Sherrirbgr

Grits are the ambrosia of the gods. A little soupy and with a slice of cheese.... MMMMM!

I have had to continue taking Omeprezole (prescription, not OTC). I even had the stomach "drape" surgery that is supposed to keep acid from splashing back up into your esophagus. Maybe it does, but my stomach still burns and hurts without the Omeprezole. A doctor told me to start taking probiotics, but OMG, it just made the reflux WORSE to the point I was having to take double the dose of Omeprezole daily (one in the morning, one at night). After two days, I stopped the Probiotics and the reflux "relaxed" back to just 1 Omeprezole a day.

I had problems with my first laband surgery (band was too small and I had horrible reflux, throwing up in my sleep, etc.). It took a year after the total unfill to get insurance to pay for the removal and replacement of the band. In the interim, I gained back all that I had lost plus another 60 lbs... almost 100 pounds. You can say I lost my mind when I found I could eat, but I was also very, VERY busy stuffing my feelings down my throat with food. I was extremely unhappy and felt unsafe in my own home. So, I guess I felt by adding more "layers," I was trying to protect myself, but to be honest, I've always dealt with stressful situations with comforting myself with food... especially late night snacking to the extreme. Anyway, by the time I had the 2nd surgery, I had gained not only a lot of weight but a lot of new health woes. I had to have knee surgery to fix my knee cap. I had horrible, HORRIBLE acid reflux to the point that I felt like I was having a heart attack again. My diabetes went from type 2 to type 1 and I wear an insulin pump and a constant blood glucose monitoring system (my husband teases me that I'm almost the bionic woman, what with my lapband and its port, my insulin pump with it's "inset," and my Dexcom's sensor embedded in my skin. I had to start using a cPAP machine at night when I slept because of sleep apnea, and I was having some horrible interactions with some of my prescription drugs. Seems I'm anti-chlorgenic, which means certain drugs in my system will adversely interact with others, and my sleeping pill was making me have symptoms of early onset dementia. Yeah... I was a mess. The new surgery stopped the throwing up for a time, but it didn't resolve the reflux. I'm still taking 40 mg of prescription Omeprezole daily. After my last fill, the "explosive" spit-up is back. I sleep with a hand towel again. But at this point, I'm not quite willing to give up. I have been depending on the band to keep me from over-eating and it does, but I haven't been living by band rules. That has to stop, and now I try not to eat anything at least 2 hours before bedtime (tough, because I have always been a night-time snacker), and I only drink water 2 hours before. At least that way, the spitup doesn't taste like whatever it was I drinking before. ANYWAY... I haven't been on here obviously for some time, but am having some other weird issues and I wanted to come see if anybody else is having them. I had a doctor tell me that because I had weight loss surgery and have fibromyalgia, I needed to take SAM-e, probiotics, and liquid B complex. But when I do, something in that mix beats the 40mg of Omeprezole up and the heart burn flares horribly in the middle of the night. So I'm reduced to taking ANOTHER 40 mg!!! Good grief, it is hard enough to get the insurance company to pay for one 40mg a day! After two days of waking up in bad pain from reflux, I dropped the SAM-e, probiotics, and liquid B, but I have this sneaking suspicion it is the probiotic, because I've taken B complex before with no problem. Today I added back the liquid B vitamins and the SAM-e, because I really need help with lack of energy and depression, but I don't want to go back on anti-depressants with all the problems they gave me. My weight loss is stuck at 70 pounds, but I need a fill, and will go get another in January, and no, I won't be telling them about the reflux. It seems as long as I stick to the band rules (no eating 2 hour before bedtime), and switch to water, I have very little problems... but I still sleep with the hand towel to save my expensive sheets! Has anyone else heard that people who have had weight loss (specifically lap band) surgery need probiotics, SAM-e, Magnesium, d-ribose, and ATF? I did read an article today about a study where they studied "weight loss surgery" patients who took probiotics tended to lose more weight, but they didn't specify whether those subjects had lapband or RNY.

I think anyone who, like me, was having problems with the band should listen to their body. Instead of believing what my body was telling me, I allowed myself to be chastised for "eating too fast," "not chewing enough," "eating stuff that you shouldn't" (i.e., steak), etc. So I spent two years throwing up on a regular basis until I started throwing up in my sleep. EVEN THEN I was told to stop drinking 3 hours before bedtime, stop eating before bedtime, etc. So like a good sheep, I did. Come to find out, I had too small of a band on my stomach (I had a 4cc). That my stomach was very sensitive to the tight cinch, and any fill would cause it to swell in irritation. Plus I had a hiatal hernia that they NOW know must be fixed before a band goes on. When the surgeon found out, he asked why I didn't ask for an appointment with him. I don't know, maybe I was thinking the fill nurse knew better than me? So, don't let people tell you that it's normal to throw up, that you're not chewing your food enough (if you are actually chewing it to mush already), and that you're talking while eating. If you've got acid reflux and you're throwing up after a fill, you need some help -- make an appt with the surgeon, NOT the fill nurse.

