LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I am 4 days post op banding and I am not feeling really well. Everytime I drink I get this pain in the middle of my chest under my breast and I have to bend over to relieve it- then I burp and it kills me. Am I drinking to fast? Also, I am having alot of pain in my left shoulder and lower left side which does not allow me to breath in very deeply without extreme pain. The loratab elixer helps somewhat but from what I read with others they are feeling better by day 4. Am I doing something wrong. I am on soft mushy foods and liquids ie: sugar free pudding, popsicles, mushy mashed potatoes. I use a heating pad for the pain in my shoulder and lower left side which help…

Hi! I was banded in Mexico and would very much like to find a doctor near Indianapolis who will do my adjustments. If anyone can help me out here I would appreciate it. Thanks Linda

Has anyone in massachusetts gone to umassmemorial worcester ma. to either Dr. John Kelly Dr. donald czerniach or Dr. perquini

I read on here were so many people can't tolerate so many foods but so far I'm not one of them.....what's wrong with me? I've been on soft foods for a week today and I've even eaten baked chicken and bake pork chop in small bites and chewed like the dickens and they are fine. I don't blend things, I just try to stick to really soft easy to chew foods but so far, it's all been my friend. I even ate a helping of Turkey chili and was fine. I even ate a little bit off a pork rib from Sonny Bryan's and that was fine too. Am I a freak????????

What do people usually eat for their proteins like what would be a typical days meal for someone that is on regular foods, and what does everyone use for food lubes.

Well, I guess this should welcome me into being a psycho lol. I just rampaged my house and threw EVERYTHING and ANYTHING out that I found to be temoting. I am trying to do this pre-op diet and there is just too much stuff here. Froot Loops, chocalate teddy grahms, stuff normally wouldnt bother me, is GONE!!!!!!!! If the kids want it, too bad, lol. Cheerios and rice cakes for them until I am through this! I am just way too stressed. Dr. said shakes and clear liquids for 2 weeks. Well thats inhumane. Especially since I had ONE day notice of this. Well today has not been the best day. Started out fine and then who knows what happened. Oh well, i ditched the temptation and am…

I'm on day 5 of my 10 day pre-op diet....I'm suppose to be doing liquids...I've been really good so far...but yesterday I did take a can of heathy choice Soup and blend it in the blender...It tasted really good (considering I've only been drinking Protein shakes before this)... Would this be acceptable after banding? I was looking at my diet plan and on the 1st week it says I can eat baby food....So does this count? It was high in protein and low in Calories..But I wasn't sure how well my stomach would take it after the banding.

I have clicked on the chat room several times and never found anyone at home but today it was different. I met a lovely lady from England and it was so nice chatting with her as she's as new to being banded as I am. I was wondering though, is there ever a set time for chats? If so, I'd love to chat with anyone that would be interested!

Hello! I found this site through a friend a few days ago and have been lurking when I find time! I am seriously considering WLS and hoping that I can get the band. I will also be having a hysterectomy at the same time via open laparotomy. I am just starting to get this process started working with my primary provider. My gyn is all for it, saying both at the same time would work great, even may get part of the bypass paid inadvertantly (part of the hospital stay, etc). However, I am not betting on it. I am having a sleep study coming up to determine if I have sleep apnea. My dr thinks my insurance may pay if I do. (Unfortunately, I honestly don't think I do, but we'll s…

Hey all-it has been exactly one week since my banding. I have not weighed per my doctors instructions until I see him tommorow. I feel great..still gasey and a little hungy at times. (Last night was bad..my husband caught me picking a noodle out of the lasanga I made him and trying to eat it. I do not even like it!) I already feel I have more energy even eating these smaller amounts of mushy and liquids. No pain whatsoever! So for all you newbies to be...I hope this experiance (so far) is as good as mine and goodluck. I will post after I go to the doctor tommorow for my check up.

I was banded three weeks ago today and my big sister Linda got her band today. What a wonderful thing to be able to for the first time in my life be the one to give her encouragement and support! We're both doing great, thank goodness. I can't wait to be on this journey with someone who not only is my sister but one of my best friends! I'm just so proud to be a part of such a wonderful group of people like the ones that have lended me an ear and loads of encouragement like all of y'all on this site!

