Ask Dr. Curry?

Hi Dr Curry,
There has been some discussion on the regional forum I frequent regarding whether or not WLS patients should or should not wear medic alert jewelry. If we should, which surgeries need to wear it and why? What should it say?
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
Charline

All I can say is that I have never, in over 3000 cases, had a patient who had any harm done to them by any ER due to their surgical weight loss procedure.  My wife has a band and she doesn't wear one, but it's really up to the patient.

Hey Dr. Curry,

I feel I am loosing to slow. I work out 4 times a week with 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes up lifting weights on the different machaines. I had the lapband surgery by Dr. Thaemert on November 3rd. I was 267, and I am now 230. I know everyone is different on weightloss and such. but is 37 ibs really low from having the surgery done almost 3 months ago?

Also besides the chewable vitamins, Can I start taking regular vitamins that are not chewable, getting tired of the same old vitamins even though there are different flavors.

Thanks :)
~Lesha

4 months = 12 weeks

37 lbs = about 3 pounds/week

You are actually way ahead of schedule, the average is 1-2 lbs/week!

Congrats,
Dr. C

Hey Dr. C. I was banded 12/31/08. I have not received my first fill yet. I am  now on solids and I feel as though I am eating way to much and I am hungry more often than not. I have been told that weightloss comes with good restriction but can I take prescription diet pills or something over the counter to keep the hunger at bay or will this affect my band.

I am also having problem with constipation although I always have but it seems to be getting worse. My doctor has me taking TriLyte to do a colon procedure, will this affect the band.

Thanks for your help.

I would not recommend any diet pills - for one they don't work, and for another you are fresh post op.  I would run TriLyte or anything like that by your surgeon, if he or she is not the one recommending this type of prep.

Thank you for helping all of us.  I was banded in Oct 2007 and have lost 95 pounds and am as happy as can be.

My husband finally did everything the ins co required to have his band.  The doctor was gonna do a gall bladder removal at the same time (the ab ultrasound said he had 'a calcified gallstone').  Well, he had a gall stone that was approximately 3" long and 1" in diameter - the biggest his Dr had ever seen.  So, took that out, and no band until March. 

His doctor wanted him to use only opti-fast for the 2 weeks prior to surgery, we convinced him to let Ray use EAS (half the price), and he lost 20 pounds in the 2 weeks before surgery.  BUT, the doctor says he MUST do the Opti-source for 2 weeks post op after banding.  NO SUBSTITUTIONS!!  He can only have 8 oz a DAY, plus water for 2 weeks.  I KNOW you won't contradict another doctor's recommendations, and I know different doctors have different protocols, but that doesn't seem like much to keep a 330 pound diabetic man from keeling over!  What do YOU recommend post-op for someone like him?  Thanks.

Dear Dr. Curry,
I was banded on 12/10 and just had my 2nd fill yesterday.  I now have a total of 5cc's in my REALIZE 9cc band.  I have 2 questions: 1.) She was able to aspirate what she put in, but didn't use a big enough syringe to check the total amount of saline in the band.  She put in 2 more cc's and aspirated and got it back.  I imagine if she was not in the port she wouldn't have been able to aspirate anything??  I am always worried that she won't be in the port and the saline will be lost.  2.)  Have you ever had a case where the band is filled to capacity and the patient never has restriction??

I am one of those 'nervous nellies' and with this fill I was able to drink the water without problems (again) and still feel no restriction.  I worry that since I'm halfway filled that I'll be totally full and still have no restriction??!

So what do you think??!  Thank you so much for the time you so willingly give to us!

Sue