POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I didnt think it was really gonna happen today...it was a comedy of errors right from the start! First, they call to tell me not to be here at 5am, but 7:15 am instead, AFTER I had already left the house & was on my way! Then, when I got here, they couldnt find the Drs orders. Then the computer system crashed in the preop registration room. Then best of all, I hear "Code Red, East tower, Penthouse". Great the flippin hospital is burning down now!!!!!!!!! So my surgery was delayed almost an hour due to a fire somewhere. But, after everything was calm again, surgery went perfectly. I got in around 11:20, & was out by 11:50. Liver was perfect. My band is an Inamed …

:rolleyes2: Hi, I am 3 days post op and I am still dealing with gas after I drink liquids of any kind. I am not throwing up and it is staying down, but I think I am not taking in enough liquids. My throat is sore, they did put a pipe down during surgery, anyone else experience this? The back of both calves seem like they are trying to cramp up. I can get a little bit more liquid in today without extreme gas pains. Any support would help. I hope this is going away soon.

Hi, everyone, I am 4 days post op and I have posted about being gaseous and both of my calf muscles are beginning to knot up. I am on liquids, so I called the office today because I can bearly get enough liquids down before the gas pains hit hard. I believe I am knotting up because I am not taking in enough liquids; I try but the band will only let me drink so much and then I am full and in pain from gas. The nurse changed me to full liquids and I feel so much better, the gas is almost gone. She told me to buy orange juice with no pulp too for potassium. I am so glad she lifted this gas and muscle ordeal off of me. Anybody else had to move up to the next stage before time…

Hi everyone! I had my surgery today. I was in more pain than I expected, but I am doing better now. My surgery was at 11AM and I was home by 4PM! I managed to take some Phenergan (chopped up...LOL) and Lortab elixir. I took a nap, and woke up hungry! I have taken a little broth and water, and I am going to take some more. My hubby is making me jello and will get me some popsicles. I am still groggy from the meds, so I am going to go now. I am going to try a little more broth and settle in to watch American Idol. =D

So I'm sure millions of people have already asked this but I thought I'd ask anyway. I take 13 tablets a day. The biggest pill of which is a calcium tablet about the same size as a water bottle lid. If your nil by mouth before surgery how are you supposed to take these? The only ones I'm actually worried about not taking are the ones that I am supposed to be on for 5 years, they're tablets that prevent scarring on my lungs and also try to reverse it, I have to take 4 of them twice a day and it also says on the packet that if the powder comes into contact with any skin that you should wash that particular part immediately with soap and do it again a couple of times. So apa…

My mother was banded last July...she lost about 60lbs and her port is right under skin like you can feel it and see it. Well today the port broke out o her tummy...she has little tube of the band sticking out of her.....the doctor said its normal for people who lost too much weight..so now they have to do in and put the port in deeper in her tummy...anyone else have heard of this happening?? cuz i've lost weight and i can already feel mine :sneaky:

Nobody watch South Park or anything else really funny if you were recently banded.....I was banded last Friday....It hurts so much to laugh right now, it made me cry it hurt so bad. Just wanted to let ya know.

Couldn't really find a thread on this. I am 2 1/2 weeks out, and a few of my incisions are SUPER itchy. And it's like a deep itch..if that makes sense. :confused2: My guess would be it's just in the healing process, but I just wanted opinions from everyone else who has been banded. Thanks my band peeps!

Is this the BH that everyone is always talking about? :rolleyes2: I was banded 3/25. In the past few weeks I have learned what hunger and full both feel like.... but now although down 20+ pounds, suddenly I can eat anything in any amount!!! It takes way more than 1 cup to make me full. I am sticking to the foods list from my Dr. but it's just not doing it anymore. My first fill is 5/7 so still a ways off...Help? What can I do? I don't want to start gaining everything back....

My incisions are still a little tender and they all feel like they have little knots around them anyone else experience this?

