POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

This question is sort of two fold. I threw up food that got caught maybe 4 times in the last week. Small amount (it got caught when I started eating). It was always after 7 pm or so. The last time I chewed more carefully than usual but is there a time when I am MORE likely to throw up? I thought it would be in the morning but I don't really eat Breakfast and, when I do, there are no issues. Second question is, could this throwing up have damaged the band? This throwing up is totally recent (I only threw up once before and was banded dec 1)

How long until you stop panicking about the band itself and life after the band? There are moments where I have to fight a panic attack and the thought of "I want this thing out of me" hits. Then I can distract myself and I'm OK again. Is this a sign that I just wasn't ready psychologically for the surgery or is this normal? I would feel like such a failure and be so embarrassed if I end up having it removed because I was having panic attacks. I guess I should say that I'm on 10 mg of Buspar for anxiety...maybe I need the dose increased.....

What has been an absolute no-no after first-hand experience?

Hi All, Well it's been two days and all is good so far. Hungry as heck but I am drinking my liquids so that does help some. I was admitted to hospital at 7:45, taken to my holding room, changed clothes, had vitals taken, then around 9:30 taken down to holding area where IV was started and given shot in belly for blood clots. They did have trouble starting IV, couldn't get a good vein in hand had to use my left arm, which is LESS PAINFUL!!!!! Doctor came in and talked to me a couple of minutes and then lowered the boom! I wanted to go HOME the same day but was told that since I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea I had to stay the night, was not happy but did obey. Came out of s…

Hey y'all I was just banded on Wed, NYEve. I have been using the spirometer (sp) and met the goal they set for me. Last night I noticed a little crackling in my chest and this morning it was there also. No fever, nausea, chills, nothing like that. just the crackling. But because the hospital put the thought of pneumonia in my head, I am stuck on that thought. Has anyone ever heard of someone getting pneumonia 5days after surgery? It might sounds kinda dumb, but I tend to worry about the small things. :wink_smile: Thanks, Cheryl

This is weird. I am allergic to the adhesives on bandaids, etc and always get a red rash where it sticks. I woke up this morning to find a perfectly square rash around each of my incisions, but I don't have a bandage there. They closed with durabond. Does anyone know if they put something on there to keep the instruments in place that would have adhesive in it?

I did it on the 13th and Im flying on the 24th .. Its a long 10 hour flight .. then connecting to another 5 hour flight

Well, I had my surgery on Wednesday and its now Saturday. Today has been one of the worst days for soreness yet, but that may be a result of stopping lortab and just using Tylenol. I've been tolerating the special diet so far. I was on clear liquids until Friday and then I could add protein shakes. Tomorrow I can add applesauce, pudding, and bananas. I haven't really felt hungry since then, but I know that is due to the swelling. I've lost 5 pounds since surgery due to my liquid diet. There have been times where I've wondered, why did I do this? I know that once the soreness goes away and I get into a routine, I'll be much happier.

Hi All, I‘m really trying not to be so dependent on my lap-band but I actually gain weight in October and November. So my doctor gave me a good fill about 3 weeks ago. I'm currently sliming regularly but I'm losing weight now. I know I need to chew my food better and exercise a little harder but is there any long term effect for sliming every other day??

I work with people in Minnesota who would say, "So what!" But it is minus 11 degrees here today! I've found after losing almost 40 that I get cold easier. I'm 10 pounds away from calling the sleep doctor and see if I've improved.

I never in a million years imagined myself researching pb and vomit on a Friday night! A lot of people here are always asking what PB means. Why don't they explain it in the lap band seminars, eh? I am so confused, but here is my interpretation: PB When restricted, food gets stuck by not chewing well enough, eating too fast, or food not agreeing with the band. (it's like russian roulette with each new fill) Painful uncomfortable sensation in chest and sometimes throat. Sliming (excessive saliva) occurs in attempt to help dislodge the object. for me: I lean over toliet and the food plops out. Sometimes a little finger coaching is needed, which makes me feel bule…

Hi!!!!!!! Just wanted to start a new thread in our "new forum place", we are indeed postop, arent we????? My energies to you all, n.