August 28, 2008 -- Dr. John V. Bagnato, Albany, GA - surgery scheduled -- removing 4cc band, fixing hiatal hernia, reband with 10cc band January 2008 -- changed to Aetna Insurance, band-friendly. Insurance fight starts all over again. March 2008 -- all fluid removed from band; insurance fight starts January 2008 -- barium swallow shows 4cc band with 2cc fill is too small to allow barium through, told may no longer be band candidate November 2007 -- throwing up at night in sleep; some aspiration into lungs; unfilled to 1cc. August 2005-October 2007 -- many fills, unfills, and emergency unfills, never got past past 2cc. April 2005 -- Lapband surgery!!! Weigh 262 January 2005 -- changed insurance to Definity Health (United Insurance) January 2004 -- changed to BCBS of GA, insurance battle begins again December 2003 -- decision made to go for lapband; search begins for surgeon

You might want to ask the Dr to schedule an upper GI series (EGD) to see if you have an ulcer or a hiatal hernia. You might also want to ask your surgeon what size band he put in. It is possible that the band is too small.

I wanted to give y'all a quick update. After the barium swallow last year, the surgeon (Dr. Bagnato of Albany, GA) felt like the original band (4 cc) was too small for my stomach (remember that I had a memory of him saying "it was a tight fit, but we made it fit" when coming out of surgery, and I quizzed him about it at my 6 week checkup?) and the guidelines now state that if there is a hiatal hernia, it should be fixed before the band is installed. It used to be that they felt the band would fix GERD and hiatal hernias, now they know it does not in many people. I fought with the insurance company (Definity) regarding removing the existing band, fixing the hiatal hernia, and replacing with a larger (10cc) band. First they stated it was pre-existing, and once I reminded them that THEY had approved of the original band being placed and they paid 100%, they came back with that they no longer allow bariatric surgery, even if they did originally. Their final offer was they would pay for the hiatal hernia repair, but I had to pay to get the band removed and for the new band to be installed. I finally gave up and changed insurance (Aetna) in January 2009, and fought with them, mostly arguments regarding faxes being received and then that it was a replacement, not altogether new band, so I shouldn't have to go through the 6 mos diet and multi-disciplinary review again. They approved the removal, fixing of the hiatal hernia, and replacement of the band, in late July. Between the fight with Definity, marriage troubles, and my Mom dying in December, I managed to regain the 60 I lost plus 40 more. I am miserable with all the health issues being back (fibromyalgia with migraines, blood sugar out of whack, and knees and hips crippling me with osteoarthritis) and mad at myself for regaining the weight. If nothing else, it reminds me of why I got the band to start with: to stop the gaining of weight, help me lose weight, and reducing the agony of the hips and knees. My surgery is scheduled for 8/28/09. Highest weight before surgery (1/06): 282 Weight at surgery (4/06): 262 Lowest weight after surgery (8/07): 219 Weight now (8/09): 319

Gloriuslady, that sounds like Gastritis more than Acid Reflux. You might want to check it out in WebMD. I had Gastritis before I was banded, and the food hurt all the way down -- from swallowing to the "exit." I thought I was having a heart attack at one point because it hurt so bad. I ended up having to go on liquids for weeks and taking Donnatel (an anesthetic) to let my system heal. After band, I haven't had the sensation of the pain from gastritis, but yes, I can feel everything that passes through the band (or worse, gets hung up). It's not a pleasant feeling, but it's not painful.

I don't know if it is a problem with the 4cc or if the problem is that the band is too small to start with and they "make it fit." That's what my surgeon said when I was coming out of surgery. I've been having problems from the start from having a "sensitive stomach" that over-reacts to fills. Hmmmm... could it be???

My surgeon said kind of the same thing, except he said now when he has a patient with reflux, and they have a hiatal hernia, that he fixes it first before he puts on the band. I'm waiting on insurance approval.

