Leah68

It's 2 a.m. and I'm up after awakening from coughing and reflux. It has been months since I slept for more than 2 hours at a time. My primary care physician said it's reflux-induced asthma. My GI sent me for a barium swallow, but I haven't heard the results yet. I have stopped eating after 6 p.m., sleep upright in the recliner most nights (my husband has the patience of Job!), take prescription Prevacid, but I still have the reflux and cough. Even if I am fasting, I wake up choking on saliva, or have the tickling in my throat that produces the coughing. The band is not too tight because I can eat just fine. Dr. Spiegel banded me April 2005, then rebanded October 2005 due to slippage. Since the rebanding with the larger band I have had nothing but trouble. I've gained back 20 of the 40 pounds I had lost, endured overfills, underfills, and now reflux. When I called Dr. Spiegel's office for an appointment, I was told that he doesn't see patients like that, and I should drop off the x-rays and they would be in touch after he looked at them. I am now in the process of trying to get an appointment with a doctor in the medical center who provides patient care. I feel like I am floating without a doctor's care, but regular doctors don't know anything about the band. Dr. Spiegel is great for surgery, but I have had no luck in getting proper, analytical medical care. Has anyone else had a similar problem? I'm feeling very despondent.

Hi, Kelli. Thanks for responding! Your information is very helpful. The band is supposed to help with GERD, and it did with mine...it actually disappeared until the latest situation. There is great hope for you that you may get off asthma and GERD meds with the band. Let me tell you of my latest turn of events: I went to a different person for medical care. She said my band was so tight that nothing was getting through; therefore, it was backing up my esophagus. I told her that it didn't make sense because I could eat just fine. She replied, "I bet you can't eat in the mornings, yet around 4-5 p.m. you can pig out." I told her that was exactly right. She said it's very common when the band is too tight. Dr. Spiegel had continued to tighten it, saying that the reflux was possible when the band was too loose. She removed half of the saline, said to let my stomach rest for about 2 weeks, then we would start over with the fills using the barium swallow to ensure the fill was right. Unbelievably, I slept like a baby that night, and have had NO reflux since then. It is so critical that we have good medical care after the band is in place. Getting the band is only the start. I hope my situation can help others avoid the weeks and weeks of suffering I needlessly endured, not to mention the ilong-term mpact it may have had on my respiratory system. Good luck, Kelli, and thanks again for sharing!

It's 2 a.m. and I'm up after awakening from coughing and reflux. It has been months since I slept for more than 2 hours at a time. My primary care physician said it's reflux-induced asthma. My GI sent me for a barium swallow, but I haven't heard the results yet. I have stopped eating after 6 p.m., sleep upright in the recliner most nights (my husband has the patience of Job!), take prescription Prevacid, but I still have the reflux and cough. Even if I am fasting, I wake up choking on saliva, or have the tickling in my throat that produces the coughing. The band is not too tight because I can eat just fine. Dr. Spiegel banded me April 2005, then rebanded October 2005 due to slippage. Since the rebanding with the larger band I have had nothing but trouble. I've gained back 20 of the 40 pounds I had lost, endured overfills, underfills, and now reflux. When I called Dr. Spiegel's office for an appointment, I was told that he doesn't see patients like that, and I should drop off the x-rays and they would be in touch after he looked at them. I am now in the process of trying to get an appointment with a doctor in the medical center who provides patient care. I feel like I am floating without a doctor's care, but regular doctors don't know anything about the band. Dr. Spiegel is great for surgery, but I have had no luck in getting proper, analytical medical care. Has anyone else had a similar problem? I'm feeling very despondent.

After hours in an out-of-town ER and $100.00 wasted, I can tell you that ER doctors don't know what to do with band problems. Try to reach your lapband doctor if it doesn't improve. I agree with Kathy that you're probably not ready for anything but liquids yet. I'm so sorry that you're in pain.

I hope someone can help me understand what is occurring with my lapband. I awake constantly through the night coughing from aspirating. I have had this happen before when a fill caused me to be too tight, but this is not the case now. I can eat and drink as I'm supposed to. It doesn't feel like heartburn, but rather like seepage backing up when I lie flat. Any help you can give would be so appreciated! I am craving uninterrupted sleep. :help:

Thanks for the suggestions. I am trying that tonight. I really want to get this under control because the thought of a third surgery for the band is overwhelming to me. Do you ever burp up warm water when you've not had anything but water for several hours? Who else but your lapband friends could you ask that of!!?!

Thanks so much for responding, Parvathi and Dody. I did have a sleep study before surgery and since I lost 40 pounds, the snoring is much better. I am praying that it is not slippage...I've already had a revision surgery and am struggling to get my fills regulated so that I can start losing again. I will talk to my doctor, though. I appreciate your thoughts!!