POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hi all... been a while since I posted. I've had my share of problems since LB surgery (11/18/08), including having NO RESTRICTION even after two fills (2 cc's each). I had the surgery so I wouldn't have to do this alone (and fail again); but that is what I have done for the past 2+ months and lost 28 lbs. w/out the help of the band. Hopefully, U of Penn team will put enough in on the next fill and I'll finally feel what restriction is like! Anyway, from about a month or so after my surgery, I started to notice some pain on my right side -- about an inch or so next to my port incision. Then from time to time, I would feel a lump in this area. I tried to ignore it, as…

To make a long story short, I got my second fill and couldn't keep much down. So, went for an unfill Friday, but he couldn't access the port so told me to do another week on liquids. Over the weekend the restriction lessened until yesterday there wasn't much left. I also hadn't had any coffee since Friday, but had been drinking grande skinny lattes most days up until then. So, today, I was tired and decided to get a latte and it went down fine, but went to eat a carb control yogurt as the first part of my lunch and I started gurgling and burping, then in 3 spurts it all came up! So, I'm wondering if it was the coffee...I know that coffee can irritate the stomach, but can …

Ever since my surgery (November 6), I've had terrible gas. Not so much pain, but passing wind like crazy. Getting to be a little embarrassing. I thoguht maybe it's the increase in protein, but I didn't have this when I was doing the Atkins fad. Anybody else have this problem?

Today is my 6th day post op and I am feeling like I am really hungry. The broth and Jello don't feel like they are doing ANYTHING for me! I feel like I need like a pb&j or something I used to be slightly hypoglycemic and would need to eat things like that when I was "empty". I hope this hunger doesnt stay after my next phases of diet progression. Oh I can't wait for something with some texture...

Hi all! I am finally ready to go in and get it done! And am thinking 4 weeks until I will finally be limited on my food intake. I have used food for years since a child to soothe me and now I will have some big changes to go through. I am so so excited and happy that this surgry is out here and I am able to go through with it and finally put an end to a lifelong problem. So glad this site is here. Kinda a lonely journey. I have been quite with getting this done. Lets face it unless you have this problem you can not understand.

I am 5 days post op and am having a problem with noise and knot in my throat. The noise coming out of my throat, not a burp, kind of like a squeak hurts like heck. It does hurt to swallow even water let along mushie foods. I am going back on liquids today, but just not sure what this is. I did not have a barium swallow done before my band. I did not have this in the hospital so not sure what is going on. It is NOT GERD, this starts before the liquids hit my stomach.

So, I am 2 weeks post op and its my birthday today. Well the entire family went to a lavish dinner, and although I did not eat what I normally do, I think I ate too much. It crept up on me as I thought I was doing well. I was wrong! I am feel extremely full and uncomfortable - although not any pain in my stomach. I am now afraid that I may have ate too much and will stretch the new pouch. I did a short walk and it helped. Did I do any damage? Anyone have any advice?!? Will I be okay? I will NEVER do that again! :thumbup:

Ok heres whats going on and maybe some of you will be able to help me determine wheather my band is too tight. Well i can swallow liquids and food but i dont want too cuz theres a sharp pain as it goes down my band. Liquids i can feel go down in a short amount of time but i still have the pain. Solids on the other hand I'm chewing very well and i still have the pain (even mashed potatoes) but i have to wait longer for it to go down and its very uncomfortable theres a sharp pain and it makes me not want to eat or drink anything at all. I get so uncomfortable because of the pain that i cant focus on what ppl are saying and i become very annoyed. I have thrown up a couple of…

I have UnitedHealthcare and set to begin my 6 month pre-op classes this week. Has anyone had good or bad experences with United Healthcare approving the surgery, also any advice for the first class? Thanks

First I wanted to say thanks to everyone who listened to my Darvocet rants right after my surgery a few weeks ago. :huh2: I was overly concerned with everything and didn't trust myself. Not to mention my clinic here doesn't have the best information. I am not even using what they provided me as far as diet goes. I have another book and am following that. They know and approve so dont worry. Thank goodness I could go on line and find out what I was supposed to be eating. My only instructions were "liquid bariatric diet" Nothing else. So what does that mean and given that it was the holidays I knew no one would be there. Thank god for these groups and the int…

