I've been miserable over the last four weeks with varying degrees of reflux symptoms, and i've decided it's time to just go for a significant unfill to see if that helps. I haven't had a really good night's sleep in quite a while, and I'm not eating well either.

I do think I irritated my system while I was in California, but some of the symptoms had started before I even left. Now it's pretty bad and even though I'm trying to stick completely to liquids I can still feel there's something not quite right.

Thursday I'll go for an unfill, taking as much as half of my fill out. Wish me luck!!

Good Luck Alex! I hope this makes you feel better. Please keep us posted on how your appointment goes.

Good Luck Alexandra!!! I hope this works for you

I know exactly how you feel. I went through the same thing back in April, tried to tough it out, then after 4 weeks finally went for a slight unfill. I don't know if I'll ever get another fill, lol. I know you must feel soooooo much better.

Good Luck to you!!!!!!!!!!

Alex you are the most careful and wisest bandster I know..you know something is not right and you are acting upon it , very responsible you are. I hope this will relieve some of the reflux symptoms for you.

Good for you. Way to handle it, you are such a good example! Being miserable and uncomfortable and eating liquids only is NOT the ideal Bandster life. I think you are wise. Can't wait to hear how you are sleeping after your unfill!!!

Take care of yourself! Unfill is a wise choice.

So, tell us about your trip to Calif...how's your brother?

Yup, I agree with Vera, wise choice! Good to see that you are taking care of yourself!

wishing you well. please let us know how you do after the un-fill

Alex, sorry

I'll be praying for you.

Hope it helps and you get to feeling better soon!

Hi Alex,

I had the same problem right before my PS surgery for about three weeks prior. Started getting reflux. Had to sleep sitting up etc... I knew the surgery date was coming, so I had my plastic surgeon remove .50 while he was doing my abdominoplasty. I now have somewhere between 1.75 and 2:00 in my band. Yes, I am eating more, but WOW what a difference.! I am eating things I normally wouldnt eat like a sandwich for lunch everyday. i use the 40 calorie bread, toast it to death and put tuna and letttuce, tomatoes etc... Its really great to be able to eat a sandwich. I even had a hamburger and a big piece of London Broil which is something I would only eat on rare occasions cause it was too much chewing!!! MY esophagus is rested, but I am going to wait a little while longer before I add any back. I really dont know if I am gaining any weight. I wont weigh cause I have so much swelling from my thighplasty and abdominoplasty. I am guessing I am at least 7 pounds heavier than my all time low, but some of this is swelling/edema and will take as long as 6 months to completely go away. My goal is to keep my weight in the 180's. I will eventually drop the last 20 when I get another fill. You have done so well, so taking a break to give the ole esopahgus a chance to rest is a good thing!!!

Babs in TX

334/180/170

-154

Alex,

I certainly can understand! ((hugs))

Just when I think all is well on my end, something stirs that reflux demon up and it hits me.

Your doctor isnt recommending med's?

I just remembered... you were going to try a slight fill this month, right? Did that happen?

Thanks, y'all!! I already feel some better just knowing I have an appointment coming on Thursday.

Paula, I was supposed to have an appointment earlier this month, but the doc's office had to reschedule. So now I have my two-year followup set for Sept. 7, but I didn't want to wait that long to have this situation handled. I figure to get the unfill now and then see how I feel on the 7th.

My doctors will no longer be taking my insurance after the end of September, so I think I'm going to have a fluoroscopy done some time mid-month just to get one last look at my band. (It's so easy to imagine, while I'm sitting up at night, that something dreadful is going on in there!) At that time we'll be able to see the results of the unfill and I'll decide whether any action is needed. If I can't get filled back up at that time I'll just have to live with that, and start saving my dollars against the future date that I'll need an adjustment.

As far as recommending meds goes, I haven't even asked about that. Is there a medication that will keep actual stomach contents from regurgitating up the esophagus? A Pepcid Complete keeps the acid down, so there's no pain or irritation, but the simple fact of coughing and choking as soon as I fall asleep (when the muscles relax) is unacceptable. It's like the worst case of post-nasal drip you could ever imagine.

Babs, I'm so glad to hear that even .5 down can make a big difference! I don't know how much fill I have, but if it's 3.00 or more I can probably spare a whole cc. If it's less than 3.00 I'm hoping that .5 will do the trick.

I really miss eating. That's probably not a good thing, but I even miss eating the bandster way!

Is there a medication that will keep actual stomach contents from regurgitating up the esophagus?

Yes Prilosec OTc you can get at the pharmacy over the counter

Prevacid & Nexium both in prescription

They all are acid blockers. One tablet works all day long, much better then any antacid like Maloxx or tums or pepcid...Prilosec worked great for my gastritis, Prevacid worked great on my esophagitis and they all heal the esophagus as well