POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I was banded on 1/23/08 no problems had my first fill on 3/5/08 the on 3/10/08 I started feeling sick to my stomach on and off every day since then. I was suppose to have a 2nd fill on 3/19 however my doctor stated he has never had anyone go thru this. He did ask me if I thought I was expecting. I explained that both of my tubes are blocked and that I wanted to lose weight so that I could have the IVF done. So he stated that he wanted to remove my fill to see if the systoms went away. Well that was 2 days ago and I still feel sick off and on all day and night long. I tried GasX and antacids and nothing works. Has anyone gone thru this................. ANY kind of help o…

Hi all, the subject says it all. I have had a friend who has been banded for awhile now, and she was saying that she thought that maybe 5mls for my first fill was way to much. I have a 9ml band also could anyone tell me if it is a small band or large band. :biggrin: It is also affecting my eating, Im not able to get much down......PLEASE help Thanks Amanda

Hey All - I've crossed over. I was banded yesterday Tu, 3/18. YAY!! Now home and excited about my new life. I was thrilled to start off the surgery with having lost 24 lbs with the preop liquid diet (as much as it sucked). I gained about 5 back after surgery, but, from what I read that is normal with swelling and all. Feeling pretty good overall. St Francis, Federal Way, (Seattle) with Dr Oh and Hirai are all great! Last night funny at hospital as our ward was all gastric or bypass patients, every hour overnight, the on duty nurse, a sweatheart of a drill seargeant, so no rest for the wary and lead our walks and encoured belching the entire time. She said it was …

Whewww.. It's done. I was banded this morning. I'm feeling alright. Alot of gas pain and soreness. However, I was wondering if anyone else experienced tingeling in face, arms and legs. It is similar to if you were to hyperventelate?

I had lap band surgery on Nov. 26th and I have had some major problems and I was jus wonderin if anyone on here had some problems and then had the RYN done? And I was also wonderin if anyone on here has had a medical malpractice suite? Thank you and I hope to hear from someone soon!

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone else is suffering with a hypothroid and has had the lap band surgery? How successful have you been w/losing weight? Were you able to come off your pills for the throid? I am scheduled for surgery in May. Thanks for any input. This is a fantasic site :smile2:

I have a 15month old and i'm going to be having surgery on the 28th. I was just wondering if anyone knows about how long i will need someone around to be able to help take care of him? He still needs alot of help as far as walking goes. He weighs about 30lbs

MAN - I have had the foulest breath in the last 3 days. I was banded on the 14th. I did Clear liquids for 2 days. Liquids since. Well, tonight I ate some mushies. All a head game, I didn't even need them. I just wanted them. This breath of mine though has been awful. Any ideas on why and any suggestion? The only thing I could think of was ketosis. My doc said no gum chewing so I am not sure of the options for fresh breath.

OK, i had surgery 10/18/07. it took me a LONG time to get restriction, and i got it about 1.5 months ago. since i have lost 25 lbs. i have been pregnant the whole time but did not know it. ..little background…I haven’t had a period since October, and assumed it was from my body being in “shock”. However, in early February, I took a home test and it was positive. Then I took a lot more, including a dr. urine and blood, and I was not pregnant. Then 2 weeks ago, I confirmed it, at the dr’s office and at home. Around here they don’t want to see you until you are “8 weeks +”…however, I have not had a period in months. So, I don’t know how far along I am. I know …

DOWN 27lbs. YIIIPPPPEEEE!!!!!!! and I don't even have my first fill yet..... I port incision is healing well, glue still on there, but doc says it falls off on it's own. I feel good. I am on full liquids, mushy stuff. Hard to deal with it sometimes, but when I see thos 27lbs are GONE FOREVER, it makes me keep going. I am at 218lbs, (that's how much I weighed 9mos pregnant with my son :wink2: ) I just needed to share this milestone with you. EVERYONE keep up the good work.

Okay, this might be a dumb question, but I try it anyway! I have been able to pass gas okay which is big relief aftering being banded monday and have stuck to my post-op liquid diet faithfully. So when do we start pooping? Or do we if we're only on liquids since you're not taking in anything w/ any real bulk? Should I be worried? Tee:rolleyes2:

This is frustrating. I am terrified of eating around my band so I try to consume only protein and veggies and majorly limit carbs. However, meats and veggies are SOOOOO hard to get down. They get stuck and it hurts! I can't live on cottage cheese. Help!!

