Genuinely Worried!

I posted last night that I was afraid I was having reflux, without the acidity. I was unable to sleep all night, either laying flat or sitting up in a recliner. It seemed like once I was completely relaxed, fluid came up no matter if I was sitting straight up in a chair.

So this morning after I got to work, I made a 10oz cup of coffee and was able to drink about half. Then I started belching, and small amounts of fluid come up with every belch. Now I have moved to water and have been able to drink about 8 oz so far, with the same results as the coffee. I laid down for about 5 minutes, to see if I was still having issues and nothing has changed, its still coming up.

I called my Dr to see about getting another unfill, but they are not able to get me in until tomorrow. Has anyone else had this? If so, what did you eat/drink and what made it go away?!?!

thanks for any help that can be offered.

Hi there,

Did you recently get a fill?  DId you have a bad stuck episode recently?

I was having similar things happening to me off and on when my band was slipping or slipped.  It's terrible to have to wait for that unfill, you can get really dehyrdated.  I feel for you....not being able to sleep because you wake up choking ever few mintues is MISERABLE.  I remember it well.  Hang in there.......I hope all turns out well.

Thanks! I did get a fill 8 days ago and I had a stuck episode with a drink of all things! Give me some guidance on that one, if you can. How is it possible to have a stuck episode with a drink?

Here is my experience with my fills:
        -1cc in, go back same day to have it removed since I couldn't swallow my saliva. Wait 6 weeks.
        -1cc in, back next day to have it removed, everything got stuck and came back up. Wait 6 wks.
        -1cc in, manage to wait 9 whole days before I had to go back to have half removed. I started the same thing I am doing now, but on a much smaller scale. Wait 4 weeks.
        -.05cc in, exactly 1 week later, here I am.

I feel like I am treading water. I go have a fill, I have to have it removed because of issues. I go have a fill, I have to have it removed because of issues. I am at a complete loss and don't know what to do.  And the strange thing is, after my last unfill, I felt like that was exactly where I was supposed to be. Eating the right amounts, staying satisfied, everything. I thought, I had found my sweet spot - I am here! Then at about the time I was due for another fill, I started noticing I was able to eat more and wasn't staying satisfied. So he decided on half and I could come back in 4 weeks instead of 6 to evaluate. This can be so frustrating; I thought after almost a year I would be where I needed to be, restriction wise, but I guess not.

Well, it sounds like you are very sensitive to fills, some of us are.  When getting a fill,  you might want to stress you need SMALL increments, like .02 CC's at a time. 

For now, getting that fill taken out will probably help you.  I know how frustrating it is. 

Thank you for your reply, I really do appreciate you taking the time to help me. I'm just so exhausted and want so badly for this to work.

When your band slipped, what did you do in the first days, if you remember? Should I focus on getting my water in and staying on broths, just in case?

A band slip is usually a bit gradual.  It normally doesn't slip all at once.  So, I would have the symptoms you describe off and on.  When my symptoms were absent, I figured my band was fine, maybe I had just not been chewing correctly or dehyrdated, or too stressed, or a combination of all of it. 

I went on a vacation for a week and stayed with my brothers and their families for a week in a big vacation rental  home.  I had to sleep on the couch so I wouldn't wake anyone up with my gagging every 15 minutes, when I woke up choking.  I knew then, that something had to be wrong and it couldn't be explained away by normal temporary problems with the band. 

On the days and nights I was having a lot of trouble I would just trying to get in cream soups or broths and water.  It wouldn't always stay down, but I tried.  I was always so tired and weak. 

That sounds exactly what I am going through now. I guess I will do my best to stay hydrated today and go see my doctor tomorrow morning. Thanks again for all your advice.

You are very welcome!!  It's a scary place to be when the band is acting up.  Hope it all turns out okay!

It is possible that you are really, really sensitive to fills and probably should wait longer in between and get smaller fills but it's also possible that you've irritated your stoma and esophagus and there is swelling that's causing the tightness.  I've had this happen a couple of times.

I would stick with bland liquids until you see your doctor, (avoid coffee because caffeine is one of the worst things you can do for reflux and irritations caused by reflux.)

Be careful going forward and avoid acidic foods, choclate, and coffee.  NEVER eat less than 2 hours before bed.  Food needs a little help from gravity in our case and it will just sit there an burn if it doesn't clear your pouch before bed.

I just recently had a .5 unfill because of sudden tightness from irritation to my esophagus and stoma.  It happens.

Take care and keep us posted.

Lisa O.

I am very sensitive to fills and can only get .2 fills at a time. The biggest fill I ever had at one point was 3 cc the next time (months after surgery I was unfilled for approx 3 months after surgery)       I tried to do 1 cc and it needed to be removed and then later when i did .5 cc 3cc had to be removed so for now it's only .2 cc and I have to be on liquids for one day and mushes the next because I get swollen from the fill.

I do not do .2 fills in 6 week increments I usually go months I have to rely on myself more than my band to make good choices and I'm okay with that.. I accept full responsibility.

Good Luck