acid reflux

I posted a month ago about trouble I was having with acid reflux. I went to my lap band doctor and he put me on nexium but it didn't help. I needed a small amount of fluid removed from my band and I was instantly cured! No burning, no reflux waking me up at night! The acid feeling was so bad at moments I felt like I drank acid and was afraid I had an ulcer. Happily I didn't. I've had my band 11 years and this is my first problem. I'm glad it was fixed so easily. I still have great restriction. I'm careful not to drink with my meals or for an hour after a meal so I feel full. I lost 70lbs and have kept it off. I stick to a low carb diet and count calories if my weight should creep up, like after Thanksgiving. Boy, I sure enjoyed that pecan pie! Just for 1 day! Back to fish and veggies! Chris

I have twice in my 8 1/2 years had acid reflux regularly, but very much more mildly than you. But I am paranoid about being tight and so both times had a tiny amount of saline out, just 0.1cc  I think once was around five years out and once around six, really can't remember but over two years ago.  Both times, the reflux went away immediately.

drinking with meals should actually make no difference. Back in 2006 when I was banded, we were told food needed to stay above the band for a while and so drinking washed it through. However research has shown that in fact well-chewed food passes through the band in around a minute; if it doesn't the band is too tight. The diminution of hunger arises because the oesophageal walls need to make a higher number of movements to help the food along and this is registered by the brain.

Retaining food above the band means the band is too tight and is believed to be the cause of many problems such as oesophageal dysmotility or dilation.

The current orthodoxy therefore is that as long as we wait at least a minute after a mouthful, drinking makes no difference.  I was glad when they found this as I have drunk with meals since about a year post-op. However, I do know some people say it makes them feel hungrier! 

Thanks for this information. I hadn't heard it before. Not drinking with meals is a help to me. Chris

Do keep a close eye on this because I ended up with permanent (as far as we can tell) damage to my esophagus. I'm on2 meds for it and it is worse now than when I had my band in. Band was removed Feb of this year and I still feel like acid is bubbling up my throat 24/7. The band is famous for causing esophageal damage some of it unrepairable and once it has been done it mostly can't be fixed, so just keep a close watch on it so you don't end up on the list of people who can't even revise because of the damage.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hope you heal and are doing well. Thanks for the warning. We all need to be careful of being to tight. Chris

Congratulations.  It is good an unfill solved your issue and was an easy fix.  Like hisLady said, keep an eye on it and if the acid reflux starts back go right in for another unfill.

Pecan pie, yum.  I just had a pumpkin roll and a small piece of pumpkin cheese cake much later.  Would have given them both up for Pecan pie.

Bought the pie at Costco!

Our stories are eerily similar.  

I hope you had such an easy fix as well. Chris

My band is empty and it is night and day difference.  I posted my story last night before I saw yours.  Once these ulcers heal up completely I can focus on getting back to basics and lose the 20 lbs I have gained.