I think I overdid it big time today. I am 4 days post op and I drank a glass of fresh squeezed OJ. I was already feeling kinda bad when I was making it...The feeling I used to get when I hadnt eaten in way too long. So, I took a few big drinks (with no water) and then it was down hill from there. I pressed on and went to a friends to play cards and had to abrubtly leave because I felt/feel so nausious. I came home and took a nasea pill and now am sitting here just "waiting it out" Do you think it was from the sugar in the OJ? Or that I just overdid it today? It had been quite a while since I had "eaten" anything and it took a lot of work/standing to make t…

I'm in my fourth month post op and I just had my 4th fill which gave me good retstriction. The problem is that now that I can only eat such small portions, how am I supposed to eat enough calories to break a weight loss plateau? How do you all get in all the calories you need? I'd ask my nutritionist but he hasn't called me back yet. I'm not allowed protein shakes as per my surgeon...he doesn't want me drinking my calories. I'm only able to eat 500-600 calories a day right now, and believe it or not, I'm not losing weight. And, yes I have started exercising. I'm so frustrated right now. I can't believe I'm not losing any weight between the exercise and the limited calorie…

I am really depressed. I was banded on Dec 30. I started out on the liquid diet for the 2 weeks post op. I did great on the 10 day pre op diet. Even through Christmas. I never cheated and was so proud of myself. I thought that after the surgery it would be easier, but after being around more food than Christmas time, for the New Years celebrations and football bowl parties, I decided to "try" a little food. No problem! So I tried a little more.... still no problem at all. So today, I just ate like normal, and everything is just like normal... :grouphug: I actually tried to see if something might make me sick, so that I would stop, but nothing did. OMG... this is…

OK, so the other night I was watching the news, they did a very brief section on when you have the bypass and your pouch stretches, the surgeons can now go in a and staple off some of the stomach to make the pouch smaller again. So, if you stretch your pouch with the lapband, what happens? Does anyone know if you have to go back under to have it done again or what?

A couple of times I had the dry heaves the day after my surgery. They say it isn't a problem. I am just worried about it making my band slip or my stomach moving up through the band. Am I worried about nothing? I will be doing a barium swallow next week....will it show if there is a problem?

banded 6/26/08 only lost 20lbs (weighed 210) and had another surgery 2 months later (rotater cuff surgery) have had 4 fills had to go in about 2 weeks ago and have 1cc taken out and now all of a sudden i am gaining weight reataining water (you can see it in my feet and legs) my diet has not changed, should i be worried? i drink about 4 20oz bottles a day. but i am 6 months out this sucks i should be skinnier by now. i weight 207 something MUST not be right but dont know what that could be. having lab work done next week. anyone else have trouble or sow to lose weight?:thumbup:

Please, am I the only one going crazy reading all these threads of people who seem to have no idea about what diet they should be on and what the consequences of eating solids too early can do? They put you to sleep and put something inside you for God's sake!! The docs meet with you- things are explained (I hope). What the heck?!?! I admit my doc didn't tell me about bandster hell, but I didn't suffer through surgery to mess it all up because "I couldn't handle the diet." I KNEW about the diet before hand. If I thought I couldn't do it, I wouldn't have gotten the surgery. It is only a few weeks/months out of your lives people. I am sorry, but I am so frustrat…

Anybody else experienced bloody stool? Just happened last night and I couldn't tell if it was from the stool itself or maybe a h'roid. I don't feel ill. Of course this stuff always happens to me right before the week-end so now I'm freaking out a little! Thanks!

Wondering if I'm tight enough or should get a little more. I have 7 cc and it has been 2 months from the fill from hell and bruised so bad I've barely recovered, so I'm not fill scared! I have lost 10 pounds since, but wonder if it is time for more fluid. I am really tight in morning and can't eat much, lunch I can eat pretty good and at night I'm kinda tight, I get the hiccups and my left shoulder hurts when I eat to tight and too fast. That nerve is very sensitive. I'm I'm almost 7 months out and down 50 pounds. Any ideas would be great!!

