POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

So, I'm almost 5 weeks out from my banding, and everything has been really good, until yesterday. I went to my support group last night, returned home at about 8:30 pm. Went to take my shirt off, reached down and felt something wet. Looked and saw that I had blood all over my stomach under one of my incisions. The one incision on my far left under my breasts was dark purple and looked like it had a blister. So I immediately panicked, went to the urgent care, and found that I have a "stitch/suture abscess". So now I'm on antibiotics for 10 days. I was so mad. I was having a bad day yesterday as it was, and this was just the icing on the cake. (Sorry I mentioned cake, lol)…

I have read post where people express that they can only eat small amounts. As for me it has been that I can eat almost as much as preop. Tonite I decide to eat slow and see where I would start getting full at. I had a 10 oz steak 6 shrimp 1/2 bead 1/2 of the home fries and a small serving of veggies before I got full enough to want to quit. Up to this point I have lost over 40 lbs but by mostly haveing protein shakes in replacement of solid food. This seems like way to much and makes me wonder about the size of my pouch. Any one else in the same boat? Regards.

Hi everyone...... I'm sure this problem has been posted on here a million times but I have the need to ask, do many of you lapbanders have problems with bread? Since my second fill I can't tolerate bread of any kind, shape or form and even pancakes won't go down. Even if I chew and chew it still gets stuck and hurts like hell and it seems to turn into a soft dough ball that can't get through my band. Before the second fill I was able to keep down pita bread and wraps because they were on the thin side but now bread seems to be out of the question.... not that I'm complaining because I'd rather skip the bread all together. Just curious as to how many of you have…

I am addicted to this website prior and after getting my realize band. I am on the website the whole day at work and when i get home. Is anyone addicted to this site and cant seem to get off the site like me? I love this site and i keep on refreshing to see the new posts. :smile2:

Okay so first I know that I ate the wrong food for my band. I had a weak moment and ate some Mexican food. I had chips and queso with 1/2 of an enchilada. I got up and went to the bathroom with in 2 minutes of finishing. I had a very small sip of Water before I left too. I actually vomited - not just saliiva, real throw up. I know this is sick and I am sorry. But now I am worried that my band might slip or something. My last fill was 2 weeks ago and I get tight chest feelings after every meal. All my other meals are very healthy and extremely small. I have a 10 cc band and I am at 6.5 ccs with 5 fills. I would love some advice. Am I too filled????? :blushing: :co…

I was banded on June 17th and have had nausea ever since. I have been on liquids since 10 days pre op. I have no appetite to drink or eat anything at all. I try to keep drinking water, crystal light etc... I am soooooo sick right now it the worst day yet! my mouth is dry and it tatse terrible. My tounge is green/gray and thick and gross!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please someone tell me what will make me feel better besides the meds. i am taking the nausea medicince. I have lost 37 pounds in the last 16 days. Im at the point of wondering why I did this. I don't fell like I will ever get better!!!! Im sorry to whine on here but i figured someone may be able to share the experience or k…

Does anyone know if you can stretch your pouch by taking in too many liquids? I can still take a gulp of water in without discomfort, and I am concerned that I may stretch the pouch already. I am 11 days post op.

I am wondering how long it took most people to lose their weight, any weight for that matter. Is there a certain amount I can expect to lose just with the pre-op diet (Optifast)? Thanks!!!

Anybody hear from her? Her surgery was scheduled for 6/17.

why does the effectiveness of a fill wear off after just a little while? I had my 3rd fill one week ago tomorrow, I had great restriction for the first time and was feeling excited but over the last couple of days I find myself being able to eat more what gives?

I was banded on 03/06/07. I had to have all of the saline removed in Nov. 2008. due to having esophagus spasms. I had to let my stomache rest for 10 weeks. then sart all over with .3 cc's at a time. I am now up to 2.3 as of 03/17/09. I am now experiencing almost like acid reflex, just a little burning sensation in my throat. Anyone knows what this is telling me. Is my band too tight? Does anyone know the signs, if your band is too tight? Getting discouraged, does not seem like I will ever find my "sweet spot". How do you know when you find your sweet spot? Any info anyone has would be helpful! :blushing:

I've been reading a lot lately and it looks like some bands have a few cc's in them when they get put in and some are emtpy. Does it just depend on the doctor? I would love it if I had something in my band after surgery!

