POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I am trying to set a date for my surgery. i am wondering if the day after surgery i will be able to attend a class for about an 1 and 1/2 hours? i won't be driving myself and all i need to do is sit there. If not by the next day will i be able to handle it by the second day? :confused: Any advice would be greatly appreciated! thanks so much!

Yes, I know I'm going to ask my doc about this. I have my six-week checkup and 1st fill scheduled for next week. But, just curious if anyone else has gone through this... Anytime I eat or drink anything, I get a pain in my chest. Right between my boobs. Sometimes it radiates to my back between my shoulder blades. It's a dull ache with sharper stabbing pains. It's not debilitating or anything, but definitely uncomfortable. Has anyone else experienced this? What was the cause of your chest pain? Thanks!

Hello Fellow lap banders :Banane03: So, I was banded June 16th, I was just commenting yesterday about my band how I can eat constantly, always hungry, no restriction etc. ...Well, I let myself get extremely hungry yesterday (stupid I know) and I had the worst case of a growling stomach, ever since then I have had a lot of restriction which I have not had since the band. And today for the first time I had "sliming" ick! Has anyone else had something similiar? sudden restriction before your first fill? (Having my fill Tuesday July 22nd)

I haven't been very active on the forums due to my very busy job schedule, but now I have left my job to stay at home so my free time will be more. I would love to become much more active on the boards and I seriously need some input on these issues that I am having I am almost 7 months post op. (surgery was Dec 21) I still have a ton of trouble eating food...almost all foods. I only have 3cc fill n a 10cc band. Because of lack of being abll to eat, the surgeon has been hesitant to do fills. Things have been so tough that I actually had a swallow test to see if there was blockage or slippage and there is not. I cannot eat bread, ground meat or a lot of other food. I…

Ok so I am a little anxious. I had surgery 2-25-08 and my surgeon has tried to do 3 fills. They have all been successful, except for when he tries to withdraw fluid, he cannot. So he is going back in next Friday, because he believes my tubing is kinked and my port may be dislodged. Has anyone ever had this happen and what do I expect? Banded 2-25-08 by Dr Jeff

I take Zoloft on a daily basis and since I have had surgery I have been crushing it up and drinking it mixed in something. Some how I think it is not working. I am really feeling depressed and it has nothing to do with food. I'm not depressed because I can't eat regular food, I am just feeling weepy and have been crying off and on all day long. HELP!!! Is this normal? Has anyone else noticed a change in their mood since surgery? I just don't feel like me. :cool2:

Ive been going to this place since I started this journey, its a place called Smoothie King. They have a shake, called the Gladiator. It has 180 calories, 0 fat 0 sugar, and 0 carbs etc. 45 grams of protein. Blended with any 2 fruits of your choice. Anyone ever been here?

Hi all... I'd appreciate some help with my wound aftercare as I have read and been told so many different things.. I'm hoping people talking from experience is better advice! My incisions were secured by skin glue & sterie strips then breathable dressings put over them.... if you had the same fixin method how soon after the op did you remove your dressings & when did you have your first shower? I am dying to get them off because they pull when you move and probably hurt more than the wounds themselves!! BUT I dont want to get them exposed too soon.... Also would love a shower but am scared to get them wet!! Final question how long did you wear your thombosis…

:confused2:I have not had my first fill yet, I am only 2 weeks out from surgery. The good thing is I still have restriction and can only eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food at a time. However, I was wondering, why most people say it is better to have a fill with fluoro? What is the reason? I am seriously uneducated with regards to the fills and was wondering because I see it on the forum a lot. Any feedback is appreciated! :cool2:

hello, i never got a list of over the counter meds i am not supposed to take once banded. others have told me im not supposed to take certain things now, any help,

