I was banded in January 2008 and was very successful. I lost 85 lbs over two years and was very excited to be able to wear a size 10 for the first time in my adult life. I thought I would never ever have a weight problem again. I loved my band and thought it was a miracle that I had finally conquered my weight.

Almost a year ago, I had issues with a sick stomach while traveling and I had a kidney infection developing. My band tightened in the middle of my distress and I was very careful to cut back to mushy or liquid food while I got the rest of it sorted out. I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome before I got my band and have periodic episodes of nausea and vomiting. I got antibiotics and thought I would get over it. Instead, my stomach problems got worse and I could not keep anything down and was sleeping sitting up because of acid reflux even when I hadn't eaten. I finally stopped the antibiotics and my stomach settled down. Meanwhile, the vomiting and acid reflux left my band irritated and tight and I could not eat much for the next while. I knew that my band would settle down if I was careful in how and what I ate so eventually it did. From that time, I have had problems with my band getting tight on it's own and huge stomach problems. I also feel like my throat is constricted or blocked and I start choking and can not breathe well. I sound like I am barking trying to pull air through my throat. It is terrifying. I have addressed this problem with my clinic in Toronto and had had defills three times in less than a year to let my stomach settle and the band go back to normal. When I start to get filled up again the same thing starts all over. The last time, things did not settle down. I have now had three defills in a month and the problems are still ongoing. I believe the vomiting caused my band to slip and it needs replacement or repair. I am constantly in distress with my stomach and the band. I have stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, acid reflux, gas pains in my chest and back, the constriction in my throat and I can hardly eat or drink anything. I have found milk and milk shakes when I can get them down, alleviate the almost constant nausea and pain in my stomach. I am taking four over the counter medications plus a prescription for my IBS to cut down the acid in my stomach. All these and I still am in discomfort. I have not slept all night in the last month. I want my clinic to hurry up and get this fixed. It is affecting my whole life. I am also feeling tired all the time.

Anyone out there with a similar experience? Especially the choking and fighting to get air through my throat.

Hello - I have been having problems with gastritis symptoms for a while now. I too have the pressure/lump feeling in my throat. Especially after I eat. My symptoms do not sound as bad as you described. I have found that chewing gum when I have that feeling in my throat helps me. My problems started after I had my Gallbladder removed. I developed bile reflux, gastritis, esophagitis - one symptom caused another symptom type of thing. I have not had Fluid in my band since last December. My band shows no signs of slippage, I do not PB, slime or throw up and rarely get stuck. Yet- my doc suggested I have my band removed. I was a cash patient and developed these problems within 6 months of having the band installed. ONLY after the gallbladder was removed though. I had no problems prior to that and had 8cc in my band. The GI says I have reflux yet I have never had anything come up at night or have trouble sleeping as you mention. Mine started as a constant burning in my stomach. Now it gurgles and has a slight burning feeling when it is acting up. I was put on prilosec twice a day and carafate 4 times a day. I have managed to come down to just prilosec once daily and tums/pepto when my symptoms start. Sometimes it helps and other times not.

I also at one time (not lately) had horrible pain in my chest as though someone was pressing their knuckles in my chest. That does not happen as often now.

I found that certain medications make the symptoms worse. I am finally able to eat regular foods (I was only able to drink Ensure for 3 months when it was really bad = sort of like you are doing with shakes). I still have not figured out what causes my symptoms completely but things that are harder to digest seems to trigger more symptoms. Unfortunately, those are usually the more healthy things. I triggered it last night with a spinach, tomato, mozzarella and chicken salad. Not sure what my stomach didn't like but it is still upset this morning and gurgled at me all night. I measure out my food and only had 5oz in weight off that salad.

I have to make a decision about having it removed yet none of the docs can say for sure that the symptoms will go away once it is removed.

Please keep us posted on your journey. I am curious to see what your doc says.

Hi: I don't for one minute think the gastric band causes acid reflux. My husband has reflux and no band, my father had acid reflux and no band. I do believe, that a tight gastric band can make the symptons worse. When the acid from the stomach is regurgitated into the pouch and eosophogus the acid is slower draining back into the stomach. Thus having more time to burn the lining of the pouch and throat. I believe some of the acid can get into the ear canals and lungs making acid reflux very dangerous. My father died from cancer of the eosophogus and stomach.

None of my theories are scientific just my belief. Too many people suffer acid reflux that do not have the band for me to believe the band causes acid reflux.

I have had one defill and going for another. My symptons are 80 percent cleared up. so with meds and a looser band, I believe my acid reflux will be under control. With the tighter band, I chose liquid type foods and was always grazing. With less fill, I am choosing hard protein which is what I sould be doing and remaining full longer.