Reflux redux?

[GreenChrysalis 1]

My apologies, I didn't see anything that just covered reflux without other symptoms.

I'm afraid I've stretched my pouch or have a slipped band, but the only symptom that I have is reflux. I've read and read here, and other people mention vomiting, coughing, being unable to swallow their saliva, severe pain, loss of restriction. I have none of that. I'm still eating the right amounts of food, if not always the right types of food. :thumbup: Restriction is still good.

But for the past few days I have had mild reflux no matter what I eat. I went on liquids for a day and still had it. I had severe acid reflux prior to being banded, but it went away afterward. I was able to eat things that I had to avoid previously, such as jalapenos. This reflux is nothing in comparison, but it's worrisome. It does go away with antacids, but it always comes back. I can't think of any specific incident where I ate too much. I haven't had a PB in months.

My doc is a bit on the far side, so visiting him requires taking a half day from work (which is difficult), but I'm thinking I should go in anyway just to get reassurance. Is it possible for reflux to come back without having a band complication? Could it be caused by something else? Could I have a band problem and just have this very mild symptom as opposed to the severe ones I keep reading about? Thanks.

[Cleo's Mom 257]

Like me, you could have developed a hiatal hernia as a result of the band. An upper GI or endoscopy would show this. Plus, you should be on some PPI - like prevacid or nexium to help control the acid. I had reflux, not necessarily heartburn, and no other symptoms. Look at my two other posts on complications. Good luck.

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Thanks for the reply Cleo's Mom. I have an appointment for Tuesday. Hopefully it's not a hiatal hernia or anything else, but I need to find out ASAP what it is.

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Well, I'm glad that my appointment is this afternoon, because it has gotten worse. Last night the reflux woke me up at 2 am, and I was choking and coughing. Also twice over the weekend I had pains that reminded me of the gas pains I had a few weeks after surgery. I'm scared and worried. Whomever reads this, please think good thoughts for me.

[bamboobabe 0]

Green- My positive thoughts are with you. I have had problems with reflux that developed as a result of being too tight. My doctor did a scope, which showed no slips or hernias, but did put me on Prilosec along with a small unfill.

Now I can't get fills of more that .10cc at a time.

Good luck today.

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Thanks Bamboobabe. I feel a little alone with this problem -- fewer people want to talk about this kind of stuff, it seems.

I can't imagine it's just that I'm too tight, as my last fill was in November. But I'm really hoping that it could be treated as your reflux was -- partial or full unfill, Prilosec, etc. Are you feeling "normal" again now? Of course I have thoughts of erosion, slips, hernias, etc in my head but I have to just wait and see what he says. Thanks again.

[AngelaW 0]

Your symptoms describe me to a "T". I also had severe heartburn prior to banding and it went away for almost a year. I have just within the last month or so started waking up with the burning sensation in my throat. I tend to cough it back down...but it is very bothersome.

I made an appointment as well for next Wednesday. I know I am eating more than a cup's worth of food at a sitting...and I have gotten a little lax where my band is concerned. I am praying that it is not a slip or anything that requires further surgery.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Edited March 17, 2009 by AngelaW
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[GreenChrysalis 1]

Hi wantitbad. Glad I am not the only one. The reflux I am having now is actually worse than the reflux I had pre-banding...especially because before, it was usually when I ate high acid or spicy foods. Now it is all of the time. Very uncomfortable!

I am pretty sure I'm not eating more than a cup, but I might be on occasion. I think it's typical to get a little lax once you're over a year out. I will be thinking of you and appreciate your good thoughts. I'll update here whenever I find out.

[AngelaW 0]

Wow! GreenChrysalis, we were banded on the same day.

This band is sometimes a scary thing. I think about that when it is a bit painful to eat, something gets stuck...and especially now with the return of heartburn and having "stuff" come back up in my throat.

I hate borrowing trouble, but I can't help but now feel like I may be damaging my tool! I also haven't had a fill in months. I think I started off a bit aggressive...wanting to get it off real quick like, lol. I had to stop with the fill after fill and just give it some time.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I got lax! I have not had any weight loss in quite a while. Actually, I have gained 4 lbs. I am eating a little more than I should and not making the healthiest of choices. I know I am probably in need of a fill, but with this hearburn issue, it is doubtful I will be getting one.

Take care!

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Wantitbad -- almost banded on the same day. Looks like you were a day earlier. :sneaky:

Here's my UPDATE after my doctor's office visit yesterday. He thinks I was too tight. I was confused at first as to how this could be. My last fill was in mid-November. I've had great restriction since then. In addition, I've had no problems keeping food down. I haven't been vomiting. I've read/heard that people who are too tight sometimes can't even keep down saliva. I haven't had much of an appetite, but I attributed that to the reflux and pain.

Anyway, he felt that somehow my stoma got irritated enough to cause tightness and reflux. So he suggested we take out a little saline (about 0.5 cc, so he basically took out my last fill) and see if that helps. He also switched me to Prilosec since it is a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). I thought he might prescribe Nexium or one of those, but he said that Prilosec is just as good as the prescription ones. It's just OTC because the patent expired. The Prilosec is a two-week course.

If I don't get relief from that, then he'll order an upper GI to look at my band. He said that I would need a total unfill if the band looks fine, otherwise we'd cross that bridge when we came to it.

He was very reassuring and really did not think I'd had a slip, but he did stress not to hesitate to call him if I wasn't getting relief. If everything clears up, I could come back and we could try a small fill if I'm not losing weight. I am so close to goal weight, he thinks that we might have to play around with it more to keep me losing without being too tight.

I took my first Prilosec last night before dinner and I slept through the night for the first time in almost a week. I haven't had any reflux or pain since, so I'm really hoping the combination of that and the slight unfil does the trick!

[AngelaW 0]

YEAH!!! Good for you! I hope that the slight unfill takes care of your issues. What a relief!

I was banded on the 14th. Wow. I just noticed when you said that...that I had the wrong date on here. LOL...been posting for a year and never noticed.

Thank you for the update and keep us posted!

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Well, I continue to feel just fine since Tuesday. :tongue_smilie: Taking my Prilosec every day, eating with no problems. I'm trying to really watch my portion sizes because I'm worried that the unfill will slow down my weight loss. But I'm still exercising and things are going OK.

Wantitbad, I hope that you get relief soon & keep me posted about what happens.

[armywife4life 0]

hi green, glad your feeling better im also on prilosec. my problem is im freaking neauseas on and off thru out the day. did you also experience this?? I have had a complete unfil as of last monday. But feel like crap

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Hi armywife4life. I didn't experience any nausea. Just reflux and pain. I hope that the unfill resolves things for you!

[AngelaW 0]

GreenChrysalis,

I finally got to see my doctor today. When doing the barium swallow, the tech told me my band was almost completely closed and that I had stretched my pouch. She asked if I had been vomiting alot lately. Nope...not at all.

I am now completely unfilled. My doctor said that my band looks great, I just need to give it time for my pouch to shrink again. The only thing I can possibly think is that this is stress related (very likely) or that I ate something that irritated my band (more likely)?

I admitted to not following the rules....so! Now I am back to square one. Liquids! GAAA!!! I have but myself to blame.