Not sure if this needs to be addressed or not, but...

yesterday around 4pm, I ate 1/2 chicken breast (just the meat) from Wendy's. It was too dry, so I chunked the rest. Around 5ish I started feeling the urge to pb.

I did - about 4 times in total... finally got rid of that dry chicken. Yuck!

About an hour later, I drank 2 cups of my Int. coffee - eveything seemed fine.

Later, I started feeling some discomfort, so I went to Walmart and picked up some prilosec... (Ive havent taken it for about a week, checking to see if I still needed it) I also bought a box of Cheese-It Hot N Spicy crackers and ate a handful on the way home. *I KNEW this was a mistake, but I was starving!*

THEN the drama begins... when I went to bed, I felt this burning feeling in my throat - like heartburn (since banding, Ive had reflux, but never heartburn - does that make sense?) I took my prilosec and dozed off. Around 1am I woke up with the most horrible *strong* burning pain in my throat/heart area - much worse then just the reflux. My mouth was even salivating - like I needed to vomit (not pb)... this was painful! I kept coughing, like i had something caught in my throat. FINALLY, I drank a little Water and it seemed to 'cool' things off.

This was a new experience for me... the burning pain, "feeling like something is caught" feeling. And I kept burping those darn spicy crackers.... maybe it was the 'tobasco' in those crackers that cause this level of pain?!

Thismorning my throat area STILL feels a discomfort... a dull ache. Mostly when I take a deep breath.

Im wondering if I should call my doctor - just to get their opinion... Or maybe I should just 'wait and see'???

**Leatha, I thought I remembered you saying that you take prilosec everyday - and if you skip a few days, your tummy starts acting up... please refresh my memory regarding this**

Wow Paula, what a night. I keep a bottle of tums in my nightstand and usually while I'm watching tv to fall asleep by, I usually start to get a little pressure, so I pop one of those that kind of disolves in your mouth, then I don't have any problems all night.

Hi Paula,

My guess is that what you experienced was no different than any other episode, but felt way different because of the spices. That combined with an already-irritated esophagus from the PBing might have just made for a very uncomfortable and acidic reflux condition. Try sticking to liquids today to avoid any further irritation, and perhaps for a while stay away from spicy stuff and see if that helps? I've noticed, since reaching this level of restriction, than onions can bother me sometimes.

I do know exactly what you mean by having reflux but not heartburn! That's a perfect way to describe the physical sensation of material being present in the esophagus and throat but without any acidic or burning sensation. I've tried to explain that to my doctor's NP, because I always wondered if that lack of irritation somehow means the material is less damaging to the esophagus. Isn't it the acid part of acid reflux that causes damage? Not that reflux is a good idea because it can certainly lead to unpleasant stuff, but it does seem a bit more benign when there's no pain involved.

Sorry to hear about your episode Paula - Hope you are feeling better.

I usually eat tums when I start getting that acid feeling in my throat..

Wendys.....you sure it was really chicken!! Yikes!!!

Staci

Orlando FL

banded in Mexico 12/14/04

"Why not?"

Yikes! So sorry you went though this.

If it was me, I would wait to call the dr. If it happens a second time, call!

Hope you're feeling better soon. The prilosec needs to be taken continually to work.

What is prilosec? Never heard of this before.

I'm sorry you had to go through this Paula, I hope you feel better soon, this band is hard work you know, so much for some people thinking we took the easy way out. If they only knew what we go through.

Gosh, that sounds horrific! I just wish I knew WHAT it was that I was feeling half the time. I get these wierd feelings but because I have never had heartburn or reflux ever in my life, I don't know what it is or how it feels! It is good that you can identify and distinguish between the two! (throughout the day (about 3-5 times a day) I sort of "hiccup" and feel a tinge of pressure and I have noooo idea what it is)

Are you now going to do liquids for a day to clear it up?

I hope things are okay and everything goes back to bandtacular soon!

Thanks everyone! Ive eaten pudding and a couple of cheese cubes this morning - and, with taking another prilosec - the discomfort seems to be better. I really should be on liquids - but Im soooo hungry!

Oh Paula Im so sorry you had such a bad night, sounds like it could befrom the tabasco, I can not eat spicy foods like I did pre band, gives me heartburn. How abouttrying those soup at hand made by Campbells if you want to do liquids, they are liquid and very filling. Thye worked well for me, give your esophagus a rest for a bit, it seems it had a work out yesterday. Glad to hear you are feeling better this morning, I hope it continues for you

Paula- I have Reflux & have never experienced what others call heartburn. I get it usually everyday & its mainly when I have eaten too much food. I'll lie down & start to burp & sometimes when I do I get "baby throw-ups" Its awful. Sometimes its very acidic & other times it more just what I had ate earlier but liquid.

What you went through sounds like a bunch of things all at one time. YUCK! Its sounded like a really bad nite. If you do call your Doctor - please share with us what he thinks.

I currently dont take anything for my Gerd because I don't really like meds. So I just deal with it- I just need to stop eating after 7 & not so much food at one seating which I know will happen once i am banded.

Let me know if you find out anything? Gald your better.

Sounds like you might have been choking on a finger... OOPS, sorry, couldn't help that one.

Paula, my brother has severe acid reflux to the point he feels like he's having a heart attack when he gets heartburn. What you described sounds like bad, bad heartburn. You sound like me though, eating the spiciest thing out there when you know you should be careful. My doc prescribed Zantac twice a day but Prilosec or any of the others should help.

I did have the problem of returning GERD if I tried to skip my Prilosec before, however, with this new band, I have managed to get completely off the Prilosec that I have taken since the late 90s. Sounds like your problem could be a mixture of things, but definitely let your esophagus rest for a couple of days and if this doesn't get better, you might want to see your doctor.

Sorry to hear you had this problem.

Thanks for all these great thoughts. Being 3 days later and back on prilosec, I am much better!

Michelle, I cant handle the spicy things either! Just started after my second fill.

In all honesty, I wonder why???