Ok I am not going to spill my guts because at this moment I am not up to listening to anyone jump on my case of I am wrong this and that...so what I am going to tell and ask are 2 different things ok. I am only going to tell you is I am weak I am 4 weeks out I am hungry and I have eaten things I should not have! Which brings me to the question of when you get fills do they curb that appetite too, or do you have to have just as much will power as I SO NEED right now????? I am not saying completely shut my hunger down but the fills do help in that department right please tell me it does becasue I sure do not want to be PB'ing all the time!!!! AND I need help in the hun…

I had surgery over a year ago, but recently I have started gurgling really bad. It is not a stomach growl, but gurgling from my throat. Does this happen with anyone else? Do you know what causes this? It is embarrassing because I have no control and others can hear it. HELP! Please let me know if you have ideas or comments.

I had surgery on July 2 and I am kind of confused about band sizes. How do the doctors decide what size band to use? My doctor gave me a little card that says I have a 4cc band. I am assuming that means I can only be filled to 4cc, correct? Does that mean I am more restricted right now (without a fill), then someone who was banded with a 10cc band? I am very rarely hungry, and when I do eat, I get full really fast.:frown: I don't know if I feel restriction, or am I just afraid to eat too much. Since I have a small band, I'm afraid something might get stuck. :confused2: Please help me to understand this band size. Thank you!

HELLO! I am just about 1 week out from my Lap-Band surgery...and I have already lost like 15 pounds.....its scaring me a little...anyone else have that experience? I mean, I am on a liquid diet this week I know, but thats a LOT! Not that I am complaining...dont get me wrong...its just scary...maybe its the 19 year old metabolism finally deciding for the first time in my life that it will work? WHO KNOWS!!! ALSO...I AM STARVING!!!!!!!!!!!! My stomach is in pain from grumbling all the time...i am on liquids so they arent doin much for me! Who knows..ha ha. Another thing...anyone have WEIRD BURPING? Maybe its my new way of burping with the band...but it hurts! I …

Is anyone on a special diet? Like South Beach, etc? I want to hear from those of you on special diets, and if youre not on a special diet, I want to hear about what you eat. Start with morning, lunch and dinner, EVEN snacks...

I have 6! I thought I would have 4 at the most, so I was a bit surprised. The one at the bottom is the biggest. The bad thing is that they ALL ITCH so badly right now!!! I can't wait for them to heal!

It's officially been three weeks since banding. I have had no fills yet. I have felt some restriction, as it's the smallest band they make that I have inside me. Fine. I've been eating mushies, and had no problem. Yesterday I had scrambled eggs, with half a slice of cheese. Yumm! Today, I tried to eat the same thing, and two bites in, it absolutely stopped, and I ended up sliming for about half an hour. Later, hours later, I tried some cheese ravioli. Again, two bites in, (and being very very very careful about chewing thoroughly, and waiting a while between bites.) it all stopped again. And again, more sliming...(in fact I took a break in the middle of typing …

I am 19 days post-op - am doing pretty well - I don't think I have lost much weight but the swelling seems to be finally going down except around my port area - my question is sometimes after I eat I feel a sort of electrical prickly sensation like pins and needles but not painful in my arms and legs. Has anyone else experienced this? I live in Dallas and it is very hot right now so may be heat related but wanted to see if it is normal - I just left my doctor's MA a voicemail about it and my first fill/adjustment appt isn't until August 11th. I also woke this morning with a severe crick in my neck where I can't turn to the left but I think I am trying to blame everythi…

I'm a newbie, just got banded on monday. I'm just wondering if any of you experienced basically no hunger at all after being banded...I know it's only been a few days, but I honestly have no desire for anything. I've only managed to get down a single shake a day since the surgery and I know I should be getting more than that. Any tips on how to force myself to drink more shakes?

