wishin4

Wisegirl, I also had the cup at my bedside for a while until the doctor unfilled me. I have not had heartburn or reflux since the gall bladder surgery and I am not taking any meds for it. I am thinking that was the cause of the reflux all along and now I am doing well without meds. No acid during the night. I am so happy.

I thought I would post an update on my progress. I now have 1.5cc in my 4cc band. I went back for another fill last week and my new surgeon (he is great and a lapband patient himself) said he didn't want to give me any more fill right now since I was taking the Prilosec again. He told to wait a few weeks so I don't have a problem during the holidays. I made an appt for January 21st. On Friday, Christmas day I was getting ready to go to our friend's house for dinner and started getting a pain in my stomach. I had gotten the same pain twice in the last week. It got progressively worse, but I went to our friend's house anyway. After I was there about 45 minutes, I just couldn't take it anymore and apologized and went home. My husband hadn't gone with me because he was sick with a bad cold and didn't want to pass it on to anyone. He said I should go to the emergency hospital and we did. They did a CAT scan and saw my gall bladder was huge. Then they did an ultrasound of it and it was loaded with stones. They admitted me and I had surgery on the 26th. The surgeon told me yesterday as they were releasing me that there is a good chance that the gall bladder was the cause of my reflux all along. I sure hope so. I am have my tea this morning and I am not taking my Prilosec. I will see if I start to get heartburn. Say a little prayer for me please.

Drasan-not drinking with meals is something we all have to come to terms with. I'm thinking you've probably had your surgery by now and are pretty adept at not drinking with meals. The main reason of course is to slow down the emptying of the pouch so we don't feel hungry too soon. Also, I have found when I eat too much and get overfilled water or another liquid doesn't help. I was never told to drain liquid from soup before eating it. Sometimes I live on soup when my band is being finicky and tight. One spoonful at a time kind of helps and at least I get some nourishment with it. Let us know how you are doing and if you've mastered the not drinking thing. OK?

Uniquezeke-I am glad you decided to speak out here this time. I am hoping we can help motivate you here. You are a sister in the band with us here at this board and we want all of us to be success stories. You've done well in that you've lost half of your weight so far. Try not to beat yourself up. The good thing about the band is the adjustment factor. When was your last adjustment. Maybe you just need to be tweaked a little to make a difference. Also, are there any support classes in your area that you can attend. I think those are very helpful. I myself haven't attended any of the support classes offered at my hospital since it's 75 miles away. I just can't bring myself to drive there at night for the classes. Please don't give up on the band. Let us know if you have had an adjustment lately. Christine, I think you are amazing. You are still hanging in there in spite of the pains you endure. That is just incredible. Kathy, I for one would like to be a part of the exercise challenge. I workout at the local YMCA here in my town. It's a great place with so much to offer and I slacked off a bit the last few weeks because of Christmas and want to get back into it. I have been having the acid reflux problem myself. I went for a fill last week and my doctor didn't give me one. He said that since I am still getting reflux and heartburn at only 1.5 cc in my 4cc band, he wanted to wait a few weeks. Well, Christmas day as I was getting ready to go to our friend's house for dinner I had a gall bladder attack and ended up in the hospital. They removed my gall bladder on the 26th and the surgeon told me that my gall bladder was most likely what had been causing the reflux all this time. I am praying he is right. I am going to see if I get heartburn this morning after drinking my tea and if I don't maybe I won't take my Prilosec. Then see what happens. Wish me luck. Kathy

Hi Everyone, I haven't posted on this thread for several months and I've just been reading what has been going on. I had a problem with horrible reflux also and my doctor removed my entire fill 5 months ago. I had a gastro-scope test to see if I had an ucler in my esophagus but it showed nothing. I don't have the reflux anymore and during this time of waiting I gained back 8 pounds. I was beating myself up over that and my husband contributed to the beating when he blurted out that he was disappointed in me. Having spent the money on the surgery and going thru what I had how could I eat stuff I know was counterproductive to my losing weight. Well, let me tell you that devastated me. To have him say that. He really has no room to talk but it still really hurt. While all this has been going on my surgeon left the practice and has now been replaced by a more experienced bariatric surgeon who, himself is a lapband patient. He told me he wants to take it slow on refilling me and he thinks I was way overfilled to begin with and that is what he thinks caused my problem. I have the small band which is 4cc and he put 1cc in it. I go back next week for another fill. I think he said he plans to put in 1/2cc. It was so comforting to hear him talk about my situation in a more positive light. My other doctor was not really helpful. He basically didn't know what was causing my reflux and said I was probably not compatible with the lapband. Now I just need to get back in the habit of eating the right way and the right things. It's like starting from square one. So many of you have now lost so much weight but there are still many in my ballpark so I am keeping positive and just have to focus on the goal. Congratulations to those of you who've had plastic surgery and to those who are still far from that, as I am, lets hang in there and not be so hard on ourselves. Lets just focus on getting back on the wagon and working this thing the way it's supposed to be worked.

