Ask Dr. Curry?

You can't usually aspirate all of what's in a Realize band anyway, so I don't really even try.  If she could aspirate the fluid she put in, most likely she was in the port.  You shouldn't feel restriction to liquids - if you do usually that means you are too tight.

We use a Healthwise/Medifast diet for our patients pre operatively, but post op use regular food, starting with clears and advancing slowly.  Every surgeon has a different plan though - like you said I certainly wouldn't recommend deviating from it.

Dear Dr. Curry,

My question has come up from conversations with people who have a band for many years and did not have any major problems. Many of us are able to eat more as the time goes on.

 I was puzzled by the fact that my weight loss has ended two years ago, but I was able to eat more and more. In theory, restriction should not change much if there is no slip or erosion and we don't overrate.

My sister is a surgeon in Europe. Band's are not her expertise, but she has done a few. She is in emergency room twice a week and she always keeps her eyes and ears open when it comes to any band issues, because of me.

According to her, pouch stretching is very common among long time bansters. She believes, pouch needs a rest every few years (complete unfill). This would explain why so many of us are able to eat more as the time goes on. She also has a theory - possibility of pouch tissue getting "tired" from the pressure caused from food over long period of time, even if you do not overeat.

Thank you so much, I will share your responce with OH Grads. forum as many have same concern.

I have often thought of doing scheduled pouch rest for my patients, but have never done so.  I'm not aware of any studies that show it is of benefit, but I'm not sure it has even been studied.  I wouldn't think it would hurt anything though.

HI, Dr Curry.  I went in to see my surgeon yesterday and he performed a 2nd unfill when he saw that my pouch was the size of a small grapefruit.  He wants to see me back in 2-3 weeks to see if it has gone down in size.  I have no pain or any other problems.  I can even eat rolls and bread without any problems.   I have only had 2 fills prior to my first unfill.  Only about 4.5cc at my fullest.  What is your opinion on this?

Pouch dilation sometimes resolves on its own, sometimes it requires surgical revision.  In my experience, it is about 50/50.

Thank you!!

This started this past Monday, so 5 or 6 days ago.  After lunch in the afternoon I started feeling a strange cramp-like feeling on my left side and when I ate dinner every single bite hurt going down.  Since then the cramp feeling has gone away but everytime I eat solid food it hurts going down and I have to go really slow.  I can feel like a throbbing sensation around the area where I assume my band is. 

Also, last thursday I got stuck and PBed.  Then friday I got hit with a virus and didn't eat again really until Sunday.  On Sunday when I finally ate I noticed some of my restriction seemed to be gone.

Yesterday I again got stuck and PBed twice in once day (I know, bad, very bad) and they were unavoidable.  I didn't take big bites, and I was chewing and following the rules, it just happened.

I haven't called about the pain because I was hoping it would go away.  But it has continued and its definitely throbbing when I eat solid food, not soft food or liquids.  I've heard people describe slips before but the way I've heard them described is like really intense pain, not a dull throbbing when they swallow.

Any ideas??  I'm so nervous that I've slipped and I will need an unfill.  But I know an unfill is the only way to correct a slip, right?

Regardless of the cause, I would consider an unfill, maybe even a total unfill with pouch rest for a month.  An unfill is not the only way to correct a slip, often times slips require surgery to fix.  If you are totally unfilled and still PB'ing, then I would be a lot more worried about a slip.

Hi Dr. Curry,

I am about to have lap-band surgery, and have a question that I can't seem to find much information on.  I am lactose-intolerant, and would like to know how this will affect my success with the band.
My concern is this, even if I drink Lactaid milk, I still bloat, have gas and diarrhea.  Ok, here's my silly question: will the bloating stretch my pouch?