Dont mean to be ignorant but what is the terrible PBING and Slimmg? Thanks

WIll be banded 2-7-07

Hi Marissa-

Welcome to LBT! I think you have found the right place, it sounds like you need to hang out and read lots in preparation for your upcoming surgery!

There are threads that go into detail with these things, but I'll give you the quick low down then you can look into them deeper!

A PB, is an acronym for Productive Burp. When we eat, our food goes into the upper pouch created by our band separating it from the lower, larger stomach, then slowly oozes into the lower portion. If something is not chewed well, or we eat too much, or too fast for the band--we can get food stuck in the opening--or back food up into our esophagus. The act of upchucking it (vomiting) it is called a PB. It differs from vomiting, in the fact that it is strictly food and mucus, no stomach acids, they are in the lower part of your stomach. It is not pleasant, although not usually as forceful as vomiting--and is discouraged because the stress is not good on either the stomach or the band.

Sliming---is your bodies initial reaction to the same things happening. Most times, sliming occurs, before a PB--and can sometimes prevent the PB. Slime is thick, sticky, mucus. It is your bodies way of trying to help "slide" your food through that is stuck. The problem being, if it is stuck, the huge amounts of slime your body is producing, have nowhere to go, your pouch is already full---so the best way most of us have found to deal with sliming is to spit it out. As soon as your body calms down the sliming stops. It is not pelasant either, but has no odor or taste--it is just SUPER thick---unpleasant!

Hang out---ask any and all questions you have---you will do much better following surgery if you are well informed!!!

Be sure to check out the threads of things to have on hand prior to surgery!!!

Welcome!

Kat

Thank you so much I really appreciate your prompt/ honest and informative respone. You seem to have done great with your band - a true inspiration thanks

Help!! I am a "failed" lap band due to the PB and slimming. I had my surgery in September 2005 and lost about 50 pounds, but it was a tremendous struggle. I never in my life have seen so much mucus. It got to the point that I would vomit the "slime"3 to 5 times before I was ever able to eat. Sometimes I could drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee hot liquids, etc., and still have the slime. I assumed it was from my allergies but to read your info it sounds like it may have been produced in my stomach. Long and short of it, I ended up having all my saline out because the vomiting was so bad. Now 2-1/2 years later I not only have gained back all my weight but am bigger than when I started. I was a cash pay because my insurance did not cover it. So, essentially flushed the 14,000 along with all the slime. When I had my surgery I weighed 309 and I am now 326. Please someone help me with this problem. I have called my doctor to get some saline back in because ugh 326. I swore I would never get over 300 hence the reason to have the surgery and now well...Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Stef

Have you been back to your surgeon to ask why the constant sliming? I figure you must have or you would not be totally unfilled.

Have they ever scoped you to check the placement of the band---and to be sure nothing has slipped? If not that is where I would start prior to adding any fill again.

Another thing to check into is the possibility that now your insurance might cover. I was banded 2 years ago, and the coverage has changed immensley!! Maybe they will cover it now, or at least cover some of the testing involved with finding out if your placement is ok or not.

Then if the band is placed in an ok manner, I would proceed VERY slowly. Small fills, and baby yourself with a few days of liquid following every fill---and cautiously ease back into a normal diet.

Did you try any allergy meds to see if drying up the mucus that way made a difference? Zyrtec is now available over the counter, and they do make a liquid, even though the tablets are quite small.

Sorry you are having such troubles.

So---my advice would be to recheck your insurance, see if there have been any advances in coverage.

See your Dr. BEFORE a fill for a scope to check the placement of the band.

Then proceed with extreme caution.

Good Luck to you, and welcome to LBT!

Kat