Question:
anybody have non-cardiac chest pain?

now 17 months post lap band, lost about 75 pounds, doing well. developed chest pain episodes about a month post op, have had about 20 episodes to date, some mild, some severe. full cardiac work up negative, including cath. anybody with similar situation?    — dialyzer (posted on March 17, 2011)

March 17, 2011
Have u considered the possibility that the lab band is causing epi-gastric pain which can mimic cardiac pain. Maybe it's GERD and the lab. Band needs to be loosened a little. I am not an expert with the lab band but I know it's a common problem. Best of luck
   — Frostbite25

March 17, 2011
I went through the same thing-symptoms, tests, results, etc. The cardiologist kept telling me that I was anxious-which I wasn't. I was at the health food store one day and a very helpful employee spoke with me for about 30 minutes. She spent more time with me than the ER people and the cardiologist combined. She said I was getting too much L'arginine-an enzyme in UNROASTED nuts. I was eating nuts EVERYDAY because I needed to slow down my weight loss. She said the enzyme could be removed by toasting my nuts. I began following her advice and within days was symptom free. I've kept my 107 pounds off for 3 1/2 years now. Good luck to you, Gayla
   — gouldsfiya

March 18, 2011
Congratulations on your weight loss! When I had the band, as the months went by, I found I did not always chew my food as well and was taking bites too large. This will cause the esophagus above the band to enlarge to accommodate the food that the pouch cannot hold. If it is stretched too much, it can cause pain that mimics cardiac pain. This can occur up to a couple of hours after eating because the food cannot pass through the pouch more quickly. Slow down, take smaller bites, chew to liquid and don't try to eat more that it takes to feel satisfied. Best of luck!
   — Bonnie H.

March 22, 2011
Do you get this mainly when lying down? Possibly having ate too late. I got chest pains and thought it was a heart attack, I even called 911 and as the EMT were coming in the front door I burped at which they started laughing. I've had this several more times and even the cardiac test were clear. It comes from eating too late and then going to bed, not chewing enough, etc. BUT what happens is a chunk of food traps gases underneath causing the pain of a heart attack. And you can only breathe deeply till the obstruction clears. At which you'll burp.
   — Michael Eak

March 23, 2011
I am one month today away from my two-year surgiversary. I had RNY, so I don't know if this is going to help you. I started having very severe chest pains last August. Got them so bad one day at work that they sent me to the hospital (which was a very small town hospital). They gave me nitro and sent me via ambulance to a larger hospital directly in to CCU. I was there three days getting poked and proded. Had a emergency heart cath, the whole nine yards. The funny thing was the entire time I was in the hospital, my heart rate was in the low 40's and dropped to 35 several times. Long story short, after all that, they sent me home, couldn't find anything. I told them that I had had gastric bypass so they also did a endoscope. Still found nothing. Two weeks after I got home, I went to my Gastric doc and he put me in the hospital the next day, did exploritory sugery and found that my intestines were "slipping" because I had lost so much weight. This is what was causing the "chest pains". Stayed another three days in the hospital and feel fine now. Told you it was a long story!!!
   — Vikki U.