POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hi all,new to this place and was looking for some advice for my girlfriend.She had a lap band installed last year and lost 13 stone.The only problem is that she now seems in constant pain with the main pressure on the left hand side of the stomach.She is having to dose herself up every day with painkillers just to get through the day and the docs seem to be at a loss to explain what it could be.Anyone got an idea hwhat it could b please?

Hi Just a curiosity question. How can you tell if your band has slipped or not? I was just wondering.

I AM 10 DAYS POST OP YEPPIEE:laugh::thumbup: AND IM DOING GREAT I THINK... BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH PROTIEN IS GOOD FOR ONE DAY.. I DRINK A SHAKE IN THE MORNING THATS 26 GRAMS OF PROTIEN, I WALK FOR ABOUT AN HOUR I COME HOME HAVE A SOUP OR SUGAR FREE PUDDING. THEN IN THE LATER AFTER NOON I WILL HAVE A PROTIEN WATER DRINK THAT HAS 20 GRAMS OF PROTIEN IN IT. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THATS TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE IN ONE DAY??? TAHNKS DAWN :ohmy:

Hi all! I was banded on 9/29. Surgery went well but I have a tight almost miserable feeling in my chest. Almost like something is stuck but I've been on clear liquids so that isn't possible. When I swallow it feels like it goes right around the lump. Is this my band I am feeling? Does it eventually go away? Has anyone else felt this? Thx!:smile2:

Hello fellow bandsters! I just stumbled onto this site while scouring the net for answers to some questions I have. This looks like a very nice community and one I intend to use! Anywho, I'm a newbie so play nice :thumbup: I was curious how much Fluid is in a normally filled band. I had surgery on Nov 5th, had some issues healing so the doc drained it. I just went last week for my first fill and he put 1cc in it. 1cc just didn't look like much to me and I feel hungry still. I'm at the point I'm moving to solid food now but I think I'm eating more than I should and I never really feel full. Right after the surgery I noticed a third of a shake had me filling ver…

From the minute I came out of recovery on Thu up until today, I have wondered if they even did anything. The only proof I have is the slight pain around my port site. I have had zero complications. Even when my tummy aches, it's more like a hunger pain, I sip some broth and it goes away. Either I had an amazing surgeon, or my body just took to this like a fish to Water. I am afraid to say anything, because as soon as I do I'm sure I'll keel over in pain, but seriously, I thought this would be much more dramatic. Did anyone else sail through this?

I now have 7cc in a 10cc band and feeling some restriction, things are beginning to get stuck. But even though things are getting stuck and I feel that the pouch is full after eating a bit, I'm still hungry and want to eat more, but simply can't. Does this mean I need another fill to get to that actual "full feeling?"

Can I use a straw to drink water. I was banded t 18th. can i use one now, if not now can i later. I just drink more when i use a straw. Have you hurt anything bad about using one??? I know it is silly.

Hello, My first time here and so glad this site is here. I got the lap band on 11-21, today is 11-23 and I AM MISERABLE! I feel like I have a belt under my breasts that is way too tight. Is this normal? Will it go away? Is it the air they pump, or just swelling? When does it get better? I'm ready to have it taken out.

This is my 4th day post op and I'm starting to smell myself. I don't mind it much, but the family is starting to say you stink dad. I know I can take a bath/shower for 2 days, but by now is it safe to get the incisions covered by glue wet via shower?:smile2:

Hey guys...now granted i have an appt to see my doc next but just wanted to see if anybody has been craving sugar post band I have been banded for a little under 4 months and i am diabetic. anywho i have stopped taking my meds (metformin) bc my machine readings have been really good. i dont know my A1C number but i think it will gbe good as well. Lately i have been craving sugar in the form of junk food, Cookies, pie, etc. I try not to overeat or get carried away but today it was really bad. do you think me not taking metformin anymore has something to do with it or or maybe stress? Is my sugar to low.so thats why im a crazy cookie monster. im so confused. Just now i…

Hi Everyone, I was just curious about something. Today I woke up feeling as if my chest was really"tight" which I assume is actually my stomach feeling that way but i've noticed my stomach sort of feels like I have a lot of acid rolling around in there and just basically a bloated (not so good )feeling and when I eat,I notice it more. Anyone experiance this? I've been eating basically the same things all the time so I can't imagine it has anything to do with the food?? Any thoughts?