I had lap band at the end of November 2007. I did really well at first and I've lost 40 pounds. And I've gained and lost the same five pounds now since March. I can't get past this plateau. What am I missing? Suggestions?:confused2:

I get my first fill first week of August - my doctor said I would lie down on a table and he would put an x-ray machine over me to see if the band is in the right place - did I get that right? Is that what everyone else has gone through? I hope it is right because I am so worried that I have somehow caused my band to slip because I feel almost no restriction - I do get full fast but can eat pretty much anything I want - I don't however eat bad things just am able to eat pasta, egg dishes and even steak in small amounts. Thanks for any info.

i had my fourth fill on june 24 and i can definetely feel a difference. i have gotten things to come back up if i eat to fast. some things i have a hard time with like chicken and some bread. i can also feel food going through if i dont chew it well. i am not loosing weight though. i was told that if i eat 1500 calories a day i will lose ( even without exercise) well ive been using my fitnesspal.com and keeping track of everything i put into my mouth. 5 out of 7 days i eat 1500 or less and the other two days on average i may eat around 1750-1900. i did notice that somedays half of my calories are coming from snacks. maybe i should limit how many calories i eat for snacks.…

Hi All, I am looking for any suggestions that you may have to my nose issue. 11 weeks ago I had jaw surgery and 4 weeks ago Lap Band surgery. Lapband was easy because I could not eat from my jaw surgery. I have yet to really eat solid foods. My Issue- meat stinks to me now. I usually have yogurt, yogurt smoothies, Atkins drinks, 42 gram protien shots, Water, Vitamin water, and all of my Vitamins. If I smell meat at all, I nearly gag. Today at work in an attempt to begin eating more solid food (as I have no energy) I ordered a scrambled egg with cheese and bacon on the side- It stunk when my co-worker brought it to me. Later I ordered a chicken salad and po…

Anyone out there have a colonoscopy done after being banded. I am 6 months post-op and am scheduled for my first colonoscopy on the 17th. My GI doc knows about the lap-band so I'm not really worried about the actual procedure. Just worried about the prep I have to start tomorrow. Its a lot to drink and I am worried about getting nauseated. Anyone out there have any experience with this?

Hello! I was wondering how often you ladies needed to go shopping for new clothing in your first six months post-op? I lost a cup size in just the two weeks I was on a liquid pre-op diet! I cannot even begin to imagine how much it is going to cost to keep up with clothes now!!! Does anyone have any strategies?! :biggrin:

I got my first fill today, 4 cc's in 10 cc band. I was extremely nervous, but my nurse shot the needle home and had me filled within a minute or two, and without numbing meds. It was practically painless. Then I had to drink four ounces of water before I left, and as soon as my first sip went down I got that tightness in my chest, like something is stuck..... but water can't get stuck. It eased after a while and I kept taking sips and letting them go down....it took me a good ten minutes to drink that little bit of water. When I got home it was lunch time, and I made some soup since I have to be on liquids for twenty-four hours. I took a little sip, waited for the f…

If you have already been banded in July, have you lost any weight? It seems to come off slower now than it did before surgery!!! I have lost 2 lbs since surgery last Wednesday and really thought it would have been more with the amount I am actually able to drink!! I am probably being over zealous...but who knows!!

I have had problems with my lap band for over a year now....but lately it has gotten much worse. I will skip the long story and get to the way I am right now....I cannot eat. I cannot drink. I puke ALL the time, even though I have not been ingesting anything. I was up all night last night with severe heartburn and vomiting this dark brown/black stuff. Yesterday I called a couple of places (was banded in Mexico, years ago) that are centers for bariatric care...one said they would call me back and the other said to go straight to the ER. During my 7 hour stay at the ER, I got bored and called the place again that was supposed to call me back but never bothered...th…

I am asking for my daughter. She is 22 and has severe meniers (pronounced..men ears). She has bouts of throwing up and sezures a couple of times a month. I know throwing up isn't good, but she wanted me to ask.

