POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Just curious to see if this is "normal." For the past few days, the intermittent pain has turned into more of a continuous crampy feeling. Basically around my port area. I haven't needed any pain meds or anything, but it can get annoying! I am on antibiotics as a precaution b/c my port incision has not really closed....it is kind of a yellowish scab that is still moist. No redness, fever or anything like that. Thanks for your input!

Has anyone ever heard we banders only have a window of opportuniity to lose weight. If this is true, how long is it? and why can't we continue to lose? It doesn't make sense to me. Help me understand or have I been misinformed?

I had a few toritilla chips, which are normally not a problem.. I must have ate them a bit to quickly.. however here's the problem. This happend wed night, and i simply threw up one bite. Ok we know its not that simple, but honestly it was the simplest stuck episode ive had yet. I only had 3 in 5 months of having the band so not too bad... my upper chest is soo sore.. I can feel where its sore. I feel it when im just resting.. I went on liquids best i could, and if i cheated i ate pretty mushy stuff.. Im starting to get worried now. Its teh second day of feeling this really bad soreness and i assume my stomach is just really irritated? I have threw up before and i n…

Five of the sweetest words that you will ever hear are... "You are just shrinking away!" This phrase was said to me 2x today. :thumbup: It is amazing how a few simple words can brighten even the darkest day.

I had my band put in almost a month ago and haven't had any fills yet, but whenever I walk after drinking anything, I hear this terrible sloshing sound! Obviously it's coming from my stomach and travelling into my ears, and I can sort of feel liquid going back and forth. Does this last forever? It's not painful but it is distracting. I would expect it if I drank after eating, but even if I drink on an empty stomach I get the sloshing. I thought it would have gone right through the band.

Hi everone! Can anyone help. Everything I eat or drink, I cannot stop burping. I am falling all the rules, what I am eating, how I am eating, how much I am eating. Then by the end of the day, not only am I still burping, but it is coming out the other end (sorry, I know too much information). And it is painful sometimes. I figured this would pass by now. 3 weeks is a little crazy. Please, someone tell me if this goes away. Is this normal? Compared to the first 10 days, my gas issues are much better, but how long do I have to live with this. Thanks! Burp....oops excuse me. :thumbup:

Hey women, I was wondering if anyone had issues with your cycle right after getting banded. I'm sure the surgery does a number on our systems, but immediately after the surgery I started my period again just for the day. Then today, 1 week postop, I started again. I'm on birth control and I did take a couple of my pills late this week, but I've never experienced this. Do you think it could be from the surgery, anesthesia maybe?

Meaning I was going to keep my band..some of you know I said I was getting my band removed, I think I posted a thread about that in September. I thought I was going to be ok I thought I was starting to come around finally. I feel like I get the nausea every other week. And most of the time when I walk I get sharp pain where my band is. On October 30th I had very severe chest pain/acid reflux for like an hour(it seemed) last week was a pretty good week except one of my gym days at school I felt like I was gonna vomit (we were playing football). Yesturday we were playing our third day of pillow polo(my fav thing we do in gym class) I took a few sips of Water and it felt li…

Hello to anyone that will take the time. I sailed right through the surgery and it was fantastic. My doctor took great care and I was back to normal about 2 days after surgery. He requires us to stay in the hospital overnight. I followed all the rules and felt absolutely fabulous after surgery. I started walking right away and of course on liquids for 2 complete weeks and then mushy for the next 2 and then incorporated solids slowly. After about the first month I was 11 pounds down! I was totally happy with that! But after I started eating it was no problem at all eating. When I went in for my first fill I was still 8 pounds down and felt absolutely nothing after the fill…

I went in today for a possible unfill. I am sliming after meals and wanted to make sure I wasn't doing damage. I was there about 9 days ago and have lost 10 pounds in the 9 day. The tech said that was far too much weight to have lost and seemed concerned. Total since my surgery I have lost about 42 pounds. He did not unfill me surprisingly enough. He said if I were sliming in between meals he would have but felt that my band was the best he had ever seen it. Anyone else been told that they are losing too much too fast?

