Hi -by the way I live in Kansas City also! Missouri side.

I was just wondering if you have ever been told you have a hiatal hernia?

The reason I ask is I had prior to band GERD it is where reflux scars your tract and makes swallowing hard. Sometimes you have to go in and have your tract stretched so you can swallow. I also had boughts on pnemonia that for some reason took many rounds of antibiotics and they could not clear it up-I still had all the wheezing.....

Several years go by I am still struggling with wheezing, pains, ect...My husband was transfered to Kansas City so I got of course a new doctor. One morning I woke up with terrible sharp stabbing pains and could not catch my breath. DR said go to ER. I ended up being admitted-they thought I was having a heart attack-I was not.

After a ton of test, even the ultra sound on my gallbladder came back good--DR ordered more test. One of those was a test that showed the gallbladder actually working. Mine was not-Alas one of the problems was brought to light.

Dr. then ordered another Endoscopy which I had just had surgery 1 month prior (endoscopy done then) and was a little put out that I was having another 30 days apart. Again it showed a large hiatal hernia....but did they fix it? NO..crazy

So when I went to the Surgeon for the LAP-BAND® I insisted the hernia be repaired....I can not believe the difference NO MORE WHEEZING, no more heartburn, no more pains in my back (which felt like someone stabbing me with a knife!) I can breathe like a normal person. I do not feel what I termed snap crackle and pop (i felt this often when I would try to take a breath in-which is why I kept going to the doctor for years thinking it was my lungs; and it was hard to breathe! I felt like I could not expand my lung all the way)

The surgeon told me he has performed hundreds of hernia repairs and mine was the largest he has ever seen. He said it was much worst once in there then the films showed him. It took a really long time to fix but I am soooo glad.

You may want to ask about this--may not be your problem but after all the time I felt miserable I am glad someone finally investigated further. I share this because I was being treated for something I did not have! I also was being in a way pushed aside because a film did not tell all the story. My moto now is to be in charge-it is my body and I do not have to be miserable I just have to find a Dr who will listen and investigate.

Also I am confused about being under 200 pounds and the LAP-BAND®; I have heard many people that are at 130-150 that the band helped them get to that weight. Maybe it is the type of band you have?

I hope you are able to feel better soon!

Christie