I am 11 days post-op, and in the middle of the night last night, I woke up with terrible burning itching AROUND my incisions. The incisions look great! But the area around them is itchy and sometimes raw. I'm pretty sure (90%) that it's due to the bandages - I've tried Hydrocortisone cream and am taking benedryl. Still little to no relief. Any suggestions? Been there, done that? Thanks!

:angry_smile:Hey guys, Was banded on Monday and today feeling a bit like normal, but every now and then when I move the wrong way, my port site feels like it pulls and huts like crazy. I get to shower today so I am headed to do that and take off my bandages to check everything out. Anyone else have this problem? Its kind of funny, I thought I would be starving, but I have virtually no appetite and really have to make myself drink Water every hour and my Protein shake. Going to take a shower and then chill on the couch. -Tee

i havent lost any weight in a month now. i had my second fill on feb 26 and for some reason i am pushing the my limits. ive been making bad choices and eating to much. the fill didnt do anything for me like my first fill. after my first fill i couldnt eat much for 3 weeks then i could eat more after that. why am i so off track? each day i wake up trying to make that day a better choice day but i cant make it through a whole day without cheating. i am so disappointed in myself at this point, i know that i need another fill but until that happens i need to rely on eating better. i am trying to focus on my protein intake again because somedays i dont get enough in, also whe…

19 days post procedure and 25.1 pounds lighter! I haven't been hungry hardly at all and my stomach pains from the hernia repairs are much better. I am sooooooo glad I did this. I get my 1st fill in two weeks. I realize that the weight loss will slow down to 2 to 3 pounds a week once I get in my rhythm, but it is sure exciting for now.:wink2::thumbup::wink2:

I have been throwing up numerous times everyday for the past week. I can't hold down much liquid anymore. I've been throwing up black/brown stuff. (Sorry that's gross) but I'm out of town. I blacked out in the shower today and I woke up with a fever. Should I just try to drink liquids since I'm prob just dehydrated or could it be something worse? I looked up these symptoms and they all were related to a few months after surgery. I had surgery 2 years ago. This happened to me a year ago too. And I went to my dr and he deflated my band and ran tests and there was no slippage or anything. Has this ever happened to anypne else? Sorry this was so long but I'm not sure if I nee…

Attention anyone banded in Feb. What is your total loss so far? Amber banded 2-22 lost 4lbs so far.

I am 10 days out and just blew it by eating 3 french fries! It was the first thing I have eaten that wasn't water or diet shakes. I chewed like crazy and didn't have any strange sensations. I hope I don't make a habit of this. I'm not supposed to start mushies until the 24th. I don't know why I did it. I've been feeling hungry but in control (so I thought).

I did end up calling the doctor who did the surgery & told him about the fever and stomach pain. Short version; there was an infection at the band site in one of the sutures. Also, the reason it hurt to take a deep breath was due to the inflammation. Had to stay overnight in the hospital with IV's. But I do feel much better now, just dreading the bill for the whole thing. I'm self-pay, had to take out a home equity loan for this and can't really afford any unexpected bumps in the road. So, thank you to all who responded to my initial post. It's so nice to hear from real people who've gone through this. Btw, after 3 months on the optifast diet & surgery I'm…

Had surgery two days ago. Pretty rough Friday and Sat. but I feel like a human again today. Pretty sore, but at least gas pains have gone. Back to rest now.

My port incision is looking very weird. I had a big scab on the end of it, which got all funky in the shower this morning. Part of it pulled up and shriveled up, the other part is still stuck. Under the part that pulled up, it is white under there. It has been draining a yellowish/blood tinged discharge. Does this look infected to you? I'm waiting for a call back from my doctor's office.

Hi Bansters, I am seriously considering getting banded. One area of concern/question is what happens 3,5 10 years out? Once you reach your goal weight do you loosen up the band? Do you eat different? Does life change (from a food intake perspective) once you have reached the goal weight? If so how? I don't see these questions being discussed too much here. It seems like this forum is a place to come when your in the process, but once your "done" you stop talking about it. I hope to hear from some long time vets! Thanks Archer

We are trying samples before the consults and i tried a roadside lemonade last night. it tasted very good, but in the night and this morning i have had cramping and diareaha. I was wondering if this is a side effect of the protein drinks or if something else might be causing this. thanks

I WENT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY AND I HAVE LOST 7LB.

CANT GO TO BED WITHOUT THROWING UP EVERY NIGHT ?

