Ask Dr. Curry

Hi Dr Curry,
I'm diabetic- 3 shots of insullin daily. How will my surgery and after care be different from a non-diabetic? Are there additional risks for me? I am 54 years old and have been diabetic for 9 years.
Thanks
Charline

It's a little more risky to operate on a diabetic patient, but we do it all the time and have never really had any issues.  Usually we reduce your insulin by about half after surgery, but check with your surgeon.

Thank you, Dr Curry for all of your advice.  I was banded a year ago, and I am pretty sure I am at my "sweet spot".  However, I still have a few times that I don't chew well, or my fickle band decides that TODAY it won't do tuna (or whatever).  The last couple of times that has happened and I had that "basketball" feeling in my chest, I have massaged my chest and that seems to help.  Is this going to cause any problem?  Can I cause a slip?  Thanks.

If it happens frequently it could lead to a slip, but I think you're describing what most veteran bandsters experience, an occasional "stuck" episode.  Only thing you can do is make sure you are eating right and eating the right stuff, if it is happening with increasing frequency then get a slight unfill.

Good Morning Dr. Curry,

What's with all the gas? I mean, I have never farted so much in my life. I am also burping alot more too. Does this have something to do with the types of food i am eating or the way I am eating or is this just a baaaad side affect of the band?

Thanks and Thanks for being here for us!!

Debbie

I think it's because band patients chew a lot more and swallow smaller bites, thus taking in more air into their digestive tract.  Just a guess though.

Hi Dr Curry,
I had my 3rd fill yesterday for a total of 7cc's in my 10cc band. And have lost 45lbs, starting at 305 down to 260. I carry the bulk of my weight in my belly with a significant apron. The weight loss has been very good for the remainder of my body and i have lost a lot of inches. But my belly is still very large. At my fill yesterday (i use a fill clinic) the nurse and her assistant (who is banded) asked if i was considering plastic surgery, i said yes, in the future. She said i should start looking into it before i get to goal as the apron i carry will act as a foreing body and hold onto the fat, causing my loss to slow. She said that by having it removed sometime soon would speed up the weight loss for the rest of my body. I still have to wear clothes that are too big because of the belly to accomodate it. But that leaves me wearing clothes on top that are way too big. At this point anything i wear just looks too big and very sloppy. As of the last measurements i took i am:
Bust 43, waist 41, hips/belly 57. And the apron hangs down almost to my knees.
What is your opinion about what she told me. And what is important to have documented with my PCP about the apron in regards to plastic surgery. My insurance is thru the state, and they wouldn't cover my WLS because i didn't have any co-morbidities (yet, but borderline). But the apron does present some problems and always has. Now they are getting worse.
I appreciate any information you can give me on this.
Thanks,
kristi

I say wait it out as long as you can, if the scale is moving you will get a better result the lighter you are when you have it done. 

Hi Dr.Curry,

Ever since I had had my surgery I feel like I have a big lump in my throat. It does not bother me to eat or drink, it is annoying. I am always needing to clear my throat. I seen my GP who gave me prevacid.I took it for 7 days and there was no improvement. I now have a ultra sound on my thyroid scheduled for next week. Could there have been some damage done from the breathing tube? Could the band it self be causing the problem? I am worried that they might take the band out. Thanks for any assistance you can give.

I'm sorry if this has been asked...and answered but I haven't found it. 

I've heard that the hunger will go away as I get fills.  How does that work?  I understand the restriction and physically not being able to eat as much.  But what is it about having the band filled that actually stops the hunger pains?  Right now I am 3 weeks out and although I have good restriction, I am physically hungry all the time.   I guess I just don't understand how having the band around my stomach filled is going to stop the hunger pains when now the band is there and I'm actually hungry.

Thanks for any input!