:confused:OK, I've read some other threads here about this, but not much in describing the pain/causes/Band relation, so I'm starting my own.

First, *A Note to Newbies is at the end...please read if you're perusing the 'complications forum'...I was a scared Newbie too and was here reading the Complications Forum.

OK, the short version; tell me what you know about esophageal spasms and does it have any correlation with the Band or Reflux?

The longer version is my story; 3 weeks ago a mild stuck episode (ribs at dinner) and a minor PB...the only thing memorable was that I had my first episode of acid reflux problem at night (which is a RED FLAG that you're too tight...coughing, spewing, acid bubbling into your esophagus or even nose...anything at night). I take daily Nexium and hadn't had a problem up until then. The reflux caused me to take some Tums that night and later I woke up with my esophagus full of acid and barely made it to the bathroom to do a major spew! Next day I had some soreness and it gradually got worse with food (lesson here, should have gone to liquids right away) until by the end of the day I was on liquids. I called the Doc's office the next morning (Monday) and after talking it through with the nurse, she told me to give it another day...I was fine.

Three weeks of no problems, no tightness and one morning after eating my usual oatmeal and it going through with no problems, 1/2 hour later I get a sudden tightness in my chest that quickly ramped up until it felt like a heart attack and went straight through to my back (if I didn't have a Band I would have called the squad). A friend had suggested 'esophageal spasms', so we Googled it...I was surprised it doesn't always come and go like you'd think the word spasm means...my pain was intense and constant (there was NO burning or reflux pain). It was eased some by pain relievers and I eventually took a narcotic to sleep that night (I did have one vomit from the pain making me nauseous, NOT because anything felt stuck). Again I called the Doc on Monday morning and they got me in on Tuesday...I had a 2cc unfill (I was expecting this as I'd gotten very tight after the vomit, which came after the pain) and then, because I asked for it, a UGI/barium x-ray. Even after the partial unfill the thin barium wasn't even going through my esophagus and the thicker barium finally got a very thin line through (she said my esophagus and stoma were swollen perhaps from the vomiting, but there were no spasms going on...I knew that as there was no pain by days later when I was having this done). This morning I could eat my oatmeal with just a tiny bit of soreness (barium barely getting through yesterday afternoon, and now oatmeal can?). Another lesson; I'm wondering if the second incident would have happened if they'd done an unfill after the first.

Got the phone call from my doc this morning NO slip!!! The pain before tightness this weekend is a mystery...and hopefully one that won't return! I'm now wondering if these were esophageal spasms and I had two people comment on my blog just yesterday that they have had them...I'm wondering if it's more common after Banding?

I've read that they can be very intense and people often think they're having a heart attack, they can last for days or a short time, and they're not sure what causes them, but some sites say reflux is a suspect.

It anyone knows anything or has had these, I'd appreciate any information!!!

================================

*A note to Newbies*

Do NOT let a possible complication or chest pains I had for a day or two make you afraid of getting a Band. We all just post the bad things here to find out more about them...trust me, I don't post a thread for every wonderful thing that's happened (that's why it 'just seems' there are lots of complications...yes, I was a Newbie getting scared too). These things are very rare...my Doc told me in all the years he's been doing these their practice has had one slip...one...that's why he wasn't worried, but he let me go for the x-ray because I asked and he knew I needed the peace of mind (there was NO slip). If they had told me to come in after my first problem I doubt I would have had the second one. Knowledge is power...that's why I share everything (see, you just learned 'night time reflux problems of any kind=get in for a small unfill NOW'). I was WAY more upset about a possible slip because of the possibility of LOSING my Band....I was way more upset about that then the mystery, or even the pain. I'd put up with some unexplained chest pain, an unfill and much more to finally be where I am today...I swear it's SO worth it!!! A day or two of mystery chest pain that did no long-term damage vs. the pain I was in because of the Obesity and getting worse all the time...not to mention a shorter life...it's a no brainer...

I LOVE MY BAND!!!

Wondering.... if it was slippage, wouldn't the problem be consistent?

Deborah:confused:

Deborah- First, I'm not sure about the hernia, but did they tell you that could cause that much pain? Your pain sounds exactly like what mine was like...awful, and like I said my banded friend who's a nuclear cardio doc went to the ER thinking she was having a heart attack too. I confirmed with all the docs I saw during the x-ray that esophageal spasms are this bad.

Next, I'm surprised that the endo (I'm assuming you mean a EGD) didn't confirm whether or not there's a slip as they can visualize the size/shape of the pouch when they're in there and it would be easy to see if a big section of stomach was up through it (you might just ask your doc to check the pics from this). I also had the xray/barium and everything was perfect (get it if you need it).

