Ask Dr. Curry

Many of you may have seen Dr. Curry around on the boards.  He gives much of his time to help pre-op and post-ops about general Lap Band questions.  If you have a question about the Lap Band for Dr. Curry please ask them here.  He will be following this thread and answering as he has time.  Thank you Dr. Curry for the time you devote to Obesityhelp.

Some information about Dr. Curry.

Dr. Curry is a board-certified general surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive weight loss surgery. He is a Cincinnati native and trained at Good Samaritan Hospital. He has performed nearly 1000 successful laparoscopic gastric bands and bypasses, making him one of the most experienced in the region at the minimally invasive technique. In fact, he completes nearly 100% of his procedures laparoscopically. He is also well-known for his accessibility, and he frequently has patients from all over the country contacting him for advice and guidance. He even spends time on the ObesityHelp.com LAP-BAND® System message board helping patients. He makes himself freely available by email. So, if you have any questions, just write to him! Click here to learn more about Dr. Curry.


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Well it looks like they cleaned up and delete my question so I'm going to repost.  Please forgive if they correct it tonight and you get this twice. The following was posted on the lapband board: "Post Date: 5/6/08 6:57 am
Since i have been losing weight, and only when the lbs drop on the scale, i notice i have red, itchey, splotches on my neck area. sometime in the front, sometimes the back , sometimes all around. Nothing serious, but it's irritating. As i said it only seems to show up when the lbs are actually dropping. I just came off a plataue, where the splotches werent' accuring, and now they are back. Anyone else had this? Is it from losing weight. Maybe toxins or something causing it? I know, this is a strange question. " ================= I too have a rash on my lower back, however, my scale is not moving so mine is not related to losing weight.  Have you ever heard of this and if so what is causing it and is there something I/we can do to stop it.  There were a few other people who posted that they'd had this issue shortly after the surgery. Any help is appreciated!  Thanks Shannon

Shannon, We have not seen this so I'm not sure what the cause.  We've had a few people get rashes right after surgery I think from either the preop antibiotic or morphine but not what you're talking about.

 How do you ask Dr Curry a specific question? I am wondering if my port site will ever go down - it has been 7 weeks and it is still sticking up high and is very noticeable under my clothes - I am wondering what the procedure is for getting it moved down. Thanks.

How odd!!!  I have had the exact same thing.  I do not have sensitive skin at all and it is very odd for me to get a rash.  I noticed that I had a blotchy spot on my neck last week.  it just feels really dry and is red.  I never connected it to the surgery or weight loss so my jaw dropped while I was reading your post.  I was watching a special on BBC last week about these 2 girls that went on experimental "extreme" diets and one of them developed a rash as she was losing weight.  I know this is not a lot of help but I can't remember what the doctor said.  It does seem like it had something to do with toxins.  it was on the back of the neck.  This surgery reminds me so much of being pregnant. Your body just does all kinds of weird things and you don't have any control.  If the blotches come along when pounds go away- I'll take the blotches!!!

I actually asked my GP about it when I went in for my checkup.  She said it appeared to be very dry skin and suggested I use Dove soap and Cetaphil  lotion. Within a week it was gone.  I think it was from the heating pad.  Not sure if your neck rash is the same but many people have commented on getting a rash after surgery. 

Thanks! I will give that a shot.

Hi Dr. Curry! I was unfilled completely on Monday for a dilated esophagus or stretched pouch or whatever it's called.    I've been banded for 2.5 years, and haven't felt hunger in all that time. Now it is horrible!  I am eating low carbs <30g day, and high protein, and the scales indicate a gain of 5 lbs overnight.  Yes I understand water weight and scale fluctuations, but this scares me. What is the best way to maintain or even lose weight in a two week period (or longer) while I am completely unfilled?  I don't want to lose more ground.  Any advice is appreciated.  Also is there greater risk of repeat stretching of the pouch in the future? Thank you!

It is really tough and nearly impossible to not gain weight with a big unfill.  The only thing you can do is mitigate the damage by doing what you're doing, keep the carbs really low, protein high, and exercise.

I had a complete unfill for the same reason.  I gained back 20 lbs. in 3 months and I tried real hard.  If I had to do it over again, I would have drink a lot more, ate more mushies.  Eat a lot of mushies.  You want to do whatever you can to get the dilation to go back.  It is discouraging to put weight back on but if your careful you will be refilled before you know it.