Hi everyone. I'm having a really hard time.

About a year ago my doctor saw that I had a little bit of reflux with my band. I had it for about 8 years prior to my banding, but when I got banded it totally went away (for about two years). They unfilled me, and i gained 8 pounds, filled me again and I've been on a steady losing streak. Unfortunately that is also when I lost my insurance coverage.

Over the past 6 months I have noticed more aspiration episodes, and this past week I noticed that I absolutely cannot eat anything past 9 pm (some days I get out of class at 10 pm) if I want to get a good night's sleep. I have taken Tums for about 8 months now as a daily thing before I go to bed, but this past week they didn't help.

The other day I went to my University Dining Hall and, unfortunately, ate some crappy food that was undercooked---I had to throw up. When I vomited, everything that had already gone down into my stomach came back up. It felt like a true vomit, not like a Lap-Band vomit (if you can understand what I mean by that).

Since then I have had increased acid reflux and a burning sensation around my banding area. It feels like I am really full, like something is going to come up any minute---although the only thing I've been able to get down this weekend is Water and a little bit of milk because it hurt so bad. I can eat things, but I get nauseated very quickly and I notice my restriction is more. I've been taking 200 mg of Advil every four hours for the past three days, and baking soda in water to help the acid activity (it works better than anything else).

Here's my problem: I don't have any money. I have no job, no insurance, nothing save $6 in my bank account. I know I've posted about being destitute with lap-band problems before but no one has really

helped me on any of my posts because (and I'm assuming) that you guys don't really know what to do as a broke person.

What does all of this sound like? I'm freaking out because it hurts and I'm afraid I've screwed something up pretty bad.

During a barium swallow, how is the doctor able to see that the person has acid reflux? Can the doctor tell without the patient telling him?

Have you tried to stay on liquid and mushies for at least 2 days for things to calm down. I have just had the same problem for the last week. I have bad acid reflux and take medication every morning for it. I would be easy on your band and if you continuing to have problems you should see a dr as you could have a slip. You know you have problems if you have problems at night. I had liquid and had to sleep propped up.Now I am good. Take is easy! Wish you the best!

K

Have you tried to stay on liquid and mushies for at least 2 days for things to calm down. I have just had the same problem for the last week. I have bad acid reflux and take medication every morning for it. I would be easy on your band and if you continuing to have problems you should see a dr as you could have a slip. You know you have problems if you have problems at night. I had liquid and had to sleep propped up.Now I am good. Take is easy! Wish you the best!

K

Hello. Congratulations on your weight loss. I was just wondering, what type of medication to do take for the reflux? I was just wondering can you take medication for the reflux without getting an unfill ? Or would a doctor normally unfill first?

Update: I don't have a slip--in fact, nothing was wrong at all. I think I posted my first post on Sunday? I went to the ER and, since I live in the middle of nowhere, there was nothing they could do but hook me up to fluids to hydrate me. They couldn't even give me an Upper GI! Monday I called the nearest (1 hour away) place I could go and they graciously got me in, and unfilled me completely. The restriction feeling went away but the burning sensation did not--it actually increased to about an 8-9 on the pain scale. Tuesday I had a Barium Swallow and passed out during it due to exhaustion, I'm guessing, but they found that nothing was wrong with my band. The doctor recommended Omeprazole and I've been taking it every morning. I finally forced myself to eat oatmeal yesterday and it hurt like hell--Cream of Wheat can't even go down without a fight.

Does anyone know if there is anything stronger than Omeprazole?

Have you been checked for an ulcer or hiatal hernia? I am so sorry you are going through all this.

No ulcerations, no hernias, no nothing. I'm not quite sure (and neither is the doctor) why the acid activity is centered specifically around the band area but i've been forcing myself to eat, which is helping. I don't really have the availability to cook for myself to ensure that I get enough protein without salt and fat, but I've been choosing lean meals at the dining halls (today is the first day I got one and ate some of it) and just washing it down with a bunch of water.

Wow, I am oh so very sorry you have no answers. I am glad you are feeling a little bit better. Hopefully the fact that you are able to put solid food in your stomach will give the acid something to work on other than your stomach tissue, and the acid blockers will help, also.

Keep us posted. Your situation is tough. I wish you all the best.

I take Pantoprazole 40mg tablet first thing when I get up for my acid flux. When i have had really bad acid reflux i have taken another one at night. I have only done this 4x in 6 years. Hope your feeling better!