Hi everyone in the general Durham, NC area (Pre & Post-Op), I would like to join those of you who would like to meet for dinner at IHOP at 6:00PM just as we did in Apr. It was so much fun and I know there are many of us that would like to meet regularly like this. So lets make it IHOP again. We can always order eggs, which I like, and they are generally less busy at nights. Also, they always have tables which can put together for us as our numbers grow. So plan on meeting at IHOP in Durham just to the left side of Krogers and Petco and where to the right is costco & Bath & Beyond located at the opposite end of that strip shopping center. Their address is:…

What does DH stand for keep seeing it don't know what it means I know its a partner but what is the direct work for it. We need a thread on abbreviations used

I'm scheduled for surgery on May 25, which is exciting!!! My doctor had me go on a high Protein, low carb diet two weeks before, which I've been on since Tuesday. I've been journaling my food on fitday.com, and I'm finding that I'm having a tough time getting to 1100 calories a day. I know that others, as well as my doctor have said that we need to have 1200-1500 calories per day. How do you get in 1200 calories when you have restriction?

Hello! I'm new, and was just banded Monday. I have been reading on the site and for about six months and have a quick question. Did anyone else have a hiatal hernia repair with their band surgery? I had and enormous tear in my diaphram (about the size of a fist) and that had to be repaired at the same time. The Dr also pulled my stomach down and stiched it in place. I was in massive pain and wasn't even able to get liquids down until today. :sick I ended up in the hospital for a few days this week on IV fluids. This surgery seemed to be about 10 times more painful than I thought it would be, plus the complications with the hosital stay and stuff. Anyone else has trouble …

I am looking forward to being banded in May and have an opportunity to travel to Hawaii around the end of May. Besided worrying whether I will fit in the seats of the airplane, what about traveling so far away (from Florida) following surgery? I have waited forever for my band and can't wait any longer. My plane tickets require me to be back by June 12. Another concern is that I get car sick when I ride around mountains and must take dramamine. Will I be able to take it after my band? I've never been to Hawaii but the pictures look like lots of mountains. Thank you for any helpfull ideas. Denice

My name is Anita, I will be banded by Dr. Huacuz on 4/26/05 in Tijuana, MX. I am currently about 230lb. I really don't have a goal weight I just want to see what weight I would look good at and feel my healthiest. I do think I want to be in about a size 7 to 9 before I stop losing. I am somewhat apprehensive about have the surgery done outside of the U.S. Thus, I would like to know: Has anyone else had there surgery done by Dr. Huacuz? Where do you go to get fills in the Orlando are, preferably flouro? What are the regrets of having the surgery? What brand of band do you have? Which is considered the best? Any feedback you can give me will be greatly appreci…

I was wondering if anyone who is 6months or more out from being banded had had their cholestrol(sp?) checked? I have high CHO and very high LDL so I was wondering if anyone had seen a decrease in their levels after being banded. I know they go down alot after RNY but I haven't seen much about aafter banding. Thanks and God bless, Donna

The new "New York Magazine" has an interesting article on bariatric surgery - entitled "Stomach Surgery to Get Thin, but Not Necessarily Happy". *This article can be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser. http://www.newyorkmagazine.com/nymetro/health/features/11958/index.html I found it very interesting - and I could relate to many (not all) of the comments. I thought I'd share the link. Mary

So I have been on a diet for the last like 3 weeks. Eating healthy and protiens first veggies second and only healthy carbs last. Cut out all sugar and starchy carbs. I am practicing for my band as I thought I would have it by now. I have done sooooo good! I really convinced myself that this was a life change I had made. That I was gonna do great with my band and eat the right way! Then it happend. A sugar craving.........I tried everything. I went to the fidge and ate a half chicken breast. That way if I was hungry the craving would go away. But no. So I waited 15 min and had carrot sticks. They r kinda sweet so maybe that would do it. No. Finally I tried …

I didnt know what Title to use for this Thred. For all you newbies that question the band look at this... Everyday living Fat is hard, people look down on us, judge us. They think we are Lazy, Stupid.. Who knows what else. We are discriminated against and judged. I look at the Thred "what do you do for a living" and all I can say is WOW!! being Fat doesnt make you lazy or stupid! Why people see us that way I dont know. I was at class one day and some old man.. over 65 (in the same class as me age 27 at the time) ask me if I was disabled. Why because Im fat? He was discriminating agaist my weight. Shouldnt I have the same right to do it against his age. I dont know where …

I am going for my second fill on June 15th. I had my first fill on 4-8-05 in Mexico, and the Dr. did a barium swallow while he did the fill. The Dr. I am going to says it's just a fill. So, how does he know if he put too much or too little in you without a barium swallow? Just wondering....

Just was wondering why all of you here chose the band I am having the band june 9th but just wanted to know where everyone was coming from I chose the band because I heard awful stories on how people died from the rny and I really didn't want my insides rearranged. let me know your reasons?

