POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I am considering having the sleeve instead of the band. I have a little supportat home between my husband and immediate family. I have a VERY ACTIVE 2 yr old and 4yr old. I was hoping to connect and share your experience with those that had little one's at home during your recovery. I guess I am wondering exactly how difficult it is to manage for a couple of weeks with no lifting.

Hi friends -- I had my first fill this week. It was a little unexpected, since I went in for infected stitches and my surgeon decided to do a fill since I was there. I was a little unprepared mentally, but that's OK. My issue is I seem to have cramping on my right side (my port is on the right). It's not pain, per se, just solid discomfort. Is this normal?

hi everyone.. another question! Can someone please tell me how to get a scale of my progression on my profile. I see a lot of you have your progression on a scale.. I don't know how to do that. Please help!! Thank You!! -Alex

soo i had my op done yesterday and got home today. I am not really in toooo much pain just a bit of discomfort. but I REALLY REALLY WANT FOOD! thats all i want. i would die for some Soup or mushy tuna... or fish. but i have 14 DAYS ON CLEAR FLUIDS. I also don't know how much is too much to drink? I am also confused why i only have 3 incisions?? Really need support as I don't have much at home. I am 18 years old - and took this journey cause I didn't want to be 20 and 20 kilos over weight! i AM now just anxious that maybe i didn't make the right decision. I am just soooo hungry.. so maybe this isnt going to work. eeek.

Today is my 11 month Bandiversary, and I feel incredible! I finally hit the sixty-pound down mark (60.6 actually!) this morning and am THRILLED! I now have only 14.4 pounds to go to goal! I LOVE MY BAND!! Thanks for letting me broadcast my SV! I doubt I'd have been this successful without all of the great advice, posts and encouragement of all the amazing bandsters on this site and on my blog! Catherine

Some of you on here all know I've been having a tough time, with feeling sick/nausea. Well when I started school on the 8th I started to feel better and started feeling like myself. One of my teachers I had last year I have again and she's like "why'd you cut your hair?" and I didn't cut my hair lol then she said "you look really different this year" on day two of school. Then yesturday she asked "are you ok?" I said "yeah why?" she said "I don't know you just look really differen you're not upset or angry are you?" " no, but I lost weight" "yeah I know, I didn't want to embarrass you infront of the other kids" then she asked me what I was doing different and I just told …

Hey all. I'm freaking out sitting here with my drain and bandages and anxiety overwhelm. I just got in my car and rode to my daughters 3 miles away because I needed support!! Today I had a carrot/apple/celery/parsley/bananna drink made to order from a local juice bar...water...tried some whey protein powder in blender with water only, (yuch)..later organic free range chicken boxed broth...which I loved but it seemed to be giving my throat pinching sensations and caused me the need to exert my abdominal muscles to clear up my throat...ouch. I later had more water/apple juice/water...then my throat kept pinching like there where particles or something iritating it....I brus…

I just went in to get my 3rd fill - I have had no restriction yet. I was at 5.5 cc's and the doc said he was only going to put 1/2 cc in- that I should be restricted and he wouldn't want to put to much more in. HELP!! how many cc's did people have in before they felt restriction- or the sweet spot I read about?????? I'm worried now that this won't work for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

Okay, so I had my surgery August 13th and I've had irregular periods all my life, though I'm only 19. I have had a period on and off for 6 weeks and I don't know if anyone here has experienced this. Today, it has been really heavy and it's really starting to worry me. It's not a normal color either, its very bright. I hope someone can help me with information but I do have my first fill tomorrow so I can ask my surgeon, and I have an appointment with my doctor as well. Thanks.

I was just wondering if anyone else was or has had the same issue I'm having... It's been almost 2 months since my last fill, I actually went back a month after for an unfill, after realizing that was my problem at the time-thanks to the advice of the wonderful people here at LBTalk. Now, I have different restriction everytime I eat practically! Is this normal? I can eat 4-5 ounces sometimes and not even 1-2 ounces the next! Tonight I ate 1/2 of a tiny little avacado and I started sliming with that, didn't even get to start my protein! I cut it into tiny bites and its a soft food. It just seems strange to me.