I am SO glad to read this. I have a 4 cc band, and when I came out of surgery, my surgeon said "it was tight, but it fit." I was woozy, and when I asked my husband, he didn't hear it. When I came back for my post-op, I asked the Dr. if he had said that. He was surprised I heard it, and said "yes. You probably needed a 10cc band, but we got the 4cc on." When I went for my first fill, a got a .50 fill. We had to turn around on the way home because I couldn't swallow my own spit. they pulled out .25, and I drank liquid for a week. Any time I got a .50, I had to wait around (the office is 3 hours away from my home), and most of the time they had to take some out. We just thought I had a more "sensitive" stomach. I finally got to a 2cc fill in the summer of 2007. My weight loss was pretty slow; I had the surgery in April 2005, and by August 2007, I had lost 60 pounds (plus 20 before the surgery). However, I started having this really weird cough. It would just occur throughout the day or night, and it wasn't "productive." Just this weird little tight cough. Then the "spitting up" at night started, waking me up in the middle of the night with vomit in my mouth. The surgeon's office told me all the stuff you guys are doing, don't eat after 8, no liquids after 9. Mylanta before I go to bed. This became my routine for a few months. In October, I begged for another fill, just a teensy one, because I was going on a cruise and I didn't want to gain weight. What a miserable trip! Heartburn, throwing up in my sleep (without waking up), aspirating back into my lungs. When we got back to Miami, I called the surgeon before I got on the plane for Atlanta. Met with my surgeon a few days later, and he removed all fill. He wanted me to set up an upper GI to check the band, and told me that I might no longer be a band candidate. It scared me so bad, that I didn't schedule it until January (yes, 2 months later). We did the barium swallow first, came back a few days later for the upper GI. Thankfully, no slippage or erosion, but it was definitely to tight -- my esophogus was like an accordian, trapping food and fluid above the band, and allow it to come back up at night. The diagnosis? I need hiatal hernia surgery, preceded by the removal of my current band, and succeeded by installing a 10cc band. Unfortunately, my insurance isn't too interested in paying for this, since they now have a WLS exclusion. We are arguing that this is now a pre-existing condition that must be corrected. The battle continues; we are currently on our 2nd appeal. In the meantime? I have gained all of my weight back since October (it really accelerated in January). I weigh more now than I ever have in my life. My knees and hip are failing, but I am terrified of having knee/hip surgery and not being able to exercise.

Hi -- aspiration is when the Fluid in your small stomach (or stoma) backs up and you suck some into your bronchial tubes. You will DEFINITELY cough, because the lungs know there's not supposed to be liquid in the air! For me, it was like if I started coughing, it would get worse and worse, almost like asthma. It woke everybody up in the house during the night. I'm off to Albany Monday for the EGD and the final verdict.

Me too!!! I noticed it when I first got home from the hospital. Then, when I got to mushies stage, I was craving cheese - cheese, cheese, cheese! I had cheese grits, cheese slices (little bits, well chewed), and I wanted a grilled cheese soooo bad (didn't). It lessened after about 2 months, but I try to have a glass of skim every day, either in cereal or by the glass. Skim has more Protein than the other percentages (1%, 2% whole), so it is good for bandsters, if you can tolerate. I always thought it was because I wasn't getting enough protein in (my band doesn't like meat very much).

OMG... I have a 4 cc band! I remember my surgeon telling my husband that the 4 cc was a tight fit, but it fit. At my post op, I asked him about it (I was worried that it might eat into my stomach), and he said it was tight, but I should be fine. I bet that is why I have been so sensitive to fills. I have had to go back on liquid for almost a week every time I had a fill, even a .25 cc! If they did more than .25 cc, I would totally close off and have to have an emergency unfill. I wonder how many others had a "tight fit" with the Inamed 4cc and it slipped? That might be a good poll. I understand that now they don't use that band any longer... is anybody else hearing that?

Chrissi, I'm sure you've tried all the remedies (not eating after 7, taking prevacid or prilosec, taking a slug of Mylanta Ultra, etc., etc.), but if you haven't, definitely try them. Mylanta, I think, is the only OTC you can take while taking antiacids like Prilosec. It definitely helped -- it was the last thing I did before getting in bed. My appointment for my egd is Monday, March 10th. Everybody keep me in your prayers! I talked with United Healthcare (I have UH Choice), and they said that they would pay for the replacement if it was medically necessary. Dr. Bagnato will write a letter of medical necessity after looking at the egd results and the barium swallow results again. I know you were self-pay, but if you have insurance, you might want to check. It's a pre-existing condition, and I don't think they can block treatment now. You might want to check if you do have insurance. I hope you can keep on without gaining weight. I went crazy when the band was unfilled. Everything I hadn't been able to eat (sandwiches, bread, steak), I ate and ate. I've gained over 10 pounds (I'm refusing to get on the scale now) in 6 weeks. It sucks. Sherri

The other thing is, I noticed while they were doing the barium swallow that my esophagus was "accordianed" above the stomach. Literally, I had like a double S curve. The curve was so pronounced that they had to give me a thinner barium solution, because the thick stuff wasn't going through. I thought I was going to throw up, that thick stuff was backing up my throat, and they wanted me to drink the thin stuff! YUCK!!!

