HI Everyone,

Ever since I had my PS last year, I notice that my stomach, intestines and lower bowels make a lot of noise when I drink and eat. I am not talking about the normal bandster gurgles and stomach noises, but really loud noises that range from gurgling to gas sounds in the intestines.

Now I have always been more gassy since being banded, but these noises are REALLY loud and very frequent regardless of whether its just liquids going in or food. ITs really distracting and sometime embarassing.

I was going to try an experiment since I am convinced that some of the stomach distress might be caused by drinking coffee and tea. It seems lately that I am drinking a lot of these two beverages. Several times a week I go to Starbucks and get a decaf coffee with sugarfree hazelnut flavor, two splendas and fat free milk. This is a relatively new habit.

The only thing I can think of that will help me is completely changing my diet to see if I am now intolerant to any specific foods and drinks. I am willing to do that if it changes the outcome. I am tired of the noise and really tired of being so gassy all the time.

I guess the only reason I am concerned is because I can live with the bandster noises, but these new sounds really are so loud that I am convinced that if I were in a meeting with other folks (which luckily I am not because I work alone) that everyone would hear and I would be totally embarrassed. Does anyone have this problem and to what extent??? Is is just because I have been banded so long my stomach and intestines and bowels are messed up? Even on my most recent liquids only diet, I still had the noises and distress.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Babs in TX

334/180 ish

Coffee is a laxative and could very well be the culprit. I have been told that coffee also contains tannic acid which is the used to tan animal hides, eww. Now I don't know if that is true but I do know that when I used to drink coffee my stomach always hurt, gave it up a few years ago and has made a big difference in how my tummy feels. I would try to go without a week or so and see if that helps.

I honestly have no idea, but just one thing hit me....and I could be WAYYYY off base here, so if I am feel free to laugh your a$$es off!!!

I'm thinking if you have plastic surgery, specifically a tummy tuck, after losing a large amount of weight, and then have the extra skin removed, wouldn't it be easier to hear the rumblings in your tummy/bowels? I mean, there's no longer a thick layer of fat...no more soundproofing..... I could be (and probably am) completely wrong, but just wanted to throw in my wacky theory.....

Hi Clovermeg,

I thought of that, but I didnt have a lot of stomach fat in the first place. What I did think was maybe some intestine and stuff were moved around in there and now that the stomach cavity is smaller and stuff is more gurgly and noisy. That might be some of the problem, but still something I am putting in there has to be causing all the distress....

Babs in TX

Coffee and dairy does that to me. Especially the dairy, very hard on my digestive system.

That's just what I was going to say: I betcha it's dairy.

Babs...

You might be lactose intolerant. Have you checked with your doctor?

Dairy and a thinner person.

The really thin girl in our office 5'6" 115# if you are standing next to her you can hear Water hit her stomach. You can hear every rumble her stomach and intestines make!!

They dont call them luxury cars for nothing- the extra insulation to sound proof vs a kia!!

Im still going for the kia look- Ive had plenty of years as a luxury model. Plus I look forward to actually wearing a sweat shirt or pullover for the warmth!!

Oh the misery of being thin....noises. Just one more reason to keep my tummy, LOL, (not to mention I'm chicken for the tummy tuck).

did you go to the dr today babs?

i do make some noises but its the draining sink bandster noises. i think lactose intolerance could be the culprit!

...waiting to hear what your doc says..

Babs, me too!

It's really hard because now I do TV tapings and I swear people can hear this symphony of gurgling noises on the microphones. How embarrassing is that?

Anyway, I've never figured out if it's

• because I have more restriction (finally, but it's still a struggle to keep my restriction level up) or
  
• because I've lost weight and the sound echoes more or
  
• something having to do with my TT. I mean, did they cross a wire somewhere? :couch2: Of course, I had my TT after I had lost quite some weight.

All I know is that the noises I make would make a high school marching band proud.

If your doc provides any answers, I can't wait to hear them.

I realize anything is better than being obese, but man when I was fatter, I never burped, hiccuped or gurgled. Now my stomach is a one-woman rhythm section.:phanvan

Any info would be helpful.

I started having reflux, and narrowed it down to exactly what Molly said..the tannic acid in my iced tea. Once I laid off the iced tea, all the gurgling quit, as well as the reflux at night. Now in my opinion that was adding insult to injury, I had replaced my Dr. Pepper with tea....now I drink water!!! Luckily it was a much easier change that giving up my soda!!!!

Good Luck in finding a quiet answer!!!

Kat

Hi Everyone,

I kinda have my answer ( a partial one)! When I went to my lapband surgeon yesterday, he noted I have a prolapse and slip. THe prolapse means I have food sitting in the upper pouch that is kinda trapped which could account for the stomach and intestinal distress. I still think a lot has to do with the amount of coffee and tea I am drinking so I am gonna cut back on this. Thanks for all the answers. I probably have lactose intolerance as well.

Babs in TX

334/180 ish

Hi Everyone,

I kinda have my answer ( a partial one)! When I went to my lapband surgeon yesterday, he noted I have a prolapse and slip. THe prolapse means I have food sitting in the upper pouch that is kinda trapped which could account for the stomach and intestinal distress. I still think a lot has to do with the amount of coffee and tea I am drinking so I am gonna cut back on this. Thanks for all the answers. I probably have lactose intolerance as well.

Babs...what did the doctor prescribe? What exactly is a prolapse? Is it different from a slip?

Hi Carlene,

A prolapse is when your stomach is actually hanging over the band. A small portion of my stomach has done this due to the pouch being so large and the band slipping. No one knows which one came first. Probably the pouch dilation and then the prolapse and then the slip is what I am guessing. But who knows?? Its like the chicken and the egg. A slip can happen for no apparent reason, a prolapse will happen sometimes with a slip and a pouch dilation can occur from eating too much and pouch packing which is the common cause.

Babs in TX

Do you have any back and shoulder pain with this?