Hey everyone, I'm new to the site. I live in Dubai and I'm being banded this Sunday, 25th January. My surgeon has put me on a one week pre-op fat free diet which I am managing to stick to, it doesn't sound as drastic as some pre-op diets I have read about. The trouble is I am reading about everyone's problems, post op pain, lost ports, things getting stuck etc and I know these things happen but I am really getting scared now and thinking of changing my mind. The only thing that is keeping me going is the thought of being slim. So my question is... do you have any regrets or would you do it all again? Be honest!

AHHH THE PAIN!!!! I'm 3 weeks post-op. I went to the gym today, and did a 40 minute speed walking session.. It felt GREAT at the time. Once I got out of the gym and to my car my stomach/esophagus weren't very happy. I'm having HUGE amounts of pain and was wondering if anyone has had the same thing?! (I have e-mailed my Doc, but it's the middle of the night and I don't think I can wait)

Hi there! I was banded last Friday and am still on liquids (3 Protein shakes a day, broth and water). Every time i sip on hot Soup broth, I get hiccups. There is only one or two, but after every time I swallow. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? And if so, does it go away? I would hate to never be able to sip on anything hot.

Has anyone had any issues with low blood sugar? On top of that, yesterday I think my chicken got stuck. How will I know when it finally passes? I still fill full but I don't have any pain and I can take small sips of Water, just nothing to eat.

I just had my banding last Friday (1/9). I've been told to drink 6 liquid "meals" each day and Water in between. I haven't been able to get the 6 "meals" down in a day yet much less all of the water. Does this get easier as the swelling goes down?? Help!

Today I saw my surgeon to have my staples removed. Several things. I knew to expect bruising, but my lower abdomen is seriously a violet purple. About 6 inches long, and 4 inches wide. My surgeon told me "I must have done something in my sleep". To my knowledge I wasn't hit by a truck in my sleep. Has anyone else suffered from severe bruising? Is there something I should be worried about? I am pretty young, 24, but can't you get a blood clot or something like that from bruises so violent looking? And, I actually GAINED weight. My surgeon is Dr. Kwon he is from upstate New York. And I heard from a lot of people he is amazing, but he makes you follow an extreme…

All, I was banded this morning at the Prestonwood Surgery Center in Plano, TX by Dr. Victor Gonzalez (Great Facility and great surgical team). I am up, walking around and drinking sips of Water. I have a little pain, like a tightness in my chest, but very manageable. I am not feeling physical hunger, though I have a little bit of "head hunger". I am looking forward to my continuing journey and want to thank all the members on this board for the great advice and support on my pre-op diet (which I did not cheat on!) and look foraward to your support going forward. Hang in there everyone, as somebody once said it is difficult right now, however "This too shall pass."

I was banded 9/11/08 and overall have done well. My only complaint and concern is that after my first fill, I began having episodes of mucous regurgitation - I call it slime. I have allergies and a lot of post-nasal drainage. I have asked my aftercare specialists and they recommended mucolytics (Robitussin or Mucinex) and hot fluids before meals but I still have the issue. It occurs with the first few bites of a meal and a cup or more or mucous comes up rather forcefully. Not as violent as throwing up - but uncontrollable. I have gone for a second fill and continue to lose 1-2 # per week but am concerned about going for another fill. They have done a fluoro and my …

Hi everyone, I am scheduled for my first fill next monday. I've healed well after the five weeks, I feel great. I am however able to eat just about anything in fairly large quanitites! I have had a couple of stuck experiences because I still need to learn to chew more and take smaller bites-old habits and all. I just want someone to tell me that after fills...will I actually feel like I am full so I will know to stop eating? Will I ever be happy with a 1/2 sandwich instead of a whole? I know I have gained back a few of the pounds lost since I've been able to eat again, dissapointing, and yet I do realize that I am still stuck in bandster hell. I am curious since like I s…

