I started having reflux a couple of months ago. Had a barium test-everything good, had an endoscopy-everything good. Started taking nexium, everything seemed good. Starting last Thursday lots of reflux, some burning in my throat, I've never had this before, and the old tell tale-pain in the sternum. Anybody have any suggestions. Have the bed raised haven't been eating weird and have reduced my coffee. Maybe eliminate the coffee. I just don't get it. What is going on? I thought that the band stopped reflux not start it.

you have to give the nexuim a few days to get in your body. I love the stuff. I take mine about 1 to 2 hr before I go to sleep. if I miss on dose I wake up gasping for air for the acid in my throat.

Leener..I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven if I had worked in a coffee house I would have probably gone into caffeine overload!

I have been on the nexium for almost 4 weeks. I am hoping that the doctor can come up with some magic remedy. Today, this afternoon, at least hasn't been too bad. I am dying for my afternoon cup of coffee. I will skip it to hopefully keep the good feeling going. Thanks everyone for the help.

Seppi how is it going with the coffee? Have you had to stay off it completely? Just wondering how your doing.

Myra

Things are great. The nexium kicked in. I have been able to have a cup of coffee in the morning but am not going to try any more than that. I was able to get a small fill, finally .2cc so far so good. Thank you so much for asking.

I suffered from reflux before banding, and it seemed to disappear afterwards. Then, out of nowhere after my 3rd fill (7 cc total in 10 cc band) WHAM! It was the worse I have ever had. The only thing that works for me is the maximum strenth Pepcid. I am now 99% better, and I drink 2-3 cups of coffee a day. I usually take one if I am eating trigger foods, like tomato based dishes, excess coffee, spicy foods. I have not had a problem since. Hope this gets better for you!

The band often cures reflux in those who have it prior to banding...and often causes reflux in those who have never had it.

Seppi,

my mom gets acid reflux really bad-she is not banded- the only thing that helps her Protonix it is by perscription and is expensive. I have not had an issue with reflux at all. My friend however had to have her band removed because her reflux was so bad she couldn't even sleep laying straight down at night and it became unberable. Hope you can get Protonix soon.

I had reflux for a real long time... endoscopy said "everything is ok".. .it wasn't until I had the band put on that they found a hernia in my stomach and repaired it.. since then no heartburn... who knew!

I have been having great luck with the Nexium lately. No real problems at all. The scale has started moving again. Hopefully this does the trick.

protonix works real well.

I believe chronic acid reflux is the curse of long term use for many of us. It a matter managing it, if possible. I had a slip in the Spring. I had losts of reflux then, but also could barely get anything past the band, food & eventually water. I was unfilled for 4 months, no reflux during that time. About a month after being refilled it came back, but I can still eat & drink so I'm working to manage it. A good part of my life centers around managing these unpleasant complications. My coffee consumtion is very limited, as is alcohol, tomato based foods, spicey foods,etc. I do not eat or drink after 7 PM, and sometimes still suffer the dreaded night backup. This is the most unpleasant. I try to avoid forced pbing because I think that's what made my band slip before. Maalox helps take away the acid burning. I have some Prilosec, I think I'll try that again, but I expect even if it helps it won't totally eliminate the problem, at night at least. At night it seems that falling asleep relaxes the hiatal muscles & if there's food or liquid there, it shoots right up. I'm just guessing, but it feels like it's something like. I think many of us who have been banded longer than a year experience it. Does anyone have more info on the mechanic of what happens?

Funny thing is, I'm not sorry I had the band put in. I have gone from 218 to 155, less than 20 pounds to go. I need the band to lose the rest & will need it filled off and on for the rest of my life, if I can make it work. When I was unfilled for 4 months I worked like the devil to keep it off & still gained 7 pounds.

I can only take it a day at a time & hope I can keep it working for me.