Hi QTMom -- it does sound just like my case; I'm starting to wonder if I've become allergic or something to the band. I am trying to go through the insurance now to find out whether the insurance will cover the removal/replacement. Funny thing is, for some reason, I keep remembering something the surgeon told me on my post-op visit. He said that the 4 cc band was a "tight fit," but it did fit. Now I wonder if it was too tight and there was an erosion or something... I guess I will find out in the coming weeks. How are you doing?

Hi -- just wanted to say I had the same symptoms (vomiting at night without realizing it), but it wasn't like vomit, it was food that hadn't cleared the band. I had a barium swallow and Dr. Bagnato removed everything from the band (2 ccs), and said I had to come back for a egd (where they put the camera down your throat), and he said that if what he suspected was the problem (slippage), he would remove the band at the same time. I am so freaked out at the thought of losing my band. I had lost 40 pounds (20 prior, so 60 total), but since the band was unfilled, I have been eating stuff that I have missed -- salads, fruit, bread, and fibrous meats like chicken breast and steak... oh steak! I've gained back almost 20 pounds in 6 weeks!!! I'm afraid if I get the band taken out, I'm going to be back to where I was (282) shortly. I am already suffering from the weight gain (joints killing me, clothes getting tight). I know I have to get my mind back around this, and get focused on not eating things I shouldn't be eating, but I've always been an emotional eater, and between the open band and working 80 hours a week, I'm stuffing it down, and of course, it is almost all junk (whatever I can eat and work at the same time). Please keep me in your prayers!

If you have any Protein drinks, drink those today to keep the hunger pains away. Pork chops is one of the meats that I gave up for the band. No matter what I do, how small the bite is, it seems that it gets stuck. chicken breast, unless it is flattened (beat flat with a mallet), is a no-no, and I can only dream of steak. Anything with fibrous texture, I just can't seem to chew enough to make it go down. Learning to make sauces to go with your meat will help lube your stoma, making things that might get stuck a lot easier to eat. I promise that liquids will do the trick today. It will give your stoma a chance to rest and the swelling to go down. Sherri

Sue, did you scroll down on the Complications page and see the multi-page posts on what to do when you're stuck?

I sent a message to Dr. Bagnato's office regarding this, and they've replied with I need an x-ray and to call Monday to set up the appointment. We'll see.

Sue, I know how frustrating it is to be pbing. Sometimes it takes awhile to get something unstuck, but sometimes I think the stoma gets irritated, and starts to swell, and then nothing seems to help. Try icy pineapple juice. Don't glug, just sip. If that comes back up, try some forceful burping (as in trying to burp). If you're not getting any air coming from the lower stomach (gives you a nice burp), try walking around and stretching, like trying to reach your toes. Expect sliming, but try not to "throw up." Whatever comes out from bending over is okay, but don't try to force it. Finally, try just relaxing, take a bath, and try sipping something icy. If the icy sipping stays down, give it a rest for 24 hours and only drink liquids, no mushies and definitely no solids. You can also try an antihistimine spray;the antihistimine will make mucus membranes dry out some, slowing the sliming. If you can't keep anything down after 24 hours, time for a call to the surgeon's office.:cry

Wow!!! You've done great! You've lost 93 lbs! That is awesome! I think the problem is that when you're 2 years out, and you see all these newbies who have met their goal in less than a year, you just get back in that mindset of "woe is me, I'll never lose this weight!" which helps you eat that dang Publix chocolate covered brittle, which I swear is CRACK. I just heard from Dr. Bagnato's office. They want me to come down for an x-ray. I'll call Monday and get it scheduled. Sherri

It was a fill that was too much. My first fill was .50, and I didn't make it out of the parking lot without feeling like I was drowning. She removed .25, and I left for home (3 hours away). I dealt with constant PBing for a day, then couldn't even keep Water down. I went back for an unfill, and she put back in .10. Six months later, we tried again with .25, and this time I stuck around town for awhile. Again, had to have the .25 removed and .10 put in. I think my stoma is just really sensitive to fills and if irritated, it swells.:tired

There's a North Georgia bandsters yahoo group, along with an Atlanta Bandsters group. Just go to Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums & communities and search for Atlanta bandster and it should show up. It is a closed group, so you have to apply for membership. It sometimes takes a few days for me to get to my personal mail, so don't give up (I'm the moderator). Right now, work is slow this week, so I'm goofing off! I had my surgery done by Dr. Bagnato and he is awesome. His support staff is really good, also. Never had a problem getting an appointment, and the fact that 6 fills are free per year gives you no excuse for not going to get a fill (unless, like me, you live 3 hours away!). Effie in the ATL bandsters group also had Dr. Bagnato do her surgery. She's doing awesome.