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The Reza Band is now available in the US!

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Posted 3/10/2015 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

It's been awhile since I've been on the site but it's good to be back. I also just got back to work after being out for 3 months. I wanted to report that I just got the email from Kathy Duggan from Somnacare that the Reza Band is now available in the US. It has to be ordered by your ENT, GI or Primary Care doctor. www.rezaband.com

Best wishes and healing to everyone.

Steve
Posted 3/10/2015 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think it's covered by insurance as of yet but the device costs $300.
Posted 3/11/2015 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
Looks like an interesting device. Might be worth a try. Kind of annoying that you have to get your doctor to order it. Hopefully the docs won't tack on their own charge on top of the $300. It looks a little uncomfortable to wear, but I'd take a little discomfort if it kept the acid out of my mouth at night.
Posted 3/11/2015 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
I've always liked the idea behind the Reza band but I feel that in order for me to get benefit out of it I'd have to wear it during the day. Strangely enough, my throat is best in the morning, and gets worse as the day goes on. I emailed Kathy about the benefits of wearing it during the day, and she stated that it does have positive effects...although I take the paid spokespersons words with a grain of salt until multiple people in the same situation as me have validated the information.
Posted 3/11/2015 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Speden and LPR LPR LPR,

I also find it a little annoying that it has to be a prescription but they've already contacted my ENT (I gave them her information a few months ago) and she is looking into it. She's a Cleveland Clinic doc so I'm hoping there's not a lot of red tape involved. A few of our friends across the pond (UK) that participate on this forum have had access to the Reza band since about 2013 I think. A few have commented about it (GC1pink most recently) and I think I remember a few notes that it is actually pretty comfortable. I'll let you know if I get mine before either of you. :) I can't remember if it was on this forum or another but a woman commented that she wears hers during the day underneath a scarf and had nothing but positive comments to say about it. As an aside do either of you follow Dr. Thomas Lee's "All about LPR" blog? I know he had a recent post about the device. (http://allaboutlpr.tumblr.com)

Best of luck and continued healing.

Steve
Posted 3/12/2015 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not sold.


The problem with cricoid pressure is that in order for this to work, it needs to happen continuously which may make it unrealistic and impractical for patients who suffer from LPR. Continuously means 24/7/365. Not just when symptoms are present (because it's too late than).
Posted 3/13/2015 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Lprproblems,

I understand the skepticism but I'm at the point that for $300 I'll try it. The constant globus is beyond annoying. Even if it provides a little relief, I'll take it. What symptoms are you currently experiencing if you don't mind me asking? Is anything currently working for you?

Steve
Posted 3/13/2015 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Steve,

Do you know how to find a list of doctors that are set up to prescribe the Reza? It looks like the doctors need a pressure sensor, etc. to "fit" the device.

There doesn't seem to be a referral list of doctors on the website, so I'm wondering what the least painful way is to get one to try.

I was thinking of asking my regular doctor about it, but I'm guessing he won't have heard of it.
Posted 3/13/2015 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Speden,

My guess is now that Somnacare (the company behind the device) has FDA approval in the US, their marketing campaign towards physicians (particularly ENTs and GIs) is going to go into overdrive. I'm not sure how it all works but I'm assuming that once they get enough docs to commit, they'll update their website to include links to hospitals or private dr. offices (in various states) who are willing to prescribe the device. That might take sometime.

I personally sent my ENT all the information I could gather both electronically and in person so that she could review it for herself. (She had never heard of it. lol) I then asked for permission to pass along her contact information to the rep I spoke to earlier at Somnacare. She was fine with that. She called me later that day and was intrigued enough to be open to the possibility. When I got the email from Kathy D. saying that they were FDA approved, they had already reached out to my ENT. As I said before, she's a Cleveland Clinic doc so I'm not sure how much paperwork is going to be involved. My GI is in private practice but I'm not scheduled back in his office until mid-April.

I would definitely talk to your doctor. Is that your ENT or GI? I would reach out to either of them before your primary care doc. Hopefully they will be receptive and place the prescription for you. (Once they do their research of course and whatever else is involved to get things in motion.) I hope it happens soon for all of us who are interested. Best of luck and please let me know how things go. I'll keep you updated as well. Be well.

Steve
Posted 3/13/2015 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys.

I'd thought you'd might like an update from someone who has actually tried the device. I've had it now for about a month now, and since I was despereate I was willing to pay 750 dollars to get it imported. I've had a fundoplication about 2.5 months ago, and it has solved my GERD problems, but not my LPR. My remaining problem is a sore throat on one side and voice fatigue when I overuse my voice.

