PLEASE only vote if youve been banded 6 months or longer.

Ive noticed that there have been in increasing number of bandsters having Reflux/Gerd problems. This may be a more commen problem in post banding then what our surgeons are aware of.

Sounds like what I went/go thru. I take Prilosec (or generic works same) almost daily now & when I know I'm having spicy/acid food at night, I f/up with a pepcid ac. And I don't eat for a min of 2 hrs prior to bed. It's not 100% fool-proof but I have more good nights than bad. Also prop up on some pillows so head is higher than feet. Wish I could be more encouraging. But try this for a month before getting another fill. If you do ok, then try a fill, but if not, I would wait & talk to your dr.

I am so glad I found this thread. I think I may actually ask for a slight unfill on Tuesday as much as I HATE the thought of it.

Last night it was 5 hours before bed when I took my last bite and I had the reflux in my sleep (btw same adjustment since 2005 I was banded in 2003) my weight has stayed stable (not the weight I desire) so really no reason to start having it now. It seems like I am having it more lately. I don't know if anyone has this problem but, saliva will come up as I sleep and choke me. I stopped breathing for what seemed like eons gasping for breathe. It is very terrifying. When I do finally burp (that is what clears things usually for me) and can't stop spitting up spit until I sip slowly on a glass of milk. After about an hour of sipping I am fine. It is very scary to me. This usually happens if I lay on my back or stomach when I sleep and it doesn't matter if I am elevated or not.

I was banded in September of'07. My insurance would only pay (partial) for fills every 2 months so I didn't not get filled very often. I also lost very little weight. I didn't have ANY side effects, mostly because the fills really had no effect. I tried to be very disciplined, but began to go up in weight. I was so ashamed that I kept trying on my own to lose the few pounds that I had gained, and to lose more. (Pretty dumb, eh! After all, isn't that the ENTIRE purpose of the banding!!!)

When I did go back, my doctor (he and his staff are wonderful BTW) upped my fill very slowly. I still had little response. In a year and a half, I had only lost about 10 pounds. When I went back this February, his new PA told me that was terrible and asked why I was not succeeding. I felt pretty badly. However, this last fill WORKED. I think it was a more aggressive fill. (My surgeon had tried a more aggressive fill, but I had not been able to get Water down, so he drew some out of the band.) This fill has WORKED! But, it has also had side effects. I have reflux at night many nights--I try to sleep in almost a sitting position. If I don't eat or drink at least 2 hours before bedtime, it is not as bad. The other major side effect is that food gets caught more easily unless I am EXTREMELY careful about taking tiny bites. I know this is exactly what I am supposed to do, but life is sometimes hectic. When I am not rushing, this is not such an issue. I often end up needing to bring the food up. A more minor side effect is "sliming" when I eat foods I should not. DOES ANYONE ELSE GET THESE?

I have not yet gone back. I was out of the country for 3 weeks about a month after this effective fill. Since I wasn't rushing around trying to get kids to their games, etc, and was JUST working (okay, some play) I was actually able to control my chewing and small bites. It was also a more scheduled type of day.

I'm sort of torn about these side effects. Since that fill, I have lost about 20 pounds! (Of course, when I went in for the fill on 2/2 I was in my PMS phase and holding Fluid, so I may not have really lost quite that much!) That is more than the first 1.5 years post surgery!!!! Does anyone know if there are any longterm problems that these side effects create? I am willing to go through these if it means I can keep losing weight. Please help me with this.

One other thing...for years doctors said they thought I might be lactose intolerant, but a botched test years ago kept me from going back for testing. (Hospital gave me glucose and almost went into insulin shock.) However, since this last banding I seem to be very intolerant of dairy products--much of my "sliming" seems to come from dairy products. Any thoughts on that? Thanks!

Edited April 13, 200917 yr by goldenmom

Hi!

Age: 42

Gallbladder out: No

reflux: yes...I think

I felt reflux in the middle of the night once but sometimes I wake up with a mild sore throat I thought was post-nasal drip but now I think it's reflux.

I don't mind the reflux (bcause I don't feel it and it doesn't happen in a.m.) but I think it is causing the tissue inside the band to get irritated and swollen which doesn't allow me to eat well. It is closing my band more.