Yes, I think first you should let your doctor know. You may be too tight. Also, you should be taking something for the acid. I had a terrible problem with reflux and was taking Prilosec in the morning and at night for a while. Right now I am off the Prilosec completely and only take a Zantac before bedtime to lessen the acid a bit and so far that has worked. I agree with Cleo's Mom it could be a dangerous thing to just let go. If you haven't already notified your doctor I recommend doing so immediately. Good luck and let us know how things go for you........

Cleo's Mom I agree with what you said about your other bariatric surgeon. My surgeon was also a general surgeon who switched to bariatric surgery and I don't think he really knew the ins and outs of LapBand surgery. When he filled me he said he thought that the sooner he got me to my sweet spot the better but I think he actually had me too full and that is where my trouble started. When I went to him and explained the trouble I was having he said maybe I wasn't compatible with the LapBand. And that not everyone was compatible with it. I think he just didn't know what else to say. I don't know if he is still doing bariatric surgery or is back to general surgery. But I am grateful to have an experienced surgeon now, and one who even has the LapBand himself so he really can identify with any problems his patients have. So far I am doing well and I hope it goes well in the future. Thanks for your input.

I am writing regarding Dr MacColl. He is now in Eugene, Oregon and he is now my doctor. Our surgeon moved on to another location. I saw Dr MacColl on Monday and was very impressed with him. I had a slight fill after having had my fill removed in August due to having reflux. He wants to go slowly so I don't face the same problems I had before. I just wanted you to know where he is and that he is already well liked.

Hi OregonDaisy and everyone else who is interested. I went back to the doctor in August and a substitute doc removed the whole fill. She said I needed a scope test to see if I had an ulcer or something else causing my reflux. It took until October for the test and I went back last week for the results. Nothing showed. Everything looked good and they only saw the indentation from the band in my esophagus. I saw the new surgeon Monday and he said he would fill me very slowly so as not to cause more reflux. He commented on the fact that I have a 4cc band which is an older band. Since it was put in last year I couldn't understand why they didn't use the newest bands on the market. I said outloud "maybe they were trying to use up the old stuff before using the new" He nodded as though he agreed. Anyway, he only put in 1cc. I felt heartburn during the night and a couple of times during the day but no reflux yet. It's funny, several of you have mentioned the gastric sleeve and he did too. He said in his opinion the sleeve is the future of bariatric surgery. Fewer problems and more successful. I don't know if my insurance company would consider paying for my conversion to a sleeve. I guess if I start with reflux again I may have to call them and inquire.

I have an update on my situation. I had a gastro upper gi scope last week. The doctor who performed it said everything looked normal. I have been waiting for the test since early August and the doctor removed my fill at that time. Now I have a follow up appt with the Gastroenteroloist on the 27th and then I made an appt with my new Lapband doctor (mine moved away) on November 2. I am hoping all will be fine and they can fill me again. I am struggling to maintain my weight loss since June when the dr took some of the saline out and without any fill I feel hunger and can eat quite a bit. I have been exercising 5 times a week at the gym and that has helped. While waiting for the test to be performed I suddenly stopped having reflux. I get heartburn during the night at times but I only need to take a mild acid reducer. I have stopped taking the Prilosec completely. I was taking it twice a day. I will follow up when I know more.

Hi everyone, it's really exciting to hear about all the plastic surgery being done on my fellow banders. I agree with Lisa about the arms. My arms are even sagging in the forearm area. The skin is crinkled too. Oh well, I feel so much better and I only have to wear short sleeves in the summer. LOL. I guess flabby skin is better than puffy arms. Hope everybody else is doing ok.