I took a new herbal capsule first thing this morning (instructions said on empty stomach) and it has been stuck for almost 4 hours! I have never had food stuck and have not had a problem with taking my few meds up to this point (sometimes I feel them for a short while, but they go down ok). This is terrible. It doesn't really hurt, but feels horrible there. I can swallow fluids ok and tried hot liquids thinking it would dissolve, but that didn't help. I had a full glass of water right after taking the capsule. I have not dared take my regular meds or try to eat food with it stuck. I have tried some of the "stuck food" remedies I read on here to no avail (head down, pound …

I was banded this past Monday and besides the protein shakes--which I can get most of it down--I cannot seem to get more than three to four cups of fluid down. And this seems to take almost a whole day. Looking for any input or advise.

Hello, I was banded with my sister on Tues. 1/13/09. 3rd day post op was horrible. I woke up at 5:30 am feeling terribly nauseated. Long story short, I couldnt keep ANYTHING down. I threw up 4-5 times that day. My hubby finally called my Dr.'s exchange and Doc called immediately. He said that he would meet me at his office to take out Fluid from my band to give me relief. So we met him in his office at 8:30pm and he took out my fluid and some air. I felt much better! He said I was overly swollen and on top of the cc that was already in my band, I wasn't able to take anything down. So now, here I am 5th day post op and Im feeling kinda hungry. So far I've had broth, Prot…

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone has been banded by Dr.Gonzalez recently or within the past year.Could anyone share their experience of how their journey went and how much weight they lost.Would really appreciate it much. Thanx..:thumbup:

I have come to the conclusion that 99% of people are unsatisfied with a part of themselves... I am really sad that my boobs are the first to go!!! :wink2: My top 3 problem areas are: 1.belly 2.thighs 3.upper arm

I have been having troubles with a pouch forming and having all of my band liquid drained and then refilled. I just got filled two weeks ago and thought I was just perfect...well now, I am having troubles even getting liquids down...it just tightened up for no reason??? I am frustrated and don't know what to do next. HELP!!!

I am making my shopping list. Please tell me what you ate the first 2 weeks post op. What clear liquides did you have on hand. Thanks Beth

Hi All Hope someone can give me some advise. Not been able to eat since Sunday afternoon, think i may have some meat stuck but not sure. If this is the case what can i do to shift it? Also each time i sip Water i am getting chest pains. Water beibg the only thing i can get down.

I've seen ppl post about this before... so I thought I'd let everyone know, it's NO PROBLEM. My doc said not to eat 2 hrs before take off, so I didn't. Also, on the flight I did eat (since it was a 6 + hour flight.) I drank 5 oz of orange juice and a few hours later had some chips. I would say be careful but go ahead and enjoy traveling!

I currently have to go to downtown Chicago, which is about 4 hours from home....for fills and unfills. Does anyone know a Doctor that does fills for patients that they didn't do the surgery on in Wisconsin? I had my surgery in Mexico and am having a hard time finding a Dr. that will fill/unfill me...let alone one close to home. I am looking for someone near Madison, WI.... Thanks!!!

Let me just give you a brief intro, was banded 4-23-08, one fill, still have restriction, but I think I'm eating too fast, I take big bites, barely chew, (Believe me I know this is bad) (In the beginning I was terrified to get anything stuck but now that I have "tested" my band, I know what I can get away with. After a few bites, I get pressure, which i do stop, and then an enormous need to belch, which i do eventually. Once I belch, I could eat some more, question is should I? I know I have fallen back into bad habits, thanks to the holidays. I think I want another fill, but doc says that if i still have restriction, if he puts anymore in, I'll be PBing a lot. He says yo…

OK, so I weighed this morning in the bathroom. It said 230, I knew something had to be wrong because about 3 days ago, I only weighed 226. After being depressed I realized that I had been recently weighing myself in my bedroom with carpet. So, I take my scale in the bedroom and weighed again and it said 222. So my question today is as follows, can weighing on carpet give you a different result than weighing on a rug? I know this is a crazy question, but good lord, I got 2 different reading within 30 minutes of each other? Maybe it's time for a new battery in my scale? I have no idea.