WOOOHOOOO!! As of today I am 199, thats 51 pounds total lost and 34 since surgery on 9-22-08. I was trying to make it below 200 by New Years Day but better late than never. I cannot describe how much better I feel already. In fact, I feel a lot lighter than I actually am. My energy is thru the roof, and I'm starting to out in public again and hearing very positive remarks about my weight loss. I've still got a long way to go but I just wanted to share my great news with everyone. Have a great weekend!!

I've been getting a strange pain around my collar bone (left side). Sometimes tylenol helps, other times it doesn't... any ideas?!?:wink:

I'm having gas pains from my surgery and while its nowhere near as bad as when I had a C-section, I'm not overly comfortable. I'm taking a gas X chewable regularly and it does seem to be helping, but the box says not to go over 6 per day. I haven't been keeping track of how many I take. How many did you guys take each day? (TMI notice!!) On a brighter note, some of the gas is coming out and earlier today, I had the most amazing fart ever in my life!!! LOL Gosh it felt so good! :yikes:

I was banded 8-1-08, had a port revision done on 10-17-08. After my last fill I was unable to eat anything without throwing it right back up, went to have 1/2cc removed...all was fine, but now (1 month after 1/2cc removal) I am having heartburn and reflux quite often. I'm having a hard time eating without ending up with heartburn and wake up at night with reflux burning my throat. Has anyone had a problem like this??? Any ideas of what to do??? I do plan on seeing my surgeon, but until then, I could use some help!!!! Thanks!

So I got banded a week ago and have my first post-surgery appointment with my doctor tomorrow. I have 5 incisions (4 small and 1 larger one) and for the life of me I cannot figure out where the port is. Can someone tell me where it most likely is? I don't think it is the bigger one because that one is in the very center of my chest.... Thanks!

It is day 17 after having my proceedure and I am noticing that I am having a hard time with old habits. Last night I knew that the low fat frozen yougurt was in the freezer and I was just getting the urge to eat it . I actually laid their in bed debating should I or shouldn't I . Well the old habits won and I went to the kitchen and finsihed the rest of it. It was only 1/2 of a 1/2 a pint but even though I ate it I was feeling gulity. I was not necessarily hungry . I have been buying the sugarless gumm to chew to try to change my habits which helps some . I guess I wonbdering is anyone else having the mind battles and feeling gulity after eating something you really shou…

I went to the surgeon's today as I was too tight from my second fill last week. I was only able to keep liquids down all week. So, he sticks the needle in and no go, then, does it again. He kept doing this for a while, but kept getting the rim of the port. He thinks that there is hard scar tissue and possible bruising from the last fill above the port. We tried it with a pillow under my back, he switched to a new needle, still no go! So, basically, he said to wait another week and hopefully I will lose weight and the band will get looser. I said, well, what happens if it doesn't get better or I the port needs to be accessed for another fill. He said it should calm down by…

carrot crisis update: I just threw it up- the force of it coming out of my body is really freaking me out- it was like vomitting before I got the band- but without vomit- usually when I pb- it's simple and just plops out- this was like the excorsist- but orange. did I majorly f things up with my band?? should I be on liquids now? what do I do? does this warrant paging my dr? his office is closed now

Has anyone tried B 12 shots? Do they help burn fat?

I lost maybe 4-5 pounds after surgery, 18 on the liquid diet. While I am happy with that loss, I haven't lost anymore weight, in fact, gained a pound. I had one fill and will have another this Friday. So far, almost no restriction (also, no fill to start with). Is this typical? I feel like I should be losing some but it is just as hard to curb my appetite as it was before.

I had my first fill yesterday, 4cc in a 14 cc band. My dr said my band was pretty tight to begin with (my first fill was done under fluro in the radiology dept). He said I should start to feel def more restriction now. Just wondering how or when will I start to feel it? I noticed today that I am still just as hungry inbetween meals. And I had a salad for dinner at 5:30 and it's 7:30 and my stomach is growling and I am def hungry. I am going to have some carrots or a cucumber to hold off the hunger. I remember someone had said it took them about 2 weeks before their fill finally "hit them". I am just wondering what everyone else was feeling?

