It's almost my one year band-iversary. The most miserable year of my life. :(

Last May I got banded.  I had very slight restriction.  Got my first fill (1 cc) at 6 weeks.  Had a lot of restriction.  Things seemed to be ok.  But about 2 months later I started getting horrible reflux, so bad I had to sleep sitting up, vomiting several times a week.  So I had .25 cc taken out.  It helped a little for a few days.  Next appointment I had another .25 cc taken out.  Again helped for a few days.  Next appointment I told dr I was miserable, couldn't take it anymore, I wanted a complete unfill.  He pulled everything out to see how much was in there (5.5 cc, so apparently my band was prefilled 5 cc when they put it in) and talked me into only taking 2 cc out, so he put the other 3.5 cc back in.  I was much better for about a month.  Then slowly all my symptoms started up again.  At my last visit (February), I again said I wanted a complete unfill.  He said he didn't want to unfill it completely as a completely unfilled band will stiffen.  So he took out 2.5 cc, leaving me with only 1 cc in my band.  I was so much better for about 6 weeks.  I would still get sick  occasionally but usually just around ovulation and starting my period.  About 2 weeks ago, I had an awful stomach virus.  I was sick for 4 days.  After that I was fine a few days.  But now for the last 10 days I have thrown up EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Usually just once.  Sometimes twice.  And the kicker is...it's always liquid!!!  Nothing is stuck.  I'm practically living off soup.  What is going on?!?  Has anyone else had vomiting issues like this??  If I get the last 1 cc taken out will it make a difference?  Has anyone else been told an empty band will become stiff??  I can't find any info on that.  Ugh, I am just so upset.  I don't understand what is going on.  I have done excellent as far as losing weight...went from 241 to 171 lbs.  But I guess it's easy to lose weight when you're sick all the time.  I am miserable.  My husband wants me to get my band taken out.  He said he doesn't care what I weight, he just wants me to be happy again.  I want to be happy again too.  But I don't want to be that big girl again.  :(  I know if I get my band taken out it will all come back on.  Anyway, if you've read this far, thanks.  I appreciate you letting me vent.  If you have any input, I welcome it!

I am very sorry you're going through this. Sounds familiar... went through it myself. Have watched lots of others also have the same experience. 

I'd be looking into revision or removal because it gets worse. I had my band taken out over 8 years ago and I'm in pain right now from the damage to my Vagus nerves. I have ulcers, hiatal hernia, adhesions, and other damage from the band. It's not worth the trauma. 

I am REALLY sorry that you're having to deal with this.  

I'm with Nic on this subject, the band was the worst thing I ever did to myself. I just had it removed in Feb. after almost 7 yrs. and I will have to pay for it myself because my insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery. I still don't know how many tens of thousands of dollars that is going to end up costing! I have never in my 8 yrs on this board heard of a band stiffening up when empty! Mine was empty the last 2 yrs and my surgeon didn't say anything about it being stiff when he took it out. Listen to your husband and get it out before it causes permanent damage like Nic and I. I still have trouble swallowing from mine, I'm hoping with time it will get better but there is no guarantee it will. There are other surgeries that will serve you for a life time like the sleeve and RNY or the DS. Myself I can't revise any more because of other health issues but the band is only good for 10 years according to the manufacturer and then it should be removed. I decided I'd rather be fat than ruin my health with the band. I still have to diet to keep the weight down but that beats the band in my opinion!

Several things could be going on here:

You were overfilled at implantation.  1-3cc is typical, 5cc is an amount I've never heard of for a primer fill.  

Your esphagus is irritated or damaged.  Regurgitation of liquid is typical for band induced achalasia.  The food accumulates in the esophagus, never getting to the pouch.

Your band could be placed too high.

You need to be unfilled at once, have a barium swallow and an esophageal manometry test.  I've never heard of a band "stiffening".  It's silicone and should remain flexible indefinitely.  If your doctor won't help you, find an esophageal specialist (follow the symptoms) who can refer you to a bariatric surgeon who is qualified to help and perhaps revise you, if possible.

best of luck to you!!

This is very wrong. I agree with the others. Go back to your doctor a.s.a.p... 

I have never heard of a band stiffening when empty, and there are a lot of people on here who live with empty bands. 

There is a slight chance that you are one of the few people for whom the band itself gives enough restriction. So trying an empty band for a while is worth it. I have met a banded person over here in the UK and come across a small number on OH who didn't need any saline at all until almost all their excess weight had gone. The UK lady had dreadful problems, much like yours, for about the months and in then had all saline out and was then fine. 

Bekah,  YES, I have had exactly what you are describing!!  If I have soup, or any liquid that is too HOT or too COLD, I would almost immediately vomit.

You may gain it all back, I did.  But this week I see another surgeon (fired the first) for revision and I hope it goes through.  We all went into the Lap Band because it sounded like the perfect tool.  Any many succeeded but we did not.  It' not our fault!  It was one of those too good to be true things.

Think about revision - with a surgeon who not only wants you to be happy but also to lose weight and enjoy your life.

Thanks for the input everyone. I had an emergency appointment with my surgeon yesterday. He took out the last cc in my band. So I'm now completely empty. He said he's never had a band patient have the issues I do. He wants me to have an upper GI done. He put me on liquids and soft foods until the swelling and inflammation from all the vomiting subsides. He said if this doesn't fix things or if the test shows a slip, I will need to have it removed. He said he is willing to do a revision but since I am no longer obese he thinks my insurance will not pay for it. Praying the stomach rest and empty band will fix things! 

Best wishes! Let us know how you get on. 

I got my band in 2004 and experienced alot of issues until I got it completely unfilled.  I still have the band, it is completely unfilled, but I still have restriction and throw up occassionally depending on what I eat.  I like that I don't have the extreme sickness with having it filled, but that it still keeps me from over-eating.

I had my band empty for 2 yrs. but eventually the scar tissues built up enough that it caused the same issues all over again, pain under my rib cage and difficulty swallowing. I finally had to get it removed (self pay, my insurance doesn't cover bariatrics OR complications from bariatrics!). I just couldn't handle the pain anymore, I still have the swallowing problems. Please get that thing out ASAP even if you can't revise get the band out before it causes more serious problems. Also the problems with bands rarely show up on any kind of testing and slips aren't the only cause of issues, actually scar tissue causes far more!