I've had my band since 2005, and I've become the master of eating around it. :embarassed: Unfortunately, I have a hubby who loves to pamper me, and he keeps leaving me presents of things I shouldn't be eating, and of course, I EAT THEM. As we know, goodies such as crisp Cookies and crisp candies (like brittle) will flow right through. I've lost over 60 lbs since the surgery, and I keep gaining/losing the same 20 lbs for the past 18 months. I've had 4 fills, and 2 emergency unfill (too tight). My stomach seems to be very sensitive, and with the band being sensitive, it is like having two drama queens quarrelling with each other if one of them isn't "happy."

My last fill was the 1st week of October. While there, I told the nurse I was having coughing fits at night, and seemed to have liquids (not solids and not acids) backing up into my bronchial tubes at night, causing me to cough a lot and sometimes the coughing continues into the day. She said to cut out night time eating, take a decongestant (the backup was slimy), and to take Mylanta before bed. She gave me a small fill (.10). Did liquids for 2 days, mushies, etc., and everything seemed fine. Coughing at night was still there, but lessened.

I traveled out of town to Chicago in mid-November, and got a stomach virus while there. It is so miserable trying to throw up through a band! I babied my stomachs (I consider them two separate entities nowadays) for a few days, and then slowly went back to solids. Then I got sick again 2nd week of December, throwing up again!

Since then, there has been a feeling of blockage and I can't eat anything more substantial than liquids or I throw it up once it backs up past my bronchial tubes. I read through the boards, and will try pineapple juice, but since it has been going on for days now, I'm not thinking it is a blockage, but my stoma being swollen?

Has anyone else had the liquids backing up into their bronchial tubes at night? Not acid though -- liquid, like whatever I drank last plus whatever sinus secretions/saliva I have swallowed during the night. I have ruined some good pillow cases and now sleep with a towel!!!

Sherri in Fayetteville

282 / 232 / 140

Has anyone else had the liquids backing up into their bronchial tubes at night? Not acid though -- liquid, like whatever I drank last plus whatever sinus secretions/saliva I have swallowed during the night. I have ruined some good pillow cases and now sleep with a towel!!!

Yes, I've had this. At least the description. And I've had acid reflux, so I know that the two are very different. The "liquids coming up" normally happens to me if I try to lay down while I'm "stuck" OR if I dize off before something has completely cleared. I put "stuck" in quotes because there's stuck stuck, as in I have to bring something up... and then there's "stuck" where I'm not bringing anything up, but there's unrelieved/prolonged pressure. If I feel that pressure, and lay down, I will bring up what's in my esophagus (normally slimy, and tasting faintly of whatever I last ate, but not acidy at all). As a matter of fact this happened about a week ago. I was having the pressure, feeling generally crappy, and sat on the couch to watch some tv. I dozed off, mostly upright but leaning slightly, and proceeded to be awoken maybe 5 different times by non-acid liquids backing up into my throat. It would wake me up, I'd swallow, and then fall right back asleep (which I absolutely can't do when it's reflux).

My guess - and I'm no doctor - it has to do with the onset of sleep, the relaxing of our muscles/organs, and the nature of the esophagus to clear itself.

So, when you go to sleep and then get the liquid backing up, how do you feel before you're asleep? Are you feeling "just fine" or are you having some signs of pressure (not necessarily "being stuck" so much as "hmm, something's there") in your esophageal area?

I too had this problem. It was bad, I could barely sleep. I went to the doctor who did my surgery, more or less knowing what the outcome would be,and I was right. The band had slipped (more stomach now above the band & mushed inside the band making for very little passage through the band). Complete unfill. I could chug a whole glass of Water again. Worked really hard not to regain weight, and only gained about 5 pounds in the 4 months it was unfilled. I could have gained 25, it felt so good to eat normally. Went back in August for refill, not as much as before, but definately enough. I am a wiser bandster now. I am very careful. When I get a hint of gastritis, and I do get it, I take an antiacid & restrict food to blandish mushies until the irritation is gone. I have been able to avoid the more serious complications so far, but know they could be around the corner if I am not very watchful. I have read a lot & think there is a very hagh rate of some kind of complication in long term banding. I got mine 1/15/07, but does that mean we should not be banded? I was 215 at banding & am 158 now. It has been well worth it to me. I only want to lose 20 more pounds. The doctor told me if you are having night coughs and reguritating into your nose & broncial tubes at night, forget it you need to be unfilled. I think it makes sense to try the antiacids, not eating or drinking at night, mushies, etc, but if it's still there you will probably need an unfill. Usually after letting your stomach heal you can have a refill. They can tell with the floroscope if the band has gone back to an acceptible position. I figure I'm going to be walking a tightrope with this thing. If I can avoid serious complications long enough to lose 20 more pounds, I'll unfill & rest my stomach, & refill it later if I start gaining weight, and then unfill,etc & soforth.

Here's what I have learned about avoiding complications:

1. I don't do well with alcohol & spicey foods & must avoid them.

2. I must chew, chew, chew.

3. If I don't observe the above I develop a mild gastric irritation & must go to antiacids & muchies.

4. If I don't do this I will start to throw up, which is a major contributing factor in slippage.

5. If I don't do these things I will start to have the reflux problems at night & soon will not be able to even drink fluids easily. At this point I will have to go & get unfilled which may or may not end my life as a bandster.

