I have been regurging almost every night no matter what I eat or when, and On top of that, I don't seem to have much restriction any more. Has anyone had this happen to them? I called my doc's office and they said it sounds like I need a slight un-fill, but wouldn't that cause even less restriction? In put and ideas, please!! Thanks, Terri:help:

Okay, I want to preface my response by saying that I am not banded, just researching the heck out of this thing right now. I was looking at the lap band complications thread and this caught my eye. I hope this helps and I hope your problem is resolved soon. There is another thread over there that is a poll regarding reflux. It seems to happen a lot to people banded for 18 months to 3 years. Also may be worth taking a look at. Keep us posted.

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

I have been regurging almost every night no matter what I eat or when, and On top of that, I don't seem to have much restriction any more. Has anyone had this happen to them? I called my doc's office and they said it sounds like I need a slight un-fill, but wouldn't that cause even less restriction? In put and ideas, please!! Thanks, Terri:help:

I recommend you contact your doctor and arrange a fluoroscopic exam to check for possible pouch or esophageal dilatation.

Having a tight stoma with the presence of a pouch or esophageal dilatation could cause acid reflux while no apparent restriction is felt by the patient.

Typically, the lesser curve of the stomach, where the Lap-Band is placed, is extremely resistant to stretching out from the pressure of food.

It is rather rare for a person's actual stomach to stretch out in that area.

Unfortunately, the esophagus, located directly above the small stomach that is created by the Lap-Band, is NOT so resistant to stretching out. It can become stretched out like a balloon by "Stuffing the pouch", that is, continuing to eat after the small stomach is full.

This is why learning to recognize our new "Full signal" is so important to a new Lap-Band patient. This is also why eating slowly, and measuring out small amounts of food is emphasized in the post-op diet plan.

Continuing to eat large amounts of food puts one at risk for esophageal dilation.

The normal course of action for a patient exibiting esophageal dilation is to completely unfill the band for a period of time. That time will vary from patient to patient, but typically is at least 4 weeks, up to a year, depending on how long the patient's esophagus take to shrink to normal size.

Many doctors will recommend behavioral modification classes, or Band-Specific eating classes, to their patients during the time of unfill, to assist the patients in learning how to avoid repeated esophageal dilations.

In cases of extreme esophageal dilation, or repeated dilations, the Lap-Band may be removed.

The hidden risk in esophageal dilation is the rare instance of hemmorage of a blood vessel in the esophagus, due to the thinning out of the esophagus itself. Fortunately, this is VERY rare.

Hi,

I'm very sorry your having a rough time. I'd seek help from your doctor as well as stop eating earlier in the evening and maybe rinsing your pouch with Water before bed.

I personally haven't had this problem but I did read that sometime people for gotten some relief trying these things.

Good Luck-Connie

Hey Terri,

I'm glad I read your post. My recent fill was last wednesday and I've had a pretty rough week. I've been thinking I need to go back for a little fill extraction. For the first time in a year I've been experiencing reflux at night whether I eat or drink 3 or even 4 hrs. before bed. I wake up with reflux and I'm also hungary because I can't eat a lot when I do eat. Then today starting this afternoon I can't eat more than 2 or 3 bites of anything without regurgitating it back up. This sucks. I'm calling Jamie first thing in the morning.

I hope you got your problem under control. Thanks again this as well as reading the Major Reflux, No Restriction, & Very Little Recent Weight Loss = Stretched Pouch really helped with my decision making.

Freeradical

banded 7/7/06

Dr. Wellborn

Thank you for the information. The last time I went for a fill, the doctors tried to find a fill that would help me lose weight without being too tight. I have not lost much weight since my banding in March. I think they felt the band might still be too tight, but I insisted on keeping it where they last put it. Well....I pb very easily, never really feel full and overeat by having smoothies, etc. because I am so hungry and can't get food down very easily at all. It sounds like I am going at this wrong. It is hard to believe you feel more comfortable and lose weight better with less of a fill. I am concerned that I am stretching my esophagus or my pouch. Maybe I am just trying to eat the wrong things. I have trouble with eggs, bread and fruits with skins (grapes, plums, etc.) Any advise? Should I have my fill reduced? I just can't find the 'sweet spot' I felt after the surgery. It was so easy to lose and I felt full quickly. Once I healed and had my first fill....nothing. I was always hungry and always eating. I went back for 3 fills in two weeks and insisted that it be retricted well. I think I am paying for that now. Could I really do better at losing with less of a fill?

thank you, Kathy

If you've read anything on these blogs you'd know that everything you said you had trouble with like bread, fruit skins etc. is exactly what you need to stay away from. I haven't had pizza in 9 months! Eggs, if they are boiled are dry, thus causing problems, the same with the wadding that bread does. They get stuck in the opening. It's all a sacrafise and a lot of mind control. I can't eat bread of any kind, cakes, donuts or anything else doughy. But hey, THOSE THINGS are what made me fat to begin with. Being thin is all worth it, I don't miss those things all that much anymore. It's been a new way of life since I was banded. Thin and sexy again, with my future ahead of me. It's just food, living thin is worth so much more than any food I'v had to give up. If you've just had your first fill, and already griping, you shouldn't have had it done. It only gets worse if you look at it as a negative. I looked forward to every fill and what I COULDN'T eat. I knew it was doing it's job. And I was a self pay and it's worth every penny I've paid.

Wow... I wasn't gripping as if I was sorry I had it done... I was merely questioning whether I was going about things the right way. I too am a self pay and feel it is worth the money. I have lost over 55 lbs in the last year. I lost some weight before I was banded in March and had started watching what I eat last summer. I was wondering if my band was too tight. I have had 4 fills, so this was not my first. Anyway, I will continue on this journey and am glad I was banded.

I am so sorry! I guess I was PMSing a bit. I get annoyed at some of these though. Some people seem to be such pansies. I have more trouble with eating and reflux etc. at different times during the months. Especially before my period, it gets really tight and I can only drink blended food. I've gotten to where I can eat blended sardines with a spoon. When you're hungry, it's amazing what you'll eat. I just refuse to think about what it looks like. I try to picture in my mind that it's Patee' or something. tee hee Last night I blended up veggie beef soup with extra baby beef and drank it with a straw. Tasted pretty good!!! I was starved. Again, I APOLOGIZE! 55 pounds is great, keep up the good work.

BANDSTER45,

Thank you for the reply. I remember those PMS days well..LOL Since I am nearly 60 that is one joy I have gotten past. Anyway, good luck on your journey. I have made a few changes in my eating habits this last week and feel I am on my way again. I think I was reverting to old habits, eating too fast and not chewing well enough. I am concentrating on that again and am doing much better. I am a low BMI bandster and, of course, self pay. I don't think my age helps, it is so hard to lose weight as you get older. Anyway, thanks again, and good luck.

had this problem--had H-Pylori...a bacteria that lives in an acid environment...had to take out the fluid/have an edoscope for biopsy/take a course of meds(AWFUL) for 10 days and now all is well. The H-Pylori is the bacteria that causes ulcers...all is well now but it was HELLLLLLL!!!!!! H-Pylori is a bacteria that 70 percent of the worlds population has--and it now MAY be bothering you!!! Check it out!!