I am getting banded on 01/27/09 and I'm curious about the size of the needle used to fill the band. I'm a needle phobic! It is in no way going to detour my surgery, I would just like to know what I am in for! Thanks Emily

First of all ,thank you to those who supported me the day before I went in for my first fill. I was so upset because I hadn't lost any weight for most of December. The good news is ,I went in to have my fill (they put in 2ml) and I had not gained any way,I was so relieved. I managed to maintain my weight in the month of December. The fill was relatively painless and I can certainly tell a difference and if I don't slow down ,OWWY lol. I'm back to losing weight and I feel so much better. Thank you for your support. I'm kind of going nuts lately because I'm so use to going outside and walking on my lunch break but haven't been able to due to this brutal cold air we've…

Hi everyone. I have a quick question: I've had pretty good restriction with the same fill for about 2 months. All of the sudden one day I woke up and felt hungary so I ate (duh!) well I was able to eat about twice as much as usual and it's been that way for a couple days now. Do you think my band slipped or something? Thank you so much to anyone who can help because I'm kinda worried now.

Hello everyone. I was just banded on Monday Jan 12th and I have been following the diet and drinking only sugar free liquids (crystal light, propel, and protein water) and broth but I don't know if I am identifying when I get full. It seems like I haven't gotten full but maybe once since the surgery. It's like I don't have a band sometimes, in my opinion, but I know its there. Still, I'm not sure what to think, I can drink and drink and I don't feel very different. Has anyone experienced this? Is it normal? I also haven't felt the least bit nauseous since the surgery and I was under the impression that I would barely be able to ingest a few ounces of liquid at a time o…

I got my second fill last Friday. I was unable to keep mushies down after 24 hours of liquids, so I went to see my surgeon on Monday. His options were to do liquids all week and then see if I can handle mushies or to get a slight unfill. I opted to try the liquids and see how it goes. I am fine with the liquid part, but am still not able to keep mushies down very well. I had three bites of cottage cheese at lunch yesterday and threw up twice. I am able to have very runny oatmeal for breakfast, but have only done soup, instant potatoes, pudding, and tiny tastes of things here and there. At night I can have maybe two bites of egg salad before I get the slimes. I made an app…

Well I am at the end of my mushy stage and I am due for a weigh in on Monday January 19. I feel lots of doubts that I used to use to sabotage me in the past from being successful at losing weight. I know I have not been eating the way I used to but I feel so bloated and fat. People tell me I look like I have lost some weight but I can't feel it or see it? I just know myself that if i get on that scale and have not lost at least 10-15 lbs in the last 4 weeks I am going to feel very defeated. I know we are only supposed to lose like 1-2 lbs a week. With all that i have to lose it will be years and years until I reach my goal. I just don't want to sabotage myself with the th…

So it has been 10 months since my surgery, and I am sitting at an incredibly discouraging 30 lb weight loss. I love my band, and would do it all over again, but I am kind of in a slump. I have FAITHFULLY gone to get my fills and exercising, but I think the conclusion I have come to is I have been living band life too tight. (I got the stomach flu last month, and had to get completely unfilled because my stomach was so swollen, and am slowly getting fills ut back in.) I was gagging and getting food stuck alot, and seemed to only be able to eat mushies, or food that easily turned into mush. Has another long term bandster been too tight at some point and had reeeeeaally …

Ok I NEED A LITTLE ANSWER OR TWOLAST NIGHT I GOT STUCK BAD. I HAVENT HAD A FILL IN TWO MONTHS SO I DONT KNOW WHY I HAVE A LOT MORE RESTRICTION. I TIRED HAVING A BITE OF MEAT YESTERDAY AND HOLY OWWWWW SLIMING, PB, THE WORKS. NOW ITS 430 AM AND IM VERY THIRSTY. I DRANK AND IT DIDNT COME BACKUP BUT IT DID HURT....AM I JUST SORE FROM THE PB???

