POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hey all! I am getting banded in almost a month. I am a little nervous about wha tmy body will look like once the weight is gone. Primarily - I am worried about my arms! LOL! I know it seems trival with losing weight - but I would hate to lose this weight - FINALLY - and still have my arm jiggle. Has anyone noticed that their arms get smaller without needing plastic surgery? And if you have had plastic surgery - wpuld you recommend it?

is it ok to take mylanta or emteral(anti-nausa liquid)? i feel like i could throw up right now and i really dont want to because im afraid that it will make my band slip. i had surgery aug. 18. please help!!

Happy Sunday All, Okay I am a little bummed! I had my first fill on Friday, they put 4cc in me... But I am not filling any restriction! Is this normal?? I thought I would fill restriction so I am kinda bummed.

Hello, I am 3 weeks post-op and I started getting a cold yesterday with some coughing feels like a chest cold. Today I got up with the coughing and now I am having stomach cramps like I got a stomach virus. I am sticking to liquids because I don't want to throw up. My question is will it hurt my newly installed band if I get the flu or has anyone had these symptons. I called the on call Dr. and was told as long as I can hold fluids down not to worry but he was real short like I was bothering him. I will talk to my Dr. this but she is on vacation until 9/16/08. Any advise????

I am not understanding what is going on, I have had 3 fills since surgery and this last one is the only on that gave me minor restriction like i had something in me, but it still is not enough. I startedt off at 286 now i am 272. people told me it would be easier to lose weight since i am only 21 but I feel like I am letting my parents down (who paid cash), people who are supporting me down and it is getting horrible. I don't eat bad foods, I took the doctor advise and have limited my self to tuna and wheat thin and I still can't lose....I need help fast i plan on getting my 4th fill next thursday hopefully it wi make a difference......but if anyone has some advice please…

Hello- I got banded yesterday 8/19 and today I have had 2 episodes of nausea one with dry heaves, is this normal? It happened after I drank chicken broth and the 2nd time with water, but nothing came up just dry heaves.

Hello, has anyone used the fill centers in florida and if so what are the costs involved for each visit????

I have been having sharp pains in the sternum area for about a year and a half now. I finally had repositioning 8 weeks ago. The pain came back. So now I am having it removed on Monday. The doctor and I have agreed that either my IBS or my Fibromyalgia are what is causing this. I am very sad to loose my band, but I cannot continue with the severe pain that I get. I just have to be strong and use my head to keep on track to loose the last 40 lbs. I lost 70 total with the band.:lovechoc:

has anyone had a problem with a stitch coming out through a healed incision? I had my incisions closed with glue, and had a stitch poke through yesterday. Wondering if this is a common problem after surgery.

Does anyone know if it is alright to go to the tanning bed after surgery? I am 11 days post op and would love to go tanning.

I am 18 days post op and I was wondering if anyone has these issues, after I eat (regardless of what I eat) I belch numerous of times, and for some reason, when I go lay down at night to go to sleep, I cant lay on my left side. I have really bad sharp pains. I know my surgeon cut me there but only minor cuts and I cant figure out why I hurt so bad there. Anyway I am down 19 pounds since 08/27/08, not sure how much I am now, but Ill take what I can get....lol Have a great day.:shades_smile:

I keep hearing about people talking about their port site....some people complain that their port gets in the way of their clothes or that it portrudes out in an obvious way once you lose a significant amount of weight. Where exactly is it? Is it at the site of one of the scars or is it located at the point about 5 finger breadths above the belly button where theres a hard area about the size of half an outstretched palm?

I am 17 days post op and wondering what kind of liquid pain medication is out there for adults. I had a headache last night, and had no liquid pain medicine except for my roxicett (sp?) that was prescribed to me after surgery. I was not about to take a narcotic for a headache lol. Also can I start taking Advil again? I know that the doc says no apsirin or ib profen for a while after surgery, just not sure how long thats for. Is there a liquid or chewable advil, tylenol or some other pain medicine? If so which works best? :shades_smile:

I am scheduled for my band on Sept 12. My doctor wants me to drink Optisource for the first and possibly second week after surgery. Has anyone used Optisource as their post diet shake? If so, does it taste better than the Optifast? Another question, how long after surgery were you able to return to work, school, etc? Thanks Donna:sneaky:

I was told not to take Aleve or other Ibuprophin after surgery. I am starting to exercise and I am in pain. Does anyone else have this problem, and do you take Aleve or Ibuprophin to take care of the stifness.