Okay, here's the deal: I'm one week post op and thought I was well on the way to recovery. I was getting ready for my first day back at work this morning when I bent down from a seated position to pick up something from the floor. This is when I felt a VERY distinct POP in the port area...such a pop that it almost seemed like I HEARD it although I don't know how that could be so. There was ZERO question that something had just happened. There was little pain associated with it at the time...but over the course of the day it has become VERY painful. I called the dr's office and spoke to a nurse. She seemed very casual about it and said it sounded like I popped a stit…

:huh2: I started mushy food today and I'm feeling way more restriction than I did on the liquid diet. I kind of figured this might happen, but in a way it's a completely different feeling! I just made a scrambled egg and I couldn't even eat half of it! That kind of makes me excited... I'm hoping this restriction might last... but I was also wondering how long your stomach really stays swollen from surgery? At what point do you know if you need a fill? I hope I keep my restriction and don't need any fills.... I'm self-pay, so every little bit helps!:embaressed_smile:

I'm 7 days out from my surgery date, and I'm still having severe pain in my lower left side of my belly. Directly next to the belly button. I can't move, sitting standing, every little movement hurts. I've been having severe muscle cramps on that side as well. I've spoken to my MD and he said that they could have hit a nerve when they sewed the port into my stomach wall. I can only walk to the bathroom slowly squat down and walk back to my chair. I don't have a feaver, my surgicle sites are healing great and don't really hurt, and I can drink fluids just fine, and I've hand pleanty of BM's. I've been averaging 77 oz of fluids a day, and I've been getting 55 grams of Pr…

Just wondering how you deal with the need to pass gas when you are in a vanpool or carpool. I ride 122 mile roundtrip each day:scared2: Do you walk alot at lunch? Do you take GasX before you get on the van? How do you deal with it? Thanks for the info.

I amd 2 and 1/2 weeks post op. Only lost 7 pounds and know it is because I am scarfing down full liquids with lots of carbs and the occasional mashed potatoes and refried Beans with cheese. I can either "go with it" like my doctor said and wait until my first fill - or I can be understandably panicked since I paid 16 thou for this thing and make the effort to lose despite the high carb diet. Can I do lo carb and high Protein without damaing my band? I was thinking soft eggs, cheese, cottage cheese - but that will get old quick - any other suggestions? I am ready to make this damn thing work!

these? Learn How FullBar Helps You Lose Weight or know of anything similar?

Starbucks has a new Vivanno drink - two flavors - they have 16 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 212-270 calories - I got one this morning - they put a whole banana in it some cocoa, protein powder and blend it - it is pretty good and at 212 calories not too bad - they also sell a drink called Naked which is a protein drink that has around 25 grams in it that tastes pretty good - I do not like the OdWalla soy protein drinks at all.

I did a search but was unable to find an answer, my apologies if this has already been asked. I plan to ask my surgeon at my pre-op appt, but were any of you told to stay out of swimming pools after the surgery and for how long? The pool is so relaxing to me, that I hope I don't have to stay out too long if any. Thanks!

hi everyone im new to your forum Im from England i was banded marcch 2007 18 months agoI have a 14ml band with a10.5ml fill I am 5ft tall and weigh 11st 8lb in march 2007 i was 12st 12lb iv had several fills the lowest weight i got down to was 11st. then i went on holiday and gained 10lb and im really struggleing to get any more weigt off iv never eaten big meals im more a constant sweet tooth nibbler .Ihave an active job love going for walks nearly every day and use my local gym/ex classes several times a week but i dont feel any better for having the band im nearly always hungry I have to really stop myself eating and im not eating that much anyway I had a fill 4 weeks …

:cursing: I was banded June 24th..I know this is a time to heal..but..I lost 15lbs..Im staying busy and active ...and I havent lost 1 lb in about a week now..grrr...anyone else having this problem..I know I should be glad I lost the 15lbs and I know I should be just thinking about healing..but I cant help it I feel so discouraged

