Ask Dr. Curry

Yes, poor esophageal motility and gastric banding do not mix well.

I was banded on 7/22/08 and haven't had a fill yet, but I've been getting stuck the last couple of weeks. It doesn't come back up, just sits in my throat for awhile and is uncomfortable. Is this normal? The nurse said there's probably about 2cc in a 6cc band after surgery.

There is no such thing as a 6cc band in the US at least, not sure about outside US...

Make sure you are following your eating rules and not drinking with meals.  If you are, you're probably just still having some residual restriction.

Hi Dr. C!  A quick overview of me.  I'm almost 2 years out with a VG band.  I lost ahead of the curve at Hopkins my first year and then was found to have esophogeal dilation (had UGI mandatory at 9cc, upon unfill found I had over 10cc in the band).  Had a complete unfill for a month and then started refilling.  I got up to 7cc in the VG (6cc the first fill after the dilation and then 1cc) and then found out I was pregnant so of course the refill process had to stop. I am very anxious to get back on the road to my goal after the baby arrives (I'm almost 22 weeks now and did not have an unfill btw - baby is on target and I get in enough calories for the both of us). 

a) When should I be able to go in for a fill after my c-section?
b) Should I easily be able to start losing again with regained restriction?
c) How much do you advise patients to consume? (ie: 3 meals, no snack, 1.5 Cups per meal)

Thank you for your dedication to all of these great people!

I would wait a month after your C section, but we have filled patients as early as 2 weeks.

I can't predict how easily you will be able to lose unforuntately.

As far as dietary advice, it can be very complicated (which is why we have 2 dietitians!) but generally we recommend 5-6 small meals a day.  For some patients this doesn't work well so we have to go with 3 meals/day.  Everyone is different.

Dr Curry, I apologize if this is a duplicate post but I don't see the one I posted last night,8/23/08.  My question is I read where you encourage your pre-op patients to use the Medifast plan.  Do you think the Medifast plan is a good post-op plan for lap band surgery? 

Thank you,
Mari

I think Medifast is a great plan for post op patients - especially those that are tight in the mornings.  A shake will help you start your day off with some healthy protein.  For patients who have plateaued and need a reboot, we will do a 5-in-1 plan where you do 5 Medifast products a day and a lean green meal in the evenings.

Usually though we just utilize Medifast to supplement here and there where we think patients are not getting enough protein or eating the wrong stuff.   We have all kinds of nutritional products to help our patients, if you like crunchy stuff we have something that is healthy, if you like sweet stuff, we have something that is healthy, etc...

Hello Dr Curry.  I lap band surgery was done Aug.18,08.  Thought I was prepared for all things, but was surprised when I started passing a kidney stone there at the hospital while being prepared for surgery. One of the worst ones I have every had in 30 yrs. I have Medullary Sponge Kidney since in my twenties.  Since I have been home I have passed 4 more. (One quite large!)
My dr. thought it might be due to me being on the restrictive diet pre-op. Of course now that I am on the liq. diet I still feel I am not getting adequate water compared to what I am used to.  I am trying to drink more, but not overload myself.  Also with the increase of Extra protein, could this be something I will have to worry about.  Any advice would be appreciated!  With passing these stones, it has been very painful for me.  Anyone that you might have heard this has happened to?
Thanks,
Georgi55

I have not heard or seen any association between gastric banding and kidney stones.  With bypass there definitely is, but not band.  I feel your pain, I had a kidney stone and thought I was going to die...

Dr. Curry,

  I am going to try to make this quick.  I was banded Aug/2005.  I had NO problems for a year 1/2.  Summer of 2007 I started getting heartburn ( a burning in my chest,  I didn't think it was heartburn though.)   My doctor put me on Protonix.   April 2008 I went to the ER for stomach pain(very bad) near my port though.  The ER didn't tell me much but, took out all my saline.   My surgeon wanted me to go for an upper GI and he said the band looked fine.  He also sent me for an endoscopy which I am going again next week.  They did see alot of acid around the band.  They put 3cc in my band again.    ( I have a 4cc band I believe.)  That's what I had in the band  before the ER incident.    Well, when I went to 3cc again I was vomiting in my sleep.  I called my surgeons office after 3 days of this happening they said I was too tight (which I thought did make sense ONLY because I wasn't eating much either.  So they took 1/2 cc out.  So now I have only 2 1/2cc in the band but, now 3 days ago I started spitting up in my sleep again.  The only difference now is I can eat.  So I don't think I am too tight.  I am able to eat meals where before I couldn't.  Could you tell me any other reason that I might be getting sick in my sleep.  I am not spitting up food either it's clear fluid.   Thank you so much for your insight.

Donna