Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Can my lapband be the cause of my daily reflux?

    Related Topics
    Gastritis & Stomach Ulcers Heartburn/GORD
    I have had a lap band for 7 years and lately, I have been abruptly waking up during the night with severe reflux which continues mildly during the day with continuous belching. For several years I have had an ulcerated oesophagus (stage 2) and my Doctor has increased my esomeprazole from 20mg to 80mg with minimal improvement. Where do I go from here?
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • 2

    Thanks

    Dr Jason Wong

    Bariatric (Obesity) Surgeon, General Surgeon, Laparoscopic Surgeon, Upper GI Surgeon (Abdominal)

    Jason Wong is a skilled Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon with expertise in sleeve and gastric bypass surgery, gallbladder, hernia, endoscopic pilonidal, antireflux and emergency general … View Profile

    Your lap band may certainly be a cause of your reflux, which is a common side effect of a lap band.  I have certainly had patients who have had such severe reflux with their lap band that refluxate would sometimes even come out their nose.

    If you have developed oesophagitis from the reflux, this is certainly not good as long-standing acid reflux can lead to changes in your oesophagus that can ultimately increase your risk of oesophageal cancer.  Something to consider if medication has been ineffective, would be to have the band volume adjusted down, or if this then leads to further weight gain or if the band has been ineffective anyways, then considering revision surgery to something much more effective that would resolve your reflux, which would be a gastric bypass.

    I would certainly recommend seeing the surgeon who performed the lap band surgery for a consultation, or another bariatric surgeon.

    Kind regards,

    Dr Jason Wong

    Weight and Metabolic Solutions Australia

    www.lapsurgerybrisbane.com.au

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Questions

Empowering Australians to make better health choices