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.

the best natural stuff that I have found (and use) is chamomile and ginger, in my opinion. Especially ginger. I even have ginger altoids (mint is NOT good for reflux). I swear I love ginger and eat it like its going out of style. Can't have the fundoplasty with lap band. Just be careful if you aren't going to use the meds and make sure you get scoped regularily to check for Barretts and so forth. I hear that esophagial cancer is nasty stuff. I've never been reflux symptom free, ever in my whole life and I'm not holding my breath on it. I'm used to it. I just make sure I can breath (acid stays out of the lungs) and that I'm not throwing up or overly nauseated. Being symptom free would be nice, but its not an expectation of mine. There are worse problems to have-- my father had a hole in his esophagaus (he drank battery acid as a baby).

I'm havig a scope in a week.

I'm terrified of Barretts. If the doctor see's damage I'm going to rethink the band.

Nothing is worth cancer.

I had reflux with my first band. The band eventually slipped at 2.5 years post-op.

I have not any reflux with my second band (now 2 yrs post-op).

Did you have trouble from the beginning with your first band. What kind of trouble did you have?

I had trouble as soon as I got restriction (third fill - about 4 mos. into banding). That's when I started getting reflux. I had a slight unfill, which helped. Then the problem came back ... eventually got so miserable that I had a complete unfill. Had a respite for a few months (no fills), then started having problems again even though my band was completely unfilled. I think that is when my band slipped - or the slip worsened. I tried to put up w/the problems for several months, eventually got so bad that I had an upper GI and discovered the slippage. I then had my band replaced at 2.5 years post-op first band.

I think that my band probably slipped slightly early on, and then just worsened over time - but it's hard to say for sure why I had so much trouble w/my first band (Midband - placed by Dr. Frering in France).

I have had no trouble w/my current band (9.75 cm Lap-band), and I'm 2 years post-op on my second band.

Can you take platonix while banded?? just wondering since its supposed to cure stomach ulcers help with reflux, hearburn and gas.

It is the first sign the band is overfilled. Over eating will cause this as well so watch your volumes. 1/2 - 1 cup per meal...

reflux after should be agressively investigated especially if heartburn does not improve with deflation. The band will not always resolve reflux if it was present before the surgery but most see a dramatic improvement. Meds like protonix, nexium are ok to take but after other potential serious causes for the reflux have been excluded

itsyvonne,

I am petrified that I am heading down your path. After my 2nd fill about 1.5 weeks into it, I felt very little restriction, but all the sudden developed a tightness in the back of my throat. I just figured that I over ate or didn't chew properly or something and babies my pouch for a few days w/ soft foods (yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.)

I already had my 3rd fill scheduled and did mention that I had a tight feeling in the back of my throat, and why I assumed it was there and they gave me another .5 for a total of 2.5CC's, almost immediately I felt a flare up in the back of my throat, but told myself it was temp, and the Water went down fine, etc. So I figured I was good to go and once I went on liquids for the 24 hours I'd be all set.

Wrong, now I can feel the acid and have started taking Pepcid complete. Which doesn't help. I called my Doc yesterday and he still hasn't called me back, if I don't get a call by noon, I'll call again. I think I may need a slight unfill, or worst case scenario, I have already slipped.

Should I request that they do an Xray to make sure that I'm properly placed?

Dear itsyovonne,

It sound like the band is a little too tight. Going back to 2 cc for a while or less should help. If symptoms continue then an upper GI may be necessary. good luck

I used to have really bad reflux before the band but it has improved soooo much post banding.

I have a problem with certain things now that I didn't up until this year. For instance Orange juice. I never had a problem with it but, now I get heart burn from it unless low acid kind but, only in small quantity. I don't know if it is lap band related though since I just started having it this past year.

Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind me sneaking in. Sorry I am not participating and haven't been banded yet but I have a question. I am a coffee attict and drink my "Starbucks" at least 4 cups every morning and have no negative side effects. Is coffee restricted after being banded and/or does it cause reflux?

Don't want to cross-post, but I thought this might be of interest to readers of this thread.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f78/major-reflux-no-restriction-very-little-recent-weight-loss-stretched-pouch-39137/

I have been banded for over 6 months.I had really bad reflux pre-banding,after getting the band I hardly ever have reflux problems.I usually have a problem if I eat too fast or eat excessively spicey food. I think the band has helped me Not have reflux problems (I no longer take reflux meds everyday):clap2: