POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I have had an awful time since Saturday around 6pm. I truly, honestly can not describe how I felt other than it was like someone literally kicked me between the shoulders as hard as they could.:eek: My surgery was December 27th, 2007. I had 2 fills up until all this which the last of was removed today. I have lost 28 pounds so far!:thumbup: I have had horrible indigestion and felt like if I didnt burp I was going to explode. I have been miserable! my husband said he never thought he'd have a 200 pound wife that he had to try burping before. Sunday I went to quik care they really didnt know what to do with me since I have this lapband & their Doctors are not familia…

I just found out my Dr is going to use ON Q pain buster on me when he sends me home any one ever used it or know anything about it. Is the Cath made of Latex? I have a Type 1 Latex allergy Thanks Hess

I had my surgery on feb.22. A couple of times I have had small sharp pains. Today I have been having bad pains, sharp in my right lower abdomen. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this? Does it go away? Thanks for any help. Leah

Hello, I was banded on Dec. 18th 2007, I searched for other bandsters that had surgery in Dec. but had no luck.. I"m calling out to all December bandsters...I feel like I'm missing something....surely there's a group of us out there... Do we have a cute nickname? Support groups? ANYTHING??? :biggrin:

Hey gang- I am chugging along. . .need to get another fill. I am eating like I used to:-) I have a bulge that is tender at my port. Feels like a golf ball. I assume it is the remaining swelling. Is this normal? I have read of people being able to physically feel their ports but I don't think that's what this. . . Any insight?

I am sorry if this has been asked previously, but what are the lifting restrictions after surgery? I have a 7 month old and if I have the surgery done in the next 4-6 months (hopefully) will I be able to lift a 20 pound baby? Thanks for the answers!

I'm 2.5 weeks out and I lost 10lbs pre-op, 8 lbs post-op and I have not lost one pound in a week. Do you think I'm doing something wrong? I'm having an average of 250 calories a day. I tried what someone said and upped my calories a couple of days and went back down but nothing. Is it because I lost so fast the first couple of weeks, or am I doing something wrong? The only thing I can thank that I've changed is 1 tblspoon of Peanut Butter in my shake. Thanks for the help.

the first month i got everything stuck because i had restriction due to being newly banded. then after my first fill on jan 4 i had restriction for about one month but in the past two weeks i can whatever i want and nothing bothers me. im even able to eat more and not feel anything. did i stretch my pouch? i am really bothered by this. i was doing so well and now im starting to snack inbetween meals. ive been really stressed about my job situation so ive slipped alot. i am going in for another follow up on tues feb26 so i hope things will get back to the way things were. please give me some feedback because i am really worried that ive screwed things up. andrea

Got my Lap Band on Feb 13! Didn't work laproscopically because I have had a previous abdominal surgery. Doctors said they tried for an hour but then had to do it open. Also found a hernia while in there and they repaired that too. End result - 49 staples and a lot of pain. I am home now. Have had doubts about whether I did the right thing or not but guess its too late for that. Healing time is going to be longer than normal and I am not a good "lay down and rest person"! Still want to eat but the pain of surgery stops me. Any encouragement would be helpful at this point. Thanks,

Hi, I was banded at the end of December and will be going in for my first fill, I am curious what to expect? Do I need to "liquid diet" before? When can I resume "normal" food? Will I finally feel more restriction? I am crazy busy working on my Master's degree and am wondering if I should plan a Friday in case I am sore the next day? I know I should be calling my doctor and asking the questions, but I haven't had time to call yet and I usually get more in depth answers from those who have actually had the procedure. Thank you in advance for your advice.:biggrin2: Peace, Spiffy

i'm still in the research phase trying to find a reputable surgeon. i do have a question though. i undersand that you may be able to feel the port but and you feel the actual band inside our stomach... like a foreign object?

I am 49 years old married 30 years in April and am weighing in at 258 lbs,I had my surgery on Friday the 22 of Feb /08 and its sunday and I am feeling swollen but not too bad....i have had Apple juice and yogurt today , two spoons full and i am done ...i had my surgery in Victoria BC with Brad Amson as my doctor ...great experience hardly any pain at all...i was done at noon and out of the hospital at 6.00 pm...i have decided not to tell anyone that i have had this done..I have told everyone that i have had bladder surgery ...i do not want any pressure from my friends or family...my sister and husband and my business partner are the only people who know....i am having alo…

I cannot intake anything but Water, anything else MAKES gas and pain. I am having cramps around the back my ribcage, I am taking in as much water as I can...and my shoulder blades are hurting, worse when walking. David

Hi, this is my first post. Ok, so first, I have to admit that on day four I ate some puffed rice cereal. It went down ok, but now I'm really worried about erosion. I've also been cheating a little bit with split pea soup and I had a no-fat pudding tonight. But I've been having really bad gas pains in my shoulder all night? Is this related to eating too much? Does anyone know scientifically/anatomically how that's all happening? I also need someone else to tell me that even though I messed up once, since the food went down fine and I chewed it up really well, that I haven't messed everything up. Help!

