band / heart palpatations link?

I got the Realize band about 5years ago. I had a minimal fill and got even that taken out last year because of food getting stuck any time I didn't drink water with every well-chewed bite. I vomit at least once a week because food is stuck for hours and have started getting heartburn for the first time in my life. I also have about a minute of heart palpatations every day. I didn't think that was connected until someone referred to it on this forum.

If it wasn't major surgery, losing a week of work etc, I would have this band removed immediately. Talk of scarring is scary. I saw my bariatric surgeon and he was very blase about possible complications. I didn't have the heart palpatations then though. Myquestions are: 1. Has complications from a band caused anyone heart palpatations? 2. How do you know you should get the band removed? How much vomiting is too much?

I lost and gained back 50 pounds with the band. I have lost the weight again with OA and have maintained the loss for the last year. I still need to lose another 50 pounds.

I can't answer your questions but I suggest you look out for someone who has a link to the failed bands group. Pineview, StephanieM, NicM. 

Hi there...I too had a realize band, had two small fills and about 5 months after my last fill started having esophageal spasms.  This evolved to difficulty swallowing and palpitations (PVC and SVT).  I had a complete unfill shortly after my 2 year bandiversary, which helped temporarily, but then I started regurgitating acid in my sleep, the swallowing issues got worse.  I had a complete cardiac work up twice, once before my unfill since my symptoms indicated a cardiac problem.  It turns out my band was causing achalasia and the palpitations were caused by food accumulating in my severely dilated esophagus putting pressure on my heart.   I had my band removed last June 7 and things seemed better.  Last December, the palpitations, PVCs returned with a vengeance, occurring 2000-4000 times per hour.  I wore a holter monitor for 7 days which also detected SVT.  I'm now on two more meds than I was pre band to treat the arrythmia.  One side effect is weight gain (ironic) some of which is water weight.  My ankles swell in the afternoon. My cardiologist considered cardiac catheterization, but since it seems to be related to scar tissue/nerve damage from the band and not an internal heart issue, we are doing w&w to see how the meds work.

If you find yourself waking at night in a sweat, it could be heart related...I don't know if you've had this...I was confused by it since I am post menopausal and wondered what the h*ll was going on.  I was waking 6-10 times a night, just drenched.  Now it's 1-2 nights a week.  The palps are less life altering now...I'm not so aware.  My electrophysical cardiologist says that they are relatively benign, (if controlled) but more quality of life changing than MI or CHF, because of the anxiety.  

Hope this helps...

I do not have answers to your questions but you may want to consult another doctor

I too have had heart palpitations and I had my band removed (probably at my cost, still don't know for sure)but don't know for sure what the cause was because I was in the hospital from having a racing pulse when I said I can't take anymore pain from the band. I had pain up under the middle of my sternum. Be the way vomiting should rarely happen with the band, it should never be a daily thing! I would say you need to at the very least get your band emptied and hopefully removed. You are causing possible permanent damage from leaving it the way it is. Please do all you can to save yourself from a life long problem. Even with meds I still have palpatations some times. My cardiologist didn't really think they were connected either but that is because so little is known about long term damage from the band. Stick with your OA group and maybe think about revising to a different surgery if you are able to. Good luck to you and come back here if you need more help, there are still a few vets that come around almost daily!

If you're having heart palpitations, you need to talk to a cardiologist, not your bariatric surgeon. Whether or not your problem is caused by the band, they need to be addressed by a doctor who specializes in cardiac issues.

After seeking your cardio, check out the failed band group.

By all means, consult with a cardiologist...then your GI specialist.

I was banded in 6/11 and have had no negative side effects.....or so I thought. I started having palpitations about 2 years ago and NEVER thought about it being the band until I saw this post. I just figured it was because I was still too fat and my poor heart was trying to tell me to lose more. I wore an events monitor and I was diagnosed with SVT but my MD said it was no big deal, "its very common". HOW IS IT COMMON to have an arrhythmia? I'm an RN and I know it's not ok!!! Thank you for posting, now at least I have something else to consider. I am thinking of having a revision to RNY but looking back at my wt loss. I lost as much before my surgery as after. i just couldn't keep it up so not sure where to go from here, but my pouch has stretched and I have NO restriction, just stuck food sometime and I have not vomited once since my surgery. God Bless you all

Thanks to all *****sponded. I just had a barium swallow and an echocardiogram. The pouch and esophagus look normal sized    but there is a "thickening"  that prevents food from passing at a normal rate.  I asked the MD if this could be scar tissue and she didn't know. I have appts with a cardiologist and my bariatric surgeon in the next month. Anybody know what "thickening" might be? Where is the failed band forum or where can I get a link?