Anyone here have problems with reflux before getting the band? If so..did it create problems with you being eligible for the surgery...did the band help the reflux afterwards?

Thanks for your input.

I have acid reflux, i have yet to have the surgery. I'm not sure it would create problems.. we'll' see!

I have acid reflux and as I understand it the band is supppose to make it better. I have not had the surgery. I just got this information from reading.

Many patients with acid reflux have hiatal hernia as they are extremely common. Most doctor's automatically repair them during surgery and the problem goes away.

Edited July 28, 200916 yr by SuzanneG

I have not had my band yet, but my surgwon talked about this at a support group. He siad most people who have the lap band have reflux and it is not a factor that prevents the surgery. He fixes hiatal hernia while he is in there if you have that. After the surgery there is no more reflux because the pouch part of the stomach has little bile to come back up and the main part cannot get the bile back up through the opening the band creates. Tha sounds wonderful to me.

Before banding I suffered reflux every night unless I took a pepcid ac or similar. Since I've been banded I haven't had any acid problems even once. And I've eaten all the foods that normally brought it on.

Hi,

I had acid reflux prior to being banded (banded 7/3/09) and at first, the reflux went away. I actually didn't get it back until about 5 days prior to the "full liquid" diet was over. I've been on solid foods since 7/24 and the reflux is almost as bad as before surgery. I actually had to take a Prilosec yesterday after lunch. My theory on this is: after surgery, my stomach was swollen, which prevented the reflux from happening, but as I healed and the restriction became less and less, the reflux got worse and worse. I was told that I did NOT have a hiatal hernia during surgery (or they would have repaired it right then). Because I have had no fills yet, and therefore have no restriction, it makes sense to me that the reflux would recur. Also: I have followed my surgeon's rules to the letter, no cheating even once. I also don't over-eat (I'm not all that hungry even without restriction), I don't eat and drink at the same time, and I don't eat too fast. I've got an email into my surgeon about this issue. I'll let you know what I find out! :thumbup: