Hiatal Hernia or something else?

[SarahRN482 66]

I am almost 1 year post op and initially, I was doing fantastic. As far as weight loss goes, I have done very well, I'm down 147 pounds in 11 months. In February of this year, I started having issues with acid reflux. Prior to that I had had a fill in December and did well for 2 months, then bam, acid reflux. I went to my surgeon and had a slight unfill, but still continued to have problems, which I told my surgeon about. He blew me off and told me I wasn't following the band rules, so I took it all down to basis, continuing to still have issues. In March, I started having major pain, which turned out to be my gallbladder. My surgeon tried to blow me off about that too until I literally called their office everyday in misery because I couldn't even keep Water down. Finally, on April 18th, I had my gall bladder taken out. Surgeon says that gallbladder issues will not cause acid reflux (which I've confirmed with several other doctors as I'm an RN), yet I continued to have reflux to the point that a week after my gallbladder removal, he removed all the Fluid from my band. My lapband has been totally EMPTY since April, so 4 months now. I went back to my surgeon one more time after he removed all the fluid and he basically blew me off, told me it was all in my head, and sent me on my way. I AM MISERABLE. I continue to have acid reflux every single day. I wake up coughing and gagging, choking on regurgitation and even have it coming out of my nose. I have coughed bits of food up out of my lungs. I have constant nausea and a full feeling in my throat, like I have food stuck in there. I don't eat badly, I follow the lap band rules, and despite having an empty band for 4 months, I've lost 30-40 pounds in that time. I have tried EVERY OTC medication for acid reflux (Prilosec, even Rx from the doc, Nexium, Zantac, Prevacid, Tums, Rolaids, etc etc etc) and I've even resorted to drinking baking soda in water (which is absolutely the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted in my life). None of it works more than a few hours. I'm lucky if I sleep 3-4 hours uninterrupted at night. I'm happy with my weight loss, but I am sick and tired of living like this.

I have not been back to my surgeon since the end of April. I also have not heard one single word from his office. The crappy part now is that it's going to be very difficult to find a surgeon in the area to take me on as a patient because they don't want to take on someone else's "mess". I had an appointment scheduled with my primary doctor in early September but I called today and moved it up to this Friday with whatever doctor could see me in their group. I don't know if they will refer me to a GI specialist or another bariatric surgeon, but something has to be done. I really think I have a hiatal hernia, and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if I had it before the lap band and my original surgeon did nothing about it. I'm 99% positive I haven't had a band slip because I don't have severe, sharp pain, just a gnawing ache below my sternum, and I am able to eat, although the amount is totally inconsistent.

Any insight or opinions are greatly appreciated, even similar stories. Thanks y'all!

[betty_s 476]

Sorry to hear youre going through that. I was having those issues pre-band. I would wake up in the middle of the night, like you, choking on stomach acid. I drank baking soda almost every night. I had my hiatal hernia repaired the same time i had my lapband put in and I havent experienced acid reflux since. Congrats on your amazing weight loss so far! Even being unfilled! I hope you get answers.

[hockeymother 178]

Wow! Your story is my mirrored life. If I didn't know, I'd swear I wrote that post. I have an appointment with my surgeon on September 3rd. I hope I get answers. I will share what I find out.

[SarahRN482 66]

Wow! Your story is my mirrored life. If I didn't know, I'd swear I wrote that post. I have an appointment with my surgeon on September 3rd. I hope I get answers. I will share what I find out.

As much as this whole situation sucks for both of us, it's nice to see someone else who gets what I'm going through. Honestly, the not sleeping is getting to me the most. Last night I went to bed at 10pm and was up at 2:30 literally gasping and choking to the point it woke my husband up. I ended up just getting up because there's no point in trying to go back to bed when I just wake up choking again. It's so frustrating to know that something is not right with your body but no one will listen to you.

I put a call in to a different bariatric surgeon today, so I'm hopeful that they will take me. One of my friends/coworkers is best friends with this surgeon's PA so he said he would put in a good word for me. The surgeon's nurse called me back this afternoon but I missed the call, so I have to give her a call back tomorrow. I'm still keeping the appointment with my primary care group on Friday, that way I'll have all my bases covered. I hate to be "that" patient, but I can't go on living like this.

[hockeymother 178]

I hear ya. I thought this was just the way it was going to be and I would have to learn to live with it. But to hell with that! When I lose sleep I can't function. I too get these spontaneous burst of acid coming up so fast it comes out of my mouth and nose. I can't take it anymore. Although, mine seems to go away until I have another stuck episode which seems to be more and more often. I'm not doing anything differently but seem to get this ball in my throat that feels like I have to burp. But it's not. Even when I chew like there's no tomorrow. I'm eating so little now that sometimes during the day I get lightheaded. I think I either have a hiatal hernia or my band has slipped. Either way I have to get this figured out. Please let me know if you find anything out and I will do the same.

Edited August 20, 2014 by hockeymother

[hockeymother 178]

Well as it turns out my band has slipped. I go in for surgery tomorrow morning to position it better. I am so looking forward to this to get back to to normal. So tired this heartburn and acid reflux. The good news is, that he reposition it rather than take it out completely.

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Well as it turns out my band has slipped. I go in for surgery tomorrow morning to position it better. I am so looking forward to this to get back to to normal. So tired this heartburn and acid reflux. The good news is, that he reposition it rather than take it out completely.

Do they have any idea what caused the slip? Good luck with the surgery.

Edited October 13, 2014 by JustWatchMe

[hockeymother 178]

Do they have any idea what caused the slip? Good luck with the surgery.

He doesn't know for sure but I think I know. I had my band put in May 2013. Great weight loss, absolutely no issues, very rarely did I get stuck. Until April 2014!!! I had one very bad stuck episode which caused me to thrown up all night to the point that it was acid coming up. Ever since this episode I've had problems. Getting stuck easily, can't eat some of the food I normally can eat, but mostly constant heartburn and terrible acid reflux. I even had all the saline taken out in July 2014, but that still didn't do it. So here I am 7 months later finally getting this taken care of. I waited too long to tell my Dr. what was going on.

Edited October 14, 2014 by hockeymother

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Thanks. I am always worried about complications of the band. I appreciate your sharing.