My Complication

is gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) (34%),.....
The 34 is the percentage of pts. that get this. A complication I read that happens to me ONLY through the night, ALMOST EVERY night. I cant stand it anymore. It goes down my lungs and out my nose on  a few occasions...Waking me up and has me gasping for air. What I read its a complication. But Im wondering if its slippage?

Hi.  That actually happened to me last night for the first time (the nose part).  I got a fill on June 29th and I am currently at 5.75cc in and 10cc band and wondering if maybe I'm too tight.  It wasn't until the past week or week and a half that I have been having similar problems with food and even liquids sitting on top of my pouch and eventually coming back up!  It's like all of a sudden I could tell I'd gotten a fill.   I shared with my daughter I'd probably give it another week to see if I'm able to eat more than I have been this week.  I can eat maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food.  I'm used to eating so much more than that.  So I've been doing protein shakes and tuna to get in my protein and being sure to take my multivitamin because I fail to do that often.

The flip side of all of this is that I'm actually losing weight again.  I've been stuck at 273lb since March when I had my last fill before this one.  I am very happy about that!!!

I don't know if it's slippage to answer your question.  I don't think so.  My thinking is that these occurrences would probably be accompanied by pain and I'm not having any pain.  Are you?

Hi Lilly- Love your name (it's what I want to name my daughter one day... hopefully I have a girl!)!!!  Anyway, I seriously think you need to see your surgeon.  The fact that you are having this issue almost every night is not good and can lead to more serious symptoms if you let it go on.  You never know what it can be these days but I would get it checked out.  My fellow bandster friend was having some nightly reflux issues and it turned out she had esophogitis.... she has to take Nexium twice  a day and has a complete unfill. Hope that is not the case for you but need to see what is causing this.  Keep us up to date!

Good luck and take care!
Jan

Thaks for the compliment on the name:) ...
My husband has Omeprazole that a Dr. gives him for GERD that I have taken for it  , and it makes the bile thick, but it dont keep it from coming up

A question you may ask yourself is how soon before going to bed are you eating and drinking.  If I eat and go to bed I have problems sometimes.  This could be causing your reflux.  Just a thought.
Z

Yes I am eating and drinking some.... I try to quit but its so hard when I dont get to really eat all day long cuz of work. .................SO hard:(

Thanks for your answers ladies. Im just frustrated and happy at the same time. IM losing weight so fast now 62 pounds according to my scale. It took my 3rd fill to fill a good restriction. So Maybe Im too tight. I just so hate to complain becasue im so afraid of having to go through surgery again or he take some out and Im eating more (& not losing weight) PLUS possibly still having this issue. . .
I found out yesterday that I have gallstones so Im seriously thinking of teling my dr that in case there is a slim chance he can refer someone to take out my gallbladder AND be there to fix my lap band IF it slipped. I know I should tell him anyway... Im so scared now of even sleeping and getting possible pneumonia from the throw up which is basically what it is. I just wanted to lose weight ! Gosh why did this happen! Im so confused about what to do.
My appt if thursday, and Im thinking if I take my recent xray that I had dont to rule out kidney stones he may be able to see if my band has slipped. .. I really dont want a unfill.. its so confusing!

Speaking from experience, I can tell you that you are too tight.  I went through this and eventually had to have a total unfill to deal with it.  Get yourself to the doctor's office and have your fill reduced until you no longer experience this.  Then you may be able to add some back in.  My peak fill was 6 cc's.  I am unable to go above 5 cc's.  I don't have the restriction that kept me from every thinking about being hungry and I eat more now, but I'm not damaging my esphagus and I'm not miserable.

Maybe they can give you an acid reducer. My doc put all his patients on one for the first 90 days. Keep us updated after you see the doc.

Hi Lilly,
That kind of reflux may be  common, but it's not normal or healthy.  I have it occasionally and take Omeprozole before bed if I'm worried that I ate something spicy or acidic.  If it's happening every night it's probably because you've eaten something just before bed and laying down only makes it worse because you don't have gravity working in your favor.  Don't eat afer 8:00 and take this as an opportunity to control the evening munchies. 

Definately see your surgeon.  It's also possible that you are slightly too tight.  Just .2 cc's can make a HUGE difference!  But you also need to rule out any trouble.  I never had reflux post op until 2.5 years.

Take care!  It's not worth risking losing your band.

Best~
Lisa O.