Upset stomach 2 years out?

[Leena 108]

I'm a little over 2 years out from surgery and am happy with my results. My issue lately, as in the last 3 weeks has been upset stomachs, more like really bad heartburn that wakes me up in the middle of the night. Tums have been my best friend lately. I'm not eating anything different than I was 3 weeks ago. Any ideas?

I'm putting a call into my surgeon this morning as interuptions in my sleep really get to me. And I'm starting to eat a whole lot less to avoid the upset stomachs. But then I have no energy.

I do feel a whole lot tighter than I was even although I haven't had a recent fill.

[Portola Suzanne 3]

I have read on here that any time you get the reflux at night it is not good. It sounds like you band tightened are you pbing? Anyway please go talk to your doctor because it can become a very serious issue if not taken care of.

[Leena 108]

Thank you so much. I called my surgeon; he's calling in a prescription for me and seeing me on Thursday. Apparently it's not all that uncommon. Just as long as I get in my calories and hopefully the meds kick in. I guess I'll know more on Thursday.

I haven't been pbing at all. I did actually throw up two weeks ago from it. And since then have avoided solids as they tend to upset my stomach more.

[bpicc 0]

I'm a little over 2 years out from surgery and am happy with my results. My issue lately, as in the last 3 weeks has been upset stomachs, more like really bad heartburn that wakes me up in the middle of the night. Tums have been my best friend lately. I'm not eating anything different than I was 3 weeks ago. Any ideas?

I'm putting a call into my surgeon this morning as interuptions in my sleep really get to me. And I'm starting to eat a whole lot less to avoid the upset stomachs. But then I have no energy.

I do feel a whole lot tighter than I was even although I haven't had a recent fill.

I am having a simular problem, heart burn, and reflux. I'v gained weight , but am afraid to get a fill because It will cause this problem to get worse. Has any one else dealt with this problem.

[bandfun4me 0]

Hi leena , I am 2.3 yrs out. sound like may be some erosion going on.I have hear that happens for some of us long term bandsters. Could be a little slip as well. Myself I am still 10 pounds from goal. Just to keep in perspective. Gotta have a new goal. I have had 11 fills. I have about 9.2 in my 10cc band. Good luck. hope your nights ease up..

[chicalynn 0]

are you having right side pain with your heartburn as well? Do you still have your gallbladder? I suffered for months with what we thought was heartburn related issues using antacids, etc...turns out it was my gallbladder. At the time of my gallbladder removal surgery, I was just at 12 months post-op with my band. Just a thought....good luck!

[Jachut 487]

I've been having a few issues like this lately, but also what I am sure are grumbles from my gallbladder - a couple of incidences of intense right sided upper abdominal pain and chronic but very mild diarrhoea since the start of the year. In that time, mild heartburn has reared its head too, I'm sure its connected because I've never suffered it before.

But I absolutely cant sleep well with much in my pouch. I dont get reflux or heartburn but a sense that its there, and I cant lie flat comfortably. Even too much liquid at night causes this for me, I limit it to one cup of coffee.

[sandylane 0]

That's a long term complication with the band. I had the same thing happen. I started throwing up in the middle of the night, heart burn, reflux, etc. They put me on meds for about a month and it didn't get better. Finally my surgeon took all the Fluid out of the band and it still didn't loosen. I had what they call strictures. It's when the stomach has been tightened for so long that it stays tightened.

I had to have a procedure done called endoscopic dilaton. They basically put a balloon down your throat and then inflate it. It stretches the stomach back out.

However, I have had nothing but problems since then. Now I'm having erosion of the band. My surgeon kept putting fills in and more fills but I never felt any restriction. He said I was at 14cc my band holds 16cc. Last week he withdrew all the fluid to see how much was in my band. There was only 4cc and it was discolored.

Either the balloon procedure was expanded too far and busted the band or I'm having erosion, but that still doesn't explain the discolored fluid.

Also, because I had the acid reflux bad for about 3 weeks and then they put me on protonix and prilosec for a month with no relief, my esophagus is injured. I now have to take antacids forever to prevent Barrett's esophagus. Also a long term side effect of the band.

Keep me posted because I've been reading this forum for weeks and didn't see anyone else have these problems. Let's keep in touch to see how it goes.

I'm waiting on a call from my lapband surgeon today. They're going to do an upper GI to see if they can see the band inside my stomach. I've gained back all but 10 lbs of my original weight loss.