Guest guest Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Sheree, A temporary acid-reducer will do no harm, but you must see your band doc quickly for a diagnosis re WHY you are having reflux. Reflux is always a sign of band and/or stomach problems, and is especially dangerous in a Bandster. We must always be seen quickly. Simply reducing the stomach acid a bit does nothing to diagnose and treat the underlying band problem - the CAUSE of the reflux. Don't worry about a little less stomach acid temporarily. Stomach acid plays a small role in digestion, but many other things are more important. Lots of bandsters are on acid reducers temporarily and have no problems with " digestion. " The MOST important factor in good digestion is not stomach acid - but YOUR CHEWING. Chewing must pulverize food into a paste, and add lots of saliva which itself starts digestion. Chewing ALONE is responsible for more than 75% of good digestion. Almost all nutrient absorption takes place in the small intestine, anyway - not the stomach. Please see the document in the files called " Reflux " and make an appt to see your band doc very soon. In the meantime, please follow the guidelines in the Reflux document to help until you see your band doc.Please do not put the visit off - it could cost you your band. Sandy > > > > > > I went to see my doctor today (not my banding doctor but my general practitioner) who has prescribed mepradec - apparently this medication shuts off production of stomach acid (or reduce it) for the difficult symptoms I have been experiencing - such as the burning sensation in my chest, I have to shift around when I'm sitting or laying because it starts to get uncomfortable in one position as well as suffering a dry tickly cough and heart palpitations > > Does anybody know how you can digest food without stomach acid? > > The good news is that my doctor also said that if there were problems with my band then the NHS would take over the care - which is great news, he rolled his eyes in exasperation when I told him that despite being told that my gastric band " package " included a lifetime care element after two years post-op I am now expected to pay £50 ($70-80) per visit. > > It is nice to live in a country with a National Health Service! > > All the best to all of you > > Sheree > > > . > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Dear Sandy  Thanks for your advice. I did say to my doctor (my general practitioner)  that I intuitively felt that getting reflux could well be a " mechanical " problem with the band and he agreed, but he first wanted to try and see if switching off the stomach acid could at least resolve the esophagitis (which surely could not have occurred unless there was a mechanical problem!). I will probably be referred back for further investigation. I took one tab of mepradec last night and like magic felt comfortable again - joy.  The reason I cannot at present go back to my band doctor is purely expense - I will be charged a nominal amount of money that I simply do not have at present.  Excellent advice about the chewing by the way - I still lapse into swallowing things before they are properly chewed (rather like my dog who sucks food of her plate!).  All the best Sheree From: moonshadow.sandy <moonshadow.sandy@...> Subject: Re: Mepradec Date: Wednesday, 16 February, 2011, 0:51  Sheree, A temporary acid-reducer will do no harm, but you must see your band doc quickly for a diagnosis re WHY you are having reflux. Reflux is always a sign of band and/or stomach problems, and is especially dangerous in a Bandster. We must always be seen quickly. Simply reducing the stomach acid a bit does nothing to diagnose and treat the underlying band problem - the CAUSE of the reflux. Don't worry about a little less stomach acid temporarily. Stomach acid plays a small role in digestion, but many other things are more important. Lots of bandsters are on acid reducers temporarily and have no problems with " digestion. " The MOST important factor in good digestion is not stomach acid - but YOUR CHEWING. Chewing must pulverize food into a paste, and add lots of saliva which itself starts digestion. Chewing ALONE is responsible for more than 75% of good digestion. Almost all nutrient absorption takes place in the small intestine, anyway - not the stomach. Please see the document in the files called " Reflux " and make an appt to see your band doc very soon. In the meantime, please follow the guidelines in the Reflux document to help until you see your band doc.Please do not put the visit off - it could cost you your band. Sandy > > > > > > I went to see my doctor today (not my banding doctor but my general practitioner) who has prescribed mepradec - apparently this medication shuts off production of stomach acid (or reduce it) for the difficult symptoms I have been experiencing - such as the burning sensation in my chest, I have to shift around when I'm sitting or laying because it starts to get uncomfortable in one position as well as suffering a dry tickly cough and heart palpitations >  > Does anybody know how you can digest food without stomach acid? >  > The good news is that my doctor also said that if there were problems with my band then the NHS would take over the care - which is great news, he rolled his eyes in exasperation when I told him that despite being told that my gastric band " package " included a lifetime care element after two years post-op I am now expected to pay £50 ($70-80) per visit. >  > It is nice to live in a country with a National Health Service! >  > All the best to all of you >  > Sheree > > > . > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I KNOW MONEY IS TIGHT FOR ALL OF US, BUT PUTTING OFF NEEDED CARE IS NEVER THE ANSWER. band fIXES BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE THE LONGER WE WAIT.MANY HAVE LOST THEIR BANDS ALTOGETHER BY NOT GETTING THE CARE THEU NEEDED. THAT IS A PRETTY HIGH PRICE - MUCH MORE THAN A FEW BAND DOC VISITS. wOULD YOU NOT TAKE YOUR CHILD OR HUSBAND TO THE DOCTOR IF THEY NEEDED IT? WHY ARE YOU NOT JUST AS IMPORTANT? WHEN WE GET THE BAND, WE JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT IT needs REGULAR CHECKS. The COST OF THE SURGERY ITSELF IS ONLY THE VERY BEGINNING of band costs. THE MEDICINE