I thought this might offer some insight to how we all became overweight in the first place and will hopefully be sort of cathartic to tell our story. Here's a synopsis of mine: I was "normal" weight (118 lbs) my whole life till I entered into a 5 year mentally abusive relationship when I was 30, I am now 47. I say it was mentally abusive because he always wanted me to be thinner, monitored my food and constantly compared me to other women that were smaller than me. I began dropping weight till I was hovering around 100 lbs and people were constantly asking me if I was sick. Granted, I was a mental wreck at that time and had major counseling over why I would let someone …

Well, I'm getting my band as of next Tuesday (11/25) & would like any suggestions on what must have food items I should have when I'm at home for my liquid stage. Thank you sooooo much! :drool:

Hey Everyone; Its been a while since being on and I still haven't posted any pictures, but I will tell you my update. I am 10 pounds away from goal which is 150 lbs, my bmi is down hurray!!!! and i looks good:tt1:. I just wanted to tell the ones who are frustrated about slow weight loss. This is what you want to happen. I guess I can't stress that enough. I encourage you guys to keep going and exercise, exercise, exercise!!!!:laugh::thumbup:

A couple of pictures of my progress so far.

WHAT...HOW...WHEN....WHAT TO LOOK FOR WITH YOU ARE INT HE "GREEN ZONE" ANYONE HELP!??!?!?!:laugh:

Banded on 10/21. Had my first fill yesterday 11/17 and had liquids for the first 24 hours. Well my first meal I was able to eat a grilled cheese sandwich and I felt okay. Towards the end I did notice a lump type feeling in my throat so I stopped (there was like maybe a couple of bites left)....do I need a refill? I know I am not supposed to have bread but was curious about how I would react. I am petrified that this isn't going to work for me. Thank you for any input/suggestions!

Okay, so this has been going on for the last few days, and I have to ask, as I'm becoming a bit concerned. I was banded on Oct. 16, 2008 and am nearing the end of my 6th week post-op. I've not had any real issues with any of the foods being slowly added into my diet until now... My mother sent home some turkey to me on Thursday. It was the first turkey I'd eaten in quite some time, very moist and chewed well, of cours. Unfortunately, several hours later, I was struck by a horrible bout of gas that kept me awake all night. I finally got to the point where if I was somewhat sitting up and reclining, say on the couch, or up and walking, I was fine and without pain, but la…

I got my first fill today, everything went great, but I asked my doc all of my questions and he contradicted a lot of things I've heard on here. He said coffee is fine, Advil is fine, doing crunches and pilates is fine. A lot of things that I have heard on here contradict that. I guess I will stick with what my doc says until something happens!

Well as some know and as stated below i was banded on the 17 of october...i am getting psyched for my fill, although i have realized i don't know what hunger is. I am never hungry, although if someone has food, i am. I feel like a sympathy eater...but oh well. No additional weight has been lost as i am still in the healing area still...but DEC 4 is the big fill day!!! YEAH i can't wait. Should i be loosing weight with out a fill?

I was wondering what peoples exeriences have been with spicy foods. I will be having lapband suregery in January. Being Mexican and East Indian, I was raised on spicy foods. I eat everyday soming with either curry or chiles in my food everyday. Am I to give this up for the rest of my life? I already have to give up coffee and my daily ration of diet pepsi...... Thank you.

So, I was banded on 11/20 (this past Thurs). I feel bloated, definitely not getting in all the protein via shakes that the dr. requests (60 oz.). Not even getting 42 oz. of protein in....just feel bloated. Anyone else have this situation? Any insight?

I am 4 days post -op and still in quite a bit of pain. Granted, they found a hiatial hernia and repaired that also. Each day I do get up and stay out of bed for longer periods of time but I think I expected to be fine by now. How long did it take all of you until you felt almost back to normal? I drove for the first time yesterday and my son had to buckle my seatbelt - it was too painful for me to reach to my right. I'm not sleeping as well either because I hate sleeping on my back.

Has anyone else experienced weight gain right after the surgery? I was banded on 11/20 and in just a few days I've gained 6 pounds back from what I lost pre-op. And yes, I've been sticking to the post-op diet of just liquids and calories under 1,000/day.

We are going to the in laws for Thanksgiving. I haven't told them about surgery, and my dh thinks I should. I don't know how they would react and don't necessarily want to tell them. Last time we visited, my mother in law made a comment about eating everything on our plates (she gave me a TON of food). I slipped a lot to my husband, but there was still stuff leftover that had to be thrown away. I don't know how to handle this. I don't want to offend her by not eating much, but I don't know how, where, or when to tell them. Thoughts?