Hi OregonDaisy, I am interested in the gastric sleeve. I don't know if my doctor has performed that surgery or if my insurance would even consider letting me have it. I am back on the couch tonight after waking up choking and coughing. It's been about 5 weeks since the doctor removed some of my fill and I am hungry and I know I am eating larger portions. I am also eating bigger bites because I can. Last night for dinner I ate half a hamburger and a little bit of salad. I also had made some oven roasted potatoes and ate maybe 2 of them. I was so stuffed I couldn't believe it. I didn't think I had eaten a huge amount but felt as though nothing was going beyond the band. When I went to bed I was still feeling that bloated feeling. I knew it wouldn't go well and it didn't. At 4am I woke up coughing and unable to breathe. I got up so I didn't disturb my husband's sleep. I now feel better but am wondering why I was feeling this way. All I had eaten yesterday was a scrambled egg in the morning and a small salad with a little chicken in it for lunch. Then my hamburger for dinner which I cut in half and only ate the one half. I have felt the tightening feeling in the band over the last week and yet I am getting hunger pangs again which stopped after my band was put in. My doctor is leaving the practice in another month and I don't know who will replace him. There will be a substitute doctor coming in from her own practice in another city once a week. This worries me that I will never be able to get an appointment if I need one. I sure wish I had a support group here in my city. I haven't attended any of the support groups because it's at 6pm once a month and it's 75 miles away from my home. I feel like you all are my lifeline to share with and learn from.

hi everyone, well the last couple of nights I've started to feel the reflux again. Not as badly as before but I am coughing and feeling congestion in my throat and chest. I don't know whether I am tightening or what. I haven't had as much restriction as I've had the last year and as a result I have gained a couple of pounds and can't seem to lose. I work out at the gym 5 days a week so I don't think it's inactivity. I am so worried, if I get a fill to help me lose I will be back in the same boat again. When I saw my surgeon he acted as though he'd never experienced a patient having this problem. I know I am eating larger portions and am consciously trying to cut back but I am now feeling hunger again. So frustrating.

Welcome Dottie. Amanda I agree about the tickers. I would be nice to see a previous post with the real time weight for that post. I am so glad that you are feeling better Rhonda, I'll bet you feel fabulous in fact. I have had to have a slight unfill due to some horrible reflux. I felt immediate relief but now I find I can eat way more. So I am trying to just eat less and I am in most instances. But I notice I am feeling hunger again at times. I still have to take Prilosec and in fact woke this morning with a little bit of reflux but I think its my own fault. I ate a couple of pieces of candy last night and chocolate is a trigger for reflux. I am thinking of maybe just going low carb for a week and seeing if that helps. I haven't lost a pound since the unfill, in fact I am fluctuating up a few pounds. I know I shouldn't be eating candy and I don't make a habit of doing that, but I have lost all my weight eating what I wanted. I just made sure I had my protein each day. But I am feeling a little bloated and I know carbs can cause water retention. I work out faithfully 5 days a week so I know it's not for lack of exercise. I hope everyone is having experiences of not being recognized by friends who haven't seen them in a while. That is such a satisfying feeling.

Okay, I just had my first night of no reflux or coughing in almost 3 weeks. I feel so rested. I don't know why I was suddenly so tight after having been okay for the last 6 weeks. Anyway, I am so relieved that I don't have to go for another upper GI and won't have to see a specialist. I hope you are feeling better Road Queen and I hope anyone else having this problem considers having a slight unfill. My doctor was worried it would cause me to feel less control over my eating. I am eating the same and don't feel hungry so it has worked out wonderfully for me.

I made it to Onderland finally!!! aJoneen.........................-080 pounds lost! Bandana....................... 0 92 lbs lost BrandNewLisa............0 80pounds LOST forever!!! evelas5000...................0 50 pounds Lost Desdemona...................0 Fenton...........................0 100 POUNDS LOST !! HarleyGirl....................0 85 pounds LOST! Hopeinapril................. 0 55 pounds lost Kpodski......................... Lynnt1215.....................0 NurseNiki......................0 Nycm00........................ Potatie............................0 140 POUNDS LOST!! Scrappy_Friend........ -3 160 POUNDS LOST!!!! SpecialK........................-0 110 lbs GONE forever! Sugarbean....................0 117 POUNDS LOST !!! Sharona.........................0 stellabella......................0 75 POUNDS LOST! Tess415..........................0 Thin2bme...................0 100 POUNDS LOST!! WestCoastMom............0 Wishin4...........................-2 86 pounds gone!!

