NeenBand

Hi everyone, wishing all here good health and success.

I hope you can help me with this.

I went through a extremely stressful few months where I also began to overeat and also eat very fast. I've been banded 2 1/2 years and my restriction has not been great. I've lost 35 lbs in that time and not because of the band. My last (and 3rd in 2 years) was last month.

I can eat anything and I'm usually hungry all the time. I've noticed I'm getting more acid reflux and my throat is getting irritated. Today I ate 4 pieces of toast. Yup, I can eat it like that... and a few hours later my throat became really, really sore, and feels like it's getting even more so. I also have a dull "swollen" pain feeling in my chest..

I need some help here. :-/

I was banded by ABkin and have had a fill done by Bertha. I think they are great surgeons and doctors. I chose them and traveled to them because they really are very good. My only complaint is their staff seems to be overwhelmed sometimes. I also have not had a fill in 1 1/2 years so i have a small weight loss. I have Medicare and Medicare won't pay for them unless they are done at a Center of Excellence program, and Morristown hospital is not included in that program. I wished the staff could have worked out something for me, cut me some kind of break, a discount, a pay plan, anything so that I could get the fills instead of this situation I am in.

Hi Julie, Thank you for your info. I will give Mount Laurel a call.

I went for my 2 year check up and the radiology doctor could not believe how open I was, he said it was like a normal stomach and asked me why i don't have fills, and it just made me sad to think I went through this surgery and now...nothing. I'm still unfilled 1 1/2 years later due to my doctor's hospital not taking my insurance for fills, and the staff has not worked anything out for me in regards to the doctor's fees to get fills.

Hey all, how is everyone Good I hope. :-)

This is kind of gross, so i warn you....

I was on vacation out in CA two weeks ago. While there I developed a cough and what I think was a sinus infection. Went on antibiotics, etc. All that is gone, but I still have a cough when I eat and mucus build up that I have to blow my nose after I eat. It's a very thick, white mucus in my nose and lots of phlegm in my throat too.

I'm sure I was sick on vacation, but my concern now is this is going on and it's worse after I eat.

Wow, I have to say I wish I knew this before I was banded. :-/

I have always had GERD since putting on weight, and so still having it, having reflux symptoms doesn't tell me too much. I do have more restriction now for some reason.

I'll be honest and the stories here, especially being on life support, scares me and I wish I never had this put in.

Just an update for everyone. I still have not gotten a fill. Seems Morristown hospital is not a "Center of Excellence" so Medicare won't pay for the fills. I asked the staff at my surgeon's what will they do if Medicare won't cover them? How will you take care of me? And she hesitated and said she would call back when they get an answer.

2 months later and I still have not heard back.So here I am with a band that is doing nothing for me. I was banded in March of 05 and have 2 fills.

I think that is awful.

Yup, princess_n_thep it went away! Man was that pain. A friend of mine told me she had the same thing happen to her once. She said that if you you not digested meat or fish in years, your body stops producing the enzymes needed to break that down. By the way, congrats on your weight loss. :-)

enterprise01: Hey thanks for responding :-)! A Trekker after me own heart. I love that one too. I'm a big Trek fan. I agree with you. I think after so many years of not eating fish or shellfish and then eating that lobster, I think my guts went into a state of shock. It's slowly going away, thank god! Had me worried.

Serena: Ah..as I said, it was the first time I have eaten fish in years,(for reasons I won't get into) I don't need the "what is a vegetarian lesson." I'm a vegetarian. Not going to argue it with you. See ya. Kthxbye

Hi Everyone

I'm a vegetarian, and 2 nights ago I was at a wedding where everything was either meat or seafood. SO I ate the seafood. I had lobster as my entree for the first time in several years.

Since then I have had cramping pain in my lower front abdomen around my navel area, to the sides around it and below. It comes and goes, but it's really weird. It continues in my sleep too, and keeps me up. The last time I felt similar pains was in high school, I had a bad cramping in my gut right before I got a bad intestinal flu. But I feel fine otherwise. No flu. My belly feels swollen.

I tried all my old standby's for IBS (which I have) ginger, aloe juice, charcoal capsules. Nothing works.