Well, I have survived to day 4. I am hungry. Tonight, I pureed some Campbells bean and bacon soup and strained it and had that for dinner. Hope I didn't overdo it. How much am I supposed to be able to eat in one sitting? My literature says 4-6 oz. but after 6, guess what? Still hungry!! Is this normal? I am not able to meet my protein goals- cannot stomach the protein drinks now- blech. But I am in heaven with this bean and bacon soup- yummy!

Ok, I hope this doesn't sound stupid but here goes.... My stomach seems to 'gurgle' a lot... yesterday I mistook this for growling and had some broth, but this didn't stop the gurgling. Does anyone know if there's anything to quiet it down? It doesn't hurt in any way, it's just kind of loud and embarassing and I'm going back to work today so I was hoping for advice... The 2nd thing I have is I can't tell when I'm hungry, full, or just having a few pains (I just was banded 3 days ago). When I think I'm hungry and have even a sip of Water my stomach cramps... I don't have a problem keeping anything down, but what I'm associating with feeling full happens immediately aft…

I had my surgery on the 11th and 6 days after that i weighed myself and realized that i have lost 21lbs! i am thrilled, but all of a sudden It just....stopped . Is this normal? Is it because my body went through a HUGE weight loss change?

I have a slow thyroid and on med. for it. I wa banded on Feb. 11th and have lost 30lbs. total, but now that I'm on soft foods I haven't lost anything. I now worry about my throid causing problems.

Has anyone had their first fill without a floroscope? I'm a little nervous that they are essentially going to be "fishing" around to find my port. Am I just worried for nothing? Thanks!

I am two and a half weeks post op, and am having frequent diarhea. Not daily, nor several times a day, but pretty frequently. I am eating only protein and green vegetables, plus the occassional protein shake. Absolutely no cheating going on! Has anyone else experienced this? Do I need to make a change in my diet, such as adding carbs? The only carbs I'm getting now is the occassional glass of white wine, which my doctor says is okay.

Yeah! I had my surgery on Tuesday and here it is Saturday and I am starting to feel like my old self! I am one of those unfortunate people that happen to be allergic to all narcotics and have to take the drugs with benedryl! Yuck...makes me feel terrible. But I have been on only Tynelol since Thursday and today I feel human again. I have to be on a two week full liquid diet. I had a protein shake this morning and a pop cycle just now. But this is my question for all of you.......I really can't tell the band is there. I know it is not tight right now, but I expected to HAVE to take very small sips but I find that my sips are not small unless I am thinking about it…

i am 3 months post op today. the first month i lost 20lbs then had my first fill on jan 4 then i lost 12 pounds during that month, now since feb 4th i've only lost 2 lbs so far this month. i have been making some bad choices and i havent been focusing on my protein. im having problems at work and may need to leave so im not very focused right now. today i ate almost a whole personal pan pizza from pizza hut which surprises me because after my first fill i couldnt eat that much, i could only eat 1/2 and i was stuffed. now i can eat more at times. is this normal? did i stretch my stomach? i am going in for a follow up on feb 26. i am so disappointment in myself for getting…

Anyone had experience with this? My family is supposed to drive about 1700 miles (each way) during Spring Break. I don't have a surgery date yet, but was wondering how anyone may have survived a long car trip. I'm not so much worried about having the right soft foods or being a few days late for my 1st fill, just the comfort/pain part. I'd hate to have to say "no, I can't have the surgery until next month because I'm taking a trip...."!! Especially after all of this dang WAAAAAAAAIIIITING!!!!! :tt2:

I have seen lots of information about stitches, glue, and steri stips but I have staples. I've never had them before. Does it hurt when they take them out. I have about 30 of them.

hi how are you guys im 7 days post banding and i get major gas pains and major bloating above the belly button is this normal its crazy pain :tt2:

My doctor tells me to get vitamins called: VITA BAND CHEWABLE VITAMINS FROM "BARIATRIC ADVANTAGE". These run about $40.00 for 180ct. Has anyone found them cheaper? Did you take them? Do you need them? How were they to swallow? Did they upset your stomach? Curious, and I want to know in advance before paying for them.