I went for my first fill today and found that my port had flipped 180 degrees! incredible. The doctor tried three times to access it to no avail. I had surgery this evening to correct it. I had local anesthesia so was awake through the whole procedure. It was uncomfortable at times but they kept drugging me which was great. My port has been placed an inch and a half lower now. It was under my bra strap area. I think this is why it flipped. Anyway, I am home again now with 3cc in my band. I ate an inch of poached salmon, an inch of vegetable tortilla and half a cup of Soup. I felt FULL!!! and completely satisfied!!.. now THIS is what the BAND IS ALL ABOUT!! HURRAH!. …

I got my first fill today. It was fine. I got about 1/2 way home and started hurting so bad in my back and felt like I was going to pb. My jaws are even hurting. Don't know if it was the fill or from me mowing the yard before the fill today.

What does your port feel like to touch, size shape etc. Does it move from place to place eg after eating or stays in the same spo? Where has your port been located?

Hi all - I'm getting my band on August 20th and am off work until the 25th. I have a desk job. Do you think that'll be long enough or should I be taking that Monday (the 25th) off as well? Thanks! SO EXCITED!!! :thumbs_down:

I think this is SO poetic justice! LOL. My husband is having to do everything for our daughter, who is 2, while I heal! Dirty Diapers, Nap Times, Food, Sippy Cups, Playing, Whining, Fussing! All of it! I get to sit in my recliner, and watch TV, sipping my liquids, and blowing kisses at my baby girl. I love my husband, and he's a wonderful provider! But, now he knows what I go through all day! Though he would NEVER admit it, I think he's finally seeing why I'm tired at the end of the day! Not to mention, I can't lift ANYTHING, so in a couple of weeks, when it's time to start setting up my classroom (I am a teacher), he'll have to do all the furniture moving and heavy lifti…

Hello again! I have a question, and I know it has already been answered! I am 5 days post op, and I have been trying different shakes. Today's drink was Milk chocolate Ensure...and it wasn't too bad. It had 9g of Protein in it. How many should I be drinking each day? I can't find how many grams I am to have each day! Thank you for your help. I have been doing really well, but have only lost 2 pounds. From what I know, this is normal! I just want it to magically disappear!! : ) Does anyone know about hard boiled eggs? I love them, and I am not sure when I can eat them! I can mush them down!!! Thank you all for your help! Jodrae Banded July 9th, 2008

Does anyone here attend Weight Watchers? I am just wondering how you can eat as much food as you have to eat on WW. I read somewhere that someone belonged to the group, but I am new here and just learning my way around. Thanks, jazie

Hi all, I am banded :biggrin2: I was banded yesterday morning and was discharged from the hospital this morning. If it wasn't for that sharp pain I have in my left shoulder, I would have said I feel GREAT! But that shoulder pain is really killing me. Especially when I breath. I was told this is the gas. Apparently it goes all the way up to the shoulder :blushing: Did any of you discover a way to relieve that pain? Even Tylenol is not working :hurray: The nurse at the hospital said I just have to give it time but it is really painful. I mean REALLY painful :party:

I just took off my bandages to changes them and I have some itchy red bumps. The incisions themselves do not look bad, but I'm just wondering what this is?

:scared2: I have read some posts from people complaining of hair loss after lapband surgery, why is hair loss possible? i thought that only happened with the RNY, any info would be appreciated.

What I mean is I have no time, what so ever to go walking, or exercising. I just took on a part time, along with my full time job. And I have a 2 year old. What am I to do? I cant balance out my schedule, and Im too tired to do anything else. So, any suggestions. I have to be up at 6am, I go to bed at 9 or 10pm, my part time, is on friday and sat 11pm to 7am. but this week and next Im working evenings. Uggh. I havent been to the gym in 3 weeks, I feel horrible. I have no one to watch my little girl so it makes it that much harder. Any suggestions? My doc says I HAVE to walk 40 mins a day, every day. How? I see him next wednesday for my first fill. Hes going to know, I hav…