Friend's Gastric Band Problems...

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My best friend had a gastric band operation last April, and I am convinced that something has gone wrong with it but when I have tried to talk to her about it she says nothing's wrong. However, over the course of the last 10 months she has lost 4 stone...all well and good...but last week she put ON 9lbs. In a week. I asked her how and she said she had only eaten one box of chocolates! Other times she has text me and said that she's disgusted with herself as she'd just eaten 3 bars of chocolate, 4 bags of crisps and other stuff in one go. Now, I thought that a band restricted the amounts of food you could eat to tiny amounts? Even I, as a self confessed chocoholic, would have trouble eating a whole box of chocs in one go. I have limited knowledge of gastric ops, but it just sounds to me like it's not working. Anyone have any experience or advice?

No real experience but I doubt that one box of chocs would cause anyone to put on 9lbs - that's a hell of a lot more than the food weighs in the first place for a start!! There must be more to it. Water retention on a massive scale? Scales broken? Secret eating?

I don't know much about gastric bands but I understand that the stomach can stretch post-op or the band can fail.

The stomach can stretch. She may have pushed herself bit by bit to making her stomach grow to a large capacity. I do think it's quite common.

Thanks for your replies. I was shocked too at the amount of weight gain in one week. This was a last ditch attempt for her, she's tried lighter life, slimmin world, weight watchers, diet pills and even speed. None of them have worked for her. I don;t know what to suggest to help her.

Hi there, I had the same op and can confirm that all sounds fairly routine. The band limits amounts not what you eat, a box of chocs chewed will melt down to not a very large volume- if she drinks coke/milkshakes/alcohol these are all high cal and not retained by the band, you still have to eat healthily. Only actual food will be restricted but it does work. Actual signs of damage are mainly acid reflux and an inability to keep water down. Both of which I let get out of control which contributed to me nearly dying twice over a week, she needs to be very in tune with her body.

Ok, I suppose that makes sense about the choc melting down. But she eats 3 bags of crisps, 3 mars bars etc in one go...surely that's bulky? And 9lb in a week? She's adamant that there is no problme with the band itself. She has a monthly phone consultation with the surgeon/hospital but says she keeps it short as it's boring, so I doubt she will tell them about the weight gain and binge eating.

I think the problem is that bands are done, but no "re-educating" of the patient. Someone I work with has had a gastric band, but still eats macdonalds as her main meal, and chocolate. Theres no miracle cure.

It does seem as though she's stretched her stomach, and isnt being honest with anyone about what she's eating or drinking.

That's the problem I have with gastric surgery - it doesn't re-educate you about food and that's the problem with my friend. She knows she gorges, and hates herself for it but she can't help it and I think she thought that the gastric band would stop that, but nothing has really changed. She now refuses to weigh herself as she says it's too depressing, but that's just ignoring the real problem.