missy2shoes

Just visited my clinic for a fill. I am 4 .5 years out and last two fills had to be removed. This visit, however, I was informed that my clinic in northern Minnesota no longer does lap bands!!!!!! Not one in 2013. Not one. They said that of all they have done in last 5+ years only a handful have been successful! They said that gastric reflux, which I have, has increased so much that people are having bands removed. Anyone else run into this?

It sounds like you really had a bad time. I am so glad that you are doing better. I did have an upper GI and my band has not slipped. Before I had this surgery 4 years ago, I was a little worried that they only had 5 years of problems and statistics to go back on. So now, I guess it's a little more time but still not long enough for a patient to have a heads up on the "could happens". I think it's a learning experience for them too. They are learning daily from the veterans. Also I noticed that whatever happens, doesn't last. Eating good, vomiting, pain, No pain, acid reflux, no acid reflux, it all seems to be in the moment of 3-6 weeks. Take care and stay well!

Well, Katie, I too am attractive! I have now come to view my lapband in the same way I look at menopause. The bonus rounds just keep coming! I could not eat any meat, fruit or veggies for 3 1/2 years. I only recently had my first hamburger( no bun) in over 4 years. I seem to do better with raw veggies though. I don't like much fruit, so I guess juices would be a good choice. It seems to go in cycles with cans and can nots. Even my acid reflux gets better than worse. I have noticed that I can absolutely never eat anything after 5:30 without terrible acid reflux. Hair loss I have heard is too little protein so the shakes should help that. Now a new bonus round for me is esophageal spasms. Yikes! Those are hellacious! It's hard, Katie, staying this attractive isn't it? Keep me posted!

I love the tea! It does help. Now that I had an unfill, I really keep an eye on what I eat and remember my lap band is a tool.

Ok I have had a busy couple of days trying out things. First the worst night I had before posting here was 10 episodes of acid reflux. The best was 7 episodes. After trying and changing teas, adding tums, and trying to stay pretty elevated before bed, I am down to 1 episode a night! ???????????????????????????????? Thank you everyone for your advice, and for the fact you wanted to help. FYI I ended up using lemon-ginger probiotic tea.

Thanks for the good advice! I will definitely try the tea. I did have my .3 cc fill removed once, but still had the reflux start about a year after that! Hopefully, this will pass. Thanks again.

Thank you though!

I am now down 50 pounds after 4 years. However, the acid reflux comes and goes. In a bad bout of it coming I have acid reflux 7-10 times in one night. This lasts anywhere from 1-3 weeks. I do not eat after 5 pm. I do not lie down until after 11 pm. I am on Prilosec, and Carafate liquid. I take 2-4 apple cedar tablets a day. My physician keeps trying but nothing is working. Help!

Thank you for that reply. I am glad you got some help! I just called the facility in Duluth Mn that did my procedure to see if I could get an unfill. Sure, on January 26 2013! I explained to them how bad it had gotten but that is their first appointment! Yikes! Now I will call my primary and maybe check on some Nexium! Thanks again.

I was told by my surgeon that in many cases acid reflux becomes worse after banding. This was not the case until my last fill. Maybe an unfill, but I doubt I can get in before the holidays. Home remedies until then, I guess!

PA only does fills at my facility. I don't feel that these things are just happening to me. I think they are very common among many.

I can check with my PA, but I haven't seen or heard from my surgeon since he discharged me 3 years ago! I don't know, there seems to always be a new issue with the lap band. Too tight, too loose, food stuck, vomiting, yikes! Now, I enter the bonus round with the reflux! Thanks for replying!

anyone out there have a new sudden increase with gastric reflux? I had it occasionally, butihada small fill in October and now a huge increase in reflux. Ieatat 5:00 pm and nothing except water in the evening. This is new as in the last2 weeks and it will be 3 years since my surgery next month.

I will definitely check the book out. Thanks! It s good not to be alone!

Thanks! I actually sat and made an effort through dinner tonight to eat meat and chew it slowly. Small bites only, and I managed to get 2 pork rib lets down without any sticking! I am glad I found some good advice. It's hard when it's been so long since the banding!