Scrappy and Lynn how exciting for you both. I am still a ways from considering plastic surgery but I have thought about it. Unfortunately, I need more than my tummy. My arms are sagging quite a bit as are my thighs. I would venture to say it is quite expensive to do all off the above and even my neck is a bit saggy. So then I think hmmm maybe a little lift here and a little tuck there. I could end up with quite a bill on my hands. So I will just wait and see what I need in another 25 or 30 pounds. By the way, I made it into Onederland this week. It's been 15 years since I have been out of the 200s.

Keep us posted on your progress Road Queen. I can't tell you how relieved I am just to know it isn't just me feeling this discomfort. My doctor acted as thought he has never dealt with anything like this before. I am hoping that having a slight unfill will make my nighttime a more pleasant experience. Good luck to you.

Hi Tinaj I had some of my fill removed today also. I am hoping I will have the same results as you have. The doctor said to let him know in a week if I am no better and he will have another upper GI and maybe refer me to a gastroenterologist if nothing shows on the upper GI. I am so afraid of not feeling restriction but I can't keep going on the way I have. I will report in on how I am progressing. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

I am going to see my surgeon today. I'll let you know how it goes. I had a bad night last night and coughed continuously. I am aspirating as soon as I doze off. My husband said he can hear my esophagus gurgling and knows I am about to cough while I am sleeping. Wish me luck.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss Amanda. You and your family are in my prayers. Enjoy your trip with your hubby and know your Mom would want you to enjoy yourselves in spite of what has happened. I am glad your family is holding the memorial service for you. Try to let go and enjoy.

Thanks Cleo- I didn't get a chance to call the doctors office today so now I have to wait until Monday. I think I had better call and make that appt. I am really worried about it and I am really scared they will take my band out. I fear getting so big again. Good luck to you too Tina. Lacey'smom keep us posted as to how you do please.

Hi Tinaj I had my band surgery in March 2008. I had no problems until earlier this year when I had an episode of vomiting and it caused my esophagus to swell so fast and so badly that it felt as though I was being strangled. I was on vacation and in another state than my doctor. I communicated with his office until I came home and things got a little better but I had a barium swallow to see if my band had slipped. They decided it hadn't. I had my fill reduced to a comfortable level and stayed that way for almost 2 months. When I went back he refilled my band and I have been doing fine until the last 10 days or so. I am having the same problem as you. As soon as I lay down I have gurgling in my stomach and constant bubbling up into my mouth all night long. I don't eat or drink anything past 6pm and still I am coughing at:crying: night. I wake up feeling like I am aspirating. My lungs are congested from fluids backing up into them. I end up on the recliner so I can get some sleep. I am calling my surgeon tomorrow to find out what is going on. I don't think I am too tight. I am not as filled as I was the first 6 months before my episode of vomitting. I feel as though I have liquids in my pouch constantly. If I bend over I get a mouthful of whatever I ate sometimes hours before. It sounds like we both have the same problem. I will try to keep in touch with you when I find something out. I am terrified I will have to get the band removed or something. I take Prilosec every day and it just doesn't seem to be stopping anything except the acid that comes up in my mouth. It is still coming into my mouth but it isn't acidic.

aJoneen.........................1 75 pounds lost! Bandana....................... 0 92 lbs lost BrandNewLisa............0 80pounds LOST forever!!! evelas5000...................0 50 pounds Lost Desdemona...................0 Fenton...........................0 100 POUNDS LOST !! HarleyGirl....................0 85 pounds LOST! Hopeinapril................. -.4 55 pounds lost Kpodski......................... Lynnt1215.....................0 NurseNiki......................0 Nycm00........................ Potatie............................-3 140 POUNDS LOST!! Scrappy_Friend........ -2 160 POUNDS LOST!!!! SpecialK........................-1 106 lbs GONE forever! Sugarbean....................0 117 POUNDS LOST !!! Sharona.........................0 stellabella......................0 75 POUNDS LOST! Tess415..........................0 Thin2bme...................- .4 100 POUNDS LOST!! WestCoastMom............0 Wishin4...........................-2 84 pounds gone!! Almost in Onederland..............so close!!!

Harley, have a wonderful time on the cruise. Diva I didn't see your pictures. Are they on a different thread? Carrie just keep saying "this too shall pass" and before you know it things will get back to normal (whatever that is) Christine, I hope you start feeling better soon. I know you must be so frustrated. I am 2 pounds from Onederland. I can't tell you how excited I am at the thought of weighing under 200 pounds. It's been at least 15 years since I was at that weight. Have a great weekend everyone...............