With my symptoms, it pretty much doesn't make difference no matter what I eat or drink. I can drink plenty of alcohol for example, and I feel no difference at all. There is only one thing that I can do to notice the symptoms to worse significantly. If I eat something greasy right before I go to bed, and I forget to take my Gaviscon, I wake up the next day and my sore throat hurts really bad and my voice worse. It then can take weeks to months for the pain and voice to go back to "normal"

Since I bought the device this has happened two times and I feel kind of stupid about it. The first time this happened I had the Reza band on with the normal preassure setting. The device did not help, and the next day I woke up with my voice and throat being really bad. It took about three weeks to get back to "normal". The second time, I had changed the preassure settings, and I had the device alot tighter on than you're supposed to. This time I fell asleep a litle bit reclined, but I'm now sure that it could have made a difference. When I woke up my throat felt just like it did when I went to bed. I don't know if it was the reclining bed, the reza band, the fundoplication or a combination of all three but that night I didn't get any reflux up my throat.

For people worried about the comfort of it, here's my experience: I have gotten uncomfortable a couple of times, but most of the times I really don't even think about it. When I've gotten uncomfortable I've just loosen the band a little bit, and the uncomfortable feeling has disapeared. As I've mentioned before I have the band much tighter than they tell you to, so that might be why I've felt discomfort.

So far I'm not sure if the band helps or not. I always wear it when I'm in my home, and ofcourse when I go to sleep. I don't feel that this is the miracle I was hoping for, but then, everyone are different. If i were to speculate, I'd guess that the device could be really helpful with people suffering from liquid reflux back up in the throat. Since I only have gas reflux, I am a unsure. What I'm sure about though, is that the suggested preassure of the device was not nearly enough to do anything. I was hesitant right away since it felt really really loose to start with. When you tighten it though, you can feel it applying preassure and possible doing some good.

My symptoms might not be very typical for LPR, but still I hope I could help someone out there. If you have any questions about the device just ask!

Jakob.
Posted 3/13/2015 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Jakob,

Good to hear from you my friend. I'm sorry to hear that you are still having issues. Your last two remaining symptoms are sore throat and voice fatigue. Did you ever have a globus sensation? I believe I have liquid reflux but I haven't woke up with the feeling of acid pooling in my mouth in months. I attribute that to my current medication regime. I guess my first question is and as Speden suggested, was there an additional cost above the $750 you paid? I'm sure I'll have more. :)

I guess I was hoping the device would assist with the globus sensation which in my case makes it difficult to swallow. I've lost almost 110 pounds (I was seriously overweight which was one of my original problems in the first place) because I limited myself to a liquid diet for the first few months. After both a barium swallow and a modified barium swallow suggested I had no issues with swallowing at all, I have been told that it is all in my head. It is just the discomfort that making me think I can't. I'm still hoping for a miracle at this point. :)

Best of luck and I hope your symptoms subside soon. Maybe another few weeks will make a difference. :)

Steve
Posted 3/13/2015 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Good to hear from you to Steve! I'm sorry I didn't read through all the questions before answering. I have never experienced globus as a symptom, which I understand is very common with LPR.

To clarify, I did not buy the device directly from somna theraputics, but from an English middleman called GDS Medtech. The price of the actual device was 400 dollars. Then there was the preassure sensor and an external manometer, which is used to fit the device. The price for these two were 200 dollars. Like I said before, I found it useless to try to fit the device by preassure, and I just put it on as hard as possible while still being comfortable. If you can buy the device without these accessories, I strongly suggest you do. The last 150 dollars came from tolls.
Posted 3/13/2015 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Gewarn,

No worries my friend. Thank you for the update. I'll stay away from the pressure sensor and manometer. :) not sure if it will help but black licorice tea really helped my sore throat. It has since gone away. Has your ENT or GI doc discussed options to help you with your remaining symptoms? Again I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing this. I hope you find relief soon.

Steve
Posted 3/13/2015 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Steve, have you ordered the device? Please let me know how it works out for you.

Yes staying away from the manometer sounds like a good idea. They were really serious about it, and said I had to go to a doctor to fit the device. In my experience, a 10 year old could have done it. One thing I have noticed is that I have to change the tightness of the band almost everyday. I don't know if my throat is more "swollen" sometimes or if I'm just more sensitive. As I said I just adjust so it feels tight but comfortable.

Thank you for your advice. Thats something that I've never heard of and I will definitely give it a try.

I've been to my GP maybe 10 times and been to 4 different ENT's. I believe that my problem is I keep getting to really old people. It's really astonishing, but none of the 5 doctors I've seen has even heard about LPR. They just look down my throat, says nothing looks wrong and then send me away.

I still have problems, but it's much better than before. Now for example, I'm sitting and drinking rum drinks and eating crisps. As I said my symptoms differ from most others, and I can't really feel my symptoms after I eat. If anything, alcohol actually makes my throat better.

