Lou Ann

I had lapband in 2011. Instantly i had IBSD. I couldn't eat anything that had sugar or dairy. Also no fresh fruit or vegetables. I would not leave my house unless i absolutely had to. And if I knew I had some where to go I would make sure I didnt eat. I also found that no matter how much I would chew my food it always felt like it got stuck. Some days were better then others. Some days I could eat a steak with no trouble and other days ice cream and water could just sit there. Suddenly I was starting to have water go down the wrong way and I nearly suffocated. Long story short, my issue has been solved, thanks to my ENT doctor. I was suffering from silent acid reflux. As soon as I would eat it was pushing the food back up. Food goes down now and stays down. I also no longer suffer from IBSD. I want to urge anyone who has had lapband and developed severe diarrhea to ask your doctor to schedule an upper GI with a barium swallow. It has given me my life back after suffering for 7 years!!! Please let me know if this helps anyone!! good151@live.com

I had the surgery for my lapband Sept 2011. I lost 20lbs pretty quick and then it came to a crawl. They kept adding more and more Fluid to my band. From the 1st day I was able to eat soft food the Diarrhea started. I could be half way through a container of yogurt and I had to run to the bathroom. I called the nurse and they said, cant be from the band, that doesn't happen to banded patients only gastric bypass patients. ok so I thought its just my stomach getting used to the band. Two months go past and I have the same issue with solid foods. Again I tell my doctor and she insisted it was NOT the band. So now its been 4 years of not going anywhere because what if i have to find a bathroom and dont make it. If i had somewhere to be I wouldn't eat before I left. If i went to lunch with a friend or family I made sure that if i had other things to do when I was out that I did them first because after I eat I have to get home quick! Imodium helped somewhat. I would take 2 tablets BEFORE I ate. When I say everything gives me Diarrhea I mean everything. Dairy, Sugars, Fresh fruits and vegetables. I love salad but couldn't eat it because it went thought me in a matter of minutes! Last week I went to have some fluid removed. The last fill had been a year ago and since that time EVERYTHING was getting stuck, even water! I saw one of the nurse practitioners this time. I told him all the problems I had. He walked me down stairs to imaging and asked them to do am upper GI test to make sure that everything was ok. HE said everything looked good but he did take out the last fill which was only 0.02cc's of Water. I told him about the chronic Diarrhea and he said that he didn't think the band was causing it but when you mess with the stomach anything can happen. he asked me about my symptoms and when it would happen and I told him. He said he felt that it was IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Suggested I see a gastroenterologist or discuss it with my family doctor. I opted for my family doctor, because trying to get an appointment with gastro was nearly impossible. He said he felt so bad for me that i wouldn't leave my house! Said he would help me get my life back! Since the fluid was removed I actually have been eating less! Im guessing food was sitting on top of the band and not going into my stomach which kept me from feeling full. My doctor called in a prescription for Dicyclomine. It has worked wonders! I feel like a completely different person! I have had dairy and had no problems. Today I had a salad from subway. Ate it on an empty stomach and I feel great! If you are having the same issue, talk to your doctor about trying something for IBS! My life was a nightmare for the last 4 years and today... Dicyclomine has given me my life back!!

I went to so many doctors who would say talk to the bariatric center who would tell me to talk to my family doctor. back and forth. And when I told then it didn't happen every time they would tell me to just take probiotic or Imodium. I only lucked out when I had someone who actually listened to me. Just glad to have my life back.

I wouldnt worry too much about it. I just had to have one on Wed last week. Its basically so they can see how fluids are passing from your mouth to your stomach. While being able to watch the Fluid as it goes down they will have a better way of evaluating if you have too much fluid and if your esophagus is working properly. Feel free to email me if you want. good151@comcast.net

Has anyone else found thats it hard to lose weight? I have gone back and forth 5 lbs, even after fills. Now I am stuck at my current weight for about a month. Any suggestions on how to break through this plateau and move forward? I know exercise is a huge issue and I have problems doing much because I have spinal stenosis and am disabled. Any suggestions will be appreciated!!

I am thankful that I have not gained anything back. I have an appointment tomorrow for a fill. Will see what they say.

Kristie, keep track of what you eat and make sure that you are getting your protein in. The protein keeps your metabolism up and helps you lose weight faster. It also causes you to fill full longer. Good luck and dont get discouraged! It will happen. One other thing, dont worry when you splurge. We have all done it. Just think of it as an opps and get back on track the next day!!

Yes its pretty uncomfortable but the more you walk around the faster that feeling will go away!! Congrats on your surgery and welcome to the club!!!

I would say about a week, unless your job requires alot of lifting then you will need to ask your doctor. As for the food, once you are past the healing stage its the same as before the surgery. The first couple of months are rough, due to it being mainly liquids and then soft foods. Like Deana01 said, life is pretty normal when your back to regular foods. I am actually going out to lunch today! Good luck and let us know how it goes!!

Wow you all have lost so much weight! Im jealous!! I was banded on Oct 10, 2011 and Im only down 28lbs! What is your secrets? Especially you Mis73?!! Congrats!!

No I dont keep track. Im sure I am eatting more calorie wise then I realize. I was given a great sight by one of the nurses at the hospital where you can track your food. I will post the sight for those who would like to have it.

I have had the same problem since being banded on 10/10/11. The first two weeks I was fine, but when I started more solid foods it started. I am scared to go out to lunch or dinner with anyone because I don't know how I will react. Its worse with dairy, salads and fresh fruits. I have talked to my doctor and they said its not normal and that it has nothing to do with the band. I tend to not buy that because I never had this problem before!

I had my surgery on Oct 5, 2011. The first two weeks were great. Since then it seems that certain foods I eat go right through me, and I mean RIGHT through me, with in minutes. When I called the hospital to ask them about it they said people who get lapband dont have this issue. I think i would know if I have this "issue". I cant eat cheese or fresh vegetables anymore unless I plan on staying home and close to a bathroom. I never had this issue before and I am wondering if anyone else has run into this problem. Its terrible to go out to eat with friends and family and be a nervous wreck the whole time hoping that if there is a problem that there is a bathroom close! Also I lost 25 lbs in the first 3 months and have lost nothing since. Anyone else hit a plateau?? Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

Thanks guys. Honk, I thought about that too that maybe Im still eatting too fast and the enzimes are kicking in quicker because of the band but if i eat even a slick of cheese it goes right through me. @Zinhaa, I have a fill tomorrow, my third and its with a different doctors assistant so I am going to talk to her about it too. Ill let you know what she says. What did your doctor tell you about it? Did they suggest anything to help?