Hi, I was banded 3/19 and other then the initial pain in the port site area that went away I was fine. UNTIL last week when I started feeling sharp pains off & on from the port site when I walk and sometimes when I'm lying down. I'm doing what my Dr says (not too much of anything) except walking but yet this pain. I'm worried 'cause adhesions had been a problem in a previous surgery and I'm hoping that there isn't adhesions forming. Right now I'm a bit constipated and gassy and the pain is there. I go in for my first fill on 3/25. Any thoughts? Could this just be one part of the experience?:biggrin:

hey all, I am close to 3 months pre op I have lost about 23 lb since surgery and 44 total since September. The last three weeks I have been having "major" hair loss. I have been taking my Vitamins and have been doing well with my Proteins, has anyone else had problems and what have you done to take care of it. Thank you. peace, spiffy in Seattle:crying: This is my worried face!

Hello. I was banded on January 17, 2008. I have lost 16 lbs as of March 4th and won't know if I've lost anymore until I go for my next appointment. I have decided not to get on a scale at all except for when I see my doctor. I don't want to get upset by looking at the scale all the time so I don't. I have an 11cc band and my doctor gave me my first fill on March 4th which was 3cc's. I was very careful with drinking and eating but realized very quickly that my first fill did nothing for me. I was wondering if because I have the 11cc band, would it take longer for me to feel restriction? If anyone has this band, how many fills did it take you to feel any restriction…

I was banded on 3/3/08. I still have gas pain and feel it in my left shoulder and neck. sometimes the gas pain is unbearable. Has anyone had this problem and did it go away?

I had my band placed 3/3/08. I spent 3 days in the hospital for complications of pain/vomiting. To date i have not lost one ounce. My daily calories are 800 to 1000 and I am getting in about 45-60 grams of Protein daily. I still have constant pain at the port site which at times is almost unbearable. (I have an extremely high pain tolerance so this concerns me, but my doctor has no thoughts.) Is there anyone else who has had no weight loss in the first 2 weeks? What am I doing wrong.

I know this question has been asked a million times, but...... Banded on 1/18/08. First fill 3/3/08---1.8cc in a 10cc band(fluoro-looked good). Never felt huge restriction, but didn't want to vomit! Can pretty much still eat anything. Not really hungry ever. Have lost 3 pounds since then and am walking, bowflexing and active. Here's todays eating---2 hotdogs, 2 pieces wheat bread-brunch. Dinner---1 cup of homemade beef stew and 2 bowls of salad-tasted really good! That seems like a heck of a lot of food to eat without having to stop because of fullness. Of course, now after eating that huge dinner, I feel stuffed. I was trying to hold off on a fill for 8 weeks,due to me…

Okay so I can eat just about anything I want even with 5 cc's, just in limited portions of course. But what I am having problems with is first thing in the morning. Everything I eat seems to get stuck and I throw up. Its not the portion or if I am chewing enough I can eat Cream of Wheat. After about 2 hours I can eat. Just not right away in the morning. I have experimented with everything. Any advice except waiting two hours to eat? I just need to eat int he morning becuase I don't get a break until lunch. I also can't eat leftovers. I'll cook for dinner and try to take it for lunch the next day and it gets stuck or I just can't eat it. Anyone else had that …

Before I was banded on the 13th, I was drinking the Protein shakes, eating yogurt, etc. I had no issues with "sweet" tasting stuff, but was not a big sweet eater. Since the band, I cannot stomach anything sweet and the majority of the stuff on the liquid phase is sweet. Ever since the banding the Protein Shakes cause me major pain. After my morning shake yesterday I stayed away from the protein shakes and/or protein waters. Today I tried a protein Water and again major pain. I think it possibly has something to do with artificial sweetners. Right now I can't even stand the smell of anything sweet :thumbup: Has anyone else had this problem? I go to the doctor …

I am getting my first fill in couple of weeks and was wondering what is the average number of CC's that one typically has filled on their "first time"? How many did you have on your first fill?

I am so frustrated. Right after surgery I lost about 15 lbs. Now, 15 days post op, I weigh myself and I'm back up 4. I just started mushies so I am having some foods with more sodium, but I'm not hardly eating. How could I have possibly gained weight? Does anyone know the reasoning for this or has this happened to anyone? I'm incredibly discouraged.

