Ask Dr. Curry?

Hi Dr. Curry,
I'm here to ask another tedious question!!!  The long and short is this.  Got a 1cc fill, had to go back 6 days later and got a .7cc unfill leaving me a net increase of .3cc's.  Thought this was good and went through the next week or so with ok restriction, ate too good on Easter and the next morning I was tight!  For the next few days I really couldn't eat too much, but I was ok with this because I wasn't having any reflux.  This went on until yesterday (Friday) when I was able to eat chicken for lunch and felt not as tight after spending most of Thursday and Friday night up all night with reflux--not the acidy type, just small amounts of regurge.

I'm going to Boston Tuesday for MD appointment and will probably get .1cc unfilled.  How does this happen?  How are you too tight and have such a small amount of regurge (although happening like every 15 mins).  I thought that the major symptom of too tight was major reflux issues.  Also, how can I be too tight for 5 days and then wake up and feel relieved?

I want to keep my fill where it is...is there anything I can do to keep it?  Does it sound to you like the regurge is a symptom of too tight or perhaps eating too close to bed time?

Thanks so much!
Sue

Dear Dr. Curry,
I am 51 years old and weigh 296 lbs.  I have HBP and Type 2 Diabetes. I have started the process to get a LapBand and my insurance company requires me to go through 6 months of medically supervised weight loss program in order to be considered for the LapBand.  I started this process in February.
I take Bystolic and Azor for my HBP.  I take 20mg Lipitor. My Primary Physician had me on Avandia (2mg), Avandamet 2mg/1000mg, Fortamet (I think it's 500mg) and Janumet.  I was very bothered with extreme swelling that was making my joints very painful and I also felt sick and w no energy.  I ran out of the Avandia and within days I was feeling better.  I went to my regular 90 day appt check up and my doctor was to put me in insuling injections.  I strongly objected to this and she went ahead and gave me a three month "reprieve" and prescribed Starlix (120mg).  I also need to tell you that I am allergic to Sulfanomides. 
I am afraid of needles and I am also afraid that once I am on Insulin, i will never be able to get off it after my surgery.  I understand the need to keep my blood sugar  under control but I think I would like to see more options with medication until my surgery and then see what develops after surgery.
Please give me some guidance.
Thank you.

Hi Dr. Curry,

I am in process of getting approved for gastric banding and have 135 pounds to lose.  I am always looking for the Pros and Cons of the "Lap-Band" versus the "Realize" band.  I believe I saw a poster post that you yourself chose the "Lap-Band" for your own personal band and wanted to know what your reasoning was and why you did indeed choose that band? 

Thank you!

JJ


P.S.  Sorry if you all ready covered this in one of the archives!

Dr. Curry,

I hope a multi-part question is OK.  Can you tell us briefly what are the most common signs of:

1.  band erosion
2.  band slippage
3.  pouch dilation
4.  esophageal dilation

I ask this on my own behalf and because I have seen a lot of conflicting posts by WLS patients about these band complications.

Thanks,
Jean

Hi Dr. Curry,

I was wondering if you can tell me what are the symtoms that would indicate a band slippage.  Also what could be wrong with my throat.  I feel like my throat is closing or partly closed at times.  I had it checked by my primary doctor and he didn't find anything.  Any ideas?  Could it somehow be linked to the band?

Thank you

Christine