This happend before and Dr. unfilled it a bit and all was good for 2 months. He also gave me Prevacid and Carafate. My insurance didnt cover Prevacid which I paid for - for 2 weeks anyway (worked well) and Dr. switched me to Pepcid AC and Carafate. Worked until now. I am getting the same symptoms. My general Dr. gave me another prescription proton pump antacid to try for a month.

I called Lapband Dr. today to see what he wants me to do. I'm on liquids for now-too uncomfortable to eat most foods. Liquids go down fine. I'll try not drinking for 2 hours prior to sleep. I already don't eat that late anyway. I'll try Aloe Vera juice as well.

I really don't want an unfill because that would put me back to 2.0cc which wasn't doing anything for me in terms of weightloss. I'm at 2.5cc which I thought was my sweet spot. I hope I just needed a better medication and avoid drinking fluids at night. I don't eat spicy or pepper but I do use some herbs when I cook.

Let's see what the Dr. tells me today! I hope I can kick this problem! Oh another thing....the Drs. and nurses always ask if I PB alot. I guess it may also irritate or enlarge esophogus. Well, I am glad to say I never have in the 5 months with the band---ever---hope I never do!

I know how you feel about not wanting any Fluid out of the band...the first several fills did really nothing...I lost NO weight after the 10-15 lbs from the first few fills for more than a year. The fill in Feb. has made a HUGE difference.

BTW, WHAT is PB???

I didn't have reflux until recently--the past two nights were the worst. So, I thought quite a bit about why this past week is SO different. (I have had some other symptoms--food getting caught, a bit of sliming (now much worse). I realized that I have eaten very differently the past week. I've eaten chocolate (which I love, but have barely eaten since before surgery), from the Easter Bunny, etc. And, my sliming has been unbelievable. I've also eaten things this week that I have not in ages. I'm sure that, starting with the chocolate, I've indulged myself and am paying the price!

It was so bad last night that I was up spitting up (more so than throwing up) all night. I went to the (regular) doctor. I thought I must have given myself bronchitis from coughing so much and so deeply last night. The coughing had caused my bronchial tubes to constrict and they nebulized me (gave me a major dose of lung opening drugs). I decided today will be a liquids only day.

I think I've learned my lesson. I'll see if the reflux and sliming stops now that I've recognized how devastating it is to fall off the wagon.

Good luck!

How do you add the little weight loss marker that some have at the bottom of the page????

I was told that I had reflux after my first upper GI before my banding. I had no problems before or after my banding in February 2008. I began Nexium 6 weeks ago for protection against my NSAID use. Since then I have had constant and painful reflux. As well as the Nexium, I have been popping Tums and Pepcid like candy. Today I skipped my Nexium and had NO reflux.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Gall bladder:Out 1987

Reflux: Yes

Banden:10/02/07

Upper GI exam: Reveal thickening of the distal esophageal folds. further exams too follow. I hope it has nothing to do with my "Band" ViVa La Band, BUG!

Turns out I was lucky. The reflux was a reaction to the Nexxium. Go figure! I was put on Prevacid but had a UC Flare that ended as soon as the Prevacid did.

I was having a lot of spitting up and fullness. An upper GI showed that the band was too tight. A bit looser has helped.

Hi Mom2,

My pcp wants me to see a gastronogist. But I have to check with my np at fill center in St. Pete. I might need to defill my band first. Mom, what is uc? Bug

Hi - I have had back pain, but usually when I eat too fast or don't chew it good enough. The only thing to help for me was to regurgitate & throw it back up. Then it was instant relief on my backache.

Hi,please take care regurgitating (throwing up). It could

affect the position of your band. Reseach this possibility.

Bug!

reflux: YES YES YES

gall bladder: had removed 1 year after surgery

gout: was diagnosed with gout 1 year after surgery and had to have surgery to remove deposits in my toe joint.

weight lost 120lbs.

I had reflux before my surgery. For first year after surgery I had NO reflux problems. But since I have had a terrible time with reflux especially at night. I cannot eat anything after 7 pm or I will be up all night with reflux and naseau. I take prilosec twice a day now. I am 2 years post op. I eat tums like they are going out of stile. It doesn't matter what I eat. I have only a 1/2 a cc in my band at this time.

I have some of the same issues... I will wake up coughing and sometime burping up something, or vomiting. I have had to keep a bucket next to my bed at times. When there is less fluid in my band I don't have has big an issue, but I know what you are going through.