6. I must be very careful in my eating & face the fact that, for me at least, the possibily of complications is always lurking.

How did they "repair" your band after it slipped? I got some aloe vera juice, mixed it with Crystal Light and it has DEFINITELY helped. I see the MD in 3 days and can't wait to have this unfilled. I hope it hasn't slipped!

mgallagator, they repaired by band via surgery... my surgeon actually replaced my band, instead of just repositioning it, because he said there was a lot of scar tissue and my stomach had sort of "attached" to my band. (sorry if TMI... lol)

Jenny

Wow! Well take care and get some rest -- you probably are very relieved! Does your insurance pay for that? Sorry, it's not TMI, I can deal.

yes, I am lucky, insurance paid for the fix :tongue2: Thanks! recovering nicely on day 5.

I my case unfilling my band was all that was necessary. A slipped band has actually moved up & is no long sitting straight. If it's not too badly slipped when it's unfilled, & the pressure is off, it just slips back into the correct (or close enough to correct) position.

I my case unfilling my band was all that was necessary. A slipped band has actually moved up & is no longer sitting straight. If it's not too badly slipped when it's unfilled, & the pressure is off, it just slips back into the correct (or close enough to correct) position.

I have been having problems at night since my last fill about a week ago. I thought I was probably at my "sweet spot", but I was frustrated at how slow the last 20 lbs is coming off. I asked for a small fill, and now I am regretting it! I can't sleep very long at night, and I wake up coughing and gasping for air with lots of liquid coming up. Yuck! After reading all of these posts, I am going to go in and get an "unfill" tomorrow. I wish I had been patient and just left good things alone. I guess I got greedy! Well, next time I will know better. Thanks for all of the good information!

I too am having this problem. I have had only 1.0 cc in my band, and eating like crazy ! I went in and had a very small amount .3 put in, and now I am coughing at nite. I have already had a slip which I had repaired 2 years ago. (I have been banded almost 5). I have gained almost 20 pds and now I have to have the measly 1.3 cc taken out. Feels like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

That sounds just like me! This morning I feel like I have the worst case of the flu. My entire body aches. What did you finally do?

Okay, people, here is my band philosophy: The band is promoted as tool to help you to be satisfied with eating less (healthy) food. Some foods and drinks you won't be able to tolerate. Other than that, I don't think anyone signed on to develop reflux, heartburn, pain when eating, liquid coming out of their nose during the night or the whole host of complications people seem willing to put up with. I know I didn't. Having the doctor tell you to stop eating or drinking after a certain time, or taking a decongestant, etc.. is not the answer. Why shouldn't you be able to take a drink of water before bedtime? Or during the night? That's normal. If you can't - in my opinion - something is wrong. No amount of weight loss is worth putting up with being unhealthy or miserable. I don't care if I lose another ounce. I was overfilled and developed reflux, heartburn and pain and when I got a slight unfill they resolved. My husband had GERD all his adult life, a hiatal hernia, aspirated food during the night and died of esophageal cancer 3 years ago. This is nothing to mess around with.

I was banded on 3/18/09 and for the past 2 days I have the feeling of food being caught in my throat it doesn't hurt but it is very annoying can anyone relate ...I tried to make myself vomit but nithing came up ...my mother is a nurse and said it might nbe from my sinuses

This sounds a lot like a problem that I've been having but a little different. My problems have gotten so bad that I don't eat in the evenings at all, it seems to come right back up or it will happen that night. I've complteltey givien up drinking (no occasional margaritas) becuase that's the kiss of death, I wake up through the night with the burning in my chest. Mine IS acidic, and when I throw up my vomit is a dark or black color. I'll do ANYTHING to keep from puking, which includes not eating. here's the complicated part. I had pneumonia a few weeks ago that was accompanied by severe upper back pain. Yesterday my fever and pain started, but the chest pain is horrible. I don't think it's acid reflux becuase I've taken everything, pepcid, mylanta, etc and that doesnt' seem to help. I'm not sure if I have a band problem, or my symptoms were brought on by the penumonia. How can you tell if you have a slip?

I've had reflux for the last few weeks. It was so bad that I could not sleep. I attempted to sleep sitting up but that didn't help. I went to my regular doc and he did blood work and an Upper GI. The Upper GI showed that it was probably related to the band. I didn't think it was related to the band because I had been eating and food was going down.

I went to the band doc on Friday. He was not there but the nurse did an un-fill of 2.5 cc's and it helped tremendously. I've slept through the night lying down and no issues at all with reflux.

However, I am now getting pains in my middle back. It seems to happen twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. It is pretty painful but it goes away. I am going to see the band doc tomorrow for x-ray under flouro.

I highly recommend an un-fill to anyone with reflux.

I was a little scared because I now only have 2.25 cc's in my 10 cc band which is less than I had after my first fill. I thought I would immediately gain weight. I feel so much better and I am eating more but I am eating better foods. I didn't realize until after the un-fill that I really was not eating the right foods. It is so easy to fall back into old habits.