THE SWEET SPOT
My journal on my expedition to Bandlandia and my adventures there. I plan to stay forever (been to Onederland many times, but I never stayed long). Join me!
My journal on my expedition to Bandlandia and my adventures there. I plan to stay forever (been to Onederland many times, but I never stayed long). Join me!
10/21/09 Feel the Burn
Posted 10-21-2009 at 12:42 PM by Band_Groupie
You're wondering what kind of exercise I'm finally doing...Ummm...No...I'm talking about that other burn...
No, not the UTI I got medicine for yesterday, but you're getting closer...
That acid burn...in my esophagus. I've got a case of Acid Reflux, Heartburn, GER (not to be confused with GERD)...I've looked it up (Dear Lord...She's been Googling AGAIN!!) and it's all interchangeable...whatever you want to call it...I've got a flare-up of it. Even if you've never had it, I urge you to read at least the symptoms below so you know what to look for and the red flags for when it is something more serious as reflux is the most common banding side-effects. Even if it's just reflux you need to get treatment quickly as the problem can escalate into something much worse as it can change the lining of your esophagus into a pre-cancerous condition and in some cancer.
Now I've got to tell you I've never had acid reflux before, so honestly I wasn't really sure what it was when it started as it started very subtly (I just thought I'd hurt my esophagus with something too big or eating too much that it had no room in the pouch and was backed up into my esophagus). I think I may have had heartburn once or twice in my life when I ate something weird, but I felt that more in what felt like my stomach and I don't think I've ever even taken an antacid that I can remember pre-band. I remember asking a question at the pre-op seminars I attended at three hospitals about this because I'd seen so many here talk about it (and yes, I've seen the other end where people with GERD were cured by the Band). I believe my question was more along the lines of 'Is there a higher incidence of esophageal cancer after getting the band?’ After all…I wasn’t all that concerned about developing a little reflux, but the more serious issues it might cause. No one knew the answer…I guess no studies have been done? I do know that this type of cancer is higher in obese people possibly because they have a higher incidence of acid reflux. So basically, no matter how you get it; acid reflux = higher chance of more serious esophagus problems. I need to nip this in the bud.
Bet you didn't know you have another 'sphincter' hee-hee
I did have an immediate problem with acid reflux in the hospital and they gave me Nexium there. On such an empty stomach and all those drugs and lying in bed, it didn’t surprise me to have that problem...I was just happy I wasn't vomiting (thanks to the Rx preventatives). I took the Nexium a few days the first few weeks post-op, but only once or twice since. I’ve had a few days here and there along the way where I felt some acid. It was usually after a meal with a big belch. Yep, I’m telling you…I think my main problem here is the hard belching bringing acids up into the esophagus. I’m still belching like a drunken sailor.
This past week I’ve noticed the acid burning getting particularly worse, and for the first time, consistent and even worse...escalating very quickly. I even noticed my glass of wine over the weekend burning a little near the end of my esophagus. Now I have burning with each burp and it just burns slightly in what feels like the back of my throat all the time. It was progressing quickly to the point where I may have been getting a tiny bit of that “globus sensation” (the feeling that something is stuck in your throat...now those threads on LBT where someone is asking that question about a stuck feeling all the way up in the throat are starting to make sense. Some have trouble swallowing even.).
The good news is I don’t have any of those other ‘tell-tale’ signs of being too tight or a slip that reflux can be a red-flag for…the biggest ones being the reflux problems at night and even in your sleep…from bad to worst: burning when laying down, coughing, gagging, sliming and PB/vomiting at night. If this happens, you're too tight. I have no problems at night.
The other red flag with reflux is getting tighter (sometimes much tighter, or a sudden onset of unexplained severe tightness). Usually this is accompanied with nausea/vomiting and sometimes pain. If this happens you should be checked for a slip. I’m still able to eat everything and a cup at meals.
If you have reflux problems at night or increased tightness with reflux call your surgeon immediately. So an unfill isn’t needed for me...at this point.
I spent a little time researching and guess what?! Those papaya enzymes (papain) we all bought to help us with our ‘stuck’ episodes (I carry those with me at all times, like heart patients carry their nitroglycerine), well they can help the acid reflux too (pineapple enzymes and kiwi also work and different ones seem to work better for different people). They aid in digestion and some have great relief with reflux using them. I’ve started with two per meal and can take as many as three, three times a day. There are also other supplements some recommend; orange peel extract available (called Citrus sinesis; seems weird when citrus usually is thought to burn), Licorice Root-DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice), and Aloe Vera that some use to soothe the heartburn. Some also swear by the old method of cider vinegar with honey.
I’m also back to taking the Nexium (the little purple pill), an acid preventative (and there are other ‘PPI’s-Proton Pump Inhibitors, out there) once a day until this clears up. Nexium has a ‘healing rate” of 71% at four weeks and 90% at the end of eight weeks if caught early, but it can also have other side effects (headaches being a common one- not good for someone like me already prone to migraines). Most also agree these shouldn't be used long-term. Not only do they just mask the symptoms, not cure the problem, but by stopping the production of acids your body needs to digest food properly you have a harder time absorbing nutrients like B-12. You also can harm your colon's vital immune system. So I’m hoping not to be on it long. Oh, and you should know, some have problems when you stop a PPI suddenly as it can cause a sudden over-production of acid- even people without reflux had this problem when stopping cold turkey in the study that came out this year (ask your doc about all this first, I’m no doc).
