Hi everyone -

I recently was completely unfilled due to reflux (initial symptoms were allergy like - drainage/throat clearing) & I went MONTHS like this until I was told this was reflux. 'Ran' To Mexico last month 2/18 an had all Fluid out. Went on liquid diet + maalox for 4 days (as prescribed) felt better - ate very lightly for one week - no trouble - started eating normally (really!) with only one pig out (1/2 steak/cheese with BUN - no onions, mayo) Big but not like prebanding.

Anyway - last weekend reflux came back and now with burning. Back on liquids and maalox. Local band doc gave me nexium but mexican doc suggested not taking it due to sitting in pouch (which i thought was not there now due to unfill)

I am awaiting mexican docs call now (again) - he has my on liquids and maalox until tommrow -

Well - I am not better - I have 'heat' in my throat and mouth and sometimes chest - maalox is making me gag and giving me the runs (sorry). And frankly I am scared and ready to book a ticket to get this band out.

I'm thinking it slipped or eroded - NEVER had heartburn before banding.

I'm ready to book a flight tuesday for band removal - this is seriously impacting my life/sleep and I'm starving.

Help - any advice - suggestions - been through it. Thanks, Mary

Mary, I just don't know about this one. I've not ever had that problem except when I ate too close to bedtime. I don't eat after 3-4pm. (I go to bed early)

But I'd see your family doc if you have insurance, they will cover a simple visit for heartburn/acid reflux. Get a script and give it time to work.

Good luck.

I am so sorry to hear of your condition/issue/problem. I have not been banded very long and I never had any experience with heart burn/reflux. I believe I have read in several locations that taking nexium/prevacid was perfectly fine, but I have not asked my own doctor personally and will not see him until next week. If soft foods/liquids help, I would absolutely try that for some time and continue to seek advice from your band doctors.

In looking at your history, am I correct that you have been unfilled 3 times? Were they always because of reflux?

Good luck to you. I apologize for not having better suggestions. I will pray for you (and I am NOT a bible thumper!) and hope you find the answers soon. Karen

hey ladies, thanks for your comments and I'm not overly religious either but I'm not opposed to prayers! I was unfilled before but never for reflux - once to see if looser would help me lose weight - once an emergency (I ate a piece of sushi in the morning and got so stuck even Water wouldn't go down) and I think this is my third.

My unsolicited advice to others - keep a fill that's comfortable and easy to maintain (i.e. eat healthy and well - just smaller amounts) - I've spent way too long looking for a fill that would 'make me lose weight' always going up and then down with the fill amount - if I stopped losing - add more. And I guess that's what they say but for me I should have stopped long ago and just kept living my life - trying to eat healthy, etc.

If I keep this band and if I ever get another fill it will be the tiny=est amount ever - Just enough to give me a nudge to stop -

With all that you have been through with your band recently....I think I would definitely try something stronger than Maalox, without the bowel side effects it has. Nexium if you have the Rx, Prilosec OTC if not....and go back to a liquid or mushie very bland diet for a few days. Give your stomach a chance.

With the maalox affecting your bowels the way it is, it stands to reason to me, that it may be just as irritating to your stomach, and therefore keeping you swollen.

Baby yourself, being super cautious of what you eat, and in what portions, do not stress your stomach in any way. If at that point it was still an issue, I would ask for a scope....see what's up with your band.

In the meantime, are you sleeping on an incline? Raise the head of your bed, or get a wedge type of pillow. Try sleeping on your side as opposed to your back. Avoid anything with caffeine---it irritates the stomach if you perhaps have an ulcer or something.

What makes me wonder about some of this being caused BY the Maalox--is that you had the reflux for several months you said but no burning. The burning did not start until the treatment started. If I misread that --ignore me!!! LOL

Personally I had terrible heartburn and reflux before banding, I had a hiatal hernia. It was repaired during surgery. For about 3 months I was ok, then it come back--through testing and familial history, they figure I have another hiatal hernia. I sleep on a wedge, avoid food after dinner, beginning an hour after eating I drink a large glass of Water, trying to flush my pouch--then nothing more by mouth. If I avoid caffeine, and watch what I eat late, I do ok. I avoid marinara sauces and chocolate in the evening, if I eat that stuff I do it at lunch. It is not ideal, but it does not interfere with my life.