So if I understood it correctly, your main problem is the globus sensation and trouble swallowing? Are you doind somewhat alright?

Jakob.
Posted 3/14/2015 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Jakob,

Not yet. I guess I was waiting for my doc to write the prescription and then I thought I had to pay the $300. Maybe I should just go ahead and purchase it from the site. I will definitely let you know how it goes.

A good friend had been going to the same doc for years. He's in his early 70's and kept telling her that her lump in throat, hoarse voice, burning tongue etc was just a virus. It had been almost a year before she and I talked about it. I told her that I was having some of the same issues and told her to try my ENT. She did and was then referred to a GI after she was scoped for the first time. It turns out that she had multiple things going on. You are right, it pays to shop around.

Glad to year your symptoms are better than they were. Here's to prayer that you are on the road to total relief. Yep the mucus and globus is too much. Some days are better than others. Most of the old symptoms (sore throat, tight throat, burning throat, waking up with acid pooling in the mouth, red swollen irritated throat, hoarseness etc) are gone for the most part, but every now and then they make a few brief appearances. All I keep telling myself is one day at a time. :)

Continued healing to you and all sir.

Steve
Posted 3/22/2015 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
I emailed the company to ask if there are any doctors in my area that can prescribe the device. I got back a nice reply, but they said there aren't any (around Boston). So it looks like that will be the challenge for those that want to try it.

It doesn't appear you can order it directly since it must be shipped to a doctor's office.
Posted 3/25/2015 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Speden,


Geez I'm sorry to hear that.  You might want to ask your regular doctor about the possibility of having Somnacare contact him/her directly.  Maybe your doctor will be one of the first in Boston to take a chance. (Here's to hoping..)  I still have a few weeks before my next appointment to see if my ENT is going to take a chance on it.  If not, then I am going to follow-up with my GI doc.  I hope that something falls into place for you soon.  Right now my globus sensation (it feels like a bump at the base of my tongue) is really flaring up tonight.  It used to be really prominent and felt more like a giant pill stuck in my throat but not as much these past few months.  The only problemn is it's still there constantly.  cry

Keep me posted.  Sending good vibes.

Steve

Posted 4/2/2015 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Jakob,

Just checking in. I go next week for my ENT follow-up to see where I stand. It's been a few weeks since you last posted and I was wondering if you had any relief since then? I hope so my friend. Please keep me updated on your progress.

Speden,

Any news from the docs in Boston? I hope you get cleared soon enough.

Sending good vibes my friends.

Steve
Posted 4/3/2015 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Steve,

I'm probably going to wait until they get a list of prescribing doctors up on the rezaband website. I'm sure they must be working on that, so maybe in a few months they will list one within a reasonable distance from me. I hope you're able to get one and let us know if it helps.

speden
Posted 4/3/2015 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Speden,

I agree with you. I'm sure they are working on getting as many docs as they can so I'm sure it's just a matter of time. If I get approved, I'll definitely let you know. Best wishes.

Steve
Posted 4/7/2015 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Steve.

It's been some time since I last checked in, I've been trying to stay away from the forums for a while.

I'm doing about the same as last time. I had some progress and then I went all crazy with my diet. I think my main problem is if I eat something bad right before I go to bed and forget to take my Gaviscon. That can really set me back months.

I've also stopped using the Reza Band. I've wearing it for maybe 2 months and I can't make any difference. I would think that it works best for people with liquid reflux that backs up in to the throat.

How are you doing? Have you made any progress?

Jakob
Posted 4/9/2015 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jakob,

I hear you in regards to staying off the forums for awhile. I check in every couple of days to see how people are doing. Sorry to hear that things haven't improved for you. I was hoping that you'd have a breakthrough in your symptoms. Do you use gaviscon advance or regular gaviscon? My globus sensation is still in high gear and my arm muscles are still tight but I am being weaned off of protonix slowly. I still haven't advanced my diet but I am hoping to try something new tomorrow night for dinner. My ENT is going to schedule a session with the reza band rep in the next two weeks so I should hopefully have it in the next few months. I'll let you know how it goes. I hope you find something that works for you. You deserve some relief.
Posted 5/8/2017 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All

Is there any new updates on using the Band? I had a look at the images and fittting intructions today and it inspired me to try a prototype. Its a very rough first try but I just used a neck tie with some of the foam pipelagging you can get at any DIY store. Placement is just below the Adams apple and then just tighten it until its snug. I use a 3inch piece of the lagging for the front part aganst the cricoid cartlidge and then a much longer piece to go around the back of the neck for comfort. So if you fancy a cheap alternative to try out for interest to either imporve on it or buy the original it could be worth a shot!
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