The most common symptom of a slip is a sudden change in restriction, sometimes with pain...the prolapsed stomach folds over the new stoma and essentially blocks it. I have heard that some with a slip have restriction that varies, but this isn't typical. You didn't mention it, but I'm guessing you've had some vomiting lately...the mistake I made was not going to liquids after a vomit as it will swell the stoma. And remember, reflux is the most common side effect of banding and if it's bad then you're probably too tight...so I'm hoping your small unfill will solve all this. Take it slow and let the swelling go down from the (assumed) vomiting. Keep me posted!

Thank you Band_Groupie. I am trying drinking my coffee first.

Another question: Is it normal to have pain with the first couple bites of food during most meals? I chew chew chew, and as soon as the food gets into the pouch, it hurts. It could be soft food, but its like I have to plug it up (sorry, not able to describe it with a better term) before I can continue eating. Once the pain subsides, I can usually eat approximately a cup of food, and then I feel full.

I hope i'm not sounding crazy, but I would appreciate any feedback. :thumbup:

There's even a name here for this...it's called 'first bite syndrome' (I'd suggest you do a search here to see others experiences). Some find that it's best to take that small first bite and then wait a min. or so before eating the rest. Keep an eye on the pain though and keep your Doc informed as well. These bands are such a learning curve LOL.

Edited September 10, 201015 yr by Band_Groupie

I had my UGI done last month the radiologist is very good, he has done about 8 of these on me sicne I was first banded four years ago. He told me and showed me during one of the swallows that my esophagus was having spasms at each swallow, he also told and showed me tha the esophagus was very narrow and even the barium was not going through like it should, he said I had reflux built up in my esophagus, causing it to be greatly dialated. He said that he felt removing some of the fluid might help but it will not fix the problem. I also have a hital hernia where at or how large who knows because I don't and was never told, the hernia was discovered a few weeks ago and well it was found on last years UGI and now I am being told of this. My band was diagnosed as mechanical failure for this is a re occurring problem with me and the Dr. treated me by only removing fills and then re filling me, over and over again. I am now waiting on insurance approval to have revision surgery to RNY

I've been living with these God awful spasms for over two years now. Doesn't matter how much is in my band, what I eat or drink, how fast or slow I eat it, it's there. I vomit just about every single day. I burn whether I take Prilosec, Kapidex, Tums, Pepto...I truly worry about what this will mean for me down the road. (Luckily, I am in the process of getting insurance authorization for the band to sleeve revision.) Three years of having this thing, less than 40lbs lost, and also now cannot actually EAT anything if I am leaving the house within an hour. Heck, some days I can't even keep down a Protein drink. GRRR!!! (Today is such a day...water and Gatorade....YUM...NOT. lol)

Just PLEASE, keep up on those spasms. If you're having reflux issues, I say DOUBLE your efforts and keep up on the swallows and EGDs. That much acid is NOT good for your esophagus.

http://www.formerlyfluffy.com/lap-band-and-realize-band-do-your-research/

http://www.formerlyfluffy.com/lisa-sargese-gastric-band-nightmare/

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919

I had those severe spams last year. Actually went to the hospital thinking it was a heart attack. Better safe than sorry right? That was June of last year. In May of last year I started having those acid reflux incidents at night. Couldn't figure it out at all. Had a CAT scan and was told I had a hiatal hernia. Than had a laproscopic exam. NO HERNIA. The person who read the CAT thought my pouch was a hernia.

Turns out my allergies were the problem. The mucus produced causes a 'plug' in the band. My dr. did a fluroscope and checked my band position. All was fine. He recommended mucinex, prilosec and a decongestant. Also a liquid diet until the irritation/inflammation got better. It worked.

This year when my allergies started, I began taking the mucinex and decongestant. I already take protonix. I did the liquid diet for a few days. I also increased my water intake.

So far so good.

Deborah

Good to know that your problems have been sorted out and that it has been a relatively simple solution.

I am so glad I found this forum!

I have encountered difficulties since my lap band two years ago! It's been about ONE YEAR since my band was emptied due to reflux (I would wake up vomiting on my pillow). Upon draining it, I got my first good night's sleep without reflux in a LONG time.

It first appeared that my surgeon had done my last fill too aggressively and made my band too tight. After a swallow study, my NEW doctor (the original had changed hospitals) discovered that my esophagus had stretched and dilated. He had me wait three months to see if it was healing. Three months later it was smaller but, too large still for him to safely begin filling again.

