Ask Dr. Curry

 Dr. Curry, 
                   Thx for being here in a time of need. I started my cycle last Monday and started the pre-op diet on last Friday. Since then I have lost 15lbs. My cycle is still on today, so that makes it 10 days. I don't know why my cycle is still on, but I have been bleeding a lot of blood clots each day. I started Yasmin last Monday, but I stopped it today because of the blood clots. Is this normal, due to the excessive weight loss? I do have PCOS and I have never had regular cycles but they have never been past 5 days.

I don't know much about Yasmin, this is kind of outside my field of expertise.  You might call your OB/GYN and check in with them.

Hi Dr. Curry,

I wish you had been my surgeon.  I had my lap band three weeks ago and my surgeon did not even come to see me afterwards.  I was sent home (across the country) the next day with NO instructions at all.  Everything i know about living with the lap band is from this forum.

Today I was "googling" and found an article that said you should NEVER have coffee or tea for six months after surgery.  I have been having a coffee in the morning (2/3 - 3/4 cup hot skim mild with a splash of coffee in it) and sometimes a cup of weak tea later on.

Have I damaged my band by doing this?  Is it, in fact, true that you cannot have coffee or tea at all?  I am so scared at the damage I may have done.

Thank you in advance for setting the record straight for me.

You have not damaged your band, don't worry about that.

Why don't you email one of my dietitians ( [email protected] or [email protected] ) maybe they can email you some basic info to help get you through.

Dear Dr. Curry,

I apologize in advance if this has been addressed before, but is it true that our (women's) bodies go through hormonal changes after wls - lap band in my case.  I am also 51 so I think I'm pre-menopausal. 

My specific question is that since my surgery, I've had very bad pms, my pre-period symptoms start like a week before the flow starts (cramping, spotting) and then the flow is VERY heavy and the period itself lasts for about a week, as opposed to the 3 or so days before the surgery. 

Now, this morning, I woke up and I had fortunately worn a panti-liner to bed because it was soaked with blood.  I'm about 1/2 way in my cycle, so maybe it's an ovulation related thing? And I have been getting some spotting since the period and am not on any contraceptive, and had not had sexual activity prior to this bleeding. 

Is this a normal thing?

Thanks in advance for your advice,

Mary Hanley

Losing weight through whatever means causes changes in circulating hormone levels which can definitly alter a woman's cycle.  It may be manageable with medications but this is outside my field of expertise I'm afraid.  I would check in with your OB/GYN.

I answered this once but now I don't see the post...if it doesn't show up eventually let me know!

It's there...thank you for your help!

My pleasure!

Dr. Curry,

My last fill was 2 weeks ago.  At first I felt it was just right, but for the past few days I've been feeling that my band is too tight.  I have a hard time with liquids (even clear liquids) from about 9 pm to noon, and also struggle even with purees between noon and 9 pm.  I have tried to "open" my band by drinking hot herbal tea but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

The things that have affected my restriction in that past are stress, nasal allergies and swelling from stuck episodes, but none of those is a factor now.  It can't be hormonal because I've had a hysterectomy and am on HRT.  None of my meds have changed.  The only thing I can think of that's different is that I recently started drinking coffee again (hadn't had any for the first 10 mos after my band surgery).

Do you have any guesses about what might be going on?

Thanks,
Jean