I know I am not too tight. I have had 2 fills in almost 2 years, and the return of my heartburn was not related to the timing with my last fill which was in July of 06.

My Dr. does a very slow, very small increment fill schedule----I think you are right in your estimation that we rely too much on the fill to restrict the amount of food as opposed to letting it help us figure out when the hunger is no longer present. Lots of head work involved----LOTS!!!

I hope you get this figured out......keep us posted!

Kat

May I suggest you find a local gastroenterologist. You might want to talk to a local lap band doctor and get a recommendation from him or her on someone who knows how to work with lap band patients. This is sounding like more than a lap band problem.

Just for some mental reassurance that the band is ok, can you get an x-ra? and if that's ok , you can seek Treatment for the reflux.

The stress of thinking your band slipped or eroded could be half the problem. Prilosec is OTC.

I have taken protonix for years because of reflux, I tried to go without after surgery, but still have symptoms. I continue to take it with no problems and no reflux. I wonder why your Mexican doc is opposed to your taking an Rx.

Good luck!

It is my understanding that a lot of docs, do not want you to treat something until they determine for sure what the problem is, so as not to mask symptoms they need to know about. Maybe that is the case with this Dr.

Just a guess here....

Kat

It sounds to me like you have a serious case of acid reflux. There are actually many things that you can do to help yourself. You did the first step by talking to your doctor and getting on nexium. If nexium doesn't seem to be doing it, there are a lot of drugs on the market for this condition, so don't give up. If you have flare ups even after being on the prescribed meds, you can also try Pepcid Complete. I swear by this stuff. It works so well. Better than tums, rolex or any of thos other products could even dream about. (If you do try the Pepcid Complete, I would suggest the mint flavor. The berry flavor kind of tastes like chalk.) Lastly, be really careful about what you are eating. There are a lot of foods that can trigger that heartburn sensation, and they can be different for everyone. Try to write down the things that you have eaten when one of the heartburn attacks comes along. I'm sure you have already been told, but I'll say it anyway... try to stay away from spicy foods, really greasy foods, and remember what you drink goes to your stomach too. So keep in mind that anything with caffein like tea, coffee, and soda can be major triggers. I hope this help some. Good luck and feel better. :crying:

I haven't eaten solids since Tuesday - I gave up coffee (suffered madly with a two day headache) and nothing acidic - mostly Water, a gatorade like drink, a few popsicles, some cream Soups, and a few Protein shakes. Even water starts me throat clearing or burning.

I just made plans to go to Mexico next Tuesday (I wanted Monday) but I guess they are busy and sent the money for removal.

I'm sad but need to get on with my life as this is seriously impeding i'm sure my health, my work, my home life, everything.

I'll let you know how everything goes.

mary

You have obviously been in pain for awhile to get to this point. I'm disappointed for you that some x-rays or tests were not done sooner to determine if there is a band problem.

If your band is slipped or eroded, removal will help. Good Luck with the removal.

Yikes, am heading to Mexico Sunday for band removal on Monday - doc says he has seen this many times and is almost positive the band has to be removed. I'm thinking so too as my quality of life is hurting these days. Am scared and sorry (in most ways) to lose it. Really my own fault though. Please wish me luck. I hate having to have surgery again but want relief.

mary

Are you sure you don't have a hiatial hernia or some other reason for the reflux? What kind of diagnostic imaging procedures have you had?

No, not sure yet and the doc said maybe (to hernia) but even that can cause a slip (my band sister just had hers removed and put back in from a hernia they thought caused the slip)

They will scope me and do tests first - it's just his opinion - and I just feel like it's slipped up -

so, a slight chance no -but i'm pretty sure it is coming out.

Will be thinking of you as you go through this Mary--best of luck, let us know you are ok, when you get back!!!

(((hugs)))

Kat