I am just wondering how long after surgery was it before you were able to fly? I had surgery not long ago and the Dr wants me to wait at least a month before I do any traveling. I'm feeling great, have not thrown up any, and feel that I'm ready to travel. Just wondering about other people's experience with flying prior to fills and from those that did not travel for the surgery. Thanks

1. can't pb them up 2.papaya enzyme not working any other suggestions? (besides never to eat them raw again!!!) I chewed really well too. Who would have thought I would be in this much agony from a carrot!?!? this isn't fair! I would like to try some hot tea- but don't want to make it worse... hopefully someone can answer soon the carrot literally feels like it is in my throat and chest still

I just came back from 2nd fill or maybe you can call this 1st and a half. I went last monday and they did my first fill they added 1.5 cc to my 3 cc that was left in after surgery giving me a total of 4.5 cc in a 10 cc band. I did not fill any restriction. I was able to eat a lot and had to use portion control because I was not feeling full and getting hurgry so I made an appt. today and told them about it and they put in an addtional 1 cc giving me a total of 5.5 cc and I have not stop burping and vomitting a watery foamy stuff. Is this the way it is supposed to be after fills? Do people generally feel a little sick like this after fills? He said I should feel the restri…

just curious on how my surgery day is going to go. if you went here, please let me know what it was like. is it a big place? how private is it? how did your day go? thanks

Okay, I just had my first fill this past Friday and I did my post-adjustment diet....fluids only first 24 hours, day 2 full liquids, day 3 regular food. When I went in, the nurse told me I had 1.5cc's already in from surgery and she added 3cc's to take me to 4.5, but when they watched it on the x-ray the barium was barely going through so she removed .5 to take me to 4cc even. Here's the thing...I wasn't sure I even needed a fill because the two weeks before I was feeling really good about how things were going. I was losing weight at an average of 2lbs per week, I was eating and not getting hungry between meals. But I thought that a fill might make me feel full sooner be…

I am so discouraged. I had my third fill this week for a total of 6.3 cc in my APS 10 cc band. I still have no restriction at all. As a matter of fact, if it were not for the 5 scars from surgery, I wouldn't even know that I had a band. I realize that I have a lower starting BMI than most people, but my numerous comorbidities (including severe acid reflux that was corrected surgically due to a hiatal hernia) made me a good candidate for the band. The surgeon told me immediately following surgery that the band was "just spinning there" and that I would probably have a difficult time with the post-op diet since I wouldn't feel restriction. But 2 months and 6.3 cc later I am…

Today I have had two eggs and a small package of oatmeal for Breakfast. I had wendys chili at lunch... Would u consider that soft enough?

I think its time for some progress pics but I don't even know where to begin. I searched the FAQ's for instructions but didn't find anything. I would sure appreciate the help!

I have a sticky situation and I'll try to make it short. I've been planning my Lap band surgery for months now and anxious to be banded. I'm over a week into the very difficult pre op liquid protein diet and doing well (i've lost 9 lbs). My surgery is scheduled for Monday and my grandmother just passed away and the funeral is scheduled for Wed. I called the Dr. office and they thought I should feel ok. I've talked with other banders and they all seemed to be feeling better and getting themselves off pain meds on around day 3 or 4. I have family comming in from all over and don't want anyone to know. I've told my immediate family (mom, dad, brother, uncle). Any adv…

Well I had my surgery Tueday the 13th so far I have been ok. I still have pain getting up and down and the bathroom situation is another story. But other than the pain of surgery I don't feel anything as far as restriction is this normal? My doctor allows for the first two weeks 2 shakes and 1 blended meal, I'm hoping I blended my food good enough, nothing has bother me but could something happpened like the band slipping or anyhing else? I'm alittle mad that I feel this way (no restriction) I really want to lose the weight but I'm so afraid it won't happen. So basicly I want to know if it is normal not to feel restriction before your first fill and damage that food tha…

I am afraid I feel too good! Is that possible? Yest I was out with my kids sleigh riding, and told them I couldn't go on the sled this week. Well, an hour or so into it, I jumped on. Ouch! Mistake, but I only went once and think I managed to stay in tact! It is the weekend, and a long weekend, and while not at all hungry, I went out to dinner with my family and another, and ordered Soup and a glass of wine. I had the wine ( I felt it:tt2:) and half the soup. liquids for the liquid diet, right? I know that nutritionally that the wine is the wrong way to go, but...has anyone else had wine? It wasn't on the list of not to have. I have been 100% on liquid…

This is a very premature question for me as I still have at least 40-50 pounds to lose, but I can't wrap my head around how you finally stop losing when you get to your goal. My surgeon hasn't answered that question for me yet (hardly answers any questions at all to be honest), so I'm very curious as to how it all happens. Any help would be appreciated!!

Hey All, About a week and a half ago I went for my 2nd adjustment...and I'm not sure if its too tight... I'm not sure I know the difference between restriction and too tight... it takes me about 35-45 minutes to eat about 1/2 cup of tuna... chicken breast even if well chewed gets stuck or comes back up... however weird things like baked tostitos and salsa go down... ice cream unfortunately goes down! But is that restriction??? Is that what I'm supposed want to happen? help please.... Thanks in advance!

I know I'm probably bugging all of you to death, but your help has really been getting me through these early days of the band. Today, when I woke up (5 days post op), I felt like I was on the verge of choking. Its almost like I have something stuck in the back of my throat. Is this normal? My doctor told me that he put the 10cc band on and "its pretty snug" and I'm fearing that it is too snug. If that's the case, will they have to go back in and put the 14 cc on or will it loosen as I lose some weight? This is such a foreign land. I did at least 2 years of research on this before I did it, but now I feel so ignorant in many things. Its really a matter of there's…

Hi all - I just got banded this past Friday, 1/16. I'm feeling pretty good for the most part, I just have a couple of questions. Whenever I take a sip of anything I get a pretty intense pain in my left chest/shoulder. The hospital told me that this is just the gas from the surgery. How long does this last? I am worried because I have only able to get about 1/2 the Protein that they recommended so far because of this. I'm also wondering if the pain meds that they gave me to take are helping or hurting this. Any suggestions/support is greatly appreciated. Kris

Can someone tell me if this is right....I have tried hot tea, room temp sugar free kool-aide, surgar free popcycles, water, and every liquid inbetween and it all seems to hurt like heck to get it down:cursing:! It just feels like a rock sitting inside of my chest, is this GAS? I am suppose to be drinking at least 2 liters of fluid, yea right:eek:! I am not even close to that, this is Monday and I was banded on Friday. I have 5 incisions which I was kind of shocked about, thought maybe 3 -4? It kind of sounds like I am on track for the gas pains and problems drinking, I have no fill in my band, not until 6 weeks out! I have also gained 2 lbs since I have been home on liqui…

Just in general, how much weight have you all personally lost in 3 months? Just curious!! Thanks!! :wink:

I was banded on Oct 8th and have had 2 fills. I have felt very little restriction so far. My apt for my 3rd fill is Jan 6th. I am praying for more restriction. I have lost 33 lbs so far, but 15 of that was during my 7 day pre op liquid diet. I want to feel that "oh I have to stop" feeling that I have heard so much about. My Dr told me not to diet just to eat whatever I wanted as long as it was solid and stop when I am full. He said that I would be able to eat so little that it didn't matter what I ate. But I can almost eat as much as I could b4 my surgery. I need some motivation and some encouragement that I will soon get to my sweet spot.

Some of you may have read my thread about going to get unfilled and how the doc wasn't able to access the port. He said it wasn't flipped, but has some scarring over the rubber part and might have been a little bruised from my fill the week before. He basically sent me on my way still on a mostly liquid diet. I asked, what if I really need an unfill and you can't find it again? He said that worse comes to worse he will do it at the hospital under xray. I am fine with that. Heck, I will pay the extra to avoid feeling like a pin cushion! What I'm more worried about is him not being able to find the port by hand. Is there something wrong with it? Is it in the process of flip…