Hi. I got my band in 2017. No major issues except occasional stuck food. Def no reflux! I had my gall bladder removed on Jan 22 2025 and about a week later started having TERRIBLE reflux, keeping me up at night and prescribed Prilosec / tums aren't helping. Also my band feels TIGHT!!! tighter than it ever has. I'm actually getting some fluid out this week which will hopefully help with both problems but any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you so much!

Can’t offer any suggestions about your band but I can offer a possible cause of your reflux. So your gall’s job was to regulate the acid in your stomach. At the moment, your body hasn’t learnt to regulate it itself so you’re getting more than you need causing the reflux. I already had reflux and that didn’t really change much if I recall correctly but I did experience quite a bit of diarrhoea after the surgery from the excess acid stimulating my intestines. My surgeon told me it takes about a month to settle which it did.

If your band is tight I presume it’s limiting how much food you can consume which also could also be adding to the reflux (too much acid for the smaller amount of food in your tummy.) If I miss a meal, I get a strong cutting pain across my abdomen from the excess acid and my reflux flares. Little meals more often may help.

Check with your surgeon though of course. Maybe your band needs adjusting too.

Thanks. Doc says it's excess bile acid not stomach acid. I have a follow up tomorrow to have some fluid removed and probably a Rx specific to that acid type cause Prilosec / tums aren't helping. Paws crossed I get some relief soon.

Getting some fluid removed from your band is a good first step. In the meantime, try sleeping with your head elevated and avoiding trigger foods like caffeine, alcohol, and spicy stuff. If the Prilosec isn't cutting it, maybe talk to your doctor about a stronger medication.

On 2/17/2025 at 8:07 PM, Louie'sMom said:

Hi. I got my band in 2017. No major issues except occasional stuck food. Def no reflux! I had my gall bladder removed on Jan 22 2025 and about a week later started having TERRIBLE reflux, keeping me up at night and prescribed Prilosec / tums aren't helping. Also my band feels TIGHT!!! tighter than it ever has. I'm actually getting some Fluid out this week which will hopefully help with both problems but any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you so much!

How are things going now? Are you feeling any better? Did you get tot he bottom of what is causing the pain?