I'm 8 days post op. lost 7 lbs since then on liquid and limited soft diet. I really want to eat somethin warm besides soup. when does that happen?

I went for my first check up today - 10 days post banding. All is healing well. I asked my doctor about a 2nd bump I can feel under my skin about 2 inches above my port. She said its the tube - and that its normally deeper so you can't feel it. Can anyone else feel their tube that leads to the port? Doctor didn't indicate it was anything to be worried about - I'm just wondering if its common? Thanks Luscious

I am officially a bandster! I had my surgery yesterday and come home from the hospital today. I am feeling a little sore at the moment. I didn’t take any pain meds today for fear of them making me nauseous! I don’t have anti-nausea meds at home like they do in the hospital. It’s fine though. I think I am mange without the pain meds. I do, however, have to give myself a shot today. Haven’t done that yet so it could be interesting! It’s still hard to take deep breaths and I am using my little tool they gave me for that. (Can’t for the life of me remember it’s name now) I seem to be getting better at it so I guess that means things are looking up! I don’t have any gas pains …

I had surgery back in Feb, and I still have pain near my port site. I just wanted to know if anyone else is experiencing the same thing. My Dr. says it's normal, but it just feels pretty severe, like a pulled muscle. I sit all day at my job and thats when it hurts the worst, I feel best if I'm standing or lying down. Any feedback about this would be great, like is the pain going to eventually go away, or is this something I'll have to deal with forever?

How big is the entire port end of the lap-band?

Hi!!! I am so happy... I can eat solids again!!! I am really nervous too but I just keep thinking that I am getting closer to my first fill and then I can really start focusing on my weight loss.. My fill will be on 4/29 and I am thrilled... I was also worried that I had gained some pounds on the mushies (I avoided the scale for 2 weeks) but I actually lost 3 lbs... good for me...haha So I am just writing to share with you my happiness... and my 22lbs total weight loss!

With only two steristrips remaining, I've notice that while outwardly my incisions look fairly smooth, when I feel them it's a different story. The tiniest ones feel as if there is a tiny bead beneath them, while the larger ones feel bumpy/ropey beneath the skin. My port incision and sternum incision are still covered with steristrips, but I can feel some bumpiness through them. Is this a normal part of healing? I tend to heal very quickly and evenly, but then again, these are not exactly paper-cuts, lol!

I was banded just over 3 weeks ago and I am experiencing this strange back pain about 5 or so hours after I've fallen asleep. The pain isn't sharp and it doesn't feel like I'm pulling anything, it's just general pain between my shoulder blades and down to the center of my back. I always wake up at the same time every night with the same pain and eventually I fall back asleep without any pain (so I've ruled out the bed). I'm still wondering if it's the CO2 that's doing this. Or if it has something to do with my digestive tract? Has anyone else felt this?

How long did you wait to drive after your lapband surgery. My Dr. says 2 weeks. Is that too long?

Ok, I finally did it. On March 27th I was banded! After years of losing gaining losing gaining i finally did it. I was starting to feel like a human accordion! First off that 10day diet prior to surgery was so restrictive! I lost 10lbs from that alone! My doctor, Dr. Vittelo from Univeristy of Chicago said it was so he can visualize the liver better...not to torture me. I believe him he is a great guy. My experieince at the hospital was awesome. Just 2.5 weeks after the surgery I feel great. No pain at all. I started off with liquids, puree etc., I know I should be careful but I ate a sandwich last night and had no pain, discomfort nothing. the only problem I have is…

Would like to contact Dr Focquet need to vist him had lap band 4 years ago been very happy with it but i am having a few problems now with heart burn (bad )also not eating very much in the last week cannot get it down , feeling full nearly all the time hope you can help thanks

I am not scheduled yet for surgery, but am wondering what others, who have been banded, do when they face the hard times? When you want to eat, what are some of the things one can do to take your mind off of wanting to eat?