Hi, I was banded on Monday, June 29, 2009. I am hoping to find other people who were banded the same day as me. My original date was July 20, but was moved up as I have done all requirements. Someone had to cancel for heart reasons. I stayed over night one night and was comfortable. Then came home and was fine until Wednesday I was unable to keep my liquid drinks and sf Jello down. I went back to the hospital and my nurse put me on another liquid Protein drink to see if I could handle it. She made me stay and drink the entire thing to make sure I could handle it. I have the Allergan Lap Band with 2 cc fill at surgery she said it was standard. I cut out the Jello …

Several of you have requested more details to my surgery experience- so here ya go. Pre-op - all they did here was get me ready. Start an IV. I met with the Dr, anesthesia team and nurses from the OR. OR- I vaguely remember going into the OR. They had given me a little versed (sedation medicine in pre-op) Recovery- the only thing I remember about the recovery was the nurses telling me my room was ready. The Floor- my surgery was at 2:30 in the afternoon and I was in my room by 6pm that night (I think) I woke up feeling fine. I was a little thirsty but no pain to speak of. I couldn't have anything to drink the first night post op, the only thing I could have were the…

Hi Everyone!! I have to tell you this has been a long journey but I'm so excited and you all keep me going!!! :mad: I got banded on Monday Sept 21.. and I am so bloated. I feel like I'm pregnant because my stomach is hard. I have been walking and drinking Water every 15 minutes as instructed. I have also taken suppositories like the doc told me. I have not passed any gas in 3 days.. it doesnt seem to wanna come out. **Nothing seems to be helping. is extreme bloating normal and how long does it last? **Also, How long after surgery do you start to lose weight? I have gained 5 lbs since 3 days ago (when I got the surgery) It's obviously water weight. ***My last que…

Hi all, Just need to vent. Surgery was on July 15th and I'm down 28 lbs but I'm int hat stuck phase and I need to vent. Had one fill so far (3cc's) and no restriction. I go in for another on October 13th. I have not been gaining but it is all due to self-control which I know I need but the hunger is still there. I know from reading posts it will get better but i'm just frustrated. I'm really going to push hard to make sure I get a good size fill due to absolutely no restriction after 3 cc's. Thanks for listening.

I had my band placed on 9/18. I have had pain in my shoulder since the surgery, and haven't been able to go a full day without the codeine, the over the counter just doesn't work to cover the pain. My stomach hurts like someone has hooked up wires and is pulling them, maybe the stitches inside are tight, but I have glue on my belly so that can't be it. When I swallow a small amount of my broth or isopure I have pain until I force a burp when it almost feels like the liquid has passed, but the mild pain continues. and my shoulder and abdomen hurt when I burp, or hiccup. I also had a hernia so he repaired that and I feel like I can't take a deep breath because of…

Can someone give me either Nina's at Dr. Aceve's office email address or telephone number? I need to cancel my testing that I was supposed to have done on October 12th. I found out Dr. Aceves is going to be on vacation that week and his entire staff takes vacation when he does. They were going to have Dr. Campos come in on his vacation day just to do my tests and I don't want to impose on him like that. I have not been able to get through on the phone number on the side of the screen on the ad. If anyone knows Nina's phone number or email address, will you please tell me so I give plenty of notice that I don't Dr. Campos to come in on his day off just for m…

I'm about a month out from surgery, and I am terribly dizzy. I have a lot of symptoms like that of low blood pressure, but my doctor says mine is ok. I wonder if it is from the lack of food? Also, I am pretty active. Would not having the calories to burn possibly affect my energy and cause me to become dizzy? Maybe I am reading into this too much, but maybe someone else has a similar situation....Thanks in advance!

I had sleeve surgery Sept 21 and just got home tonight. Everything went super! The pain was minimal. The staff was excellent and I feel wonderful! I will talk more tomorrow but wanted to let you guys know I am doing great! Thanks for all your prayers and words of support!

