While no one wants to have too much fluid in the band, sometimes after getting an adjustment a few hours later you vomit.

HOW TO AVOID
There is not a good way to avoid this. After an adjustment you are typically checked to see if you can tolerate water. If you can then you can go home.  We highly recommend those who have more than 4.5 cc in a standard AP band or more than 6.5 cc in a Large AP band drink 3 glasses of water before they leave.

STILL HAPPENS
This can still happen- you drink and then later it starts to come up. No matter how we try – this happens for a number of reasons, but mostly it means you need to have some fluid removed for a bit.

WHAT NOT TO DO
DO NOT try to drink through this. If you are vomiting then you will keep vomiting if you keep filling up the pouch it will keep making it tighter and tighter.

WHAT TO DO
Stop drinking for now. Let everything calm down for a few hours. Then slowly try this: 1 tablespoon (measure it) every five minutes of warm liquids. That is one tablespoon – not enough to set things off, but enough to get by with things.

KNOW THE OFFICE HOURS
If it is a weekend, this can mean a long weekend of sipping until the office opens. But this is what you must do to keep hydrated.

GOING TO AN ER
Often they do not help with this. In fact they may make things worse by having you do tests of the band.

WEEKEND UNFILLS
Some places offer emergency unfills on weekends but this is often not included in insurance and is a cash only price. Be careful that you know that the person doing it will use an appropriate needle for the band.

OUR POLICY
We don’t like people suffering on the weekends. If we are available, patients can have fluid removed for a fee of $150 cash, provided they have taken the Mastering the Band course (available at http://drsimpson.com ). We think the course is necessary to learn about the band, and will help prevent them from getting into further trouble.