke up in the middle of the night to vomit nor have the dry cough like before. Since yesterday's burger incident I have been behaving myself and staying on softs and liquids which have helped too. I am hoping that this is just that I was tight and not a slip. I have 3 weeks before I see him again so I guess time will tell.

Sounds like you have a handle on it for now. I had a total unfill at 6 weeks for esophagealitis and gastritis and than put on a PPI. I had the same thing as you and my PCP wanted the band removed.at 2 years and I fought to keep my band.  The BS put me on a PPI 2X a day along with a total unfill for 8 weeks.   I ended up getting tighter with ever UN-fill.

Take card an let us know how you are doing.