The two questions aren't related, but instead of making 2 threads....

1 - I've noticed a few posters mention that they take papaya enzymes after surgery. Is that the case for most bandsters? If so, why and where do I buy them?

2 - My cousin had Lap-Band surgery 2 years ago, and develooped gallstones and had to have her gallbladder removed yesterday. I have seen a few posts mention gallbladder "issues", is this a common side effect from being banded?

Of course I will check with my doctor on these questions as well, just wondering about personal experiences .....

1. I keep papaya enzyme on hand in case I have a stuck or too tight episode with meat, but I've only used them two or three times. The time I used them when I was stuck, I believe saved from a full out PB episode. I had already started sliming, and I chewed three pills, and everything settled down. I bought mine at Trader Joe's (Papaya/Pineapple Enzyme), but others have found them at Vitamin shops.

2. You can potentially have gall bladder problems with rapid weight loss, but my problems developed during my third pregnancy (long before I had WLS). I've read that because people with lap band generally lose at a slower pace than with other WLS, that they tend to have gall bladder problems a little less often than those that have other WLS's, but I've not seen an actual table showing that to be true.

Edited November 10, 200916 yr by kiz

THANK YOU KIZ! I will make sure to KEEP papaya enzymes on hand. There is nothing that I hate worse than vomitting and all of the stories of PB'ing and sliming scare me more than the surgery itself :tongue_smilie:.... if there is ANYTHING I can do to prevent those episodes, I will do it and if you have ANY other suggestions to ward off PB and sliming demons, please share them!

There is a bit of luck involved in the slimers/pb'ers vs the non-slimers/non-pb'ers. For whatever reason, the few times I've gotten myself into a sliming situation, I know darn well it was my fault, and it has been a lesson learned. As in, slow down and when in doubt, stop eating. Many people who have those problems have addressed them by adjusting their eating habits, having their bands a loosened a bit, etc. I've come to the conclusion that some people are just more band tolerant than others.

There are some things you can do to help minimize it though.

Don't try to wait out a too tight fill for more than two weeks (or whatever time period your doctor advises), even if you are losing weight. Of course, if you can't tolerate liquids, go back to the doctor asap. It's not good for you or your band and will almost assuredly lead to future problems.

Eat at a slower pace. Put your fork down between bites, and chew, but not to oblivion. If you're having to eat pea sized bites or chew your food to a liquid mush to avoid sliming or pb, you're too tight in my opinion. You want your food to stay in your upper stomach so that you achieve satiety, so while you want to chew well, you don't want turn a good solid meal into a virtual liquid.

(This has been what has worked for me so far.)