Hello everyone. I need some advice. My friend had lap band surgery a little over a year ago. She has lost about 80 pounds and looks great. However, I am extremely worried about her. She continually vomits after eating. She says that this is normal, and it is not affecting her health. I have told her that I worry about her being bulimic. She tells me that there is no stomach acid because of the lap band so that it is not dangerous to her health. I still worry though. The other night we went out to eat and she got up twice to vomit. When she returns, she continues to eat, and then vomits again. When she comes over to my house, she uses my bathroom to vomit sometimes up to seven times. Each time, she comes right back out and continues to eat. I've tried talking to her, but she acts like I'm hurting her feelings and being mean. I'm just worried about her health. Not to mention the fact that I don't really like her coming over to use my toilet for excessive vomiting. I don't know what to do. Is this really normal for people who have had the lap band? I really need some advice.

Thanks!

no vomiting is not normal she can make her band slip and get very sick

This is not normal at all. By saying it is, she is only lying to herself. She can become very ill if her band slips but is also hurting her heart. She needs medical help.

It sounds to me that she either eats to fast & does not chew her food to applesauce consistancy or her band is too tight & she needs some of the saline removed. I have a friend who likes it really tight & she knows she will spit up the heavy foods so she sticks to hot tea and soups & salads. Hopefully she hasnt developed an addiction to purging...she needs to tell the Dr. Keep us posted.

Hi There,

I know what your friend is going through. I was banded a little over a year ago myself and for the last 3 months I have been vomiting up salvia (a lot of it) when I try to eat certian foods. I too have lost over 80lbs and have had only one small fill over six months ago. I have a appointment with a specialist to see if my lap has slipped. Tell your friend to switch to soft foods for awhile. I'm able now to eat solids if its not greassy food. I also make up protien drinks. Yogurt stays down good too. When I find out more about this problem can I email you? Happy to help a fellow bandit.

from what your saying she is eating to much, throwin up then continue eating? sounds like over eating to me, just my 2 cents

Lapband or not - this is not OK. And I am not sure if you have talked to her about how you feel, but if she is a good friend and someone you wish to keep seeing, you need to let her know how you feel about this. I certainly would not feel comfortable eating with a friend that I knew would get sick each time we ate together. She needs to know that you care about her and her health - and in addition that her vomiting makes you uncomfortable. There truly is more to being healthy than just losing weight.

I try to think about what I am going to do about a situation - not about what I am going to make them do. If let someone know how we are feeling without preaching or telling them what they "should" do, it can sometimes help.

Good luck.