night coughs

[taz 2]

Has anyone had trouble with night time coughs? I wake up needing to cough. It seems something isn't closing so that the contents of my stomach is seeping into my lungs. Is this dangerous? I'm afraid I've been a failure with the band. I'm a sweet eater and sugar travels easily through the band very easily.

Any information would be appreciated.

[Boo Boo Kitty 3]

It could be heart burn! I cough a lot because of it. I would get it checked out. Over the counter stuff didn't work for me, I had to get a script! Good luck!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Call your surgeon. Sounds like acid reflux and if it is it can, over time, damage your esophagus. Your doc can tell you what may be causing it (eating too late, being too tight) and he can help you fix it. Don't just leave it; it is something that's fairly minor if caught quickly but can be very problematic (esp with a band) if left untreated.

[Jachut 487]

Yes, this is pretty dangerous and must not be ignored.

Not only can it damage the esophagus over time, but you can cause complications such as pneumonia from aspirating stomach contents into your lungs.

You may be too tight, if this is a nightly occurrence, then you MUST fix it. You need an unfill.

If its an occurence that occurs following only certain behaviours, then note what those behaviours are.

I've woken up coughing precisely once in four years, but I've had a couple of nights where I've been uncomfortably aware of food sitting right at the top of my pouch, and unable to sleep deeply for fear of regurgitating it. Its ALWAYS after overeating (and not by a lot) at night, food too close to bed, and for some strange reason, whilst I can have a cup of coffee after dinner, my DH likes a hot milo (bit like activite) and this always causes me these symptoms.

Till you fix it, sleep propped up a bit, try not to lie flat.

[Erin18 143]

I thought I was dreaming and I had a very horrible cough and then I woke up and I was doing it in life! And really it was a bad cough it sucked! Ok I'm getting worried I really want to see my dr but he's on vacation and I don't know how long. I guess I've had reflux for 4 days now and my stomach feels like I've been punched also I haven't really had an appetite since Friday night. People said if I have reflux that my band is too tight and I have the kind of band that has the fill in it at time of surgery, people also said that if they have that kind of band they should take the Fluid out if they have reflux cause some people can't handle it during their healing time, and I guess I'm one of them, I've had nausea the night I got out of surgery til the Saturday (week after) surgery because I had better nausea pills then I felt fine 2 weeks later and then I'm not feeling well for 4 days feels like i can't go anywhere without feeling sick to my stomach and I know it's gotta be the reflux well I'm kind of worried it slipped and I'm kind of thinking that maybe the band isn't for me? ): sorry for posting stuff that don't go in here

[taz 2]

Thanks for all your help. I'm working at not eating late. I will also call my doc.

[luluc 6]

Thanks for all your help. I'm working at not eating late. I will also call my doc.

oh please do taz.

i had gotten a chest infection & all the coughing had led to a lot of swelling & then reflux started in.

my band was all but emptied and i had to wait a month to see if the swelling went down.

i had a barium test yesterday & it went down fast / furious & was thankful to get a small fill.

along the way i have had a few issues, but never let it get too far out that a small problem got worse. while changing your eating schedule, i would still get yourself checked out.

[redrum602 2]

Hi All -

GO GET AN UN-FILL! The last fill I had was in March, so this sounds bizzarre - but do it.

I have been having the same problem over the last month and it has only gotten worse. I originally went to my LapBand doc, he took an x-ray saying my band may have slipped, but it didn't. Then he told me nothing is wrong with the band and to go to someone else to get treated for GERD.

I went as far as having an EGD today with a gastrologist, and he said everything inside of me looked fine except that my band seemed extra tight. He said he could barely get the scope camera through it!!

I am going in first thing in the morning to get an unfill. I am not sure how much yet (I have 8cc's in a 10cc band). And I am assuming that should give me relief asap.

[cplatinumlove 3]

I get night coughs. It not the contents of what you ate going into your lungs. Its the Fluid from the pbing while you are asleep. I just had night coughs last night because I ate just before I went to be (even though I know I shouldn't). My chest has been killing me all day! It's not dangerous we should just really try not to eat within 3hrs of going to bed and we should really sit up for a while after eating. remember its all on gravity.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I get night coughs. It not the contents of what you ate going into your lungs. Its the Fluid from the pbing while you are asleep. I just had night coughs last night because I ate just before I went to be (even though I know I shouldn't). My chest has been killing me all day! It's not dangerous we should just really try not to eat within 3hrs of going to bed and we should really sit up for a while after eating. remember its all on gravity.

Wrongo. It is dangerous. Ask your doc. An isolated incident may not be, but if it is a pattern, if it is consistent, it can cause issues with the band and with your esophagus.

Having your chest "kill you all day" isn't normal either. Optimism is great, and not being an alarmist is great, but your symptoms aren't minor.

[Unforgettable 0]

Wrongo. It is dangerous. Ask your doc. An isolated incident may not be, but if it is a pattern, if it is consistent, it can cause issues with the band and with your esophagus.

Having your chest "kill you all day" isn't normal either. Optimism is great, and not being an alarmist is great, but your symptoms aren't minor.

Exactly! It's dangerous for anyone, but especially those of us with the band. Get that checked out!

I just can't imagine having symptoms like this consistently, even if it wasn't dangerous, and being okay with that! Especially when symptoms like this, or other things I've seen on the board such as only able to eat 2-3 bites at a time, etc, are often caused by the band being too tight or our eating behaviors. I want to lose weight like the rest of us, but I will NOT sacrifice my quality of life! I want a normal life, and being uncomfortable especially when I'm trying to sleep just isn't up to my standards.

[mrlddst 0]

I had a problem with this. I would wake up choking and normally end up throwing something up. This was not from over eating or eating too late though. I had a barium swallow done last month and it showed that I definitely had reflux and that my band had slipped. So please go check it out!

[taz 2]

I really appreciate all your responses. I finally admitted I had to do something. I have an appt Monday. I'll let you know how it goes.

Tina

[losinit! 0]

:smile2: Yes i had that too. After the unfill syptoms went away immediately.

[taz 2]

I went to my doc. He wanted to take out a half cc. I was so nervous that I asked him to take out one. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with a half. I was just so tired of coughing at night and having to crunch up all my meds to get them down. I did say to myself that if I got to a point where I could take my pills I would work harder with my band. I'm trying. I can take my meds and sleep without having night coughs now too. Hooray! Thanks everyone.