I was banded two years ago and have not had any problems at all. I've only had two fills which were both within 6 months of my surgery. Over the last 4 months I have started experiencing what I believe to be reflux at night while I am sleeping. Initially, it seemed to worsen around the time of my period but now it has been the last 8 nights in a row. I wake up and feel like I am choking. My band has also become noisier at night and in the mornings when layihg down. I have varied what and when I eat and over the last week it has not make any improvement. I am fine while awake. Any soluteions?? please help. I am in Arizona and had my surgery in Mexico so I don't even know a Dr. but I need a good nights sleep. thanks for your help!!

Wishin 4 - It sure sounds like we have very similar experiences. I am glad we both found experienced doctors and are receiving good care now. I read so many posts of people who have surgeons similar to our former ones and I always encourage them to get a second opinion. That's what I did and that's how I found out what band I had - my original surgeon said I had an AP 10 (which is 10cc) when I really had a 4cc one. Many red flags with him and I knew I had to leave to get better care.

Good luck to you.

Hi -

I thought I would check in and see how everyone that was on this post was doing with their reflux?

I have been having reflux issues over the past few months. Mine is acidic in taste and brown in color. Even if I can make it through the night, when I wake up and brush my teeth, I'm sure to have to let out / pb lots of brown acidic liquid! During the night

I've tried not eating up to two hours before I sleep and that hasn't helped and I've tried sleeping upright or in a recliner.

Any ideas?

Hi -

I thought I would check in and see how everyone that was on this post was doing with their reflux?

I have been having reflux issues over the past few months. Mine is acidic in taste and brown in color. Even if I can make it through the night, when I wake up and brush my teeth, I'm sure to have to let out / pb lots of brown acidic liquid! During the night

I've tried not eating up to two hours before I sleep and that hasn't helped and I've tried sleeping upright or in a recliner.

Any ideas?

You are probably too tight and need a slight unfill. Reflux is dangerous. It can cause cellular changes in the esophagus which leads to Barrett's esophagus which in turn can lead to esophageal cancer. I know about this. My husband died 4 years ago from this at the age of 56. It is nothing to mess around with and accept as part of being banded.

Hi -

I thought I would check in and see how everyone that was on this post was doing with their reflux?

I have been having reflux issues over the past few months. Mine is acidic in taste and brown in color. Even if I can make it through the night, when I wake up and brush my teeth, I'm sure to have to let out / pb lots of brown acidic liquid! During the night

I've tried not eating up to two hours before I sleep and that hasn't helped and I've tried sleeping upright or in a recliner.

Any ideas?

Yes, I think first you should let your doctor know. You may be too tight. Also, you should be taking something for the acid. I had a terrible problem with reflux and was taking Prilosec in the morning and at night for a while. Right now I am off the Prilosec completely and only take a Zantac before bedtime to lessen the acid a bit and so far that has worked. I agree with Cleo's Mom it could be a dangerous thing to just let go. If you haven't already notified your doctor I recommend doing so immediately. Good luck and let us know how things go for you........

I am glad I found this because I have been having this issue for about 2 weeks. I am now stressing. I didn't eat anything pass 6:00 pm and I slept fine last night. I had soup Friday and then that night ate some mexican food and was miserable. I ate meat loaf that saturday and was miserable cause I thought that it was the tomatos. I still have a slight burning in my throat, but I can still eat. I didn't think I was tight cause before I could eat very good. I have a fill 9/21. I did call my dr and they are suppose to call me back. I am so afraid until I can't think straight.

I had a pre-existing reflux issue which has been greatly reduced/resolved after being banded. That being said, occasionally I find my band tighten up and have had to be de-filled because I am experiencing heartburn and some reflux at night.

As a rule I don't eat anything spicy past lunch time. At night I eat a very small meal. I don't eat at least 2 1/2 hours before going to bed and I drink an 8oz glass of Water 1-1/2 hour before going to sleep to make sure my small pouch is empty.

See your doctor. If you take care of these things early on they shouldn't develop into major complications.

