POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

What exactly is PB? I have seen references to it, but can't quite infer what it means. :confused2:

I just wanted to see how long you went without a period after surgery? It has been two months for me and am getting a little concerned. Thanks in advance for your answers.

I actually gained 7 lbs while in the hospital overnight!!! I am hoping it's just Water weight do to the IV. Did this happen to anyone else?

I have seen posts where some have hormone fluctuations when they started losing weight and it caused some monthly issues,, so I was wondering if anyone who is post menopausal had more symptoms after or while losing weight? Estrogen is stored in fat so I figured I have been living off of that and that is why I haven't had any hot flashes and such since my hysterectomy.. The HRT brought them on, so I stopped taking it after 6 months.. not too mention the 47 lb weight gain during the 3rd and 6th month.

My doctor said only 20% of his patients reach their goal weight w/out any fills. I met one in his waiting room and was genuinely impressed. I was only banded a month ago (7/16) and I'm down 20 lbs - w/out any fill. I have a 10cc band that was put in w/ 2cc already in there. (I think that's right.......) I'm happy with the 20 lbs, but wonder if anyone has thoughts about the no-fill theory. I'm not afraid of the "pain" of the actual fill, I'm worried about how long it'll take to find the sweet spot. Also, I like knowing that I can eat pretty much any food w/out worrying about it getting stuck or PBing, as long as I chew the $#@! out of it. :thumbup: It def…

I had surgery in April of 2007and lost about 70 lbs. Since January of this year I gained about 20 pounds. In January my sweet tooth went off scale. I have been battling it ever since. Sometimes good sometimes bad to the tune of 3 -5 lb increases at a time. Also it seems like sometimes I could just eat and eat. Could I have stretched my pouch? Did my my band slip? Does anyone have any thoughts? I was doing so good now I feel like I am going down the same old road HELP!!!

I was reading a blog from a person who also had WLS. It inspired me to write a blog and well, then I thought...why not post it here..maybe there are others feeling these things but, not talking about it. This speaks to people who are post op. I am hoping this doesn't come out offensive. It's honest feelings ..and after reading Mick's it inspired me to write the words that are felt but, guilt makes me sometimes keep them in. 1. The buffet thing. Mick talked about it. When going to a buffet it's about getting the monies worth. I grew up poor...so, I am all about getting my monies worth. When I go to a Water park...I get there when it opens and I don't leave until it…

Hi all newbie here. I am scheduled for surgery on October 2, 2008. I live in Coeur d Alene, Idaho, think Spokane Washington, real close, and have decided to travel to Everett, Washintong to have my surgery done at North West Weight Loss Surgery by Doctor Montgomery. Little background now to my question. I have searched the internet a bunch, even asked two different people during my consultation. And still am a little fuzzy regarding the remedy for getting food stuck. This is the only thing I am really worried about post op. I have heard that after you are back on regular food and something gets stuck, you have to get it up, by vomiting. I would like to h…

I have been banded four days now, so there's no turning back. But I have a question for those of you who've been banded awhile. I'm just trying to set expectations. For those of you who're a few months or more out, how often do you PB, vomit or otherwise get in distress? What do you do to lessen the effects? Any tips for you might bestow on a newbie?

I had surgery Aug 13th, and now I am in SSOOOo much pain. Now that the gas is subsiding alittle it is getting better. But no one told me how bad that would hurt! I had to fly home the next day and the bariometric pressure almost killed me. I was litterly crawling on the airport floor half the time. It is now the second day and now I have the soreness of the area. My Dr. made all my incisions right below my rib cage. So it feels like this band in in my ribs ubstructing my breathing. I just hope it is worth it. Did you know that I actually was standing up "or strapped upright" during my procedure? I just don't want anyone else to be blind sided when they say it do…

I woke up this morning and dared to weigh myself...I know that I was facing a gain due to Water retention, bloat, etc. Anyhoo...I was banded on 8/14 and I'm down almost 14 pounds. Yahoo!!! Just had to share. ML

hey! sorry if this is a supid question. i'm 6 days post op and i'm almost pain free. i check out my incisions a few times a day to see how things are going and if the dermabond is still holding up. um when i touch my incisions the only one that hurts is where my port is. i know the obvious answer is "well don't touch your port incision and then it won't hurt" but it hurts randomly sometimes too. is this normal? dose the port area take a little longer to heal under the skin? i'm assuming so but i just wanted to know if i was normal and stuff. again, sorry if this is stupid:blushing:. ok. thanks. bye!

I just found out from work I need to fly to NYC for a couple of days a week after my surgery. The flight is only 2 hours but still it's the hassle of traveling. Not sure whether I will be able to do it or if I should postpone the surgery. Haven't asked my doctor yet but wanted to get advice from people who went through the surgery.