Went to get my first fill yesterday and my doctor said "NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS!" i.e. Crystal Lite.. or anything with aspartame in it. It makes your brain crave more food. Has anyone heard of this before? Wish he would have told me this before.. considering the fact that I drink alot of Crystal Lite. :tongue2:

I was banded yesterday at Beebe Hospital in Delaware, by Dr. Zarif. After some scheduling problems and a Nor'eastern storm I made it into surgery at 12 noon. I was out by 1:15 and awake by 2:30. Very little pain, just felt like a bad tummy ache. Dr. gave me Tylenol w/ Codeine liquid and that has been helping. Slept perfect lastnight, getting in and out of bed was easy for the most part. This morning, my left shoulder was killing me and after doing some arm circle exercises and stretching I took some pain medication and laid down. I woke up about 1 hour later and the pain was gone. I was able to get down 12 ounces of protein drink by sipping and sipping water in between.…

I'm one week out and my doctor told me I can start on regular foods (being very careful...I already know this is not normal) but I'm wondering what it feels like to get food stuck. When I eat I cut my food into teeny tiny bites and chew, chew, chew but I ate 2 chicken nuggets yesterday (not fast food ones or anything, two tiny baked pieces of chicken) and a few baked fries, this was at noon yesterday and I am still feeling full. I'm really thirsty but I feel so full that I can barely drink anything. This morning I felt a little hungry so I drank diet hot chocolate (my doc said warm liquids help things pass) and I'm stuffed again. Do you think I could have a blockage? W…

My surgery went smoothly, but I feel terrible. I have some pain, but what's worse I have nausea and diarrhea. Abyone else have this? PLs send me some feel better vibes.

I ate Mexican for lunch and right now my stomach feels like it's on fire. I feel like I ate hot lava. Help me please !!!!!

hey everyone. i was banded on oct 13 and lost consistenly until this week. i am now up 4 pounds. i have not had a fill yet, not until dec 3. but i am on soft foods and eat 4 times a day ( 3 meals and a snack). after what i used to eat, shouldn't i still be losing. i exercise at least 5 times a week. very discouraged at this time. then my hubby was talking to someone and said 'she only lost 12 pounds since surgery'. i was so upset and said 'only?' until i started gaining i was feeling pretty good, but with the gain i am very upset. and long timers that can enlighten me, please do.:w00t:

I have a question for you all. I'm trying to figure out what STUCK feels like. I've read posts about how it's kind of like a bubble in the chest area, as if you have swallowed air. But logistically speaking, WHY? Why would you feel it in your chest? If the band is at the lower end of the newly created stomach pouch, wouldn't the food that gets stuck be stuck in the band area as it empties into the lower stomach? This morning I had a couple slice of peeled fresh apple for my Breakfast with a couple spoons of yogurt. I didn't get a feeling of stuck in the chest...but I did feel it in the stomach....not pain, but just this pressure...like it was sitting there and not goin…

I would like to know what is the 5 day pouch test and when should it be performed? thanks all

I wanted to hear from bandsters who have gotten pregnant. Will the band cause any problems? I can imagine one would have to have an unfill. Any info would be appreciated.

Thats only 50lbs and I need/want to lose more than that! My pre-op bmi was 40. Has oneone else been told that they should only lose 50% of their excess?

I am about 4m post. never had any problems with any food. So today I was eating a snack and a drink and it wasn't going down easy, so i just bump my cheat a bit and that usually works, but it didn't and was getting worse. Mouth was salivating like I was getting ready to hurl. So i ran to the bathroom. I spit out the excess saliva and noticed some blood. I never threw up. Had some small burps that help clear it up. Everything was fine and didn't think aboutt he blood. Well early tonite I had some gatorade. I went to bend over to fill the dishwasher and the gatorade started coming up so I leaned to the sink and spit and noticed blood again. I spit a couple more times and …