DID NOT STOP THE DAMAGE, IT ONLY SUPPRESSED SYMPTOMS. IT'S ALWAYS OUR CHOICE WHETHER TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES OR NOT, though. GOOD LUCK - GLAD YOU'RE AT LEAST FEELING FEWER SYMPTOMS SANDY > > > > > > > > > > > > I went to see my doctor today (not my banding doctor but my general practitioner) who has prescribed mepradec - apparently this medication shuts off production of stomach acid (or reduce it) for the difficult symptoms I have been experiencing - such as the burning sensation in my chest, I have to shift around when I'm sitting or laying because it starts to get uncomfortable in one position as well as suffering a dry tickly cough and heart palpitations > >  > > Does anybody know how you can digest food without stomach acid? > >  > > The good news is that my doctor also said that if there were problems with my band then the NHS would take over the care - which is great news, he rolled his eyes in exasperation when I told him that despite being told that my gastric band " package " included a lifetime care element after two years post-op I am now expected to pay £50 ($70-80) per visit. > >  > > It is nice to live in a country with a National Health Service! > >  > > All the best to all of you > >  > > Sheree > > > > > > . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 sorry! new keyboard and I didn't know I was locked in caps!! not meaning to " yell " ! Sandy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I went to see my doctor today (not my banding doctor but my general practitioner) who has prescribed mepradec - apparently this medication shuts off production of stomach acid (or reduce it) for the difficult symptoms I have been experiencing - such as the burning sensation in my chest, I have to shift around when I'm sitting or laying because it starts to get uncomfortable in one position as well as suffering a dry tickly cough and heart palpitations > > >  > > > Does anybody know how you can digest food without stomach acid? > > >  > > > The good news is that my doctor also said that if there were problems with my band then the NHS would take over the care - which is great news, he rolled his eyes in exasperation when I told him that despite being told that my gastric band " package " included a lifetime care element after two years post-op I am now expected to pay £50 ($70-80) per visit. > > >  > > > It is nice to live in a country with a National Health Service! > > >  > > > All the best to all of you > > >  > > > Sheree > > > > > > > > > . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011  Dear Sandy   Don't worry - I assumed it was a technical rather than a personality malfunction!!  Good points raised even if in a loud voice ha ha.  All the best Sheree From: moonshadow.sandy <moonshadow.sandy@...> Subject: Re: Mepradec Date: Thursday, 17 February, 2011, 3:27  sorry! new keyboard and I didn't know I was locked in caps!! not meaning to " yell " ! Sandy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I went to see my doctor today (not my banding doctor but my general practitioner) who has prescribed mepradec - apparently this medication shuts off production of stomach acid (or reduce it) for the difficult symptoms I have been experiencing - such as the burning sensation in my chest, I have to shift around when I'm sitting or laying because it starts to get uncomfortable in one position as well as suffering a dry tickly cough and heart palpitations > > >  > > > Does anybody know how you can digest food without stomach acid? > > >  > > > The good news is that my doctor also said that if there were problems with my band then the NHS would take over the care - which is great news, he rolled his eyes in exasperation when I told him that despite being told that my gastric band " package " included a lifetime care element after two years post-op I am now expected to pay £50 ($70-80) per visit. > > >  > > > It is nice to live in a country with a National Health Service! > > >  > > > All the best to all of you > > >  > > > Sheree > > > > > > > > > . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I can't tell you how listening to the sound advice Sandy gives can make your life on the band a pleasant experience. If it weren't for the information I read here about too tight band symptoms which are acid reflux, night coughing, etc...I would have stayed miserable and probably given up completely....you do have a too tight band and the only thing that will alleviate that is an unfill and a resting period....one of the things you have to accept is the fact that the band is not a tool to stop you from eating..it is there to dim the hunger..the rest you still have to do for yourself..you have to make smart food choices and you have to control your portions on your own....relying on a too tight band to do that for you will cause all these symptoms you described...i lived it...i struggled with it and when i accepted the advice my life on the band became easier...i appreciate this group because my own doctor didn't explain this to me...the support group i go to does not explain this...this group explained it.. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I went to see my doctor today (not my banding doctor but my general practitioner) who has prescribed mepradec - apparently this medication shuts off production of stomach acid (or reduce it) for the difficult symptoms I have been experiencing - such as the burning sensation in my chest, I have to shift around when I'm sitting or laying because it starts to get uncomfortable in one position as well as suffering a dry tickly cough and heart palpitations > > >  > > > Does anybody know how you can digest food without stomach acid? > > >  > > > The good news is that my doctor also said that if there were problems with my band then the NHS would take over the care - which is great news, he rolled his eyes in exasperation when I told him that despite being told that my gastric band " package " included a lifetime care element after two years post-op I am now expected to pay £50 ($70-80) per visit. > > >  > > > It is nice to live in a country with a National Health Service! > > >  > > > All the best to all of you > > >  > > > Sheree > > > > > > > > > . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.