I am 2 months post op- I was banded on June 10th, and I am down 24 lbs...woohoo... I received my second fill today, I don't know how much, nor do I know my band size. I can not stop throwing up, I have thrown up 14 times since 10:00 this morning. I am also having a bout of diarreah.... My head is pounding and I feel like I have an orange lodged in my throat:cursing:....I don't know where the substance I am puking is coming from, but it definitely seems like slimming, only it burns my esopogus... Am I going to survive...should I give my body time to adjust? Thanks, love the forum and all the help I have gotten!!

Hi all, I had 5cc's put in my band during surgery & have already had my first fill 5 weeks after surgery.. now have 7cc's in my 10cc band but still not much restriction although more than i had before... Has anyone else been in this position? I m worried cuz 7cc's seems full to not have much restriction?

I was banded on August 4 and followed a liquid shake diet for the first two weeks. In that two weeks I had one bowel movement. On the 14th day I felt I really needed to go...I was hurting. I was glued shut like a steel trap. I've been constipated before but this was I may have to have an operation constipated.:biggrin::thumbup: The night prior to the surgery, I had to have an enema. They were cheap so I bought several. Having an enema available on a Sunday night saved me. There cheap, so why not have a few around?

I'm 5 years post band with little problems, until recently, had severe sharp pains in stomach, x-rays showed tubing broke off approx. 3 " from port, still waiting to see original surgeon, current insurance won't pay, who is responsible for $$$, or am i stuck with it? ANYone else with this problem?

I had surgery a week ago and my doc said that today i could start on soft foods. I tries a couple bites of runny oatmeal and I feel sick but still really hungry. Is this normal? Will this go away?

HI I am one month post op tomorrow. When I started this process and I read how some people lost weight so slowly I was sure that would not be me since I dedicate myself 100% to things. Also I lost 60 pounds in just about 4 months... of course I gained it all back thats why I had the surgery. Anyways so now I am post op 1 month and only lost 10 pounds since the surgery and 10 pounds on my pre op diet. The 10 I lost after the surgery was the first 2 weeks.. the last 2 weeks I have lost NOTHING!!!! I blog what I eat and I exercise every day for 30 mins to 1 hour. Now before I had the band if I did this I would loose at least 4 pounds a week.. and now nothing?? At first I sai…

After you see the doctor for your 2 week follow-up after surgery do you ever see your doctor again or do you just see the PA who does the fills? I just went in for my first fill after 6 weeks post-op and it occurred to me that since he isn't really needed for the fills, then do you ever consult with him again? The reason I am wondering if I should make a separate appointment with him is that my port after 7 weeks post-op is still sticking up like a goose egg and I want to have it fixed before the scar heals so that I don't have to go through a whole new scar healing process - has anyone had their port moved lower in the body so it doesn't stick up or have had it moved to …

I was banded on August 6th and I have only lost 9 lbs. I lost those 9 lbs. four days after my surgery. What is going on? I am starting to get upset. What am I doing wrong? Plus, I still can't tell when I am full. Please, I need advice. Did anyone have this problem?

Has anyone had a problem with shredded coconut? Its on the list of things I shouldnt eat. I was just wondering if it would get stuck?

Just wanted to let you guys in on what's been saving me with getting all of my protien in for the day. There is a drink called Cytosort Protien Pure Performance Drink. It is a 20floz. bottle that has 0 carbs, 0 sugar. This juice drink comes in 3 flavors...Tropic, tangerine, and watermelon. I know this sounds like a commerical but I've heard so many talk about how tired they are of the choc. protien shakes.

I'm having a problem with drinking the amount of Water that my doctor wants me to drink a day. I'm not drinking with meals or for 1 hour after a meal (as he directed). But 1 hr after the meal, as soon as I start sipping on water, I start to feel hungry. I know that it's probably because I'm washing all of my food through the band, but I don't know how else to get my liquids in! Does anyone else have this problem? Right now, I am getting around it by starting a bottle of water 1 hr before a meal, and telling myself that I have to drink the water and then wait about 10 more minutes before eating. I don't know if this is a good way or not, but it seems like the only …

I have tape covering all my incisions. I had surgery on Monday, 4/21. When does the tape come off & should I wait till I go back to the doctor for it to come off. My appointment is next wednesday.

I have been trying for two years to lose weight for this surgery and i have medical problems that keepme form losing the weight I have gotton as far as 4 lbs from goal and then swell and it puts me up 4 or five lbs .I 'm tierd of trying .I wish all of you the best of luck with your surgery . Jazzey

Hello All, I was banded on 8/14/08, the question I have is should you feel every drink you take? Im on clear liquids and I can feel evey drink I take, when I say feel it I mean I can feel it at the band site, its kind of like a full filling, I am able to cuntiune drinking and at times can even hear a little gurgling sound. Now none of this is causing me any stress or pain I was just wondering if you all experienced these types of things. Thanks EVERYONE for being here!!!