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum and must say,everyone on here is so helpful,and my kudos to you all for taking the steps necessary to help fight the battle of the bulge!! I am in the process of getting approval for the lap band surgery (Maryland resident with One Net insurance...) so I guess I still have a long road ahead of me!:tt2: My question is this--when you actually go in for the actual lap band procedure and they band you--do they fill the band at all at the time of surgery? If not, how long do they make you wait before they do? Thanks in advance....and my best wishes to you all! I'm sure I'll be talking to everyone on here quite a bit in the months to come!:…

I have been getting "heat rash" (don't know what else to call it) between my upper, inner thighs and now loose, sagging skin from abdomen. I have treid powder to keep it drier and gauze to keep areas seperated but the rash is getting worse and more painful. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Saw the dietician today and this is what they gave me for post op diet: just wanted to see if this is what you all are doing Clear and Full Liquids for two weeks: including strained broth, low fat cream soups, cream of wheat, skim milk, light yogurt, diluted juice, tomato juice, popsicles, crrystal light, jello, pudding, carnation instant breakfast, protein shakes THEN: Pureed/Very soft foods for two weeks THEN : Soft foods, for two weeks, I guess then that would put me at six weeks and on to regular food, but she said to add food one thing at a time so that if something doesn't sit well, I'll know what it might be. How does this all sound normal? I feel like I'm g…

Can I have these? How creamy do they need to be? Thanks...

I am scheduled for surgery 4.1.08 and have a BMI of 52.7. I am curious if anyone that had similar weight to loose could shed some light on how much you lost in the first 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.

Ok so for as long as I've had cramps, I've taken advil for them. What does everyone do about meds for cramps if we can't take an anti-inflammatory? Would it be ok to take an advil every once in a while? I am miserable and tylenol is a joke! Please help!

Hi all, I was banded 2/27. I have been having some shooting pain around my port site and right above it. I went to the doctor today and he sent me for bloodwork to rule out infection. I have no fever and the pain comes and goes. Is it possible to have an infection? What will they do for it? Thanks

I had surgery about 5 weeks ago and I am finding that I am hungry and able to eat more food at one sitting than the past weeks. I only lost 1 pound last week (week 4) and I havent weighed in yet this week I have an appt with the nutritionist on thursday the 20th. When do you know its time for a fill? i still do feel the band is tight ( I can feel tightness up to my throat) especially towards the end of the day. Anyone?

Hey all, I am 3 1/2 wks post op. I feel like I didn't even have surgey, accept I know that I did because of the scars!! I can eat everything and although I am not eating all day when I eat my meals I feel like I can eat more than I should. I can't wait for my first fill. Can anyone tell me that after my fill things will be easier and get better and I should start losing weight???

:thumbup: I just went from full liquids to soft food this week and I gained 3 pounds this week. What did I do wrong? Is this normal? Has it happened to anyone else? :confused2:

Hey everyone, I'm sitting on the 9th floor of the Westin Hotel in San Diego, finally getting to play on the net. The entire event was uneventful. I'm a bit sore, but doing well. Dr. Huacuz and his team are great, explained everything, answered every question. Having a few pangs of anxiety when thinking about not being able to eat solid food for a while but it passes. Have the rest of the week off of work, we fly back to Walla Walla tomorrow morning. Dr. Huacuz did my first fill last night, I needed only .75cc to get restriction. It was very cool watching the barium drink on the x-ray... :drool: Caroline

I had my band place about 14 days ago. No pain at all. In fact, I dont even feel it. Im never hungery either. Then I went to a party at my sisters house and ate like a pig, even though I wasnt hungry! I had a small snow crab leg, a tablespoon of mash potatoes, about 3 tablespoons of ice cream, a 2 inch square of french bread with 1/2 inch of cheese. It was all like a dream. When I got home I sat there in total disbelief. I definately cant trust myself in those situations. I feel soooooo guilty. Now Im worried that I may have caused a slip. I didnt feel anything at all. I dont even physically feel like I have a band or like I've had surgery. Its amazing. I feel nothin…

Hello everyone out there,I got banded today at 2pm and is going well so far a little discomfort mix with pain from time to time. I'm actually taking part of a study for lower BMI, i believe there is like 30 of us doing it at this time. I'm 29yrs and weight 212lbs as of today.I live in Chicago i want to thank all of you guys for the valuable infomation you guys provide it helped me a lot preparing for it. JB

Hello everyone, I am home and banded....my surgery was on Friday! I feel pretty good and am trying to stay positive about transitioning into this new lifestyle. It's hard to picuture the end result when I just came home from the hospital and I'm drinking broth and crystal light! I hope I made the right decision. Now I know what people were talking about with "saying goodbye to your best friend- food." I know that the best is yet to come, but....any words of wisdom are appreciated! Thanks!