Ok This Thursday I will be 3 weeks post op. I have a party to go to on Friday night and there will be alcohol served. My doctor says 6 months before having alcohol, but a few people that I know have the band started drinking pretty early on, at least sooner than 6 months out! I'm not worried about calories, I just want to know if anyone had alcohol as soon as 3 weeks post op? Thanks in advance!

I should have asked my doc this but, when they put the band in, do they fill it with anything? If not, am I supposed to feel any restriction with an unfilled band? Or is that what the first fill is for. Sorry for posing such a stupid question.

Okay, last weekend I was at a Valentine's Banquet, sitting (had just started eating) and suddenly I had the worst back pain I've ever had. It was like a cramping, stabbing, sharp pain in my lower back. It lasted for about 30-45 minutes. It went away and I didn't think much else about it until last night. I was laying on my right side last night and decided to change positions. Well, that was a huge mistake...........I had an awful pain right underneath my ribcage on my right side. It was a very sharp, excruciating pain. I couldn't move because it hurt even worse when I tried. It lasted about 30 minutes, then went away. This time I had eaten about 1 and 1/2 hours earlier…

Hi. The last 2 mornings when I wake up I feel a tight pressure on my lower abdomin. This is a new thing and was wondering if it was because I started eating somewhat normal food. Feels like I have a bowling ball on me..:tongue2:

I am 5 weeks out and I have been very good on my post op diet. Today for lunch I had a half a cup of Beans (last day on mushies) Then I came back to my desk and without thinking started sipping my cup of tea- I downed almost a cup before I realized. It was close to half an hour after I ate- Can this cause any problems?:tongue2:

I have just about had it with the way these protein shakes are making me feel! I can not get down more than 4 oz of liquid in and hour and a half and I am starving! My doctor said I am still swollen and to try 4 oz 3X a day. At the end of the day I am ravished! Plus I have to take a vitamin and my antibiotic (all liquid). I am feeling weak physically and feel if I dont get real food in me I may pass out! Anyone experience difficulty getting all these liquids down?

:unsure:I take 3 meds daily for high blood pressure. Worried about how this will work during the post-op liquid diet phase. Please share your experiences. Thanks. (Still going through my 6 month nutrition plan).

Ok, I'm thinking that maybe I'm paranoid, but I want to make sure I keep my band for a long time. I've had one fill, and sporadically feel restriction. I've become very aware of my body cues and stop eating when I feel pressure. My question is, sometimes I don't get those body cues and I can eat and eat and eat with no pressure - like 2 bowls of pasta, then some cereal (i'm totally on a binge like I was never banded), no PB, nothing. If i'm not feeling any cues is it possible to stretch my pouch? Or is everything just passing through easily? My fill is 4CC's in a 10CC band, so I would imagine that I should feel some regular restriction?

Hi All, Banded on Jan 21 and I've lost 22 lbs! Okay, had one week clear, one week mushy and 2 weeks pureed - 3 oz, 5 x per day. Now, I'm supposed to start on real food. Guidelines are 1 cup ,3 x day and 1/2 Protein bar for a snack. I made some high protein Soups today to last through the week but I'm looking for more choices. Any suggestions? And, is this keeping with the "normal" food plan most people are given? Can I smush a piece of pizza into a cup? HA! Thanks!

:rolleyes:I was wondering if anyone experienced the same as I am with respect to my stitches. My large (port) incision is healing nicely (from what i'm told) but the end stitch is annoying me to death. It feels like a stray hair that you just need to pluck . it is only that one end stitch -- I know i sound maniacal but oh man - do i want to pull it. my question is has anyone else had this annoyance and does it eventually go somewhere or melt or something? didn't want to call the surgeon to ask that little question. My first fill is 9/18! Can't wait. /nilsa

I was banded on 1/29/2008. The last couple of days I have had a sharp pain when I bend, take a deep breath, eat or sneeze in my lower left back below the rib cage. It is a sharp sharp pain. Could I have a kidney infection? Has anyone gotten this postop?

