Ask Dr. Curry

Many band patients have more gas than pre-op.  Sometimes GasX/simethicone will help, sometimes you just have to put up with it.  Avoid carbonated beverages for sure.

Kim, try chewing a couple of lactaid tablets as you drink your protein drinks or eat your protein bars.  I usually don't have a problem with other things but the protein stuff really gives me a lot of  gas.  Yesterday I bought beano and lactaid tablets.  It worked great.  No gas!!  Good luck!

Kim - if you haven't already - check for sugar alcohols in the foods you eat (most low carb, low sugar products have them). I found that I am very sensitive to sugar alcohols and anything over 5gr at a time gives me the worst cramping, gas, bloating - its miserable. I found out becuase a protein bar I was using had like 15g of sugar alcohols. When I stopped eating that brank all of the cramping and bloating went away and most of the gas - still a little left from every day living.

Good luck!

Dr. Curry, I am 2 months post op and had my 2nd fill on 5/1, for the last week or so I have been having a pulling feeling in my port area.  It is quite painful at times.  The site doesn't seem to be infected as there is no redness or hot to the touch.  Could this be my port flipping? Thank you, Debbie

It could be, also could just be some tension on the sutures until it settles in and heals fully.

I starting using protein in my smoothies to get my protein intake and started gaining all of my weight back. Is this normal? My son in law told me not to use the Whey protein because it is what bodybuilders use to build muscle and that if I am not exercising regularly I would gain weight, and now He is right I had dropped to 279.5lbs from 302 at surgury date, and now I have gone back up to 297.5lbs, I am terrified of the protein powders now. And before you say it was what I was eating. I was doing lots of grilled fish, Taking my vitamin supplements, and drinking tons of water. I ate lots of fruit and vegetables and still gained the weight back. Why is that? Is there a certain type of protein I am supposed to be using. I don"t want to gain this weight back again, and now I haven't lost anything in weeks. I am sitting at 287-285lbs. What can I do? Please help?

If you are using protein powder and getting in way more protein than your daily recommendation (you should have gotten one from your dietitian pre-op) then those are just excess calories.  In other words if you are supposed to get in 80gm/day and you are getting 160, those extra 80 are not really helping.  I am certainly not a dietitian - if you would like to email a question to one of my fabulous dietitians feel free - either [email protected] or [email protected]

Hello-  Today is my week-a-versary as I was banded last monday. I am experencing allot of the gas and neck/sholders. My concern is my port incision. It is extremly sore and at times gets firm and sticks out just a bit to notice. Also My stomach seems bigger than it was prior to the banding. Is this a normal swelling or bloating??? or should I be running to see my doc, which I dont want to do unless its nesseccary because it is quite a distance away. Thanks in advance... Cherina 

It's hard to say over the net, I would have to recommend that you see your surgeon.