Hi wise people,

I'm 11 days post op and have been waking in the night with what feels like like a mix of intense hunger and reflux. Also I only get left shoulder pain at this time too? Is this normal? Any suggestions on how to fix?

For me, reflux/heartburn often feels like hunger.

Left shoulder pain is from the gas they pump into you during surgery. Eventually it dissipates. I suppose that a horizontal body position could affect the shoulder pain. It definitely affects reflux. Raising the head of your bed 8" is supposed to help (I tried that and couldn't sleep), or you could try sleeping in a recliner.

When you have the reflux, do you have sour bile liquid backwashing into your mouth? How soon before going to bed do you stop eating? Did your surgeon give you a prescription for a reflux med like omeprazole? If not, you can buy omeprazole over the counter, but I wouldn't take it until you check with your surgeon. When I was first banded, my discharge instructions told me to call my surgeon if I experienced reflux.