I have been thinking about getting the band but I would like to be able to have it removed after losing the 100 pounds I need to lose. Just wondering if anyone has done the same thing and what if any weught gain did they experience. My gain is mostly do to diabetes and insulin. So i am hopeful after reading some of the success stories that once I start losing the meds will decrease or be eliminated and I will be able to lose weight on my own. The other issue is that I will have to pay for the procedure myself, insurance won't cover it. Any suggestions on that issue will be appreciated, too. Good Luck and God Bless to everyone. Thanks dave

I'm 32 months past lapband, lost total,of 90 lbs. Started having coughing problem, seems to be caused by gas fumes coming back into my throat. Some times even thick mucus type fluid also comes up. The only thing I've found to stop the coughing is hot tea. has anyone else had this problem and did you finf out whats causing it?:thumbup:

I was banded in June 27 and so far I had only gotten one fill. I lost 23 lbs pre-op and have not lost anything else since then!!! At first I was very careful with my food choices, I did the liquid thing to the tee, but now that I can have normal food I have been trying different foods and I can eat EVERYTHING, I mean, cake, bread, burgers, fries, all of the stuff you are not supposed to be able to eat with the band. I also feel that I can eat big quantities of stuff. Will this get better with my second fill?? If can't wait to feel restriction!!!

do you know how long after we've been banded that we can re-start birth control? =/ *hoping for this weekend lol* thanks!

Okay i have decided that the reason we can only have liquids for a set period of time after surgery is that when we go back to eating we will actually crave the right foods. I have two more weeks and i would give anything for a salad or some grilled veggies!:shades_smile:

Hey everybody I was banded 08/21/08 so I'm 17 days post op and 13 pounds down! I feel great but, I'm starting to get this sharp pain near my port incision.... is this normal ??

I was banded over a year ago and for the last couple of months i have had really bad pain and my port site. Clothing hurts it or just touching the site is painful. I have told my doctor about this at past appt and she said that it could be a herina from the surgey. Has anybody had this problem with their port. I have not been sick and have not vomited. :confused2:

Dear all , thanks all for the continuous help and comments in this forum, and i would like to thank everyone who gave helpful information. My problem is that i was banned in almost 1 year and a half, and my goal was to reach 85 Kgs, i was 140 Kgs. now after all the fills i made i reached only 95 Kgs, i would like to know if anyone is stuck like me and my weight wont go down more and sometimes if i loose control i gain 1 or 2 kilos and i bring them down again. So 10 Kilos to go is not much, but they wont go at all. My Best Wishes for you all

Hi everyone, I was banded three weeks ago and was wondering if anyone could explain to me why we are not allowed to drink with meals? Also, how long should we wait after eating to drink anything? My doctor has told me 30 mins on one occassion and 5 mins on another so I'm getting conflicting messages. Also, advice for the first few weeks was to sip water slowly with breaks in between each sip. Is that just for the first few weeks or for ever because sometimes I find myself very thirsty and can't bear to sip slowly.

Hi all! When I had my surgery on 8-20-08, my Dr told me I had a hernia that he had to repair while in surgery. I wasn't surprised, I knew this was common. Well, today I got a bill in the mail for $5200 for the hernia repair! I was a self-pay because insurance (Cigna) gave me the run around for too long. They tried to file the hernia repair with my insurance and they wouldn't cover it, because it was an out of network provider. I'm so frustrated. It took me a long time to save up $15000 I paid for the surgery. I saved up so I wouldn't have to finance it. Now, I'm going to have to finance the hernia repair! Sorry for the rant, I just had to vent. So self payers beware, you…

I just had my first fill, and my appetite is down.. but I haven't just yet began solid foods seeing how my Surgeon recommended a 48hr gap after my fill. So I understand that my weight-loss will be gradual, but how do I know if it's successful? I just have this false hope that maybe I won't lose weight, or I haven't changed my diet enough...I know I have tried to change my diet and eat less, but I'm not so sure that I've figured out the key of losing my weight. What's the best diet ideas? Does anyone have a failed banding experience? Or, has anyone gone through the same thing? Thanks for reading, Belle