I hate adding more pills to my daily intake while it seems like everyone else losing weight is getting off of theirs. Sidenote: saw the PCP for my seasonal flu shot and a UTI yesterday…my BP is still 90 on the bottom no., so no getting off the BP pills yet (and the CNP whom I haven't seen in a year couldn't say enough about my weight loss and how different even my face looks-nice NSV).
I think a big part of my plan has to be slowing down the eating process. I’m doing really well with the chewing now, but I get impatient and since I don’t often get stuck just from eating too fast I haven’t learned the lesson of slowing down consistently. I do know that I burp the most when eating and right after a meal and I get really big, hard burps when I eat fast…it’s like I have to burp to let some air up the funnel so the food can go down. Slowing down might help that, we'll see. I'm also very carefully measuring my 1C of food each meal (which I've usually do) as reflux with a band can be from having so much food in your pouch that the esophagus sphincter has trouble closing properly...you can even stretch your esophagus, not just your pouch.
I’m not having problems at night, but I’m still going to make sure I have nothing in my pouch when I go to bed. They say water helps to dilute the acid and I’m always trying to get all the water I need in, so I’m going to track this for awhile as well and push fluids. Of course with the diet; limit alcohol and caffeine, citrus and tomato products.
The plan (LOL like my plans always work out) is to continue a few months with the above as long as nothing worsens (the Nexium works immediately-it feels better already, but as I said above can take eight weeks until things actually heal) and until this heals...and if not, I’ll call the doc. Hopefully it will work and I can discontinue the Nexium and hopefully then the enzymes as well…we’ll see.
I'm burning up peeps!
Total Comments 9
Comments
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A LOT of great information there! Thanks for letting us know what you're doing about it. I honestly wouldn't have had a clue before reading your post. I hope it gets better for you quick!Posted 10-21-2009 at 12:58 PM by arkansasbandster
- Another great post! thanks BG for all the useful info.Posted 10-21-2009 at 03:40 PM by katieocean
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Oh, wow was this a good read folks!!! Hope all works out BG.
I love tomatoes, have about 24 ounces of coffee a day (it is a lot huh) I know and not much citrus or alcohol. I have started slowing down even more my 1/2 a cup of food (4 ounces) takes me over a half an hour to eat. It is crazy? I just have to go really slow or I get stuck. I chew like a COW, I sometimes swallow only half of what is in my mouth and then wait and swallow the rest in a few seconds. I have been drinking the water trying to get it all in, but it is hard. I have been having the other kind of gas. The other end. LOL. You just can't take me anywhere I blame the dog!! Maybe it is what I am eating that gives me the gas? I do not burp at all and I never have. If I try to burp more than air comes up usually. I may be saying just a little too much here. Sorry..... I just love your blog BG you are the best ;-) Made any soup lately? Have a nice night. imaluckydogPosted 10-21-2009 at 06:25 PM by imaluckydog -
I just love your blog! Thanks so much for taking the time to post this information. It sure helps people like me in the start of this quest.
Hope you feel better soon. :) AmandaPosted 10-22-2009 at 08:45 AM by 4x4 Moma -
thanks for sharing all that info! I've had reflux for years, and now I have Barrets Espohagus, the reflux was caused by a rare type of hiatal hernia, it was a combo or they refer to it as a "Mixed hiatal hernia" of Paraesophageal/sliding hernia. Caused me pain for years, and because of the band, they found it. The Paraesophageal could have actually killed me, so I'm thankful they found it.
However, since I now have Barrets Esophagus, the acid reflux I get really does a lot of damage, so I do everything I can not to get it. I try and not eat too late and then that helps. If I eat late, no medication helps, and it is very painful. I've learned my lesson the hard way. lol.
Thanks for sharing all your research.Posted 10-22-2009 at 10:29 AM by Sunshine2 -
Please get checked out if the Nexium doesnt work. My dad had esophageal cancer. That type of cancer goes straight to your liver and then theres little that can be done. His Dr did not completely check him out and prescribed nexium for it When actually it was a bigger issue then that. I dont think you have cancer but it is always best to get checked out. Also my dad was a heavy smoker which did not help. He had just turned 60 when he passed away. Just please gPosted 10-22-2009 at 11:17 PM by sherenee - get checked out. Love your blogs and animations. Keep me posted or I'll keep reading your blogs to keep myself posted. lolPosted 10-22-2009 at 11:18 PM by sherenee
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What a great blog...I bet a lot of people are struggling with the same issue.As a backup career, you might consider medical writing...good luck I hope you can get some real longterm relief..DPosted 10-23-2009 at 11:00 AM by xavier -
Haven't felt it at all after starting with the 'plan', so good news (but I know it's probably just masking until things heal)...and I won't hesitate to call the doc if it doesn't heal soon (nothing to mess around with).
LOL Xavier- Yeah, and I got my license on the internet too LOL. I always walk the fine line here between sharing what I found out and putting disclaimers all over it...I always check more than one source, but IT's THE INTERNET (so it must be true LOL). ;-)Posted 10-23-2009 at 08:27 PM by Band_Groupie
Updated 10-23-2009 at 08:32 PM by Band_Groupie
