Has anyone ever had stomach flu with a lap band? I've started the process of getting the insurance okay to have lap-band surgery, and since it's flu season and I'm hearing about flu shots and a probable future flu pandemic, I'm concerned of the possible harm of stomach flu and repeated vomiting. Anyone been there? Anyone else given this any thought?

Pixcess

Just adressed this very question earlier this morning. Try here:

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=26030&highlight=anti-emetic

We call stomach flu gastro but I'm confused. A flu shot here means immunity against respiratory influenza - the hacking cough, temperatures, aches and pains kind of real flu that doesnt often involve nausea and vomiting. There's no immunisation against gastro - is there one over there?

Anyhow, that's off topic, I keep on hand an anti emetic medication that my doctor described when my charming grotty kids brought home gastro 3 days after I got home from band surgery, I was cleaning up chundered hot dogs from a kiddie party, urg. I was utterly terrified of catching it because it is SO contagious, but the pills fixed me up, I did get sick but didnt get the vomiting part.

Couple of things that might help clarify the differences. Flu shot (vaccine) is added tolerance (partial immunity) -- not actual immunity, to influenza. It would be nearly impossible to truly get to a point of flu immunity.

Influenza can cause nausea and vomitting, mostly with children.

People here use "flu" generically. The stomach flu is "gastroenteritis" (norovirus). The "flu" (influenza virus) and "stomach flu" are not the same things. Gastro is just that, influenza is respiratory. It's just that "the flu" becomes a kind of catch all for anything more serious than a cold.

I believe norovirus vaccine is in development. I could be wrong. It has been a while since I've picked up any medical literature!