choking in your sleep

[DeniseG 3]

I use to have sleep apnea....and I am hoping it is not coming back but, I have noticed that I can no longer eat within 2 hours of bedtime (I know it is not good to do that anyway) because in my sleep I will burp and I end up choking on my saliva. There have been many a night where I have gasped for air thinking I was going to die because the saliva goes down the wrong way because I am not concious when I burp of what is happening. I end up spending a night in front of the sink throwing up. After a glass of milk I feel better but, it is extremely scary.

Does this happen to anyone else? I have had the lapband for almost 4 years and I never noticed this until recently. I rarely ever throw up in my waking hours (sliming throw up maybe twice a month?)

[vluckey 1]

This has happened to a lot of people including myself. I had other complications which resulted in tightness so I had to get my band replaced.

What my doc does for people in this situation is a total unfill for a period of time. I wouldn't wait to have this done if I were you as this can actually cause you to get pneumonia.

I wouldn't wait for this to go away, especially since you've had your band for so long. You tummy might just need a rest.

[TerriDoodle 6]

I have noticed that I can no longer eat within 2 hours of bedtime (I know it is not good to do that anyway) because in my sleep I will burp and I end up choking on my saliva. There have been many a night where I have gasped for air thinking I was going to die because the saliva goes down the wrong way because I am not concious when I burp of what is happening. I end up spending a night in front of the sink throwing up. After a glass of milk I feel better but, it is extremely scary.

So why do you do it when you know you're not supposed to? I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but I just don't understand that.

[Wisegrl 0]

I had the same problem and had to get an unfill for about a month. I would get unfilled and give your stomach a rest like Vanessa said, because it is NOT fun losing sleep and puking all night. I was to the point of keeping a cup by my bed and spitting up about 5 or 6 times a night, averaging waking up about once and hour. I was really cranky and to the point of being scared of going to sleep. My doctor took out about half and then filled me a month later with about a fourth of what he took out. I am still hungry but I am opting to wait. I would rather not lose any more weight right now than have to be repositioned. I also don't have the money to do that. I understand about eating close to bedtime. I had my surgery a year and a half ago and old habits die hard. Since my nighttime problem, I now quit eating two to three hours before bedtime and it is SO worth it. When I am tempted to put something in my mouth so close to bedtime, I think of the consequences and it stops me. It is hard though when you have your habits.

[JosieK 120]

hi denise

when i first was banded....i was having trouble keeping anything down for weeks. i had a problem with PB's at night and ended up getting aspiration pneumonia...it wasnt fun. and actually quite serious

[Alexandra 55]

Denise, you're having reflux and it's a sign that your band is too tight or that your esophageal sphincter is relaxing and allowing material to back up into your throat while you're lying down. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. This could lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia or esophageal lesions. Please don't let it go on for long.

People talk about raising the head of your bed to let gravity help, but in my experience the only thing that allowed me to sleep when things were bad was to sleep in a reclining chair. Not fun.

[Wisegrl 0]

What is aspiration pneumonia?

[JosieK 120]

hi

aspiration pneumonia is when whatever backups into your mouth goes down the wrong tube into the lungs. it then causes infection. i was coughing, had fever, very lethargic

denise is right about the recliner.... for 2 nights i had to sleep on the recliner until the antibiotics starting working. it was nasty

[ette16 4]

I have had the same problems. I have not have my band touched for almost four months now. I feel the tightness is right where it needs to be. A couple of months ago, I had this problem every night for about a week. Then it stopped. But then occasionally, it will happen again. In fact, it happened to me on July 4th. But I hadn't eaten anything for like 12 hours! And when it does happen, my lungs are in pain the next day. When I breath in, it will hurt in my chest and back. I haven't talked to my doctor about it, because it doesn't happen as much. But if it happened frequently, I would. I wouldn't be able to deal with it, if it happened nightly. Not to mention, the tightness of my band is always changing. One day, I am able to eat a good amount. Other days, it's hard keeping things down.

[divaliciousdee 0]

I recently had the same problem. A slight unfill did the trick. I didn't have to have a total unfill. DO NOT EAT SO CLOSE TO YOUR BEDTIME!!! I had gotten back into doing that and that is not good. Wisegrl I hear ya about the cup at your bedside that was me all night long, the slight unfill did the trick and I am doing okay so far...it has been about a week now.

[Terri-ific 0]

Im so glad to hear that I am not the only one that this is happening to!! I was afraid that I had caused this to happen by doing something wrong. I am sooo tired of waking up in the night with slime all over me and my sheets. I have called the dr but I don't feel that I am too tight. Has anyone noticed if there is anything in particular that you eat that makes it worse? Mine seem to happen when I have some Coke (flat, of course) Thanks so much! Terri

[TerriDoodle 6]

Are you eating within 3 hours of bedtime?

[DeniseG 3]

Wow, I didn't realize it could be that serious.

As far as eating 2 hours before bedtime (I didn't take anything out of it lol) I don't purposefully do it I work nights and when I get home I have my dinner and sometimes I will fall asleep on the couch sooner than I thought I would. Unfortunately with my job I only have 30 minutes to eat (only one break in 8.5 hours) and I usually have to avoid eating anything substantial because I can't eat fast due to the band so, when I come home I am starved. I am fine when I am on the couch (but, I am elivated) it's when I lay down in the bed I have a problem. This week no problems though

I haven't had an adjustment in at least 2 years so, I don't think I am too tight...but, I have gained weight so, maybe I have accumulated fat around my band and it is tighter than it was 2 years ago.

Thanks for all the info guys!!!