Has anyone heard of the band making reflux worse? I live on Previcid and I'm a little concerned. Dr. says it should improve, but I wanted a little feed back from others who suffer from severe gerd.

Thanks,

Donna

I suffer from severe GERD, but I am pre-op. I can't imagine it getting WORSE. :-o

I hope yours improves as the weight goes down. Just a suggestion, you might want to switch medications. I did much better on Protonix than Prevacid. And some take it twice a day.

Right now I am on precription Pepcid. The body changes and I had to switch.

like your dr., my surgeon says my gerd will be gone.

I am also pre-op. Still kind of scary. I am afraid the band can make the gerd worse. My surgeon has asked for an endoscopy. The last one was 6 years ago and I was negative for Barrett's (pre-cancer condition from excesive acid in the esophegus). My surgery is scheduled for the 27th of this month. I have an appt. on the 20th with a gastro dr. to get scoped again. I live on medication now, I guess I can continue with that after the band.

Donna

i was really surprised my surgeon didn't request an endoscopy. should i press the issue?

Has anyone heard of the band making reflux worse? I live on Previcid and I'm a little concerned. :eek: Dr. says it should improve, but I wanted a little feed back from others who suffer from severe gerd.

Thanks,

Donna

Donna,

I don't know if I qualified as severe, but... before surgery I suffered from heartburn/acid reflux 5 to 6 days a week. I carried pepcid on me, kept it at work and of course at home. EVERYTHING I ate seemed to give me heartburn.

I can not tell you what an amazing difference it is after surgery. I don't need the pepcid anymore!!!! :clap2:

I do hear that some people suffer from acid reflux if they overeat with the band or are too tight. Just remember to communicate any and all symptoms with your doctor if you have them after surgery. :gluck:

Before post op, reflux was 24/7. Reflux completely disapeared post op.

I needed permission from my cardiologist and my general practitioner for surgery. My cardiologist's letter states that I suffer from severe gastesophageal reflux disease...not so. It is gone. I have spent the last 3 mo. clearing an ulcer up and a small ulcer in the esophagus. My upper GI shows it is gone. Now, because of his letter I have to have another upper GI on Friday, or I'm afraid the band dr. will turn me down.

Do people get turned down if they have esophageal reflux? Does it matter? Even if I don't have it anymore, it's a question I'd like answered, because I guess I could always suffer a reoccurrence. Is a dr. alright with the surgery if you do have this disease or have had it in the past. I'm so mad I have to go through these tests once again all because of my cardiologist who knows nothing about my GI system...........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I was on Protonix as well, great stuff. Prior to starting on the Protonix I had heartburn all the time and the acid reflux was so bad at night that I'd wake up with it in my nose and sinuses, unable to breathe and in extreme pain.

The last Protonix I took was the day before surgery. Not one hint of heartburn or reflux since.

I was concerned my lap banding dr. would look at this letter negatively, but perhaps it isn't going to hurt me that much. The fact is I've spent 3 mo. clearing up an ulcer so I could have the surgery, so his statement is hurtful and not at all true. Another upper GI on Friday to prove all is well. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much about it. Maybe dr's. don't write you off because of this diagnosis. Thanks.