I was banded on 11/19th. I find that when drinking - I'm not feeling full in my stomach but more in my esophogus. Is that what everyone else is experiencing? I only ask because whenever I get a cold, I get that same feeling when eating or drinking - it's like the post nasal drip is clogging up that area and this was way before surgery ever took place. I can't blow my nore right now because it's too painful.

I am new to this whole thing, I cannot afford to have this procedure in the US and need help because I have been overwhelmed by all the contradicting information I am finding about the lapband, the doctors, the dollars, weightloss and the side effects/problems after. which dr to choose? Aceves? Arturo Rodriguez? Corvala? Jose Rodriguez? Kelly? Rumbault? Ortiz? Zapada? Where in Mexico should I go? I want to be safe and in a hospital. What should this cost me? What should be included? Who do I see when I get back to the US or how do I…

Got banded 11-5-08 was a bit more difficult than I expected-I even started to feel that maybe I made a mistake-anyway i am afraid to drink my protein shakes s all I have had is some chicken broth and water afaid I will drink to much and will throw up-any words of wisdo:confused:m?

If the band is not tightened at surgery and the fill doesn't come for 4-6 weeks, why then only liquids then mushie? The opening is then still the same as before. What have you been told the reason for this is? How can eating small bites, chewing extremly well, mess you up? Hubby starting to get really tired and hungry with this liquid bit.

I was just banded on the 20th........ I am so confused on how often I have to eat. I am following the full liquid only. I have creamy Soups, and they are good with Protein, low fat to no fat. I am drinking my Protein shakes too. So....... why do I feel like I am doing something wrong. Please tell me how often you ate right after. Thanks so much I am also having that " omg what did I do feeling" Keri

Hi everyone I was banded on 11/10 and am doing well! I had a herina repair with my band and I think that the herina was harder to deal with then the band. Well my question is I am feeling back to my old self and I was cleaning and bent over and had a severe pain right where the port is, I feel ok now but the area still seems sore. Has anyone else had this happen to them and is this always going to happen thanks so much for your time Angela

I'm curious of those of you who have had the band a long time and have been at your goal weight for a long time. How many calories do you eat per day to keep the weight off? I've been keeping a food diary and calorie count for a couple of months. I haven't been restricting myself much, just trying to be more aware of why I'm eating, when I'm full, etc. I used an online calculator to see how many calories per day my body should need if I were interested in maintaining my high weight, not counting calories burned via physical activity. It said I "need" about 2600 calories per day, and through my food diary, I average 1600-2100. I suppose through all those years of…

Ive been throwing up for hours and have diarrhea. The vomiting is sooooooo painful-I hate this. My stomach is so sore I feel like ive done 2 million crunches. What can a lap banded patient take for nausea? IS pepto ok?

after i get my band what will i be able to eat? i hear that rice can get stuck sowhat do u eat? And if something does get stuck out do i get it out? Do u have to make yourself throw up, or drink like mad water til it goes down? am i going to be on baby food for the rest of my life?

I researched this band so much before I went in for surgery. Everything I heard was that it was going to make me feel satisfied. That is something I have never felt. So I went for it. Guess what, I still don't feel satisfied. I am ok for a week maybe after a fill. I have had 2 now and am at 4cc, I have the Realize Band. I did good at first, then I had a setback of a blood clot in my leg and even though I was on the bariatric diet in the hospital, I weighed more when I came out than when I went in by about 15 pounds. I got really discouraged and started eating. Then I got my first fill, I tried really hard but after about a week of starving, I gave up. Then the same thing …

I'm on Day 4 post-op. I had two days of liquids which I lived on water and popsicles. Now I'm on mushies, and I'm starving! I've tried scrambled eggs, mac & cheese, and chipped ham. I'm following the no drinking guidelines when eating, but I'm not feeling full! The stomach growling is nearly unbearable! Anyone have any suggestions !?!??! :thumbup:

Ok - so my incisions (6) are covered with this "saran wrap" sticky stuff! I have the steri-strips, with little heart shaped gauzes over them, then saran wrap! Kind of like ClingWrap, but sticky! Now I'll admit I'm a big wuss with pain, but how in the heck do I get this stuff off !?!? I tried pulling it off in the shower, and got about 1/4" before I gave up! Any ideas?! I need this stuff off!!! :thumbup:

Did any of your Doctor's talk about calories? I've never heard my providers talk about amount of calories after the surgery and i've been curious about that? Wouldn't there still be a certain amount needed for nutrition or do things work differently for us now?

