Ask Dr. Curry?

Serious complications during the operation are very rare.  In 2000 cases we have only had 1 or 2 so the odds are very low.  Probably the risk of your weight is higher than the risk of surgery, but we just don't think about that very often...

Good Evening Dr. Curry
I had surgery on 12/20/08, and I'm still have difficulty burping. My surgeon suggested that I take Colic medication. I did as suggested and I still can't FULLY burp. When will this issue resolve itself?

Are you talking about simethicone?  If so, there is no harm in trying it but probably the inability to burp is related to a lot of swelling from surgery.  It takes a few weeks sometimes for that swelling to go away, but keep in touch with your surgeon on it.

Dr. Curry, 

I appreciate the fact that I can bounce things off you when I feel the need.  I am 5 months out today.  My weight loss is still between 28-30 lbs.  I lose a lb and I gain a lb.  I have been told to eat from 4-6 oz. of food and to eat 12 oz. of food.  Most have said between 4-6 by what I read here on the boards.  My doctor said about 4 oz.  His NUT which is no longer in his office because he moved, but she is still suppose to care for the patients that went through the program at the hospital I had surgery says 12 oz.  The PA and NP in his office say no more than a lean cuisine, and that is about 12 oz. of food a day.  I am to have no more than a 100 grams of carbs, 27-33 grams of fat and must have about 70 grams of protein.  They say not to count calories, but as I log my food I see what my caloric intake is and it is usually around 600-800 and occasionally around 1000 calories a day.  People on the boards and I am speaking of a board that was with the bariatric program at the time I went through it, but is no longer with them, and people on this board tell me I am in starvation mode and that is why I am not losing weight.  I have not lost and kept off a lb since Sept. 28th and that is so discouraging.  I really do not think I am in stravation mode because if I was I would be in ketosis and being I am a Medical Technologist and have seen many patients in ketosis, I just don't think I am there.  I really need some advice, but I need to have something that I can trust and not keep hearing all these different things from the people I am suppose to be able to depend on.  I had my surgery at a Center of Excellence and the day after I had my surgery my doctors moved to another hospital, and the place I had surgery doesn't seem to want the pts. that went through the program at the time the doctors were moving, and the new place doesn't seem to care anything about us, and I am at a loss as to what to do.  Needless to say I am so depressed over not knowing what direction to go in. 

Dr. Curry since I wrote this yesterday, I have developed another problem or it seems to me to be a problem.  I had some restriction yesterday, today I have none.  I have felt nothing go through my band, Yet, I ate a pork chop and although I normally would feel it passing through the stoma I felt nothing.  I was hungry less than an hour after breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Is this normal? 
Thanks, I hope this makes sense,

Jacqueline

Jacqueline,
This is pretty complicated to track down over the net - I'm sorry that you feel abandoned by your program.  Do you live close enough that you could come to Cincy?

Dr. Curry I don't live that close, but then it isn't that far from what I normally drive either.  It will be a matter of finding someone to take care of my dad. 

I normally go to Lexington and Georgetown, so what is about 60 more miles?  

Jacqueline

Hello Dr. Curry

I was just recently banded on 12/24/08, I went to my first post op appt this past monday. My Dr. informed me that my Uric Acid was high, she said this happend to some patients when they loose weight, and said its only temporary. She prescribed allopurinol for 3 mos. My question is how common is this? And is it really only temporary or am I destened to eventually get gout?

I would really appreciated your input on this.


Thank you,
Kiki

I have really seen no problems whatsoever with gout in my band patients.  It's pretty common though in bypass patients.

Hi Dr. C~  I was just curious at to how big the space between the 2 stomach pouches are with no fills? and how big the space becomes after you get some restriction. Thank You!

Do you mean the outlet?  It's variable, usually about the size of a nickel in most patients.