Hello everyone. I had my surgery on January 17, 2008 and I am one month post op. I am having this throbbing pain and I'm not sure where it's coming from. It could be my port or could it be the band? I have not had a fill yet but I am concerned about this throbbing pain I'm having. Has anyone else experienced pain like this? Jen

OK...I'm almost 10 months out and never have I had a PB. This morning, while eating breakfast, I felt full and stopped. Well...shortly after I felt like something was stuck. I got up and walked around, as that normally helps. The feeling got worse, I went to the restroom, dry heaved a couple of times and then wham...out came something. Now...I have read descriptions on here about a PB not really being like throwing up, but this was like throwing up to me, so I don't know. Now...I feel like I have to do it again but it won't come out. What's going on? I don't have an upset stomach like the flu or anything, but I am absolutely miserable. This feeling has been going…

What kind of weight loss is everyone experiencing? I heard that it is about 1-2 lbs per week. That seems rather slow. Do anyone have suggestions on how to increase the weight and how long did it take ya'll to start to see some results. Congrats to everyone for getting the band and God Bless:biggrin:

I just posted in another thread but I'm looking for different reasons why I could still be so hungry? I was banded 1/30 and still on clear/full liquids. I'm totally hungry! I do not understand how chicken broth is suppose to make me feel full.... or CIB LF Nosugaradded.... Doesn't that stuff just go right thru the band? Isn't only actual thick food that stays in the upper pouch giving me the feeling of fullness? I was hoping the surgery was going to help me feel satisfied when I ate a small portion .... I feel the same as I did before..... 2oz of this or 4 oz of this is NOTHING... I need light a glass full of Water for it to make a difference.... I drink the 8oz of…

Sorry to ask such a silly question, but I honestly can't find any instructions anywhere regarding my first fill in my paperwork. So should I stop eating a certain amount of hours before the fill? I did have a couple very small things to eat this morning (2 slices of wheat toast for Breakfast, some pureed bananas for lunch around 11:00 when I was feeding my baby and a couple chocolate-covered strawberries left over from Valentine's Day). It's 11:40am now and my fill is at 4:00pm so I'm not going to eat anymore. How about fluids? Can I drink anything and should I stop drinking beforehand? How long before the fill should I stop drinking? I'm really thirsty right now. Tha…

I'll begin eating pureed foods this Wednesday, so I'm not ready for solid foods yet. But I find I have a question about why we can't have bread, or nuts, or pasta, or steak (in some cases). Is it because digestion doesn't actually begin until the food reaches our "second" stomach and these things are harder to digest and might get stuck above the band?

I work 2 full time jobs and I am very limited on time. I am now on solid foods and I am having a hard time coming up with food ideas. Am I suppose to eat 3 meals plus the 2 Protein shakes? I have been drininking Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks (ok'ed by my doc) I checked last night and I am at the same weight I was at my 1week post op appt. Is this normal? H E L P M E P L E A S E! :confused2:

I can't find a thread for this so I am sorry if there is already one posted. I was wondering if it was normal to have diahreaah post op? I saw something on tv that said it was bad if you do have it post op but it seems to me that just having liquid it would be normal. Anybody else have this problem post op? Is it something I need to be concerned about? I feel fine otherwise. I actually went shopping the day after surgery and doing normal things. I haven't really been hungry and having to force myself to eat. Please let me know if any of you have experienced this also. I was banded on the 4th. Have a good day everyone. Chr…

Hi -- I am about 18 days post op and started burping yesterday. They are not productive burps, just burps, probably one or two every half hour. I do not feel very gassy, I am not in any pain or discomfort, and, aside from one or two loud ones being embarassing, no major issues. But, it shows no signs of stopping. Any ideas? Thanks. Cynthia

i hate it i have had two fills and i am now at a standstill i have not lost weight in over a month im staying the same is this normal i feel like i did on all my yo yo diets before the surgery where you cant lost after a certain weight loss i have lost 34 lbs up til now i feel like the fills should be helping me lose not stay the same i have a 9cc band with only 3cc in it right now how long before i im at my sweet spot how many fills im sort of annoyed help!

Just banded on 2/8, and have been on liquids only (Optifast, soups, jello) since. Doing well (down 19 1bs) but am now very hungry 1 hour after a shake. Should I start wil some soft protein / mashed potatoes?

Has anyone been advised by their physician that they will need a lifetime of GI series? My doc didn't tell me that, but his associate did the day after the surgery. I forgot how often he said because he blew me away with this news. Said something about I'll always have to watch for esophagus problems (erosion?) or something with my stomach. He also said the surgery was the easiest part of this whole thing and not really sure what that was supposed to mean. He says the TV talk shows with people who were banded are so misleading and that diet and exercise is so key to success. I was under the impression the band kinda gives you a full feeling so I'll be able to control my i…

I must say Im in pain but the pain meds that were subscriped helps me alot! I am very happy about my choice I have already lost 15 lbs pre-op, and I havent been that hungry. Im still on liquids for another 2 weeks, so Im sure I will lose more weight as of right now I just want to stay in bed all day! But in all Im happy I made the choice to get the lap-band!! Good luck to all of you guys!!!