Today I am 11 days post op and I had some mashed potatos today as my first mushy food. It tasted really good and I did not eat much so I felt find and did not have any problem eating it. I am very excited!! :tongue2::cool2::w00t:

I think my port incision might be infected. It's reddish/pink, tender and still hurts. I am just over two weeks post-op and still in a bit of pain. I can't get to the doctor though! I am just starting a new school year and can't take time off so soon. I can't use Neosporin because I am allergic to sulfa and I don't know what else I could put on it. I dribbled some hydrogen perioxide over the scar and it fizzed up like crazy. I tested some of my other scars and it didn't do that! Any ideas of what to do? I am also not sure if it's just part of the process.

I think I am having my period but it's just been some super light spotting and mostly sort of a darkish red color. It was bright red only for a short time. It has been about 4 days of this strange spotting. I am thinking this is because of the big trauma I just put my body through and the hugely reduced calories... am I correct? I am incredibly regular most of the time and it started on the first, which was the day I anticipated my period would start. Thanks!

I am going for my first fill this Friday and I am not really quite sure what to expect. Does it hurt? How do they know how much to add? I appreciate any advice. Thanks!!

I will be banded on 9/5... I plan on returning to work on the following Monday. Just wondering how many others did the same, and how it worked out for you.

Grrrrr..... I'm hungry. I had my one week follow-up appt. today and the dietician told me it will only get worse until I get my fill (in 3 weeks). She also told me not to get discouraged if I gain a couple of pounds before my fill. Does anyone out there have any suggestions to satisfy hunger before getting the first fill? It's soooo frustrating... help.

Looking to start a support group in Central Oregon. Let me know if there is interest in this area.

:crying: I had a baby on June 3rd, banded on July 25th during maternity leave...I have lost 54 lbs since the baby was born. Some of it came off while breast feeding and the rest during the liquid and mushy phase...I go tomorrow for my first fill and see the dietician...I want to start normal foods. I am still eating mushy foods and getting extremely tired of them....mashed potatoes, canned chicken salad, tuna salad, yogurts, etc....the sheet of paper I was given says solid foods after 8 weeks????? I have had to eat normal foods at a couple different times because there was nothing else available where I was and it wasn't at a place that I could bring my own food...I…

I had my first fill yesterday...very strange sensation but virtually painless. My doctor told me that there was no fluid in my band but that he normally does have a little in at the time of surgery. Then he says he's not sure why there was none. This made me think...is it possible that there was fluid and it leaked out? Or is it just not sure why he didn't put any in in my case. Either way not good.

kindly help me .... i got banded on 28/6 and have lost 30 lbs without a fill ... first things is that I am having my monthly cycles and I have gained 2 lbs . Everytime I gain weight during my cycles and then I cannot loose weight for couple of weeks after that .. has this happened to anyone second thing is that my doctor is leaving country for fifteen days after next week and I am due for my first fill next week ... There is no one who can do an unfill in his absence ...so should I go ahead with the fill or should I wait till he comes back ? thanks ... all the help is appreciated

Ok... so my surgery is this thursday 8/28, i enjoy working out and have already lost 9lbs on my pre-op diet... So my question is... i starting at 247lbs and now at 238, is it an unrealistic goal to want to be under or at 200lbs by christmas? Let me know what yall think, or what your weight loss was within a 3-4 month period of time. Thanks!

I'm 3 weeks post-op... and I have a burning sensation that comes and goes over the port site, and surrounding area... Its an uncomfortable feeling. I told the Dr. about it, and he tells me it's part of the healing processes, that the muscles are healing??? Any one experience these feelings??