Hi... I was banded in Mid August 2008. Have lost approx 21 Kgs since then.. but for the last 6 weeks have stopped and 'hovered' between 82.5 (181.5 lbs)and 81 Kgs (178.2 lbs). Got to 81 and thought great.. but back up to 82.5 and 82 - continually hovering. I am doing Curves for exercise, have had my 4th fill. The Dr said I was now up to 6mls and he did not want to push it and cause problems.. but I do not have an overly 'full; feeling after eating. My shape is definitely changing for the better.. I do not eat bread/pasta/rice or cakes and pastries.. mainly protein and veggies - I am really happy that I have lost what I have, but would like to see it break this awful…

Hello Everyone! I'm so happy! I finally have my band! I had my surgery this past Monday. I'm a little sore in the the belly area but all is going well so far. I'm trying to get all my fluids in and my 3 8oz. liquid meals in. Does anyone have any suggestions on quick and tasty liquid meals? I'm on full liquids and have had protein drinks and blended soups, I don't know what to try beyond that, its kinda hard thinking of different ways to get in my protein. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Has anyone had a problem with incisions looking red and angry? I think we're supposed to report it to our surgeon if there is more than 2cm of reddness, but what if it's been red since day one and only looks slightly more ticked off? I've been applying neosporin to all 5 sites, with a different q-tip each, and still no happy results. Any recommendations? I'm gonna start applying Bactroban to it as well. I also bathe in Hibiclens every night.

Hi Everyone I was banded 5 weeks ago. I followed my dietician guidelines strictly (until now). By now I should be eating soft foods and moving onto solid foods over the next week or 2 but I'm still eating mushies. After reading so much on this forum I am terrified of anything getting stuck. I dont go for my first fill until the 23rd and I know I need to have attempted solid food so that I can let my doctor know how I'm going. I also don't have a huge amount left to lose. When I started this journey I weighed 94kgs (207 lbs). While waiting for surgery I put myself on a weight loss program and on my day of surgery I weighed 79kgs (174 lbs). I now weigh 72 kgs (…

I was banded last Thursday 1/8/08. I am on the full liquid diet and am feeling fine. My question is do I have any restriction at all yet? I have always been a big water drinker and I am drinking lots with no issue just like before. I am eating smooth soup and drinking shakes with no issue just like without band. Just wondering if that is the way it is supposed to be.

Hi folks - Dr. Jacob Joffe did my surgery last spring in Sarnia. I've had a number of problems and the decision has been made that I need another surgery to see what the problem is with the band, perhaps replace it. Today he told me that there has been a complaint against him made to the College of Physicians and his license has been suspended. Inspiring right!! Anyway, I wondered if anyone knew anything about this or how to find out any information.

I am frustrated, and I know I need to wait it out, but I have been loosing pretty consistanly, eating anywhere from 700-900 calories. I am getting in 50-80 grams of protein a day as well. The last two days I have have been gaining. I have gained two pounds. Now, this might not sound like a lot, but to me, it is. I am on day three of TOM, and am hoping this is the cause. Does anyone else have this problem?

I just got out of the hospital 2 days ago and only stayed there for a night .. the sore is pretty bad and honestly 2 pills of Voltaren made me feel a lot better .. but I heard that it can damage the poach is that true? .. and if it does is there any other meds that can cure .. the doctor said the pain will take about a week and there is no way I can go to sleep without a pill .. I mean its not like extreme pain but it hurts bad ..and another thing Im 165cm and 90kg .. how much can I lose in a month ?

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I'm having a hard time staying hydrated. Maybe I took my doc's advice a bit too literally, but by the time I stop drinking half an hour before, and wait 2 hours after a meal to drink again, I'm dying of thirst. The problem, of course, is I cannot then chug a glass of water. By the time I get a glass in, it's time to eat again. (I've given up on 5 small meals a day because of this, and am shooting for 3-4). Does anyone else have this problem? Does everyone wait 2 hours, or do you take a test sip, and if you're fine you continue drinking? I just don't know how to get more water in. I'm really thirsty, but I'm more afraid of vomiting, so I don't want to just start drinking…