I have been banded since 04/22....a year now....only down 40lbs but more than i have lost in a long time. Here is my issue....When i get to my sweet spot, i get the worst acid reflux and have to get an unfill because the acid causes my esophogus (sp) to swell from the acid burns....then i get the unfil and gain weight but then i have the worst GAS ever.....so it seems as though with 4 in my band i can eat whatever, not lose weight and have the worst gas ever but then when i get filled to 5.2 or higher i lose weight but get the worst gerds/acid reflux ever.....i take pills prescribed by my regular doc who is aware of my lap band but i feel like i am yo yo dieting because of this up and down because of the flip flop of gas or acid reflux.....anybody else have this? what can i do so i can actually enjoy my lap band????

Hmm.. are you sure you weren't overfilled? Sweet spot is when you can go 5 hours without eating.

But you said it right there, you can't "eat whatever you want" and lose weight you have to stick to your 900-1200 calorie diet. Stick to your diet and you will lose weight. no matter how filled you are. The lapband isn't some kinda miracle genius, it helps you from being hungry so you can eat less and not be hungry.

I would have thought it was just an over fill had it happened just once...but it has happened now three times in one year where i am unfilled a little and then the gas from the other end is going like crazy. then i get re-filled to where i am restricted and then the acid reflux starts after a few weeks. so i go back and get unfilled a little then the gas starts again...horrible gas. then i get an unfil and then a few weeks later the acid reflux starts again. i can feel the gas brewing so to speak in my stomach but how it goes out differs if i am filled above 5.2 or below 4.....at 4 there is no restriction....at 5.2 better restriction. but now that it has happened so many times, i dont know what the deal is. I know it is not a miricle fix and i have to watch what i eat and excercise.....but the gas issue is keeping me from benefiting from the $20,000 surgery....anyone else experience this or am i breaking ground on this issue????

It doesnt seem to me that you are dieting or exercising but depending on being filled to make you lose weight. Why would you risk your health by being overfilled and when your not eat every and anything. The band is not going to make you lose weight unless you diet and exercise.

The nurse at my Bariatric Center suggested taking a Probiotic for the gas, etc.. I was amazed when I tried it. I felt better the next day, and I still do not have the near the gas issue as I had. She explained that the probiotic helps get your stomach back to a good bacteria level especially have things like surgury or even outside stress.

Thank you MOMW for understanding....i did start taking acidophilus and it seems to be helping a lot.....i may try probiotics also....going for a fill next week....hopefully this time things will work out.