Ok guys, I'm at a loss. I need advice, help, encouragement, kick in the a$$, whatever! Surgery was July 30th, I've lost around 44 pounds (yea!) Everything was going GREAT! 2-3 pounds a week, feeling good....yes! Then 8 weeks ago I was switched back to 12 hr night shift for the first time in 18+ months. I've been a royal lazy a$$. I'm just too drained to even think about walking or anything on my 3 day shift and on my days off I'm just catching up on sleep and family time! I know I'm not being the greatest sleever but the real kicker is I have only lost 4 pounds since the middle of Sept! I don't even want to admit what a failure the last 6 weeks have been. B…

I find it funny that the 2nd most viewed thread was about marijuana use and its the third most commented on... It's late and I couldn't sleep... Just a useless fun fact!

Hello all you wonderful people! I am half way through my pre-surgery steps. I go to see the nutritionist next. I went to a support group and heard from people that have had the surgery for 18 months and more. The "food getting stuck" thing kind of scares me. Laurie:eek:

I havn't heard back from my doctor yet and I still dont know what diet i will be on post op. I am being banded next Thursday the 19th Nov, very excited and very nervous... not about the op, more about the healing and dieting for the first 6 weeks after. I was hoping some of you could share the various diets you were given and help me to prepare. All advice and information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks ALL :thumbup:

Hi all: Ok i'm having a new experience. Monday I got a little stuck started salivating for the first time (it went down on its own was some dry salmon) on my 2 mile walk home. Tuesday - had a bad stuck episode two hours and partly due to my own stubborness of continuing to try to eat (ie I was hungry but my band wasn't). So today wednesday back to the salivation, not sliming... but its been going on all day. Just excess salivation just enough to notice that its not entirely normal. I'm on full liquids because I'm thinking i'm too tight??? But i wasn't tight until now (btw I did get a small restriction, only my 2nd, this past friday but I had not problems un…

Well I did it... I went in at 730 am this morning and they took me back for surgery about 1020am . I feel good but the DRY mouth sucks big time:cursing: I got home about 400pm I had a chicken Soup (broth) everthing is going good. I just knew everything was going to go good because I had a talk with God and it just made me feel so at ease.:thumbup: I think you just have to belive in your self and know you are worth it!!! Hey by the way I did fine some new ways to make the Protein shake 1- add 1-2 t instant S/F banana pudding to the shake its like a banana shake VERY YUMMY!!!!! 2- get the single instant coffee reg or decaf add half a poch to the chochlate Protein shake. …

Okay - I have a fairly tight restriction - I can eat fine - but I have to be careful because food will get stuck occasionally. I think I'm getting a stomach flu - you know - upset stomach - nothing to do with the band. This is really a really gross question - but has anyone had a problem throwing up? not PB - but really throwing up?

Tomorrow I will be 3 weeks post op. I start soft foods tomorrow. I am having a problem with the 1/4 cup serving size. It is not filling me up anymore. What do I do? My Dr. doesn't consider fills until at least 6 weeks post op. Thanks, Ashley

I had my surgery on 11/09/09. I went home the same day. since then I haven't really bounced back. I have been mostly sleeping I get dizzy when I try to walk and nauseous when I try any liquids. is this normal? I am supposed to go back to work monday but if I continue this way I don't think I can... anyone else go through this?

I had my surgery on October 8th and at about two and half weeks out I had lost about 20 pounds and since then nothing. I dropped two more then the next day gained them back. I get my first fill this coming Monday and I am on solids now. Its so frustrating and I am hungry a lot of the time. They said something about once your stomach heals and the swelling goes down you will get hungry until your first fill. But honestly I am eating much healthier and far less than before and have no idea why I can't seem to drop anymore weight. In my life I have eaten more on regular diets and lost weight. If anyone knows what happens after the first fill I would like to know. Will it tak…

I have been all your posts for several weeks, finally feel like I am part of the group now I saw the Dr yesterday and have a surgery date of Nov 30th. Going to a support group meeting tonight hope to get some ideas on what I can eat for the next 2 weeks, wonder if they will let me put turkey and cranberries in a blender to make it liquid and then pumpkin pie lol Look forward to being a part of your group, I have gotten so many ideas from all of you. Lynda