Is it normal to feel depressed at about week 5 after banding... I think its because I am so used to turning to food for all emotions and now I cant its almost overwhelming to deal with emotions... Dont get me wrong its a good thing i cant turn to food... but is anyone else experiencing this depression feeling & almost food withdrawal symptons..?

but I have always been envious of people who experinced pbing or sliming. I felt that I needed to have those experinces so I knew exactly what it was like to have this band, and doing those things meant that I was going in the right direction. Yea well how stupid is that. Tonight I am at work, I work graveyards which is hard, but my eating has been curbed and replaced with yogurt and some fruit sometimes some tuna. Well I have also learned that our stomach swell at night? I took two bites of my tuna which I chewed to death and it got stuck and it hurt, and i cried and I had to make myself vomit. The pain was horrible and now my throat is so sore and I am just so mad at my…

Hello all, I was banded 6 days ago. I'm *pretty* much feeling normal now (although a little weak from only having fluids!) but I am having one symptom that I am worried about: I get occasional pains that begin just below my sternum and seem to radiate up my chest in the center. They only last a few seconds... often I will get one, it will end, and then I will get another. It almost feels like I have to burp but I can't? I am imagining that it is some type of esophogeal spasm. I don't think it's reflux, since I never had that before and it is unrelated to when I last drank something, or what position I'm in. I will see my doc today but would be comforted to know if others…

I was banded August 12th. I had a large hiatal hernia that was hiding, and fortunately was fixed. I had no problems walking after surgery, and even tried to river dance down the hospital corridor. I kicked my foot on the IV pole and that ended my dancing. (I don't know how to River Dance, I just improvised). I got home the next morning, slept most of the day, walked for 20 minutes and went to the grocery store. I have been great ever since. I have energy, and I'm not hungry! It's a miracle! I went to the Mall again today and a sales clerk asked me what I did to make my face look so fresh and glow. I wasn't wearing any make-up and heck, I'm 44, I almost laughed ou…

I don't think I understand what restriction is. I have had my 2nd fill. Rather then feeling like I can't eat anymore, I feel that's enough. Is this restriction? I have only had a problem with eating tortillas. Sometimes I have no problem (I think the brand of tortillas is the secret). Tortillas is about the only carb I eat, except for an occasional sweet potato. When I have a problem, I feel like I swallowed a small golf ball. Is this restriction?? Sorry if these are a stupid question.

Any time I drink something really cold and maybe it is too fast I start sliming really really bad to wear I almost have to carry around some paper towels in my car - does anyone know exactly what causes sliming?

1. Okay, how would someone ever know if they were too filled. I think in the beginning I didn't know to cut up my food into the size of corn kernals so, I would think I couldn't eat anything. Once my nutrition told me this I ate fine. So, what does a person look for? 2. Does anyone else find they can't eat well in the morning...or throw up... but, at night they can eat a plate of food fine? Is there anything I can do to help this? I tried to eat broccoli Soup yesterday and since it was the first thing I ate...I could only take 3 bites. Later that day... around 4pm... I ate the rest of the soup no problem. I do this every day. I want to eat the big meal in the morn and…

Hey guys...i was banded on July 31st and in the beginning everything was great:smile: Now im in the mushy stage and I am having issues. First i throw up/pb'd for eating to heavily during mushy stage ( I scarfed down grits and eggs and cheese) and I learned my lesson. But I found the dish thats mushy and delicous....egg salad:drool: But now i am like eating it every other day and I use 3 Large to XL eggs and just now i had a small cup of applesauce right after. Am I pigging out? I dont have any fill yet so I know i should concentrate on healing but i dont want to damage the band What do yall think :mad2:

SO happy, I had the surgery and all is wonderful...but....I had VSG. I am so happy I don't have to deal with the fills, erosion, etc. Went to Mexico and it was great! 20 days and 18 lbs. down...life is good.

I'm feeling really depressed. I got my band on May 12th. It hasnt been as easy as everyone told me. My recovery was decent but my fills.... an absolute nightmare. The first fill took NINE stabs with that huge needle. Let me say that I did agree to the 9 stabs because I am pretty tough and I didnt want to come back another day to go under the ultrasound. I have a 1 and 2 yr old and no babysitter. My hubby stayed home that day to keep them. This past Thursday I went for my 2nd fill. I had lost 4 lbs in 4 weeks but he still yelled at me. Apparently I cant do anything right. He got a little saline happy and gave me 5ccs in my 9 cc band. It once again took …

Hi. I'm really worried. I was banded July 8th. In the three weeks after first starting on solid foods before getting filled, I put on 3 k's. I'm worried that I ate too much, and have since stretched the stomach above the band. But whilst I was eating solids, I never felt any discomfort. Is it possible to have stretched there already?! Also, I got my first fill on Wednesday, and I still feel hungry and eat a lot. I've got the largest band in me, and so far 6 mills is in it! I'm just scared that after all that has happened, that I have ruined it already!

