Morning Tightness

[mommyrkr]

A few weeks ago I had a fill that I thought was too tight. It turned out that I am fine, but a big part of my issue was tightness in the morning. After my first fill, I was tight in the morning, but I still ate some. But after my second fill, I could not even keep water down for the first half of the day. Some days, I pb'ed on my own saliva. It was painful and nasty. So I called and talked to Dr. Martinez. He gave me some advice about my fill, but the best information was about morning tightness. I had assumed there was nothing I could do about it, that was just part of living with the band. But he told me several interesting things. I had posted this before, when I was talking about my tight fill, but it seems that many people have the same issues and I thought this might be easier to find and more helpful to more people. So I apologize if you already know this.

First he said not to eat three hours before bedtime. This was pretty much impossible for me, as I couldn't eat until about 3 in the afternoon for the first time, so dinner was about 7, then I go to bed at 9. So he suggested talking a short walk, 10-15 minutes, or drinking a lot of water before bed. The reason for this is that when we go to bed after eating, some of our meal has not had the chance to make it's way through our band. So when we get up in the morning, it is still there. So when we eat, or drink something, it is blocked with last nights food. The walking or the water help to flush the band, and leave it empty and ready for breakfast in the morning.

Second, he said that sinus problems are a big issue. People with post nasal drip will continue to have that thick mucus run down the back of their throat all night, so when they get up in the morning, the band is plugged with snot. Gross I know, but helpful to know. He suggested seeing a doctor for help with the post nasal drip and drinking hot water first thing to help loosen the snot and get it moving.

Finally, he said that espresso does not work so well with the band for some people. He said coffee is fine, so it is not the caffeine, but for some reason, espresso, especially in the morning, might make the band tighter.

Sure enough, I decided, rather than getting an unfill immediately to try these things for a day or two, and it worked terrific. I still am tighter in the morning, but I can drink slowly and often eat a little. I was trying espresso, to first thing when I woke up, now I have hot tea. I am taking sudafed regularly, which really helps, though I hope to find a more permanent solution, as sudafed gets expensive. And I drink 32 ounces of water every night sitting in bed. I know, I know, I do get up and use the bathroom, but I would rather do that then PB. The water at night, and not eating so close to bedtime has really made a big difference for me. And I am sure that I am drinking enough water that way also.

Anyway, don't know if everyone already knew all this, but is sure helped me.

Good luck all.

Becki

[Dreamer]

A few weeks ago I had a fill that I thought was too tight. It turned out that I am fine, but a big part of my issue was tightness in the morning. After my first fill, I was tight in the morning, but I still ate some. But after my second fill, I could not even keep water down for the first half of the day. Some days, I pb'ed on my own saliva. It was painful and nasty. So I called and talked to Dr. Martinez. He gave me some advice about my fill, but the best information was about morning tightness. I had assumed there was nothing I could do about it, that was just part of living with the band. But he told me several interesting things. I had posted this before, when I was talking about my tight fill, but it seems that many people have the same issues and I thought this might be easier to find and more helpful to more people. So I apologize if you already know this.

First he said not to eat three hours before bedtime. This was pretty much impossible for me, as I couldn't eat until about 3 in the afternoon for the first time, so dinner was about 7, then I go to bed at 9. So he suggested talking a short walk, 10-15 minutes, or drinking a lot of water before bed. The reason for this is that when we go to bed after eating, some of our meal has not had the chance to make it's way through our band. So when we get up in the morning, it is still there. So when we eat, or drink something, it is blocked with last nights food. The walking or the water help to flush the band, and leave it empty and ready for breakfast in the morning.

Second, he said that sinus problems are a big issue. People with post nasal drip will continue to have that thick mucus run down the back of their throat all night, so when they get up in the morning, the band is plugged with snot. Gross I know, but helpful to know. He suggested seeing a doctor for help with the post nasal drip and drinking hot water first thing to help loosen the snot and get it moving.

Finally, he said that espresso does not work so well with the band for some people. He said coffee is fine, so it is not the caffeine, but for some reason, espresso, especially in the morning, might make the band tighter.

Sure enough, I decided, rather than getting an unfill immediately to try these things for a day or two, and it worked terrific. I still am tighter in the morning, but I can drink slowly and often eat a little. I was trying espresso, to first thing when I woke up, now I have hot tea. I am taking sudafed regularly, which really helps, though I hope to find a more permanent solution, as sudafed gets expensive. And I drink 32 ounces of water every night sitting in bed. I know, I know, I do get up and use the bathroom, but I would rather do that then PB. The water at night, and not eating so close to bedtime has really made a big difference for me. And I am sure that I am drinking enough water that way also.

Anyway, don't know if everyone already knew all this, but is sure helped me.

Good luck all.

Becki

Becki...thanks for sharing this info again, I must have missed it before. It makes sense now to me that when I take a drink of water during the night and then lay back down...it's not emptyin' into my tummy. Good luck on your journey! Dreamer

[kym828]

thank you so much for posting this. i can never eat until i have been awake for at least 6 hours everyday. i will definitely pay attention to eating at night and drinking the water, i think i might even add 15 minutes on the treadmill right before bed too.

[mommyrkr]

This has made such a big difference for me. I am still a little tighter in the mornings, but not so bad. I can eat breakfast. And as soon as I started eating breakfast, even though it is not much, I started losing weight regularly and easily again.

Good luck,

Becki

[GregNE]

This has made such a big difference for me. I am still a little tighter in the mornings, but not so bad. I can eat breakfast. And as soon as I started eating breakfast, even though it is not much, I started losing weight regularly and easily again.

Good luck,

Becki

I have started drinking a hot tea every morning, and it has helped greatly. Thank you for the tips.

During the nutrition consult, Dr. Miranda emphasized the importance of eating something, anything, for breakfast. I do not remember her exact words, but it has something to due with the body burning fat. She said if you do not have breakfast, you just delay the body burning fat until lunch, or something like that.

[mommyrkr]

Greg, you are right, Dr. Miranda emphasised that to me also. And so does any nutritionist or diet program. Dr. Miranda said that even a few bites is sufficient though. So I drink a lot at night, drink hot tea in the morning, then follow it with a few bites of low fat cottage cheese. Maybe a tablespoon or two. It mushes pretty well, but is still a solid. It works for me.

Becki