Here's the short version of my issue. I tried to get my first fill last Thursday in the office but after trying the surgeon couldn't find the bulls-eye. He said I would have to get a fill under fluro and set up the time for me to get that one. I went yesterday to the hosp for the fluro. The dr that was doing it said that instead of the port sitting flat against my muscles and facing outward it's facing my head. He said "I'm good but this was the hardest one I've done. Maybe I was just lucky today." I kid you not. Glad this guy wasn't my surg. But now I'm flustered as to what to do now. I have a med coder friend that says I need to contact the surgeon and ha…

I was wondering about a question that several of you had post surgery about not urinating, urgency, loss of pressure since your surgery. Can I ask if you still feel that way. DownInSoCal was in a study I believe and wanted to know if this resolved? Thanks again

Hi - i am excited to be joining your side next week :thumbup: i get banded next tuesday the 17th and cant wait to start my new life. I do realize that there will alot of peaks and valleys to over come and hurdles to jump everyday -- but no one ever said life was easy --- and i have 40 years of habits that i need to change !!!! But i am excited to join all of you :drool: Annette

I have been overweight pretty much my entire life. All I have known myself as is "the big goofy girl". I asociated my self esteem with my weight. Now that I have lost quite a bit of weight, my mind is still in the same place.I still can't seem to believe I deserve good things or people in my life. Just looking for tips from those who have lost a lot about the mental part of weight loss in terms of fixing self esteem. Thanks in advnace:)

How many of you use Wii fit as your primary source of exercise? I find that Wii fit is all I have time for between my schedule, my husband and my daughters'. I'm wondering what length of time seems to work for everyone that keeps you still losing weight. What exercises do you find work best to get toned up? I aim for at least 30 mins. a day and I try to vary what I do each day. I do try to get in at least one aerobic and strength training in a night, but the others are just whatever looks good at the time. Thanks for your help :tongue_smilie:

First off, I don't want any lectures about how important it is to stick to my surgeons recommended post-op diet. I am 1 week post-op and have been slowly introducing soft foods into my diet with complete success. With that being said, how am I supposed to know if something doesn't sit well with me, or if I am full, etc.? I've eaten creamy Soups, mushy tuna, Jello, hot Cereal, etc., nothing that I have to crunch, cut, or chew very much (or at all), and I havn't had an adverse reaction to anything! I do however get adverse reactions when I drink a protien shake (immediate gas, which did NOT happen on my pre-op diet). I do feel full after about 1/2 cup of mushies,…

Hello, everyone! Just wondering if this is normal. I am just getting over bronchitis, and I have been coughing like crazy! So, as a result, I keep having extreme port pain. The thing is it's about two inches to the left of my port. My pain is absolutely horrible!!! It feels like someone stuck an ice pick in my stomach. I think that the scar tissue is being pulled. I don't know. I called my doctor and the MA said to just put heat and cold packs on it. She said port pain was normal. But I've had port pain before, and this just seems a lot different. What should I do?! Help!!!! :biggrin:

I am struggling to get in my 70gr of protein everyday in my three 1/2 cup meals (and two 2 oz snacks). It seems like all I eat is protein but when I add it up I am usually around 50 to 55 gr. I am supposed to eat my protein rather than drink it so I haven't been having protein shakes. I eat Greek yogurt for the higher protein, protein bars for snacks. I would appreciate some tips and food items to help boost my protein. My regular menu items are eggs, cheese, chicken, turkey, tuna, cottage cheese and yogurt so any other suggestions would be welcomed!!!