I just wanted to let you know that I tried the Unjury chocolate protein shake this morning (powder), and it was AWESOME! It was much better than many of the others I tried & it went down without that chalky taste.

I had the surgery on the fourth of June. Ever since then, I have had pain in my left shoulder traveling up into my neck. It doesn't occur everyday, but it did not occur before surgery. Also, I have talked to several people about their fills. My surgeon has mine scheduled 6 weeks apart. I felt hungry 2 weeks after my first fill. The weight is not really coming off. I guess I am just confused. I am trying to eat my protein first and not drink with my meals. I don't know what else to do, because I am hungry. My blood sugar drops during the day, too. Any suggestions? Kristi:confused:

Warning – This post may gross some people out. I am only 1 week post op and I have been having 2-4 watery and gassy poops a day. Is this normal? When does it go away? I have been off of work this week so I have had the luxury of my own bathroom. I dread returning to work with this problem.

Well I am having so much trouble. I have been approved by my insurance to have the surgery. I went to the meetings and both the pshyc and nutritional meetings. I need to lose 20 lbs to have the surgery. I am having such a problem with the weight loss.I have tried everything I can think of. The nutritionist gave me a diet to follow and it really hasnt worked. I continued going to weight watchers also. Have now had to quit because of finances. Then in the process I have developed so many different problems. First I had a traveling rash which my family dr and dematologist have not found out what is causing this. First they thought it was scabies and then foloculitis. No…

okay guys and gals...i hate to be the newbie asking so many questions but i'm not sure who else to ask about these things. I'm on the liquid stage of my post op (5 wks, but does include watered down oatmeal, beans..etc). Anyway, I was banded on the 8th of Aug. and just started feeling better yesterday. Since then I've been eating my 3 two ounce meals a day and sipping Water, but I've been starving! Tonight I just drank a bottle of water in less than an hour...will that much water that fast "stretch" or hurt things? Again, sorry for the silly questions, but thanks for the help!

i just got banded on mon and now i have the hiccups. Not small ones either. i am a bit worried,:sad: does that cause band slipage?????:thumbup: it doesn't hurt but it does cause a very odd sensation.

Hi everyone! I hope you experienced bandsters can offer some advice and thoughts on this. I've been holding off on buying new clothes for work believing and hoping that I'd begin to lose weight and 1) I could wear some of my old clothes and 2) I could not throw my money away on clothes that I wouldn't be able to wear in a short time frame (because they would be too big). Anyway I finally gave in today because frankly I feel like I look like I slob at the office all the time and constantly wearing the same things over and over again. I've had one fill so far and haven't lost a single pound (I keep recycling the same 3lbs though). I'm due to go in for another next week b…

I went and had my first fill yesterday from Dr. Woodman in Memphis. When I asked him how much he put in, he just smiled and said that he put in enough. I asked his nurse and she told me that he does not tell any of this patients how much fill he puts in. Has anyone else had this experience?

so my surgery date was mon the 11th and today is the fist day i don't feel bad! thank god!!! almost no pain... just some soreness and i can deal with that. Still keeping down all my liquids with not one instance of vomitting ! :biggrin: and for anyone who didn't read my post right after surgery here it is. just so everyone can know what they might feel like after surgery: well i had my surgery on aug 11th and here i am. i did it! but let me tell you my experience because all i read about in this site was how painless and drug free this postop time is. now don't get me wrong i don't regret my getting the band at all. :wub:for some reason i just remember reading about…

Hello all! I am Jazz. I have been viewing this website for 3 years now and am finally a few days away from my surgery date. It has been a long road for me to get here. I am very excited!! Last year i saw the most awesome list of things you have to have when you get home from your surgery. I am having trouble finding that list. Can anyone help direct me to a great list of things you just have to have?? Thank you sooo much and I am looking forward to a great future!! Jazz harrisonville mo. Dr Hoen in shawnee mission ks.

Please can you tell me whether it is okay to drink "slimfast" meal replacement drinks when you are on the fluid only regimen. I am on this regimen for two weeks, and obviously i need more than water. I would appreciate your help

I'm one month out and have lost 12 lbs but am seeing where people are losing large amounts of weight after being banded one or two months. It makes me wonder that if you are one of those people, how many calories and protein are you getting in? Are you getting enough nutrition?