My doctor's office has Support Group Meetings the 2nd Thrusday of every month. So I went to this last one and learned a lot! They had two speakers... One was a lady that had lost 94 lbs. (She looked great! ...and had kept it off for 5 yrs) The other was a lady who had lost 60 lbs and gained 60 back. We spent the entire evening asking them both questions. Why did it work for one and not the other? Well, the lady that re-gained said that ice cream goes down that hole really easy! She couldn't eat a lot, but what she ate was full of calories! She is now joining Overeaters Anonymus to help her pinpoint the problem that is keeping her from being successful. She is…

I began experiencing a sensation like something was poking my ribs from the inside about four days post surgery. On the fifth day, the sensation became very painful and frequent. It hurt to breath in or to exhale and I couldn't take in a deep breath at all, only short, shallow breaths. I called my surgeon last night, and he said that my stomach was probably swollen and the band was rubbing my diaphragm when I breathe. Has this happened to you? Does it go away? I am terrified that this feeling won't subside. If it does not, I will have to have the band removed because I won't be able to exercise or to breathe normally again. I am trying to have no regrets, but I …

Im really seroiusly considering getting a slight unfill right now for a number of reasons. and before i go much further. I love my band and would don't wanna go back to where i was 6 montths ago. Not now, not ever. 1. i've been having a lot of acid reflux the last week. 2. right now i love the way i look in clothes. but i'm not too happy naked. 3. i've been working like crazy lately. i mean crazy like i worked 90 hours last week/ most weeks i've been doin like 65 or 70. between work and my family i don't feel like i've been making a true effort to eat right and have been eating way too many slider foods lately just because i'm busy and they're easier in a hurry. I've …

I dont understand something before you get to the sweet spot everyone says its banster hell. when ya dont have restriction does that mean ya can pretty much eat like ya used too.and if so is eating too much dangerous?I mean I know we have to be on liquids and all that but when we can finally eat real food and dont have restriction will ya be able to eat like the pre band days?

Ok I had my two week post op appt today and I've only lost 5 flippin lbs! How is that possible when I've been eating 600-900 cals a day and no real food?! Wtf?? I've seen that others have lost anywhere from 10-20lbs. It's just really frustrating when you've been starving yourself and have nothing to show for it! :tongue2: I also start mushy foods today and now I'm scared that I'll gain weight since I'll be eating more food. How many calories has everyone been eating while on the mushy stage? My nurse today told me to stay around 800 cals and to eat 1/2 a cup of food 3 times a day. That just doesn't seem like enough to me and how are you supposed to get in your Protei…

I am so scared that I am going to be a band failure. Obviously, I have failed at weight loss every other time I have tried, so I am so nervous that I am going to fail once again. :bored: I have my first fill this Thursday. Does it get easier? I am hungry most of the time, and I keep feeling like my old habits keep creeping back in. This past month has been pretty good, but the past few days have been just awful- I've put on a few pounds and I am just so darn upset at myself. I need to hear some stories about "bandster he!!' and how you may have overcome it after your first fill. Thanks for sharing your stories with me!

I am looking to connect with anyone in the Boston area that has had the sleeve surgery. I would love to get a referral to your surgeon and hear about your experience.

I am terrified about it slipping! I can feel my band, it doesn't hurt, but it feels up high. Like something caught around my breastbone. Also, it doesn't feel wide open, when I eat mushy foods, they seem to feel stuck for a little bit. I was banded last Wednesday.

OMG, I had my first experience of being stuck today. My fault...I didn't chew enough and I was VERY hungry so I ate too fast. LESSON LEARNED! When I first started to have symptoms I had no idea what was happening (it was 2 hours after I ate lunch). My upper back started to hurt really, really bad like major muscle cramps; then my abdominal area started to hurt. I started salivating and then heaving. And to make matters worse...I had to puke in a PUBLIC TOILET! I will never be the same, sob sob. I was at a workshop, so I left early. I had to pull over half way home to throw up again. My back hurt so bad I was crying. I hope that doesn't happen again...sigh.:blushing:

I am still in the hospital, ,but feeling pretty good. I was banded today at 11am! I have only had sponges with water until tomorrow! I will post a surgery day story soon. Pain was 6-7 on a 1-10 level, but morphine quickly helped!!

