Why Do I Need So Many Unfills?

[missthaaaang 9]

I'm not really sure if this is a complication, or not, but I definitely feel like it's not normal.

I got my band in Sept 2010. I have lost a total of 85 lbs and now weigh 135 lbs. I got a fill in May 2011. Then, in December 2011, I started getting alot of heartburn, I couldn't keep liquids down and night coughing so they took out 0.8 cc. I was too hungry & gaining weight back so they put back in 0.3 cc. After about a month, I couldn't take the heartburn, couldn't keep down liquids and night-coughs, so they took out a little more. At that point, I started taking Prilosec every day and still am. In April 2012, I was again having trouble keeping liquids down, heartburn, night-coughs, so they took out a little more. Now, it's August 2012.... I'm still taking Prilosec every day and I have modified my diet to avoid alot of the foods I know cause heartburn for me.... but I'm still having bad heartburn, still having night coughs and throw up alot of my fluids.

Has any body else had this happen? All this time, I've kept on losing weight.

I do feel like I consider the heartburn somewhat manageable so maybe I've been ignoring it or just treating it and living with it for too long. Any thoughts, suggestions & insight are appreciated!

[missthaaaang 9]

What I'm trying to say is that although the heartburn is constant the night-coughs and not keeping fluids down definitely is NOT. Why is that that all of a sudden, out of no where I am too tight?

[2muchfun 8,927]

Sounds like a question for your surgeon?

tmf

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

You need a heart to heart with your doc. This sounds like a slow slip where your stomach pouch and/or esophagus slowly start to stretch and eventually push the band out of position. It may just be a lot of inflammation from bad GERD but it needs checked out better. You at least need a swallow study to look at band position and stomach position and maybe an EGD. Refluxing that bad at night is super s art and can lead to aspiration which can lead to really bad things. Be careful and go see your doc!!!!

[spartanpower 8]

I found prilosec made acid worse I had them change mine. Over time your body can reject certain meds. You may just need to find another and cycle thru when issues occur.

[lageil 0]

Im having the same issue, but Ive had so many unfills that now Ive gained 20lbs..some days I can eat anything..like breads etc, the next day yogurt wont even go down...and EVERYDAY the heartburn is there. I did a swallow study and it was too restrictive so again, more Fluid came out...but it still continuing. Im miserable and am considering having the band removed. Ive had to little over 2 years, lost 80lbs now gained back 20. This has caused me to panic, and think I need it tightened but I am just so sick and tired of constant pbing and just being miserable and hungry all the time and mostly not being able to eat except for crap, like candy. For some reason, thats the only thing that likes to go down..go figure.

[cakegal 0]

I'm terrified my band has slipped. It was to tight and had a small unfill, it worked like magic. No acid reflux and no more vomiting. Recently I had a bad vomiting episode and I've had nothing but trouble since. I can eat, I feel fine, but four hours later my stomach starts to gurgle, and I feel like something is just at the base of my throat waiting to come up, I can't usually get to sleep until 4 am when it finally seems to settle, I feel normal again until I eat and the whole thing starts over. I stopped eating after 8pm, no help, then 6pm, still no help, I haven't had anything since 4 pm and now 11 hours later I'm up, my stomach is gurgling, I'm burping and when I try to fall asleep, propped up, I get acid reflux and then I'm coughing. So I can't sleep and I'm hungry and terrified that my band has slipped. I'm calling my doctor and requesting another unfill, Has anyone else had this happen, and was it a slippage, or how did you resolve it? I'm miserable!

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

I'm terrified my band has slipped. It was to tight and had a small unfill' date=' it worked like magic. No acid reflux and no more vomiting. Recently I had a bad vomiting episode and I've had nothing but trouble since. I can eat, I feel fine, but four hours later my stomach starts to gurgle, and I feel like something is just at the base of my throat waiting to come up, I can't usually get to sleep until 4 am when it finally seems to settle, I feel normal again until I eat and the whole thing starts over. I stopped eating after 8pm, no help, then 6pm, still no help, I haven't had anything since 4 pm and now 11 hours later I'm up, my stomach is gurgling, I'm burping and when I try to fall asleep, propped up, I get acid reflux and then I'm coughing. So I can't sleep and I'm hungry and terrified that my band has slipped. I'm calling my doctor and requesting another unfill, Has anyone else had this happen, and was it a slippage, or how did you resolve it? I'm miserable![/quote']

That sound such like a dilated pouch which may or may not accompany a slip, either way it needs checked out!! Good luck!!!!