i had my last fill on feb 26 and havent lost any weight since then. i do lose 5 pounds then gain it back. when i went in today she said well i see you havent had any progress. as she unfilled my band to see if there was any leakage she added .5cc which now i have 1.5 in a 4cc band. she said i dont know why you dont have much restriction because as im putting the saline in it wants to push it right back out because its tight. you should have some restriction your tight. somedays i am tight but others i can eat a whole sandwich. i dont understand how she thinks that im tight when i only have 1.5 cc in a 4cc band. what if this doesnt work what will she think? i guess she is…

This past weekend I went to "the happiest place on earth", Disney World, and found it to be not that happy. In an effort to spoil myslef, I made an appointment for a regular 50 minute massage. Upon finding out that I had surgery two months ago, they said I had a "contra-indication" and would not give me the massage. Has anyone experienced this? It is not like they massage your stomach!! They said they required a note from my doctor if I have had any surgery in the last year. I didn't even bother trying to get since my doctor was 250 miles away and probably much too busy to deal with this nonsense. Should I have not told them or is it really dangerous??:confused:

I went to my doctor on friday, she said my port area is not infected. I went to nw fills in arlington wash, on Monday and they said "oh my, you have an infection" they perscribed medicine and I got my fill. Thank god my port was below the cut. I can't believe my canadian gp doctor could not tell. I have 3 holes, and puss after 6 1/2 weeks post op. the good news is I am down 26" total overall in measurements, and down 31 pounds since surgery. I am still walking 16 kms weekly and work out with a trainer 2x week. its so hard, I'm wearing a sweat band, like the 80's. anyway I am so glad I did this, and am working hard to get around the head hunger, so far so good. …

Hi, I was banded yesterday, having a lot of gas pain, but other than that, I am fine. I am on a clear liquids for a week, then next week I am on regular liquids. Then week three soft mushy foods and week four 3 meals a day and a two snacks, of course staying away from certain foods. I am not going through this pain for nothing,I will eat right. I was on a liquid diet prior to surgery so I am used to it now, just worried about not getting enough vitamins and a little apprehensive about taking pills because of the gas pains. Any suggestions?

today's my b-day, I just got banded 4/2. weird not to "celebrate" with cake, or dinner, or whatever. luckily my wife understands. i was really trying to get the surgery done before my b-day, so it would represent a new start and me getting on the right track. any b-day advice from the group? best regards from sunny FLA.. Jay B:thumbup:

:confused2: I am new to the forum, just reading though some posts and keep seeing the word "PBing". Can anyone please tell me what that means. I had my band surgery 5 months ago and have not heard of that unless it stands for something else.

I have been posting like a crazy person, but the solitude is breaking me down! I sit at home every day listening to digestive sounds and taking note of every little pain and cramp. This is my third day on full liquids and I don't feel like I did well on my first two. Day 1, I kept forgetting to not drink after I ate. Day 2, I had that mastered but ate too much and drank to much. I felt full and bloated and weird. I was horrified with myself and was perfect today. I am scared of damaging my band/stomach or causing a slip and pray that I didn't harm it. How much can it take? Is a band beginner eating 2 ounces too much or taking to much fluid at once going to wreck it? Is th…

when i type in lapbandtalk.com it shows me the site but it wont stay on that site. i have to go into a different way but am still able to use the site. is anyone having problems with theirs? andrea

Hiya all, this is my first post on this board but I've lurked here for some months now soaking up all the fantastic information here! I'm hoping to get some responses from those a little further into their banding experience than I am. I was banded on the 7th of April, 8 days ago, and I've been on liquids (and am supposed to be for 2 weeks). My issue is that I seem to have a lot of air building up in my stomach below the band during the day that causes me a huge amount of discomfort. The gas pain in my shoulder is quite bad as it is, but the air in my tummy has caused me to rethink my decision to have this band on more than one occasion. It's like a hunger growl, …