Right! I have made a joke of it but it is a serious issue that is concerning me somewhat. I think I know the answer to my problems but would welcome some input on this. Since my op in July, I, unlike most other sleevesters, do not get any clear signals of when to stop eating. I don't feel full until it really is too late. I quite often keep going wondering to myself if I am feeling full or should be feeling full. I mean this has been my problem all my life because before I had bariatric surgery I could easily keep eating way past when I was feeling full or should have been. Do you know what I mean? Anyway, just recently, after eating I am feeling really rough. I feel …

I have a question for those of you that are on the Losing Track… Approximately how many calories do you feel you are consuming each day? I am a little baffled about restriction vs. starvation mode. I am only a couple weeks out (090909) and am still feeling restriction, and only taking in about 800 calories a day. I am not losing weight, and I figure it’s because my body must be in starvation mode and conserving fat. Would you say that eventually, the typical scenario is to be able to take in more calories again, and then with the fill, comes a drop in calories and then a weight loss? Or does just not being hungry somehow impact metabolism, and avoid starvat…

has anyone had any issues with flying with the band. i heard that because of being so high some people have issues..plz share your experiences

Since surgery on 09/11 it has been hard for me to get in all my water. With the restrictions on when you drink before and after you eat and not drinking too much at one time I am having a hard time with this. Any tips?:biggrin:

I was banded on 9/18/09 and i am basically doing great. I am sticking to my liquid diet. I have had some left shoulder pain but my biggest issue is my crotch hurts. I feel like i was kicked in my crotch and am brused. it hurts to sit up straight. I know i was cathorized but does it burse you? My husband says call the doctor and ask but i am embarassesd about it. I dont know why but here i sit on a pillow. So mabye this has happened to some one else and i am not just abnormal. how long does it last. oh i forgot to add that i started my period the day of surgery. I was two weeks late and of coures i had to start the day of my surgery. Natures llittle joke to have them on …

I used to be fanatical about taking my vitamins prior to my surgery. I just popped them and swallowed and was done with it. Now I have to gag down these chewable vitamins. I have tried all kinds of flavors and they all are disgusting. Are there any good ones that you all have found? Are there any ones that come in pill form that are small enough for me to swallow? Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks!

Has anyone else experienced hair loss after surgery?? If so, how long will this last????

Ok.. I just got my 2nd fill today. I felt hardly any restriction after the first fill. I really hope to feel restriction this time around. My doctor said to do liquids for the first 2 days and mushie for 2 days after wards liquids.... I have been out of town and came home today... my daughter had one of those school musicals tonight... after my dh took us out for pizza. I ate the smallest piece on the pan and 1/2 a bread stick,,,, What I am wondering is will the band get the accurate restriction even though I ate,,, what could the side effects be? Does everyones doctor require the above diet after fills? I have a 14 cc band and 7 cc filled I believe,,,,

When you did your pre-op high protein, low carb diet, what types of foods did you eat? I know meat, but did you stick to lower fat choices like chicken and fish, or did you eat beef and pork also? Does it matter as long as it is high protein? I have done Atkins before but wanted to see if eating lower fat made any difference. Thanks for your help.

I am two weeks post surgery. One thing that has been bugging me now that I'm on pureed food....dryness of mouth after eating. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to hydrate your mouth since you aren't supposed to drink for a half hour or so before and after your "meal"? I am experienceing the bad taste/dry mouth thing even after my protein drinks.

I was banded on 9/16...my dr had me on liquids for 48 hours. I have been really careful with mushy foods to make sure they are really mushy and have only been eating small amounts to make sure I don't overdo. Is it normal to feel the band? I know that is a weird question, but it just started yesterday. It doesn't hurt, I can just feel it when I eat or burp. I don't have any saline yet. This morning I ate a scrambled egg and could feel it going past the band (or at least that is what it felt like). Since I have seen so many people on liquids for a week, I am a little concerned about slipping.