[sarabelle 1]

I'm not really sure if this is a complication' date=' or not, but I definitely feel like it's not normal.

I got my band in Sept 2010. I have lost a total of 85 lbs and now weigh 135 lbs. I got a fill in May 2011. Then, in December 2011, I started getting alot of heartburn, I couldn't keep liquids down and night coughing so they took out 0.8 cc. I was too hungry & gaining weight back so they put back in 0.3 cc. After about a month, I couldn't take the heartburn, couldn't keep down liquids and night-coughs, so they took out a little more. At that point, I started taking Prilosec every day and still am. In April 2012, I was again having trouble keeping liquids down, heartburn, night-coughs, so they took out a little more. Now, it's August 2012.... I'm still taking Prilosec every day and I have modified my diet to avoid alot of the foods I know cause heartburn for me.... but I'm still having bad heartburn, still having night coughs and throw up alot of my fluids.

Has any body else had this happen? All this time, I've kept on losing weight.

I do feel like I consider the heartburn somewhat manageable so maybe I've been ignoring it or just treating it and living with it for too long. Any thoughts, suggestions & insight are appreciated![/quote']

Those of you with the recurrent heartburn and vomiting. Has anyone tested you for h pylori? It's a common gi bug that needs two weeks of antibiotics to treat. It's a simple blood test and sometimes a very simple answer. We've had a couple band patients in our practice (I work for Bariatric surgeon) with similar complaints, we're h pylori positive, treated, and then like new. Good luck!

[cakegal 0]

That sound such like a dilated pouch which may or may not accompany a slip, either way it needs checked out!! Good luck!!!!

Thank you so much! I did see my doctor and had some taken out. It was a miracle! Still have some restriction, but no more heart burn and I sleep flat on a pillow with out any problems! What a relief!

[cakegal 0]

Those of you with the recurrent heartburn and vomiting. Has anyone tested you for h pylori? It's a common gi bug that needs two weeks of antibiotics to treat. It's a simple blood test and sometimes a very simple answer. We've had a couple band patients in our practice (I work for Bariatric surgeon) with similar complaints, we're h pylori positive, treated, and then like new. Good luck!

That is very good advice. I had Fluid taken out, and it seems to have relieved the problem for now, but I will surely bring this up with my doctor next time I'm in, and keep the info in my back pocket should future problems pop up. I'm so grateful for this forum and everyones experiences!

[cakegal 0]

That sound such like a dilated pouch which may or may not accompany a slip, either way it needs checked out!! Good luck!!!!

Dilated pouch! Yikes! I'll read up on that and bring it up with my doctor. My biggest fear is a slippage, and will do anything to avoid it. Thanks for the heads up!

[adorkbl 156]

I think you need some testing done. I had those issue and had a hiatal hernia that needed to be fixed. There are multiple different things that could be causing your symptoms. I would not keep treating the symptoms... find out the cause. Good luck. Upper GI or an endoscopy... ask about it.

[cakegal 0]

I think you need some testing done. I had those issue and had a hiatal hernia that needed to be fixed. There are multiple different things that could be causing your symptoms. I would not keep treating the symptoms... find out the cause. Good luck. Upper GI or an endoscopy... ask about it.

That's great advice. I did have a large hiatal hernia fixed at the time of banding by my surgeon, and my husband has just switched jobs which leaves me with no insurance for 6 mo. But when I went in to have a unfill last week, I did mention that I wanted to deal with the symptoms for now and have some tests done when my insurance kicks in. I have learned not to wait to see the doctor, but I love all this advise because it gives me more to talk to my doctor about, and I feel more in control and will get the most of my cash paid office visit. Thanks for responding!

[SiSSi_829 0]

Definitely sounds like a slip. I had it and I couldn't stop the heartburn or the d act that even something as a teaspoon if Water made me vomit