Finally, after almost a year of waiting, I had another swallow study and my esophagus has hardly healed at all. I had esophageal manometry which showed my esophagus functioning MOSTLY normally and, two days later, I underwent an upper endoscopy which revealed what my doctor believes to be a "fundoplication." It appears that during the lap band surgery my surgeon affixed part of my stomach to the back of my esophagus! This, apparently, is a surgery sometimes done to relieve GERD but, why did he do that?!?! I had NEVER suffered reflux and, after further research, this procedure MAY LEAD TO A STRETCHED/DILATED ESOPHAGUS AND WORSE REFLUX!

I am so frustrated and depressed now. After dropping over 75 pounds I've gained about 35 back.

Has anybody else heard of fundplication being done with lap band insertion and, if so, have you had similar problems?

the last 2 spasams i had i fainted

Thanks all for such good information. Banded for over 2 years, 70 lbs down 40 to go. All of sudden when I walk fast or exercise I have shortness of breath and have problems getting food down but does go down within a few min, with that awful pain in chest. And my shortness of breath goes away. I thought maybe has to do with esaphigus after reading blogs. I did have an upper GI and fine but strange after 2 years am experiencing this. I think the shortness of breath is better but will keep an eye on it. Any thoughts? Thanks

Thanks all for such good information. Banded for over 2 years, 70 lbs down 40 to go. All of sudden when I walk fast or exercise I have shortness of breath and have problems getting food down but does go down within a few min, with that awful pain in chest. And my shortness of breath goes away. I thought maybe has to do with esaphigus after reading blogs. I did have an upper GI and fine but strange after 2 years am experiencing this. I think the shortness of breath is better but will keep an eye on it. Any thoughts? Thanks

i found out that the vagus nerve is what can make you faint and alot of other things if your esphogus gets irratated also blood pressure i would always get bad pain in my chest first it does not happen that offten if im driviing atleast i get a warning first but make sur it isnot your heart first

Did the doctor tell why the fundoplication was done?

I had my band installed almost two weeks ago and the doctor also did a fundoplication at the same time. She said that upon opening me up she discovered that my upper stomach was abnormally small and had to do the fundoplication so she could install the band.

So can anyone tell my WHY some of us get reflux and/or gerd after the surgery when we didn't have it before? Mine is so bad right now that I am on liquids only and taking mucinex & a decongestant. Allergies kill me. And the mucus seems to plug up the band. I get that. But it also appears, for me anyway, that I have the same problem when I am stressed. Anyone else notice that?

Hi all! Haven't been on here in awhile and I having some issues. Can someone exlpain the difference between an upper GI and a EGD? What type of doctor would I go to for these? I am 4 years post op and my surgery was in Mexico so I want to go in and insure all is still okay. When I request these procedures do I tell them I was banded in Mexico? Also, is a scope, fluroscope and barium swallow the same thing? Thank you for any insite you may have.

Sorry you're all going through this, but glad I'm not the only one. Right now I have this pain right in the middle of my chest ever since I had a smoothie ealier. Other times, it's just because I ate, or coughed hard. I have gained back the little bit of weight I lost from having the lapband put in Jan of '09, and I want it out. My plan is to revise to a sleeve. I'm meeting with my PCP to start th process on Monday. I've been a member of this forum for 3 years, but haven't posted in a long while.

Hi all! Haven't been on here in awhile and I having some issues. Can someone exlpain the difference between an upper GI and a EGD? What type of doctor would I go to for these? I am 4 years post op and my surgery was in Mexico so I want to go in and insure all is still okay. When I request these procedures do I tell them I was banded in Mexico? Also, is a scope, fluroscope and barium swallow the same thing? Thank you for any insite you may have.

barium swallow is a nasty chalky drink before x-ray. Fluroscope is a dye they inject to see whee things are going.

A fluroscope is used for fills. The dr has me drink a Fluid that he watches pass through the band to gauge the amount of fluid needed in the band. Upper GI is when the dr uses an endoscope inserted through the mouth to view the esphogus and stomach.

Everyone I know that has a band has either spasms or gerd or both. Anyone know why this is? Anyone out there that doesn't have either? I am frustrated by the spasms and the gerd but not wanting to get my band removed. Afraid of the weight gain.

I also have Fibromyalgia and Osteonecrosis both of which complicate matters for me. The FM can and does cause the spasms and gerd along with a host of other things and both limit ability to exercise. Would like to know if others that have FM have similiar banding issues.