Return of reflux???

Since November I have had ocassional bouts of a weird reflux thing that happens only at night. I don't have heartburn and what comes up doesn't burn or seem acidic....it's almost sweet. I will be asleep at night and it feels like liquid is rushing up my esophagus and I have to sit straight up in bed and cough, lest I choke on it. I usually get up and sip some water - sometimes take Prevacid - and sit upright for a few hours before returning to bed. I blamed this on a change of medication I had in November (that is when this all began) but I have since returned to the original medication. I was fine for about a month and now this has happened about 3 times in the last 2 weeks. I will admit I have put on about 15 pounds since last summer but I am back to running and hopefully will get off the extra pounds and lose the rest of my weight. I wonder if the weight regain has anything to do with it? Another problem is that I moved out of state in July and left my wonderful, awesome surgeon back home. I am living in a small town in the Midwest and have not been able to find a bariatric surgeon....and certainly not one like my docs at BMI of Texas. Anyone out there had this issue???? 

Yes...I have indeed had this issue.  You can actually aspirate into your lungs when this happens.

I had the lapband in 5/2001 and maintain goal weight for 7-8 years without any fill in my 4cc band. Then I slowly saw my weight increasing primarily because I had a swallowing issue that required me to drink liquids when I ate.  I got my first fill and it turned out to be too tight and caused a slip.  I had all the fill removed, but my issues never got better.  Would wake up at night as you described, had constant reflex and heartburn...pain around band...

After that first slip, I had so many problems.  I sucked it up for several years until I finally saw a bariactric surgeon who took one look at the results of the barium swallow and told me that my band had to go...it had caused major esophegual dilation.  

I had revision surgery earlier this month and it seemed like all of those issues including aspirating at night stopped instantly.

Don't want to scare you, but you really want to see a bariactric doctor and do a barium swallow to see if something similar is happening.  

Best wishes...hope you get to the bottom of this issue soon...

 Thanks......not what I wanted to hear but sorta starting to think that it could be a slip. I know I have made some mistakes along this journey. If it is a slip it is MY fault. I really have been pleased with my band and haven't had any issues with it. I am hoping and praying it is something else at the root of the problem, but we shall see. I emailed my doc back in Texas (he's great about emailing back) and asked about recommendations for a doc here in Illinois. I have also looked for providers though my insurance website. **sigh** I just want to get beyond this sooner than later. I KNOW not to mess around with reflux! We had a friend who suffered with it untreated and ended up with cancer because of the erosion. If I were still in Texas I would have been in to see my doc in November! I wish airfare weren't so expensive - I'd fly down just so he could treat me - he's THAT good. Well, I hope he offers some suggestions. In the mean time I will really watch what I consume in the evenings, sleep propped up and take Prevacid.

Good luck...I hope you get a good doctor in Illinois. 

One other thing, when I was having all of the reflux issues, my doctor switched up my medications and prescribed 40mg of Omerprazole and that really helped more with reflux than some of the other medications previously prescribed like Nexium. 

What part of Illinois are you currently in?

I have had similar experience. Monday I'm having a baium esphogram done to see if my band slipped. I have an empty band 2 months. I had a fill oct. and unfil shortly after cause I couldn't even swollow water. My band had a tendency to be fine one day thentighten another day. so I would eat the wrong foods to feel satisfied. causing weight gain or up and down for months without losing. much of which my selection of eating stuff then went down easy..after part of the holidays, I started having stomach prole. I had a hieital hernia repair with the band. now like you had problem in night where I had to drink water or get up take nexium. I needed to eat soup for comfort. Well now after my doctor refusing to put fluid in my band without me getting this exray I. having it done for my own mind. I went to a Nutrionist the beginning of this week..with special diet of watching the sugar levels etc. I have and every 2 hrs. a small snack only one fruit. I have lost almost 4 lbs already. which is encourging to me. I'm hoping my band didn't slip and nothing to be wrong. I rater see this nut, and follow her program and be able to eat anything without PB or running to bathroom to dump cause ifood getting stuck...I haven't had anymore burning or chocking at night neither...Hope you get help....I'll let you know what happans.

I am downstate, in Decatur.

My doc from Texas suggested Dr. Nagle in Chicago. He is in network and I may keep him in mind should I need a second opinion. I am not willing to have band removal as the first option given, you know?

I am awaiting a call from Dr. Ahad in Springfield for a consult. I know the first step needs to be a barium swallow. My doc in TX used xray for all fills so I never had to worry about getting unfills a few days later. I am sticking to a soft & liquid diet until then. I don't want to take any chances. And hopefully I can drop some of these stinkin' 15 pounds I've gained since last Summer.

I set a goal to run at least 20 miles a month thus year. I have 5 to go this month and my clothes are already fitting better. This whole ordeal is certainly a wake-up call and just might be my second chance. Thanks for the input, yall!!!

I had the exact same thing happen a while backI too would have to sit right up or choke..I was also a little constipated at the time.Not so much as couldnt go but didnt seem like I had to go.I had recently had surgery(thigh lift) and my insides were working very slowly after the anesthesia.I went to the doctor and he seemed to want to blame it on my band and I knew it was not.I could tell I just was not moving things through my body quick enough.Like you the fluid coming up was not acidic at all.It was just old food still sitting there.I started eating a yogurt a day and taking miralax every night.The minute I started moving bowels normaly again the fluid coming up went away.Dont know if it could be the same for you but just thought Id let you know.Good luck to you.