OK, I still want to lose a minimum of 35 lbs., so I'm not ready for a whole new wardrobe yet, but I have been getting pretty desperate for clothes. So, despite my cheapness, I decided I had to get a couple of new spring things that fit. I went to Target yesterday and found a pair of size 18 trousers that actually look good on me, then off to Lane Bryant, where the 16Talls did the trick. I got a couple of 14/16 blouses and lots of underpants (long overdue). So far so good. While in the lingerie section, I faced racks of lacy bras suitable for slinging grapefruits and cantaloupes, not the humble tangerines I've been carrying. I took a deep breath and asked one of the sale…

This month I've had visits from relatives and old friends who live afar. These are people who have known me all my life, but I haven't seen much of in the last 2-3 years. Naturally, they were amazed and pleased. They were also a little weirded out. Evidently I now look like my mother, which no one has EVER said of me before. She was a beautiful woman undone in later life by alcohol, but early pictures of her bear a striking resemblance to Lauren Bacall. So to have an aunt on one day, and an uncle the following weekend, be moved almost to tears by my resemblance to their dead sister was both complimentary and a little sad. I'm really sorry my parents aren't here to se…

OMG.. I just found out that they cancelled Joan of Arcadia May 18th. I love that show!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess if you enjoyed the show you can go to this website and sign the petition to help in bringing it back??? http://www.petitiononline.com/sw34fr56/petition.html

I have a question. Is anyone out there having trouble with scrambled eggs? I was banded May 25 of this year currently at 2 cc's third fill but I cannot eat scrambled eggs yet Peanut Butter (the chunky variety is no problem) why is that? Dunno???????????:mad:

I work in a very large high school and today in work, I saw someone whom I had not seen in a while and she called me over and said "Wow - look at you you have lost so much weight - what are you doing - are you having an affair?" I said "I don't think so" but I laughed so hard because I have not shared with most of the people in school my little Lap Band secret. Is that an NSV?

Had surgery April 25 and everything going well and healed up well. Since surgery have a numb spot just to the right and below the bellybutton. Today there is stinging in that area at just certain times like when I stand up suddenly and sometimes for no reason at all. It's a sharp stinging and doesn't last long. Thought I'd ask if anyone has had this problem before I call the doctor.

Quick question.. Did any of you have to take electrolytes after surgery.. like a month after or so?

Okay, so I did a ton of research before deciding on the band. This evening, I went to a support group sponsored by the doctors that will be doing my surgery. I guess they have these every month. It was mostly women and a few of them were SUPER snarky (does getting skinny make some people tacky? I wonder). But several were great and I learned a lot. So I was the only band person there. Everyone else either RNY or Vertical Gastrectomy. So I'm supportive of that, I support each person's choice. Well, when they heard I'd chosen the band, it was like "oh...well....you know people aren't that successful with that....you should really consider RNY" Almost like their s…

I am getting very, very excited....I have three of my requirements done - 1) consult with surgeon, 2) a letter from PCP re: co-mordidities and past diets, etc. and 3) the required basic seminar at the hospital! Monday morning I start with the dietatian, Tuesday is the pychololgist and Friday is PT, pulmontary, blood work and EKG......then all the paperwork goes to my insurance.....I'm dancing here....... M

So. i had the day off, and i went to the grocery store to get some things for supper. There was a sale on side pork ribs, i thinking eh..i'll get' um...everyone likes ribs. So i get home...and i season them and put them in the fridge to let them get yummy. 2 Hrs before dinner..i turned the BBQ on real low, and put the ribs on. well....they sat in the BBq for 2 hrs, until dinner was ready. While they were cooking i brushed them with a sauce i had made with canadian club rye. so everyone was sitting down to supper, i had made ribs and steamed green beens with seasme oil and lemon juice, and some roasted garlic mash potatoes, and i took a bite of a rib, and chewed it till no…

O.K., here is my situation.....I can't decide how I should approach "telling or not telling" people I am having WLS. I had decided to not tell anyone then choose to tell two people.....one was kind of a test as she is a friend but not a super close friend and the other is a very close friend. Now I have another friend in the hospital (respiratory failure) due to her weight. So I am talking to the "test" friend and forgot I told her about WLS. Instead I said, I would share something with her since we were talking about our friend in the hospital due to her weight.....my "test" friend says, "of course, you already told me about the WLS". Wow, I felt so stupid.....I gues…

Hello All, I'm scheduled for banding on July 27th at MIBC in Chicago by Dr. Horgan. I have PCOS and I am wondering if any of you existing banders with PCOS could share the benefits you've experienced since your procedure? I hope there are some, no I'm sure there has to be! I know that the weight loss is a positive benefit of course, but have your symptoms linked to PCOS diminished, i.e. acne, irregular cycle, etc.? Also has your insulin spiking decreased? I'm just curious. Thanks. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I hear people talking about PB - as something you don't want to happen. What does that mean. I am considering banding.