Hi, I'm almost 3 weeks post-op and I'm feeling awesome. I'm working out again (spinning classes and walking) and generally feel back to normal. But that's part of the problem - my "normal" appetite is back, too. I'm doing my very best to stick to my post-op diet plan (I'm on pureed foods now), but it is seriously hard to make it through the day without eating upwards of 1500 calories. I've been a little depressed the last couple days, thinking this surgery didn't "take," but I'm also reading that oftentimes you don't start feeling restriction until after a fill (or two). Does anyone have some advise? I just made this major life decision (and financial decision - I paid ou…

When I post it is because I need help and I am frustrated that when I log on to read responses all I find are other topics being discussed under my thread. If there could be rules before people can just sign up on here and know this is not nice.

I was banded yesterday morning and consider myself to have a pretty high pain tolerance. However, I've been crying like a baby because my pain meds are barely keeping the pain at a manageable level. When lying still my pain has been around a 3-4, when sitting up or walking it's more like a 7-8. Please tell me this is normal and I'll feel great in 2 days.

4 days out of surgery and I feel great physically, following diet, but I feel like my mind is kind of slow or hazy. I teach Algebra in 8th grade so it is not to physically demanding but I do have do stay focused on lesson plan. Surgery was Thurs. and I taught this morning, but I kept losing my place. Is this normal? Did anyone else experience this? Good luck post and pre lapbanders.

Hi all... I had my first fill last week (See my banded stats below) and a couple of days after that I started having pain around at the band area after I ate. I started out with one meal...then now it's at every meal, or even snack. I starts up after I'm done eating and last for a couple of hours. It's a pokey-sharp-achy pain that I feel when I move around, not so much if I'm sitting still. I can feel it too when I take a deep breath after eating. Doesnt matter if I eat a lot or a little. I've been chewing super well, the only thing I'm guilty of is not eating super slow...but I do eat slow-ish. I stop when I'm comfortably full. Also a few days ago when I was lying i…

My port is on the right. anyone else? I had a right mastectomy with a Tram flap where they use the right stomach muscle to rebuild the breast so I guess he had more room on the right side. But I can fell it and see it through my skin. Banded on Friday, still having some pain, enough for the tylenol with codeine every 4-6 hours. Took MOM to help pass gas and it really made the pressure feel so much better. I just wish I could do something about the pain in my left shoulder. I am assuming it is a gas bubble, but OUCH!

I couldn't burp on-cue pre-band to save my life. The more fills I've had the more I belch. I'm 5 months out today and might be at my sweet spot now; and I belch like a drunken sailor constantly even with just drinking Water. I do it so often I hardly notice it anymore (which scares me that I might 'let her rip' in front of friends or in a quiet restaurant without even realizing it). I know it's gotten really bad because my boys (who of course have always thought burps and farts are funny) are complaining...Mom! That's disgusting...stop that! Wish I could! I know this is a function of air coming out of the stomach as food or liquids go in...it feels like I have to …

Hey all, i had my first fill two weeks ago thursday and I dont feel anything, i was full right when doctor did it, by the next day nothing, Can it take up to a few weeks to actually feel the restriction from the fill, Aany thoughts and help would be great. I have lost one pound in two weeks, frusterating!!!!!!! been working out four days a week and eating under 1000 calories, what gives. :biggrin:

Okay...so Im on my mushies now, which was a little difficult this past weekend as we had to travel out of town, so maybe that is why this happened. Anyhow...yesterday we were in the car driving through the rainstorm in Kansas and my stomach started gurgling. I knew I was going to have to go to the bathroom SOON! I had severe diarrhea, where I literally could not have held it for a minute longer. Is this normal?? Maybe because I ate something I shouldnt have??? I NEVER want to live through those moments again! Thanks! Tonya

I am 10 days post-op and wondering when it would be safe to tan. Ok i will just hit the smart comments head on-lol...I know its never safe. blah But my incisions are healing, they are no longer being covered...Will tanning hurt them? Can i cover them up?

I am still surprised at how slow the weight comes off when I am hardly eating anything - protein shake for breakfast - small lunch like tuna salad and then light dinner - compared to what I was eating - I am almost a year and a half out and am down only 25 lbs - better than being up but I would have thought by now would have lost about 40. I had 50 to lose so half way there just taking way longer than I thought it would. Just venting.