Severe stomach pain - should I go to ER?

Hi Banders,
  I need some help... I am having severe pain - up high and even around to my back.  It came on about 30 minutes after eating.  I was banded 1 year ago and sometimes eat too big of bites and have occassional stuck episodes.  For the last 2-3 weeks I have noticed this pain after eating, and I just thought it was gas.  This time it is much worse and has been lasting for 3 hours.  I took a Nexium 2 hours ago.  I never had any problems with heartburn/acid reflux before the band.  I thought that was when acids came back into your mouth.  I don't have any of those systems - just this severe pain that kind of goes in a circle from the bottom of the sternum around to the back.  I can't sleep, lay down, stand to find a place of relief from the pain.  I thought about going to the ER but I thought I would ask here first.  Anyone experience these symptoms or read about them?  Any ideas?  Thanks

Cindy

Still have your gallbladder?
If not, it might be diaphragmatic irritation.
Either way, you should probably get checked out soon, even if you don't go to the ER tonight.

You might also be having esophageal spasms.

If you can, try to place heat on your stomach, just under your ribcage. See if it loosens up the nerves a little so you can get some relief.

Hope you feel better and it's nothing serious. Sorry you're going through this.

Take care,
Nicci

Cindy I would call the hospital, give them your symptoms and tell them you have  the lapband.  Maybe they will let you talk to a doctor and he give you some advice rather than having to wait in the ER.  Hope it works out ok for you.
Z

This sounds exactly like the symptoms I was having about 20 days ago (landed me in the ER on vacation -- thinking that I was having a heart attack.

Turns out after negative cardiograms that  I have
1.  peptic  ulcer(s) -- below the band   -- may have had them for years
2.  Reflux esophagitis --- exacerbated by eating too much at one time

I was having pain about 30 minutes to 1 hour AFTER eating -- not while eating.
Pain in my mid-chest, up my arm, around my back, etc.

I am on Dexilant (time-released acid reducer), instructed to eat small, frequent meals instead of large meals.

I 'chew til it's goo' with every bite --- and eat slowly and thoughtfully at every meal.
I work hard to stay hydrated

I am giving the meds 1 more week (most of my pain is gone) and may go have a very small unfill if I have ANY symptoms left next week.

That happened to me for about 3 years everyone kept saying it was acid reflux turned out to be my gallbladder. If you go to the ER they will probably give you what they call a ****tail if it helps it is reflux if it doesn't likely to be the gallbladder. I would go to the ER.

Well, after 6 hours with no relief from the pain I decided to go to the ER.  A bloodtest revealed that my liver/gall bladder enzyme (lipase) was 273 and normal is around 50.  This indicated gall bladder so then I went for an ultrasound and found out that there are gall stones in there.  This was my first gall bladder attack, but the doctors warn that more are likely to come until I get the gall bladder removed.   The ER assured me that it was the right thing to do to come in because they were able to give me a shot for pain and I felt almost 100% better in an hour and have no other episodes.

THANK YOU to all those *****sponded and gave their feedback.