If anyone has had the VG band placed can you please email me and tell me what you know about it. thanks, Chrissy rccarpenter@excite.com

Help.....I am so constipated....anything I can take? Ughhhhhhh My tummy is killing me. Sorry to be asking this, but I honestly have no clue what I can take.

Ok, I have been unable to post recently since I took a new position at work and my boss sits right behind me and has really cut into my web surfing time. Anyways. I am 6 months out from my surgery and have had 3 fills and all 3 fills end the same way. I now feel like it is gone back to pre-fill restriction. I haven't even really lost much weight since my last fill so it couldn't be getting loose from the fat loss around the stomach. I have a theory and any one can tell me if I am sadly mistaken about this. When I mess up and drink a coke or overeat to the point of pain I feel that the liquid is forced out of the band around the stomach and pushed back into the tubin…

I'm looking for a support group in the Antelope Valley area, am considering lap band procedure

I Need To Find A Fill Doc I Am In Miami Florida?

Hello all my bandster buddies! I know you all have been waiting to hear how everything went with my surgery and I'm here to tell it all. (LOL) Had to check into the hospital at 10:30 and my surgery was suppose to start at 12:30. Needless to say I didn't get wheeled in until 1:15 (but it's all good). Got in the room and all I can remember when I got into the OR is the anesthesiologist over my head and that was it. I was out like a light! (LOL) Anyway, I remember the nurses telling me that I was back in the recovery room and I over heard a telephone conversation with one nurse and my niece on the phone. Got wheeled into my room and from then on I was on the go. I got out o…

We are starting the countdown! 10 days from today I will be banded! My Dr must be really strick because I'm practically on a liquid diet from here on out...I do get 1 sm meal a day (smart ones or similar). I totally binged all weekend, saying goodbye to the overly full feeling...it was really good...I had lasagna on Sat...ribs on Sun....everything was so wonderful! But to tell you the truth...it feels even better to know I've started down a new path. I'm ready....Now I need to get my ticker and I'll be set!

Does anyone else have hypothyroidism? I have for almost 18 yrs. and I am having a hard time for the last year getting my levels right(which has helped w/ gaining weight ,UGH!) My PCP (who I am getting ready to change cause he isn't on board w/ any type of WLS)said that no WLS doctor would even look at me until the thyroid is under control. anyone know anything about all this. Thanks & God bless, Donna(Punkin')

Have anyone experienced jealous husbands after weightloss and how did you deal with it?

I finally found fill Dr. (thanks to Christina (i'llsucceed) I stole her Dr.'s name off her post!) that will do my fills at a very good price ($250 for the first w/ consult and $150 everyone after that) Every other Dr. I have found wants alot of money up front that I don't have. I am getting filled on June 15th. It is 3 hours away for me, but that ok. Hopefully this fill will be the one that really helps!

OK, I hope someone can help me with this one....I was banded on April 29. Everything has gone great. At first I had no appetite at all. I had to force down water. My doctor put me on mushies Friday of last week and that was great....but still not hungry. Then Monday came along and ever since then, I'm hungry! I eat my small little portions, three times a day cause I read somewhere that's what we shold do but I'm so hungry still! I'm craving meat big time, too. I get my first fill on June 2. So, my question is...is it normal to be hungry before my first fill or is it just me?

My band feels tighter for some reason and has the past three days. It is the weirdist thing! I did travel or Oregon and just got home last night, but this is too weird. I can eat, but very slow and not much. Anyone else experience this?

Hi everyone. Just wondering what you all eat for breakfast. I have been sticking to protein shakes, egg whites, or scrambled eggs with a little cheese, cottage cheese, or a lo cal yogurt. I am getting tired of the same things. Anyone have any ideas that are quick and easy ? Something I can possibly take to work and not have to take a long time to prepare it.

As many of you know I am researching the surgery, and I have read several(100+) bandster profiles, websites, messageboards(my congrats to those who love it and my sadness to those who don't) over the weekend. There seems to be some varying opinion about feeling full. Can you plz clarify your experiences? *You have no restriction after surgery, so you don't feel full at all and you go back to eating what you want?? *You don't start PBing until you get a fill or is it right away? *How long does it take to get back to hard foods? Thanks for any assistance you can provide in advance.