UnderDaSea

Hi everyone! I'm new here! I had a lap band done about 5 years ago. At first everything was great! The band was working, and I never had any problems with it! I occasionally got stuck, but I was always able to move the blockage by walking and or drinking something. Anyways, about 3 years ago I woke up very ill. I was vomiting pretty badly. Turns out my gallbladder had to go. I had the necessary surgical procedure and it was removed. Ever since then it has been terrible. Since then I've had random stomach aches, acid reflux, and nausea. Through patience, ginger tea, tums, and crackers I was able to deal with it. Then everything got bad. The reflux was bad. I couldn't eat anything except snicker bars. (I know that's insane, but it's true!) I went to a gastroenterologist, and she prescribed me dexilant. I was skeptical, but desperate and it was like a miracle. My stomach aches, nausea and reflux were totally gone! I could eat anything I wanted. This blissful time went on for about 2 years. Fast forward to about a month ago and things go bad again. I was regularly taking my dexilant but I was getting terrible reflux. I couldn't even digest BROTH! chicken BROTH!!! So I got fed up and went to my bariatric doctor. He said it was time for the band to go and I was not alone. I felt so much better hearing that from him! He said my symptoms would almost immediately go away! I was so ready to get this thing out of me!!! So I had my band removed about a week ago. February 9, 2015 to be exact. The doctor said my body reacted negatively to having a foreign object in it and my stomach somehow made it like I had two lap bands? I have been trying my hardest to take it easy but the reflux is nowhere near gone! It's the same as before the surgery. I called the nurse and she said to take the dexilant until my tummy heals and then wean myself off of it. I am devastated. I was hoping to see at least a little relief, but that hasn't happened yet. So I sit here praying that my dexilant kicks in soon so maybe I can get some relief and eat maybe some applesauce. I haven't had solid food in a month and it's starting to take a toll on my emotional health. Does anyone have any advice for me? Is this normal? Will I have acid reflux for the rest of my life? Will I have to take dexilant for the rest of my days? I'm only 23, and I look forward to having children in the next couple years, but currently there is no way that can happen in my current condition. I'm scared, hungry, nauseas and depressed.

I got mine taken out already, and finally started to eat a couple of months ago. The first step for you will probably involve having the band removed.

@@lisacaron Thank you. My surgeon did an upper GI and they said that it looked fine. They basically told me that there was nothing else they could do for me. So now I'm seeing a gastroenterologist that a friend recommended and they will be doing an endoscopy on me tomorrow. I really hope they find out what's going on, too. The medicine is not really working, and I'm getting frustrated! I can't take pills, so I have to take lansoprazole in a liquid suspension, and it is NASTY! It literally makes me gag when I take it. I have to fight to keep it down! I will update as soon as I get results from the endoscopy! Thanks for your encouragement. At the time I'm only able to have water, broth, flat ginger ale, tea and Popsicles.

Hi everyone! I'm new here! I had a lap band done about 5 years ago. At first everything was great! The band was working, and I never had any problems with it! I occasionally got stuck, but I was always able to move the blockage by walking and or drinking something. Anyways, about 3 years ago I woke up very ill. I was vomiting pretty badly. Turns out my gallbladder had to go. I had the necessary surgical procedure and it was removed. Ever since then it has been terrible. Since then I've had random stomach aches, acid reflux, and nausea. Through patience, ginger tea, tums, and crackers I was able to deal with it. Then everything got bad. The reflux was bad. I couldn't eat anything except snicker bars. (I know that's insane, but it's true!) I went to a gastroenterologist, and she prescribed me dexilant. I was skeptical, but desperate and it was like a miracle. My stomach aches, nausea and reflux were totally gone! I could eat anything I wanted. This blissful time went on for about 2 years. Fast forward to about a month ago and things go bad again. I was regularly taking my dexilant but I was getting terrible reflux. I couldn't even digest BROTH! chicken BROTH!!! So I got fed up and went to my bariatric doctor. He said it was time for the band to go and I was not alone. I felt so much better hearing that from him! He said my symptoms would almost immediately go away! I was so ready to get this thing out of me!!! So I had my band removed about a week ago. February 9, 2015 to be exact. The doctor said my body reacted negatively to having a foreign object in it and my stomach somehow made it like I had two lap bands? I have been trying my hardest to take it easy but the reflux is nowhere near gone! It's the same as before the surgery. I called the nurse and she said to take the dexilant until my tummy heals and then wean myself off of it. I am devastated. I was hoping to see at least a little relief, but that hasn't happened yet. So I sit here praying that my dexilant kicks in soon so maybe I can get some relief and eat maybe some applesauce. I haven't had solid food in a month and it's starting to take a toll on my emotional health. Does anyone have any advice for me? Is this normal? Will I have acid reflux for the rest of my life? Will I have to take dexilant for the rest of my days? I'm only 23, and I look forward to having children in the next couple years, but currently there is no way that can happen in my current condition. I'm scared, hungry, nauseas and depressed.