So here I am out here livin' the Lap Band life a lot like my old life just a lot less food. There are foods I can't eat like bread or chicken in certain forms. So I'm going about my daily life and wake up one morning and bam! breakfast gets stuck -I toss it up and drink water the next few hours then try to have lunch- Bam again- stuck! I hadn't had anything get stuck in a long time and it comes up on you like surprise!!! I'm still here band.... Does anyone have times during the day that the band seem tighter? Or have you gone thru this where you get really excited to eat something and it gets stuck? :thumbup:

Is anyone else salt sensitive? Since my last fill I am unable to eat things such as bleu cheese, olives, pickles, etc. I am a little worried that I may be too tight as I seem to have trouble after almost every meal, but I am not sure if I am eating too fast, my bites are too big or if I am eating the wrong things. It seems that I am always pointed in the right direction after I come on here, so I thought it may be worth a try.

Wow, I feel like I'm constantly asking questions on a daily basis, but everyone is so helpful I feel like no matter what I ask, someone out there can help (so thank you all!:tongue_smilie:) I just found out that I need to go on a business trip during the first week of December. The good news is that I'll be on my regular solid diet at that time. The bad news is it will be my first week on this lifetime diet and I will be adjusting to exactly what that is after being on liquids, purees and soft up until then. Does anyone have suggestions as to what I should plan on bringing for the flight and what I should get for those oh-so stuffy business dinners that I will sure…

Hi ya everyone Im new to this site and have been reading the threads for a while now but this is my first post. Yey me lol. Well I live in the UK and had my sleeve done two weeks and 6 days ago and have so far lost: Pre op diet: - 11lbs week 1: - 8lbs week 2: - 4lbs week 3: Il let you know on Wednesday when I weigh in The thing is I was advised by my doctors after 10 days, to introduce mushy food, which is fine and Im trying to get to grips with eating what looks blooming awfull. lol I worried that I might be eating too much? Im trying to start with 1 mushy meal a day and work my way up. I have a Protein shake for Breakfast 200mls = 189 cals and 24.8g pro…

Do any of you have the Johnson and Johnson realize band? What is the capacity of the band? How many cc's do you have? When did you feel a good restriction? I have had four fills and am up to 6cc. I am still always so hungry (even after eating excellent - high Protein, etc)

Okay, I know that we have to learn to trust and that may take some time. After all, I have trusted before, only to have my heart broken. I always put so much into a relationship only to find out it won't work out. But, now I have finally found a relationship that is making me smile with joy and love. I LOVE Bernard!! He is everything I was told he would be and more. He is supportive and steady. Who could ask for anything more? (Oooh, sounds like a Gershwin tune). BTW, Bernard is my band. I got my first fill on Friday, 1 cc went into Bernard and he is now happy to keep me honest and ful-"filled"! I thought to myself "Only 1 cc, how in the world would such a sma…

Crazy I know! I was Morbidly obese, then Obese, but tonight I am one pound away from being just overweight. I couldn't be more thrilled to be overweight!

:confused:Hi 2 days until my band and I'm wondering if and what you tell people about your new lifestyle. I have told a few people about my decison to get this and it has been negative. Has this happened to anyone else ? Once I start losing weight I'm going to have to explain it. What do you guys say when people notice the weight loss.

I was banded on 7/16/2009 and I have been following my Protein requirements to a "t", about one month after surgery I noticed this sweet soft odor, but it took me until 2 weeks to figure out what it was. I smell just like the Protein shakes I drink! I have asked a couple of close friends and husband, they say they cannot smell it. However, I can no longer wear Michael Khors perfume (does not mix well with protein smell), it makes hubby sick!:tongue_smilie: Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm not quite 3 months post op. I've lost a total of 38 lbs. I started at a size 20 jeans but yesterday I purchased a size 14! A 14. I wore a size 14 to work today, yeah right! Two sizes down in under 3 months, not too bad. I was really excited when i tried them on and they fit perfectly. I was stoked to wear them to work today. But the day came and went and i realized I really don't feel any better in them. I still feel like a fat ass (pardon the politically incorrect adjectives but that's exactly how i feel). When will i start feeling differently about myself? I realize 38lbs isn't a lot a lot but still, shouldn't i feel, I don't know better about me? Shouldn't i f…