Hi! I know there has been a couple of threads on this topic before. I'm scared to death about having excess skin! I know that might sound bad, but I am! I lost 70-80 lbs before and didn't have a problem. Right now I'm at 300 lbs and want to get my weight down to about 170. I'm only 23 so I'm hoping age will be on my side! I called my insurance company and they said they will remove excess skin BUT you have to know the code the surgeon will use to see if that code is covered! Don't you love that!

I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow for my first fill (yeah!) and have started a list of questions: 1. What size is my band? 2. Will the port always get sore, or does that go away? 3. How much is a typical fill/how much will this fill be? 4. What can I expect immediately after a fill? What other questions would you recommend I ask?

i was banded with a hernia repair friday 6/19 at 7:30 am. I still have a significant amount chest and shoulder pain. I am concerned because the chest and neck pains are worst when i try to drink liquids. after drinking small amounts of liquids about 1/2 an hour later my mouth will begin to water and i have excessive saliva in my mouth that i have to spit out. i am so sick to my stomach that i have no desire to drink anything, i was prescribed something for nausea however i feel like if i take it i will vomit. anyone have any suggestions? i am beginning to doubt my decision to have the surgery

okay...I was banded on the 16th...everything was awesome in the hospital...went home on wednesday...and now today I feel awful! I am nauseated, weak, and just feel yucky. I'm not on pain meds...I have followed the post-op diet to a tee and yet I am misrable!!! Help!!!

I had surgery May 29th and have started on soft foods like refried beans, mashed potatoes and yogurt with applesauce. I wonder how and which foods I should start incorporating now. Any ideas and suggestions will be greaty appreciated!

Has anyone made a long vacation trip post-band? My partner and I leave next Tuesday, and plan to drive 6-7 hours a day, and stop to do some vacationing along the way, but wonder what you recommend we keep in the cooler? I am planning on some Water, crystal light, deli meat, cheese, Protein drinks, nuts, and low-fat may, low cal bread. What helped make your trip easier to stay on track? We don't plan major eating out, except Breakfast at noon (eggs+)...I'm too tight usually earlier than that.

Looking for ideas that go past manicure, massage, etc. Something that I will have forever ... any ideas?

Hi everyone!! I am thinking of getting the lap band done. My bestfriend keeps telling me to seek info on having the extra skin removed when I am done loosing weight. Is this really something I need to think about?? Does everyone have too?

Hi all! I was banded 1 week ago, and I'm still feeling pretty lousy. Honestly, I think it's the gas more so than anything else. The incisions are fine. I'm ever so slightly tender around the port area. I'm guessing this is normal. I wake up fine, but in the afternoon I get these gas pains that turn me into a crying, blubbering mess. I thought they were getting better, I was even going to venture out today, but this afternoon when I went to work (I work from home) the pain was so bad I was crying and shaking. It is during these times that I really question whether I made the right decision. I'm down 16 pounds between the 2-day Clear liquids and post-surgery, but I sti…

I took blood pressure medicine every single day of my 40s. Now, 7 days into my 50s, I've been totally off of hypertension medicine for more than a month. Tonight -120/70

Hi .... I was just wondering ... I'm going to be starting my all liquid 14 day pre-op diet ughhhh lol and was wondering how much everyone lost while doing that ? and the nurse at my drs' office said that aside from shrinking the liver it kick starts ur metabolism for weight loss ... have u found that to be true?? :bored:

Hi! I am going on 1 week of "soft foods" and was wondering if you could let me know what foods you ate during this phase. All ideas are welcome. Some on the list from my doctor are: ground beef ground turkey cheese cold cuts eggs Soup Thanks!

