Allergies and the band

[emjay 8]

I am almost 2 1/2 years out and this year I've had alllergies to ragweed for the first time. It is really high right now and I've noticed that I'm not able to eat as much and I've had a bit of reflux at night. Could be eating too late, but each time it was a small meal at least 2 hours before bed.

I did drink Propel about 1/2 hour before bed the first time. Last night I just noticed I had to cough, but not really a regurgitation of Fluid. Anybody had a reaction to allergies with the band. Developed tightness due to allergies? Just wondering if it's something I should be concerned about. Haven't been able to get out and get OTC allergy meds yet and see if there is any relief.

[klariade 7]

Are your sinuses stuffed up? If so, you're probably having post-nasal drip that is clogging up your stoma. Whenever I get a cold (which is often, because I teach elementary school and their germs are EVERYWHERE!), I get incredibly tight because all the glorious snot is clogging me up and I have trouble eating. Some bad colds I've had to do only liquids for a few days. My doctor said this is very common, and suggested a decongestant and drinking hot tea for some relief (it helps to open you up). Hope this helps!

[Autumn81 1]

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I was banded in April and allergy season has just begun for me. I haven't kept any solid food down for 3 days. My Dr. office suggested I take a decongestant, which I did, but this is miserable! I'm living on Protein Shakes, hot tea, and Soup.< /p>

[size10again 11]

I have had a lot of problems from seasonal allergies. My spring allergies were absolutely awful and even taking 3 different allergy meds per day I got stuck too often and needed a few deflates. This fall they started up to a lesser extent and at my last appointment I found out my band has slipped so I am totally deflated now. I don't know if the slip was from vomiting or the horrendous barking cough I had. Things have settled down now.

Drinking Hot Drinks or just hot Water several times a day can help cut the mucous.

Good luck and proceed with caution!

Joan

[Lisa1967 0]

I would consult an allergist for your allergies. Immunoinjections may be an option before having to take another medication.

[size10again 11]

I would consult an allergist for your allergies. Immunoinjections may be an option before having to take another medication.

Have you had success with allergy shots? I have been thinking about pursuing them but the people I know who have had them have not had great success.

Joan

[Momto3redheads 18]

I have always struggled some with my allergies, but this year they are HORRIBLE! I had to go and have 2 cc's taken out of my band as I wasn't able to eat hardly anything solid for weeks on end...I am currently on week 4 trying to battle a nasty sinus infection, so things spiralled outta control for me, unfortunately. But prior to this I was taking Allegra and Mucinex and it WAS helping a bit...though I still felt slightly tight off and on due to the drainage.

It is definately NO FUN! Hang in there!

Kim

[emjay 8]

Thanks all - just wanted to know I'm not alone with this problem. Going to get some loratadine and see if that helps and lay off the Propel Water for a week and see if that helps. And eat earlier. Don't know if it's the Propel or allergies but those are the only changes I've made lately, so I'm going with that. Good luck to all! Keep the tissues closeby!

[cakegirl 12]

Have you had success with allergy shots? I have been thinking about pursuing them but the people I know who have had them have not had great success.

Joan

I had the shots about 10 years ago and can't recommend them enough! It was a 3-year process, but before the first year was finished, I was able to get a pet cat - something that would have been IMPOSSIBLE prior to the immunotherapy injections.

[sexymomma001 12]

So glad I found this...I did not know what was going on with me....I guess i can look to losing some weight for my upcoming birthday november 28th....I just became so tight and did not know why...Havent had a fill in months.....

[Skyvic 226]

Wow glad I stumbled on this today. After 6cc band filled last week, I am so restricted. But in addition ice had sinus drainage and a headache, not feeling great. Ill take a decongestant see if it helps. In meantime I guess Soup, Protein Shakes, applesauce, cream of wheat, yogurt and other softies. Don't want an unfill.

[Amanda460 0]

Emjay,

There is an oral allergy associated with a Ragweed pollen allergy. If you're allergic to ragweed pollen, eating certain foods will cause some swelling in your mouth and lips. This lasts around 10 to 15 minutes and goes away with no long-term issues. Normally, this is all. It doesn't effect your stomach enough to notice.

With the LAP Band, these foods can cause swelling of the area around your band, tightening the opening.

I was having trouble eating pretty often and food wasn't getting stuck but it was getting very uncomfortable and caused me to stop eating until the feeling went away. I knew I had a ragweed allergy because I'd experienced the swelling in my mouth and lips but eventually realized that it was probably effecting my stomach as well.

I tested this theory several times to see if the foods I'm allergic to were causing an issue. Avocado is one of the foods on the list. I tried a sandwich with guacamole and had problems almost immediately. I drank a little bit of Water, waited an hour then tried another sandwich without guac and had no issues. I've tried several times and had the same result.

Here's the list of foods known to cause an allergic reaction in people with ragweed allergies:

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Honeydew (All melons are an issue. This is just a short list of common melons.)

Avocados

Cucumbers

Bananas

Zucchini

Sunflower Seeds/oil

Chamomile

Echinacea

Green pepper

Paprika

Artichoke

Hibiscus

If you've eaten any of these and had an issue with your band immediately after or within a few hours after, its probably the food itself causing the problem, not the ragweed allergy in general. Some people have worse reactions to certain foods than others. I can't eat cantaloupe AT ALL but I'm usually ok with zucchini. Cooking the foods also reduces the likelihood of reactions.

Sunflower oil and paprika are sometimes hard to know about ahead of time but have caused issues with my band before.

Try avoiding these foods and see if your issues go away. Good luck and hope this helps!