Hello Dr.C.

I live in Australia and was banded in Jan2004 and rebanded in Sept2005 due to a slippage. My second band is larger one 10ml (sorry dont know the US measurements), ever since my second band has been put in I have been suffering from wind and its so bad that I am finding it diffucult to go to work cause I am running to the rest room forever, going out or to friends is out of the question, basically this band is ruling my life. I am so bloated by the end of the day and full of wind that I can not find the words to discribe it, also it interferes with my sleep cause it feels like I have twins kicking around. My doctor says that that band stops me from burping (true I dont burp) and all the swallowed air ends up in my bowels. He has removed all my fluid, and it made no difference. I am so over this band, please let me know your thoughts. One minute I am thinking of having it out and be done with it, but worried over putting weight on and thinking of having a third band. I am so unhappy and depressed:cry

Look forward to hearing from you

Another tough one, you guys are really making me earn my keep!

Providing your band is not slipped, the next most common thing to cause this would probably be a missed hiatal hernia. Dr. George Fielding, probably the world's most prominent band surgeon (and also Australian) has been talking about this a lot at meetings. Sometimes the hiatal hernias can be fairly small and easy to pass over if you don't actively look for them.

This is obviously just speculation. Have you tried simethicone? It's a medication that helps to absorb extra gas in the stomach.

Dr. C

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND

DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Hello Dr.C.

I live in Australia and was banded in Jan2004 and rebanded in Sept2005 due to a slippage. My second band is larger one 10ml (sorry dont know the US measurements), ever since my second band has been put in I have been suffering from wind and its so bad that I am finding it diffucult to go to work cause I am running to the rest room forever, going out or to friends is out of the question, basically this band is ruling my life. I am so bloated by the end of the day and full of wind that I can not find the words to discribe it, also it interferes with my sleep cause it feels like I have twins kicking around. My doctor says that that band stops me from burping (true I dont burp) and all the swallowed air ends up in my bowels. He has removed all my Fluid, and it made no difference. I am so over this band, please let me know your thoughts. One minute I am thinking of having it out and be done with it, but worried over putting weight on and thinking of having a third band. I am so unhappy and depressed:cry

Look forward to hearing from you

Thank you Dr.C. for a prompt reply, my doctor is Prof.Paul O'Brien and the follow up doctor is Dr J. Dixon in Melbourne. I shall mention this on my next visit. If its a hernia, would it be caused by the lap-band or just a coincidence?

You ask if I have tried simethicone - yes I practically live on the stuff, and it doesnt help, cause by the time I realize that today is agoing to be a bad day all the gases are in my bowels and then simethicone does not help.

I was put on Nexium about 18months ago, cause my first band caused reflux, and in my desperation gone back on it not long after my second band in Sept, and found that it helps a lot with wind. Now it does not eliminate it and I am still having awful trouble , but when I try to get off them, then my condition becomes unbearable to the point where I cannot even go to work. I know Nexium is not supposed to have anything to do with flatulance and such but only neutralizing acids, but go figure it helps, and if anything helps I am happy to take it.

I am very happy with my weight loss, 45kg and feel terrifing, but do wonder sometimes whether its too high a price to pay, seems to me I got rid of one monster and created another.