Anyone??

My surgeons here in NJ are not being paid by my insurance carrier (rules seem to change all the time) so if I want a fill I would have to pay the $450 doctor's charge for the fill, plus the hospital fees which would add up to $1000. They use fluoroscope, but I'm just looking for a fill doctor now.

My surgeons are having Medicare issues. I have had 2 fills in a year and a half. I need fills!

Anyone know of a fill doc?

Hi all,

ANyone else having this issue? My doctors cannot schedule me for a fill because of this issue.

Anyone know what is going on, etc?

I have GERD, did before the band, due to weight. But it runs in my family. I can't take Nexium or Protonix as it inflames my pancreas.

SO I take Pepcid AC and aloe juice and ginger capsules.

GayleTX, what brand of coffee has low acid?

So sorry to hear of the issues you have had. I really hope your esophagus heals Listywood, and your GERD gets better Mr. Soots.

Listywood, what are the chances of the throat getting to normal?

Hi Alex!

How are you? I see your going back in for surgery, best wishes to you with everything.

remember your posts about that, and believe me, I'm kicking myself now. I was so hormonal last week, I was a bit crazy withthe eating and appetite.

I've eaten smaller all week, so I am thinking I should go on liquids. Not sure if I should go to the ER at any point for a xray.

Hi everyone!

I haven't been here in a while. No news from me is good news..lol

We went out to eat last week and I was starving. We waited too long to eat and when my food came, I ate too fast and too much. I was in pain later that night and felt swollen with some reflux. I still do. It's a little better, but not much.

Thoughts?

I know, slap me up the side of the head, especially after reading all the recent complications Bandlanders have posted here with slippage and dilation of pouch and esophagus.:phanvan

Could this be aspiration pneumonia due to the band being too tight or possible slippage?

This is what I am thinking too.

I don't mean to scare you, but It's not something that can wait either. This is a very hard to treat and dangerous lung infection. Get a doctor who can give you answers ASAP

I had a bad one today. I seem to PB only around TOM. How often does everyone here PB?

I'm terrified of slipping by PBing too often. I ate too much today (PMS) was a bit out of control and did not listen to my signals to stop, PB'd and my stomach is so sore and inflamed.

Anyone else? How often?

Alex! I've been off and came in to see this!

because you and I share the same doctors, office staff, etc it's a certain connection, and when I saw that you are going through this I was so concerned!

Right now, your probably in surgery, so sending good thoughts your way.

I also have reflux problems, but I always did. I also have had a sore throat for two weeks, but I also have allergies. It's awful hard to figure out at times if it's something else or our band.

I have the 4 cc band placed last year, I'm curious as to what Dr. Abkin thinks of replacing the current band with the VG.

Keep us posted!

I'm havig a scope in a week.

I'm terrified of Barretts. If the doctor see's damage I'm going to rethink the band.

Nothing is worth cancer.

Hello everyone, I have reflux (before and after band) and am currently searching for holistic remedies to my reflux.

I don't mean to scare anyone but the meds can cause pancreatitis . I didn't even know this was a side effect until I did some research.

I'm amazed the doctors don't know this. My lap band doctor did caution against using these meds long term.

It's really frightening. If you google chronic pancreatitis, it's a devastating illness that can take your life and probably will eventually.

I have stopped my acid reflux meds and I'm hoping I have not caused such damage to it.

Just an FYI

Really?

I know the kidneys are that high, and in the area I hurt. The whole mid back area has been sore and tight for a few weeks now.

I also began a workout routine with abs and weights, I thought maybe that was it, but this feels really strange.

Yup, it's me again. :girl_hug:

I'm having constant back pain in left side, from spine, into the ribs and towards the front. It's very painful and only since being banded, although I am worried it could be pancreas. I had that checked a year ago and all was well.

It feels better when I put heat on it, but still hurts. I'm seeing my band doctor in two weeks, so I'll talk to him about it, but anyone else? Ribs in left front hurt too, but not as bad.

Thank you for your replies. I'm thinking it's because I've either eaten too much or I've irritaed my stomach and it's swelling.

Thank you! :-)