Not really. I'm on some nasty meds for acid reflux, but they aren't helping. I'm working with my gastroenterologist and we are trying to find the problem. My testing starts tomorrow with an endoscopy. I hope the problem is resolved quickly because it's been about three months since I've had food and I'm going crazy. My hair is falling out, and I feel weak all the time.

@detrmined2014 yeah. It's the worst! I hope you get some relief! How long until you stop nursing?

That's terrible. I'm so sorry for this, but it's great that you are keeping positive! I wish you all the best!

Thanks! Will do!!

Wow! I will do that! Thank you so much for the support. Any advice?

I will try that route but everyone in my family is worried, and I just cannot eat.

@@DDN before the surgery I was taking dexilant, and my nurse told me to keep taking it, but it's not helping at all. The reflux is so bad that I have trouble swallowing and keeping the pill down. The alternative is opening the capsule and sprinkling the contents on applesauce, but I cannot digest applesauce. I'm absolutely miserable. What is sucralfate? Is it helping any?

Yeah. @@nikki_lesueur! That's exactly it! But I cannot tolerate snickers any longer. That was before the band was removed. I can't tolerate anything that isn't liquid. I can't even eat mushies. I'm on an all liquid diet. I can't even have applesauce without reaching for the tums! I'm so terrified. And yes. The doctor said that the scar tissue around where the band was is the issue. They said they will consider dilation after I have yet another upper GI. What is the dilation? You've had it twice and it didn't help at all? This scares me. I hope we can get help!

@@jansluv wow. I've never heard of this before. Do you have it changed every 6 months? Or does your tummy need a break after the 6 month period?

@@lamulatona I will try. Thank you much for the support. I wish you well on your weight loss journey. May it be full of success and big losses! [emoji173]️

I'm trying not to get depressed but it's very difficult. I don't really want the lap band back, I'm scared of it now. I'm going to try to keep the weight off on my own. In the last five years since I've had it, I have found a new appreciation for healthy eating and walking. If that doesn't work for me, I may have a sleeve.

I have to wait and heal. I haven't eaten solid food in 4 weeks. I still am unable to eat. It's driving me crazy and I'm becoming depressed.

@@lamulatona I got really bad reflux. My body rejected it.

Honestly. Not too hot. I have serve reflux, and it's gotten worse since the band was taken out. I have to go back to the hospital for another upper GI, and they may have to dilate my stomach because of the scar tissue from where the band was.

Good. That you've been walking. I have different circumstances than you so you may not have any nausea with the pain meds. How are you today?

Yes. You should try and walk if you can. I had my band removed last week and the shoulder pain was worse than the incision pain! The only thing I could do to get relief was to to walk. I did not want to take my pain meds because I didn't want to get nauseas. Hope you are doing well!

What is a gastric ballon? Would someone mind enlightening me?

No. Sorry. I had mine placed in 11', but I was having some really bad reflux and had it removed a bit ago. I'm so glad to hear that it still works for some people, because right now my stomach is a disaster zone. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself!

Please update us. We are worried and praying for you!

Thank you so much for the encouragement. It does indeed suck! I'm really worried and so is my family! I love my weight loss, but at this moment I am sorely regretting having had the band.

It's so nice to discover I'm not alone! The indigestion and acid reflux are TERRIBLE! I had my band removed a week ago, and it's still not gone! I've been on an all liquid diet for a month and I'm so frustrated. It doesn't seem like the band is gone at all! I'l really hope you get the help you need. It was certainly time for my band to go! Best wishes!