Just heard from the dr and his nurse said that if I'm able to eat solid food that it's probably from the spicy and tomato sauce. I've been eating much too late at night anyway, so when I stopped at 6 pm I slept better. I told her that my throat was still burning a little (from the acid) and she said that he said to get pepsid (sp) and go from there. I asked was that unusual and she said no, if I had a slipped band I would not be able to keep anything down even water.

I thought I would post an update on my progress. I now have 1.5cc in my 4cc band. I went back for another fill last week and my new surgeon (he is great and a lapband patient himself) said he didn't want to give me any more fill right now since I was taking the Prilosec again. He told to wait a few weeks so I don't have a problem during the holidays. I made an appt for January 21st. On Friday, Christmas day I was getting ready to go to our friend's house for dinner and started getting a pain in my stomach. I had gotten the same pain twice in the last week. It got progressively worse, but I went to our friend's house anyway. After I was there about 45 minutes, I just couldn't take it anymore and apologized and went home. My husband hadn't gone with me because he was sick with a bad cold and didn't want to pass it on to anyone. He said I should go to the emergency hospital and we did. They did a CAT scan and saw my gall bladder was huge. Then they did an ultrasound of it and it was loaded with stones. They admitted me and I had surgery on the 26th. The surgeon told me yesterday as they were releasing me that there is a good chance that the gall bladder was the cause of my reflux all along. I sure hope so. I am have my tea this morning and I am not taking my Prilosec. I will see if I start to get heartburn. Say a little prayer for me please.

I had the same problem to the point that I had to keep a plastic cup on my bed table to spit up in at night. I know that's gross, but you are too tight. I was unfilled for a month and then re-filled and I was fine.

Wisegirl, I also had the cup at my bedside for a while until the doctor unfilled me. I have not had heartburn or reflux since the gall bladder surgery and I am not taking any meds for it. I am thinking that was the cause of the reflux all along and now I am doing well without meds. No acid during the night. I am so happy.

I've had the acid and liquid coming up for months now. My doctor has taken out all but 2cc of my 10cc band and I still get the liquid coming up. I'm going in Tuesday for an Upper GI and I'm also going to ask my Dr to remove the last 2cc's. I can't seem to gain any weight in addition to this acid/liquid problem. I've also been getting pain in my stomach whenever I eat, so therefore I don't want to eat. Not good, since I only weigh 106 right now. I am thrilled to have lost as much weight as I have (118lbs) but I am just too skinny now. How weird to be able to say that after 15mos. But I feel weak and I think I look like crap. I don't want to get my band removed, but I would love to feel good and sleep through the night.

Hi - what tests did they do to identify your gallbladder problems? I know what gallstones feel like - as I had an episode pre-surgery. My surgeon opted against taking it out during surgery 3 years ago. However I have such back reflux now I am thinking maybe this is the culprit?

The band gets tighter at the TOM (time of month). If you can get a slight unfill it would probably be very worth it. I say this because I was probably too tight and went through a lot of pain and worry when it could have been cured by an unfill. My doc thinks my band might have slipped as I have reflux at night recently. I will only know after tests though in a few days. Wishing you the best.

I am having the samething. I have the bad reflux at night and throw up in the middle of the night. I also throw up after I eat meals. Almost like I am a balimic. I have gas pains in the middle of my chest, just under my chest bone. I am scared I will have to have it taken out. I have had it in for just over a year and lost 83 pounds so far. I have come way too far to have it taken out now.

If you have a small amount of fluid removed you may find relief. I had to have all my fluid removed and an upper GI done to make sure I didn't have any ulcers in my esophagus and when it was shown that all was okay my Dr started to slowly refill the band. I started to get heartburn after just a small fill and when he put in my last fill I started the fluid coming up again at night. But I've learned how to control it. I take Prilosec twice a day (just until I reach my goal) and I don't eat or drink anything after 7pm (the earlier I eat dinner the better) I've also found that if I limit the size of my portions I do better also. I keep a cup on my nightstand in case I feel the fluid coming up I can spit it into the cup. It's a hassle but the last few weeks I have had many nights where I had slept thru with no incidents since I've started watching portion sizes. Good luck to you, I hope this helps.