Ok, Saturday was my 1st day being able to have meat. So for dinner, I had 3 meatballs. Keep in mind they are tiny, and i broke them up and chewed really well. After, i was kind of nautious, but the feeling passed. However I also had a migraine, and an hr later decided to take some tylenol with codeine liquid which burned the whole way down. Then 4 hrs later, I had a pain in my sternum that radiated to my back, and i didnt know if i was gonna throw up or poop ( TMI ) ..i tried water, but that seemed to make it worse.....I was totall paranoid that I should go to emergency, but after about an hr it went away. Is this normal, and does this mean I shouldn't try meat for a whil…

so, I was wondering if anyone had a sure fire way to rid yourself of the CO2 gas pains. I'm 3 days post op, and this is the only thing that is still hurting a lot. I'm up and moving around a lot. I've tried gas-x strips and they didn't do anything. Last night I slept on a heating pad for half the night, and that didn't help either. I'm going to make myself some hot tea, because I heard that hot drinks help. Does anyone have any other advice? The gas is bad enough that I'm still taking my pain meds every couple of hours, but they make me go to sleep. I feel fine otherwise and don't really want to sleep all day, particularly since that keeps me from getting up and w…

I think my food is stuck...and the worst thing is: Im on all liquids!! What to do??

Hi all. I am over 2 months post op and before the surgery I quit taking my Effexor XR anxiety/depression medication b/c I knew I wouldn't be able to take it after surgery since it is extended release. I have put off going to my family doctor b/c I hate wasting a half a day in the dr's office, but I can put it off no longer. I can tell that I need my medication! Any suggestions from people who were previously taking Effexor? I liked it, no real side effects so I want something similar to that. Any suggestions before I go to the doctor, from pre surgery effexor users?

how do you deal with social situations in the month after banding? I have only told my immediate family and 1 or 2 close friends, and I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the typical backyard BBQ or pizza with the football team families in that critical month of mushies and liquid only.

banded 02/08/2007--85 pounds lost. SOOOO happy about that unitl ( you knew that was coming !) about 6 weeks ago. was eating ok, being cautious, but eating my fair share came to a screeching halt. Canot stop getting sick, keep going back to clear liqiuds, had all the fliud removed from the band, confirmed no slippage or corrosion. I am thinking about having surgery reversed, but REALLY don't want to do that. I am at the end of my rope! does anyone have any thoughts or advice? Amy

Hello Everyone, I was banded on Feb. 1st and will be going in for my first fill on Thursday the 28th. I haven't had a single problem with any food since being banded. Actually, I don't really feel any different than I did before being banded. No restriction at all! In all of the info I received from the doc, it says that you aren't supposed to eat more than a 1/2 a cup of food. I can eat more than that and it doesn't seem to bother me. I do get full quicker but I'm not gorging myself by any means. But, I am worried that the lack of restriction will make the sudden restriction after my fill unbearable. Any answers or ideas?

I fought so hard to have this surgery, I was all set - no questions about it no cold feet. I had the surgery last Thursday, and I have struggled so much. Today, I think I hit rock bottom. I don't want to eat anything, I have no appetite, but I'm eating every hour just like the doctor wanted. If I smell whey Protein - I think I'm going to puke. And my doctor wants 40-60 grams of protein supplement even when I'm on regular menu. I'm not sure I can do that. I'm panicking - and part of me wants this foreign object out of me. I don't know what to do - I'm home by myself and I am just crying. I'm really in need of some support out there. ~Marlene Banded 4/10/08

:biggrin: Had my surgery on Thursday, April 10th. Feeling great! No pain meds. Doing my 1 oz of liquids every 15 minutes. I was just wondering if anyone else has been getting low blood sugar? My husband has a tester so I test once in awhile. I was feeling light headed awhile ago and checked my blood pressure and that was good so I grabbed the tester and my blood was 67. Any suggestions? I'm not diabetic. Thanks! -Dawn :biggrin:

I was at a friends house last night for dinner. They had tacos and I brought with me a bowl of Mexican Meatball soup. Just drank the broth part(wow a whole 1/2c maybe) That wasnt the problem. One of my husbands friends was saying I was looking good and asked me how much I have lost so far. I said 14 lbs. Then him and the husband of the friend I was visiting gave one another high 5 and said "You owe me, man!" They were making bets on my weightloss!. I found that really offensive. I just tried to talk about something else. Just need to vent. If I talk to my husband about it he'll say I am too sensitive.:biggrin:

Since being banded I have not "PB'd" (or at least I don't think I have) or gotten anything stuck at all - not even once. There have been times, however, that I feel like I probably ate more than I should have. So my question is, as long as you don't PB or get anything stuck, does that mean you have not eaten too much or eaten too fast?? Can you eat too much ( to a point where you may stretch your pouch or cause slippage) and not PB or get anything stuck?

i have to ask. it may be nothing but I want to know if anyone has done this before. i was banded 4 months ago. i had my 3rd fill last week. i don't have that much saline in my band under 3ccs. my surgeon is consertive but i like it that way. well, before my 3rd fill, i never had this happen. i can start to eat something and start to feel a little quesy on my stomach. not real nausaus or like i am going to throw up instantly but just a little nausaus. after i am done eating, i notice that the feeling is a little stronger but after five mins.it goes away completely. this is so strange. has this happened to anyone else before?

Hi everyone I am 6 days out of surgery. I have been on clear liquids except for the proetein shake (whey protein+1 tsp sugar free choc pudding + soymilk and ice blended) I have had 2 of these one yesterday and one this morning. I only did half a glass (I could have done more, but I am trying to be good.) I have zero energy and feel like I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I plan to start walking this afternoon, but I really need some energy. For some reason I am craving tuna fish!!! And I can't tell if this rumbley feeling is hunger or my tummy telling me I have too much?? I had a half cup of broth for lunch.

I'm just reading and researching..... when you first get banded, you don't have anything in there right? So, is there any restriction? Is the restriction that is there due to swelling and such? When (and if... still researching) I get banded, am I going to feel starved due to the no fill + clear liquid diet?

Yesterday was my 6th day post op, and second full liquid day. I am allow to eat "full liquids" for 5 weeks, including grits, oatmeal, applesauce, pudding etc. I am only supposed to eat three 2 oz "meals" a day along with protein drinks. And I did that yesterday, along with stopping to sprinkle a little bit of parmesean cheese in my hand almost every damn time I passed the fridge. All adding up to probably a half cup of cheese throughout the day!! I also got SF Kool-Aid happy and drank over a liter of that. Old habits die hard!! In all I comsumed maybe 600-700 cals for the whole day, but the volume was such that I felt bloated and full. And it certainly exceeded my 6 oz d…

My port site hurts worse this morning than it ever has!!! I just woke up and this is my 3rd day postop....It was excruciating. I could barely get out of bed. Please tell me this is normal.

Why is it with 5 1/2 CC's I can eat almost anything and everything one day and then the next, almost nothing??? With 6cc's my band was too tight and I PB'ed everyday several times a day. it was miserable. I took it back to 5 1/2 ccs. Last night, I made t-bones and salad, usually I can only eat a small portion of the t-bone. Last night I ate the whole thing and a small salad. :confused2:

I am going over the post op diet he 'prescribes' ... 4 days of Clear liquids, moving on to "solid" liquids... then ... Normal food *as tolerated* .... I called him up yesterday and asked him about this, his reasoning is "mushies go right through the band" ... My jaw dropped, I know he is still relatively new to banding and that he still has to work out how he is going to do things but damnit all. That seems to me to be asking for trouble!! I told him I would bring in all the research I have found from hundreds of different facilities and show him the normal is same for bypass patients. liquid, 'solid' liquids, mushies, then solids as tolerated. Now I am not co…

I have a job at a salon where i work at the desk, it is some getting up and down but mostly sitting, and i can get others to do stuff for me, I took a week off, how much did you all take and did you find that it was too much, too little, or just enough? I just saw another post, sorry no need to reply!