HOW TO TELL WHEN YOUR LAPBAND IS PERFECTLY ADJUSTED

HOW TO TELL WHEN YOU ARE PERFECTLY ADJUSTED. You are losing around 2 pounds per week.If you are NOT losing 2 pounds per week You may need an eating adjustment:Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day?Are you eating 25 grams of fiber?Are you avoiding all liquid calories?Soup can be sign of "soft calorie syndrome"Alcohol contains a lot of calories about 7 calories per gramIt's also a stomach irritantFruit juice is just sugar waterAre you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods?Are you avoiding soft foods?You can't just eat what's easy!Cheese is glorified fatAre you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between mealsAre you eating too much junkChips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived.Stay out of fast food places.Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily?Do you always eat the protein first?then the vegetables and fruitMeat or fish - 3 ounces - the size of a deck of cardsVegetables 0.5 cup - the size of a small fistStarch: If you eat the protein and the vegetables first, you don't need muchAvoid: rice, potatoes, pasta, breadYou might try avoiding artificial sweetenersSome people think artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetiteThey are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugarThey teach you to like things too sweetThere is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don't - except diet sodas. Avoid most diet foodsReal food usually tastes betterReal food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutesWhen you are only eating a tiny bit, the caloric savings are not that greatUse a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarineThe body has no way to break down artificial fatsThey may go into permanent storageSome people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body



What is a slipped Band, and what causes it?

There are two types of slippage; anterior and posterior. This refers to whether the front or back side of the stomach slips. There is something else called concentric pouch dilation, but this is not the same as slippage. Slippage or prolapse is when the stomach slides up through the Band, making the pouch bigger. If this happens the Band usually becomes too tight, and patients experience symptoms of reflux (heartburn) as well as nausea and vomiting. This is because the amount of stomach being “squeezed” by the Band is increased, thereby obstructing the Band.
There are several causes. Posterior slippage was more common when the Band was placed by the “perigastric” technique. With this technique the back side of the stomach was free to slide up through the Band. These days most surgeons use the “pars flaccida” technique, which was developed to prevent posterior slippage, and has more or less eliminated the incidence of this problem.
Anterior slippage is when the front of the stomach slips up through the Band. We try to prevent this by suturing the stomach below the Band to the stomach above the Band, “locking” the Band in place in the right spot. In spite of this, slippage still occurs. It can happen because we haven't placed enough stitches, or they haven't been placed in the right place. Slippage can also occur if patients eat too much and vomit frequently.
How is a slipped Band diagnosed?
Fortunately, this is very easy. Often the diagnosis is made based on the history alone. A patient who has been going along fine, with no problems, and then suddenly develops reflux symptoms or symptoms of a too-tight Band will most likely have a slipped Band. The diagnosis is easily confirmed with an x-ray and barium swallow examination. Endoscopy is rarely necessary.
How is a slipped Band fixed?
A slipped Band needs to be fixed with an operation. The Band has to be dissected out, all the sutures removed, and the position of the stomach made right. Some surgeons remove the Band and place it back through a new tunnel. Others just straighten things out and re-suture the stomach over the Band.
What happens if the Band slips again?
That's a tough one. One could certainly try to fix the slip again, but my personal view is that, for whatever reason, the Band is just not working for that particular patient, and ought to be removed.