AZbandster

I got my band 5/25/02 by Dr Kuri at 30 years old. I'm about to turn 42 and I had my band removed today after finding out that it was causing my A-Fib (atrial fibrillation). A-Fib is a type of heart palpitation problem. A fellow bandster told me that when her band slipped, she started getting heart palpitations. Her cardiac and lapband doctor told her that once her band was fixed, her heart beat would return to normal. And sure enough, after surgery it was perfect again! So that's what prompted me to make the correlation that my lapband may be causing my problem too. After bringing it to the attention of my doctors, both my cardiac and lapband doctor think the A-Fib will be cured with my band removed. I'm now on a mission to spread the information about this serious lapband correlation with heart problems. Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions. I just hope I save someone else the trouble that I have been through for the past 3 years of taking medication and going to doctors for A-Fib. Debbie Hoffman 5/25/02 Dr Kuri

In response to someone's post: I never had ANY heart problems prior to the lapband. The A-fib started when I was in labor giving birth and had pushed for 3 hours. I ended up in cardiac intensive care for a week and they ran a ton of tests on me and couldn't find anything wrong with my heart. Now that I made the A-Fib/lapband connection...it just all makes so much sense. On another note, I also started having hyper-Thyroid problems after having the band a few years. I have Grave's Disease to be precise. There again, studies have shown a connection between a stimulated Vagus Nerve and overthyroid stimulation. I don't want anyone to get paranoid but I just want to mention it for anybody looking for answers to similar issues.

My doctors gave me 3 possible reasons for the lapband/heart palpitation connection. 1. The Vagus nerve runs through the stomach and when stimulated by a tight band or a full stomach when overeating, it can cause irregular heart beats. 2. Bad acid reflux issues can cause esophagus irritation or esophagus enlargement which can affect the heart that lies beneath. 3. The lapband is placed in such a manner that it sits directly on top of the left ventricle which is responsible for the A-Fib.

Actually, my friend who had heart palpitations had the newer band. I had 3 possible scenarious given by my doctors for the heart problems. One has to do with the Vagus Nerve that runs through the stomach and when stimulated, it can cause heart arrhythmias. The 2nd explanation is that the placement of the band lies directly over the left ventrical which is susceptible to heart beat problems. The last explanation from them had to do with the esophagus...when experiencing bad acid reflux, the esophagus can affect the heart lying directly beneath.

Drink hot tea before eating something that you suspect will get stuck. It will loosen things up and soften the esophagus. Works great. I also will use soup in the same fashion. Sushi- drink miso soup first.