Hi all! I am turning to you once again for some advice! Is it possible for your port to move? I know mine feels higher than before, and just yesterday, I started to feel pain at the port site. It doesn't last very long, but it HURTS for a few moments, then goes away. What in the world is this all about? Anyone else have this issue? Thanks so much for your thoughts!:thumbup:

Actually, I was hungry THE night after I had surgery..... I've heard alot of people say that they are not hungry due to swelling.... I'm very hungry!! I can't stand watching food on T.V. I want it!!! Am I the only one? Please, I hope I'm not. I want this "tool" to help me succeed!!! I don't want to feel like a failure already!!! Any encouragement would be helpful!!! Thanks!!

this is one heck of an experience...especially since i was a virgin to completely everything that has to do with surgery....having an IV, being put to sleep, being cut enough to where tools are able to insert my body, and all the medication i was prescribed...this is even my first time taking hydrocodone too...! Well this port pain is no joke.....and the gas...is there and it is bothering me but not as bad as the port, but with both of those mixed together i have been kinda loosing my mind b/c the gas is still in my abdominal area....my throat feels dry as cotton, and b/c im too chicken to make myself cough out the gew stuck in my throat from the barium swallow and the s…

The past few weeks I haven't lost any weight and I feel like I have been eating all the time, but sometimes things get stuck. I also have a hard time eating anything in the morning. Is this normal? Should I get another fill?

just signed up for surgery july 10 is my day,happy and scared at the same time. iam not much of a poster but would like to thank everyone for their post lots of great info

I'm so proud. I couldn't get myself to do it yesterday, but I did it today. Just wanted to share because at my pre-op appointment they said to get on the treadmill and walk the day after surgery..... She said it would help with the gas pains. I'm sick of the gas pains and the medicine is not helping. The nurse said to start at 5 minutes and increase in 5 minute intervals. I'm also kinda upset because I gained a pound yesterday. So, I'm going to do the treadmill for 10 minutes before going to bed. I'll let you all know if it helps with the gas pain. What actually did help with my pain the day of the surgery and yesterday was liquid Advil in combination with the Lo…

So I just had my first fill about 3-4 hours ago and was told I had 4cc/ml's put in during surgery which I was suprised at because my surgeon said he usually doesn't fill them up. Anyway he put in another 4cc/ml, had some water went down absolutely fine. Then I got home about 1pm and my throat right now just feels really tight, like I've got something stuck there. Is that an indication that I'm going to be super tight in the morning and not be able to swallow anything? I've been taking sips of water and juice since I got home but it's still there. What should I do? :wink2:

I was banded May 18th, self pay. Used some of my savings to pay for my surgery because I work for the state and our insurance does not cover any bariatric procedures. ( I did wait until I built up enough savings to have 6 months salary left after taking out for the surgery). Then, I read our update this week because the state legislative session has just ended. Guess what? They are allowing state insurance to cover bariatric procedures 'when it will not increase insurance rates'. Not sure what that part means, but damn!! I had no idea this was even up for discussion, or I might have waited.

I've watched a couple of YouTube's showing this surgery. (Some parts with my eyes closed. I'm squeemish. ) As I've read here I've seen some posts where folks who are long past the initial surgery say to the newbies "it won't always be that way." So that's my question. What is it like for those of you who are 18 months or further away from your surgery. One of the YouTube's stated that there is a loss of appetite and cravings for the first 12 months. Does that mean they come back after that first 12 months? And what is your approximately daily intake of food now? And do you still have issues with food causing you significant problems if you'd accidently not chew…

Hello I've been at a plateau for about a week and i've been on liquids. I can't exercise yet does anyone have any advice on how to break it?

I had my lap band surgery done very recently, as in, five days ago. My particular surgeon does not fill the band at all as soon as the band is put in place. He likes for his patients to spend 5 weeks healing before getting the first fill. My mother had it done with me, same day, same surgeon, everything. Even though I know I should be on a strict liquid diet right now, I caved. I've been eating junk food (cheetos, candy), and not only that, my usual portions, since the 3rd day. I haven't thrown up a single time. And I don't see how this is possible. My mom seems as expected, although she sometimes feels hungry, a few sips of Soup and she's full. I'm not like that at …

lap banding does not work for everyone.

Hello ~ First, let me say that I am about 2 and 1/2 months post surgery and have had 2 fills. I am not in the green zone yet, though I can tell a very, very, very subtle difference in getting full on less. I think I am getting there and hope that the next couple of fills do the trick. Right now, the biggest difference I feel is that I find that when I eat too big of a bite or don't chew enough - particularly certain breads (really doughy) or dry chicken, it gets stuck and I throw it up. Anyway, today I was at a lunch meeting and there was a nice lunch served - grilled chicken, spinach salad wild rice and bread. I took a small bite of bread and shortly after was …

Sorry its kinda hard to find things with the search, so it might be a repost. I dont have a fill yet, and its going to be 3 weeks on monday. How much food should we be consuming?