I have not been doing real well. I got my first fill on 10/3 and had done really well up to that point. After my fill, I lost just a couple more pounds but have been at a standstill. I can tell I am eating more than I should and I know I should control that but my lifestyle is just so aweful. I work 2 jobs and have 3 daughters. I am constantly on the go and sometimes make poor choices. Anyway, I got on this site for the first time in weeks and you all have made me feel great. I am not alone in my slow weight loss and I am not the only one who makes mistakes. I just got off the phone and made an appointment for another fill and I am determined to get back on trac…

I am about 6wks out and had no complications. Food goes down good, no sticking that I can tell of. I have developed bad pain by my right shoulder blade. Thought it was pull muscle, but, days later will not go away. Spok to doctor and said I might be too tight. I have not had a fill yet, I have 5cc in 10cc band (from surgery), have not experienced this pain prior, so I find it hard to believe I am too tight. Thougth it was maybe gas, tried mylanta and Gas X to no help. Is it possible to have a stuck or partial stuck and not realize it? HELP PLEASE!!

Hi Everyone, Has anyone else noticed the delay in getting responses from the website? I've posted a few times over the last week and i'm just now getting the responses. Sorry to anyone who I didn't respond to,there must have been a glitch somewhere.

I don't know about y'all, but I was suffering from MAJOR constipation after my surgery on 9-22-08.....I mean like I had only 2 BM's in a month. When I went in for my first fill on 10-22, I told my surgeon about it and he recommended eating 4-5 dried apricots EVERY morning with my breakfast. I was skeptical at first since I had already tried Miralax and Milk of Magnesia to no avail. Let me tell you, the apricots have worked wonders for me....I am now going at least every other day....WOOHOOO!!! TMI, I know....but maybe this will help someone else who is suffering like I was.

Hello. I received a fill 2 days ago (my 4th one) and this has been the "one" that has really restricted my eating. Tonight I had three bites of a turkey sandwich, and shortly afterward, I began to feel very uncomfortable. It has been hours since I ate, and I still feel the tightness in my pouch. When I try to sip water to help get things moving, I end up spitting it back up. Does anybody know how long this will last? The culprit, I am sure, was the bread, and it feels like it's still stuck. (I won't be eating it again, believe me!)

hi. I was banded in june2008, I have lost around 50 pounds so its slow but steady and on track as far as the dr, is concerned. I have 4cc's in a 12cc band. I have scheduled 2 fills and cancelled them both. I have another scheduled monday. my problem is, one day I feel like I cant eat a thing because I feel so full from the minute I get up in the morning. the next day I feel famished all day!!! I have a fickle band I guess. so anyway, I really want this fill because the holidays are coming up fast, and I dont want one of those hungry days to be a day where theres temptation all around. I am very happy with my band, but I sure wish it was more consistant. maybe th…

Hey everyone just a question?? I'm like 9 days post op & the hunger seems to be getting worse everyday instead of better?Is this normal?? Please tell me I'm not always going to be this hungry??I still only on liquids for like another 6 days but it is so rough.I'm getting very irritable with my family & feeling kinda down.Any advise I know you've all either been here or are going to be here soon.Thanks in advance.......

:cursing: i am very depressed couse of my weight?i was banded 3rd septwith 97 kg ist fill was 11th nov with 92.8 kg,and i am going monday for another fill to day i weight my selef i am 93.4 wht is this?means i did,nt lost weight even i put on .since 7 months i had no periods now i have periods with out any medication?is it couse of periods?r am wrong with my food? but i need suger boost after dinner .thats way i gain my weight?plz help me i am going to cry.

Somewhere on here I had read something about eating with children's utensils since they are smaller and help take smaller bites of food. Is that right? Thanks for all the insight Nina

Hi All, I stepped on the scale this morning and I have gained 1.5 pounds. I don't get it . I'm following the lists of foods that i'm supposed to eat. I drink water all day and have started exercising. Help !! What could be going on ?

My surgery is scheduled for Dec 19. This is fine with me, as I'm a student and this gives me plenty of time to recover before next semester starts. However, I am a singer and as this is right before Christmas, I'm a little worried. I'm usually involved in some kind of group/solo/etc., the Sunday before Christmas and/or Christmas Eve. I've just turned 24, so I think the fact that I'm young is on my side. I've never had surgery before, though, so I don't know how I'll react to it. Do you think I'll have the strength for singing the Sunday after (my surgery is a Friday) or Christmas Eve (the next Wednesday)? I'm optimistic, but I'm a little worried I'll schedule to…