OK, I went and Had my test done (EKG), my doctor comes in the room and sits down, looks at me and Say's Bobbie your EKG was adnormal, there might be something wrong with your heart, I'm sitting there thinking what the F**k!!!!!!!!!!!!! and so we need to make an appointment for another test at the hospital. I just started crying, I was floored, what the hell, so then he Say's if there is something wrong we will have to cancel the surgery, which I knew that one was coming. He said it might be a blockage, I'm not getting enough blood to my heart, WOW what a day, I'm so scared, I'm not ready for this. Please pray that everything is going to be fine. Love Bobbie:frown::smile2:…

I got banded on Aug 28, and have generally felt bad since...but the last several days have been much worse. My Dr did not give me a fill at surgery, but I have such restriction, that I have lost 10 lbs in the last week. I start feeling nauseous and having to spit in the sink even when I haven't eaten anything for hours. I went to my Dr yesterday, and he did a swallow test which was fine, but on the xray he could see that my stomach was full of air. He said the air was what was making me so uncomfortable and wrote me a rx for metoclopromide, but not to use it regulary. I took it yesterday, and after several hours, I started having very painful, almost violent burps. Aft…

Has anyone used any ointments on their scars? I was told by my surgeon that they would disappear over time, but I would like to speed up the process. I was curious to see if anyone used Maderma or any other products.

I was banded on May 28th, one week ago. I went for my Post-Op Appt. yesterday,had my stitches out, and I've lost 17 lbs. in 9 days!:confused: I have 1 more week of liquids and I think the first week was harder, so far I'm dealing with it better this week, I think because I've lost so much and it has motivated me. So anyone else banded on that day or around that time, and how are you doing? What's the average everyone is losing at this stage, what are you guys eating, how do you feel???

This is really strange . . . but ever since I was banded on 7/16/08 I have not been able to burp or belch :thumbup: I can feel the bloating but the gas will not come up. Although it is not painful it is uncomfortable. I just want to burp again. I asked my doctor about this when I had my first fill and she really didn't seem to have an answer for me. Any suggestions? :party:

Hi im 2 months post op,all's been going ok up until now. I get food stuck from time to time but after the usual pain, PBing, and sliming etc it eventually passes and things return to normal, except for yesterday. Some food got stuck at lunchtime and it was a much longer more painful bout than I've experienced before. I was in too much residual discomfort to even think about eating anything else yesterday so only had a drink. Anyway, today I felt fine when i woke up until I went to have my porridge at Breakfast...one teaspoon and then the pain started so I chucked it all away. At lunchtime I thought I'd try a bit of yogurt ( more liquidy) I had a few teaspoons and was …

So I had one bite of an egg white omelet with ham. BIG MISTAKE. I'm here at work and dying a slow death. It's been stuck for almost 2 hours now. I've been sliming the whole time. Throwing up periodically, obviously nothing coming out but saliva, in chunks! :crying: Has anyone else experienced this and for this long? Will it ever pass? I feel like there's a tennis ball in my chest that won't go up or down. Please go away!!

I cannot eat anything for 3-4 weeks after a fill. I have no restriction but can't get anything down. I've been told I may be super sensitive to the fills. Does anyone else suffer like this or have any advice?

After have my surgery postponed for a week, finally made it to the post- op side! Came home yesterday, and having a a rough day today, gas pain in my shoulders, difficult to get liquids down, been working on same 12 ounces for 3 hours now. Also pain in the large incision sight which I am hoping is normal? How long does it take ot feel good again? All things considered, went better than I expeced.

I just had my 2nd fill about 1 week and 4 days ago. The 1st week went well as with the 1st fill. But now im starting to want to eat more... and im trying so hard to show self control but its getting harder. Im trying to eat 1 cup of food or less and i still feel some what hungery after but if i sit and rest before i try more food i usually can wait until next meal. So far i have 2cc in my band and i have lost 76lbs total counting the 23lbs before band that i lost between march 2008 - may21 2008 when i got the band. The other 53lbs is after the band. Im also do for my one a month friend and have had 3 lbs creep back on . I work out everyday also.... so since im working o…

Hi everyone, I had my surgery, and its been hell trying to keep in the diet of liquids. I am in my 3rd week, and have been so hungry that I started to eat food. I don't stuff my face, but I have started to eat solids. I am so scared to tell me doctor that I have screwed up. Has this happened to any of you? I control the amount but I am nervious that I might have do something wrong. HELP!!!:rolleyes2:

Hello, I am having a problem getting the liquid tape off my inscissions. Does anyone have and easy solution to getting this off, I am going on 8days and It feels as if it is permenate.:thumbup: