Headache when eating caused by lapband restriction

[LynNBlueSprings 0]

I thought I'd post to see who out there gets a headache when they eat. If you do, have you found a way to avoid/lessen the headaches? I was banded September 2010 with regular fills until April 2011 when my port failed with a leak. It took a bit to get diagnosed and the port was replaced during another surgery and gradually the fills increased my restriction again. I did not have the headache problem from the time the port failed until I could feel pretty good restriction again after getting the new port. The more restriction the quicker the headache sets in and the more I push the envelope with food the headache worsens and spreads across my forehead and down my face. This does slow me down with my eating, even though results on the scale are stubborn. As food moves through the band, the headache goes away about as quickly as it set in. The doctor told me I am the only one of his patients with this headache problem and said it is possible a nerve is involved with my lapband, but doesn't seem to have any answers/help for me -- other than the nurse reminding me to eat small bites slowly and noticing the "getting full" signals, which for me is the headache. The headaches are associated with my restriction level and come on within the first three or four bites. Does anyone have suggestions/comments on this? Thank you for reading this and I hope someone has some information I can share with the doctor on my next visit.

[Cindy C 150]

I never heard of anyone having headaches from restriction. That's weird. Maybe you have something else going on like a pinched nerve. I was in a car crash when I was 21. As a result I had a headache that literally lasted for 8 months. Every minute of every day! My Dad's next door neighbor was a chiropractor. He adjusted my neck and the headache instantly went away. When I started seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis I stopped having headaches all together. You might try that..could help...certainly can't hurt!

[LynNBlueSprings 0]

Thank you for your post. The headaches are definitely caused by food pressing on the band/filling of the upper pouch. I am learning it is uncommon, but it has been persistently going on with me when my band has restriction of 7.5cc and higher. I was never one to have headaches, an occasional sinus headache is all. Now I can get them from even drinking liquids too quickly.

I never heard of anyone having headaches from restriction. That's weird. Maybe you have something else going on like a pinched nerve. I was in a car crash when I was 21. As a result I had a headache that literally lasted for 8 months. Every minute of every day! My Dad's next door neighbor was a chiropractor. He adjusted my neck and the headache instantly went away. When I started seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis I stopped having headaches all together. You might try that..could help...certainly can't hurt!

[overthemoon00 1]

you need to see a neurologist

[healthywoman 2]

Hi Lynne, Has your doctor done an ultrasound or any other diagnostic tests to check the band/stomach area? Maybe you have an erosion or possibly the band has slipped. There are nerves in the abdominal cavity that originate up in the neck area and spinal cord that might be associated with producing headaches. I would be sure to ask your surgeon about the integrity of the band itself before going on to another doctor. Then maybe you could get the opinion of a chiropractor or neurologist. Let us know what you find out. HW

[LynNBlueSprings 0]

Thank you for your reply and these are good things for me to bring up with the doctor. I first reported this to the nurse practitioner about a month before my port started leaking. I get a little nervous when with the doctor and had not brought it up with him until my last fill about a month ago. He did know about it though from a writeup in my file a few months earlier. I will see him again in about three weeks and wanted to be prepared to talk more about it and see what can be done. No tests have been performed other than to determine the port leakage back in April. I'll post an update if I get any more information. The band needs to be really tight to control my eating so I am reluctant to tell the doctor for fear that he won't give me a fill (it loosens up between each fill). I lost a good amount of weight before the port leakage problem back in April, but have only lost 2-lbs. since getting it repaired and really struggled not to gain weight back when I went without restriction for all those weeks. I am 45% away from my goal and am really discouraged. Good luck and thank you!

Hi Lynne, Has your doctor done an ultrasound or any other diagnostic tests to check the band/stomach area? Maybe you have an erosion or possibly the band has slipped. There are nerves in the abdominal cavity that originate up in the neck area and spinal cord that might be associated with producing headaches. I would be sure to ask your surgeon about the integrity of the band itself before going on to another doctor. Then maybe you could get the opinion of a chiropractor or neurologist. Let us know what you find out. HW

[genesishanna 2]

I am happy I found this post because the 2 time I feel like I overate, it was confirmed with a headache both times. Once my food was fully digested the headache went away.

[lovely29 19]

So i have fallen in the same boat when I have the full stuck and slowly pass her serious headache that radiates to my tooth or at least it feels like it. I'm getting paranoid any suggestions

I don't regret any decision in my life because at the end I will make it work

[nikkidcas 18]

I too get a headache suddenly if I eat too much. I'm only 11 days postop and just started on soft foods so I'm learning the cues my body gives when I'm full or too full. If I eat too quickly only to realize I'm too full I get a pain in my chest, left shoulder and a headache. All subside within 20-30 minutes. I'm getting better at measuring my food so this doesn't happen.