Hopefully I will get banded in October but my baby will be 11 months and I worry about how I will get around after surgery. My husband can only take off a day or two of work so I want to be prepared. We are not telling anyone about the surgery so I don't want to ask for help if I don't have too. What were your experiences with small kids after surgery? I have four kids all under 8 :biggrin: Thanks!

I have been hovering right about 260/261 for weeks. And what's worse is once that starts happening, I become dejected and my old eating habits come back. I became so frustrated that I started eating crappy food again and I am sure it was a combination of waterweight/my period, but I went all the way back to 267. When I stepped on the scale and saw that, I knew I had to stop. I had worked toooooo hard, you know? So I detoxed...lol. I ahd only fruits and vegetables for two full days and now I am back to eating normally...and i am proud to say when I weighed myself this morning, I was 257. It's so weird, eating so badly for 3-4 days and then 3 days later I am past my p…

Hi- I was banded three days ago and keep going through bouts of fear and nausea. Today I drank my morning Protein and so far so good. Last night the nausea was so bad that I called the surgeon on call at 11:30 p.m. He reassured me that he thought I was doing okay. He suggested going back to just Water sips until the nausea subsided. I do feel better this morning but just want to feel all the way better NOW! I can't wait to be able to sleep in my own bed....and feel comfortable. Any words of advise or encouragement will be much appreciated. Right now all I am doing is feeling very sorry for myself and miserable. Thanks ahead of time! Sally Banded 6/17/09

I was banded 5 days ago and have lost 7 lbs. since leaving the hospital, which I realize is from the liquid diet and not much appetite. I was just wondering how much of this weight loss will stick after I transition to mushies? Anyone's experience would be helpful.

For the past few days, I have been getting out in the swimming pool trying to get a little bit extra time in on exercising. I have heard that water exercising is better than regular exercising. Does anyone know if this is true or not? Also, I have hit a platue (how ever you spell it) and have stopped moving on the scales for the past 3 weeks. It is really aggrevating me because I'm not eating more than I should, I actually haven't been eating as much as I should lately, but still, no movement on the scales....at least they are going up...that's good news. Can anyone help me out with this and if anyone knows of any water exercises and cares to give me a few hints I'd …

I'm about 3 weeks post-surgery. I noticed today that the area around my port incision (the largest one) is bright red. It's also tender to the touch. I haven't had this before. It's not on my waistline, so there's no chaffing or anything. Other incisions still look normal. Has anyone else experienced this?

hi everyone, i am almost a year post op and up until today have done great. i dont know what is going on but starting about 2 days ago i started feeling a lot of pressure and tightness in my chest and feelings of gas in my chest. i have taken gas x and right now cannot even take a sip of water without it hurting. i have also vommited several times today but just slime because i have not been able to eat today. i need some advice! getting a little scared

I was wondering if everybody was told to breathe into a spirometer for 5 days after the surgery.... I'm wondering if this is done after any surgery or specifically after lapband....

On monday it will be 3 weeks since I've had the band put in place. like every one im getting tired of the Soups, refried beens, scrambled eggs and the rest of the mushies. My problem is that I will be in Vegas next week for a week and dont know what to eat there; since i wont be able to cook. From the posts that i've read on here, every ones doctor seems to have different protocols for eating after banding. Some on the liquid stage for weeks and some can go directly to solids when they can. What have your doctors allowed you to eat after 3 weeks other than mushies? Thanks for your help!

Sorry I haven't been banded yet....so I am not familiar with all the phrases yet. Sounds pretty gross, hopefully not painful! lol OH MY something else to worry about....:tongue:

I was told to stop drinking 1/2 hour before meals and resume drinking an hour after meals. Before surgery, this wouldn't have bothered me one bit as I wasn't a big drinker. It seems like just because I'm told I can't, I want to desperately!! :sad: I feel like I need if only a swig of Water to clear my throat after eating. I certainly can't drink a whole glass of water due to restriction, but is a few sips of water so bad?? Any advice you can give, would be helpful.

I cannot bear to eat the 3 tbsp broth, 3 tbsp protien drink, and 3 tbsp of sugar free jello. It makes me sick just to think about them. The only think I want to eat are sugar free popsicles, hot herbal decaf tea, and crystal light. I am dying to have something of substance. Any ideas.