Cangel76

Okay everyone, I have an infection in a surgical site. It is awful, last saturday I noticed the infection started and I went to the emergency room and they cut open the incision right there. Now it has to get packed and unpacked every day, basic wound care. I was okay with it but now, I think I found a new infected area, which could mean the port needs to be removed and I have to go back in for surgery. I am not happy about this and I am soooo angry I can not even tell you. I know it isn't anyones fault but if the little spot doesn't clear up I might scream. If you saw how red and sore my belly is from the tape, you would cry for me. I know you would. I am waiting for the big moment I can go down a size in clothes but that isn't going to start happening until I start exercising. I can not keep like this too much longer with out going completely nuts. So I am just venting.

First of all the nurse that did my wound care was nice but wasn't following protocol. Oh well, will make sure the nurse does it right this weekend. Second of all I think I found another location that is becoming infected. I don't know what to do about it, well I do know, but I don't want to go to the Doctors and get put under, nor do I feel like having myself put through the local and a scalpel again. I keep thinking, maybe there is a way I can clear it before I have to suffer through more. Though I am appreciating the way the lap band is helping me, I am also very frustrated because I am not dropping any sizes. The weight is coming off but the clothing size is staying the same. I am agitated because I can not actually go to the gym and start toning. UGH, I just need a break.

I had a piece of stuck food yesterday. I made a huge error in that I was starving by the time I ate and not thinking about chewing well enough I guess. Well the slime, out with the food thing was fine, I even went back to finishing my meal. HOWEVER, question, Anyone who has had this happen, when you ate after that did you have trouble with excess slime making you cough and such again. The back of my throat felt like I had lots of snot, in fact my nose even started backing up. I don't have a cold and was coughing and weezing all night. It cleared up this morning but I was wondering if either a. I am GETTING a cold, or b. It can be related to the earlier sliming episode.

Wish you both the best of luck

I am now on regular foods, and let me tell you, it has been heaven. I have not been measuring like I should because I am starving all the time. I keep it to 3 meals a day most of the time and drink lots of Water. If I have been bad and didn't focus on Proteins, I have Iso Pure. Or one of my other cold protein drinks. Being on regular food with no restriction and no fill in site due to an infection in my incision, which was in my belly button, it totally sucks. It's like, "here just gain all your weight back hon."

I really didn't notice any swelling for me. I am sorry wish I could be more help. I was gassy for the first few weeks and still get burpy after I eat.

Welcome Melissa, I also have PCOS, was told I wouldn't have kids. Started going to the gym regularly and taking Vitamins, I lost some weight and ended up pregnant 10 years ago now. Then I started taking prenatal vitamins and walking and ended up pregnant about 2.5 years ago now. I am 34 and have a 2.5 year old and a ten year old. I hope that PCOS will do a couple of things, lower your cholesterol, help with sleep apnea and get you off the "border" of diabetes. If your body is healthy I would hope that the baby would come next. Good luck with your journey hon.

Good luck with your journey, it gets easier.

I know you post lots of recipes, I just figured for the newly banded, this might be a great place to get some quick information. Thanks.

missjoany I hope that they don't have to remove the port, that will be my next thing. Just had the surgery November 2, 2010. I have proved before I can eat healthy and exercise, but it never worked before, now with the band I am loosing, blessing of all blessings. I don't even have a fill yet and I am thrilled. I don't want to have to go back under the knife.

I made the number one error for bandsters, do not wait too long to eat. Do not wait until the point you are ready to chew off your hand. I ended up not chewing something as well as I thought I did and ended up making friends with the porcelin bowl. My friend, the bowl, a friend I don't want to visit again soon. It hurt but I went back and finished my meal darnit.

I was going to post this happened to me today. I went to have a fajita and though in my head I chewed it well enough a chunk of chicken went down that wasn't small enough. I made friends with my porcelin bowl and slimed it out. JOY! Then I went back and finished my meal with out the flour tortilla and it went much better after that. This was purely my fault because I was soooo hungry. I had not kept up with my meals today.

Fill up on proteins. That is the best option.

Congrats and good luck on your journey

That is so AWESOME. Congratulations.

I worked for an insurance company and they have negotiated rates with all the hospitals. Once they write off a portion of the bill that is it, it is gone and done. Sometimes the hospitals have idiots in the billing department that then tries to charge you for the write off. Also, everyone bills the insurance or they are supposed to, so there will be a bill from the radiologist who read xrays and then other care. I do not believe those dingalings sent the bill in, so it is important that you call them today and say, "my insurance covers this and did not receive your billing, if you do not submit it with in 30 days you guys have to eat the cost." They will send it in that day, trust me. EDIT: Didn't see you posted a response that it was taken care of. LOL

I am making this topic to post our favorite recipes in. High Protein Bison Chili Bison has 23g of protein per 4oz of meat, that is about half a cup. Take Bison Chopped onion Brown together Add spices I use Cayenne Pepper, Red Pepper, Cumin (dried) (If you get the actually peppers cut small and cook with the meat) Add a can of Red Kidney Beans (If fresh soak until soft, I just buy the cans of them presoaked) Add a can of crushed tomatoes (Large cans) Stir and let simmer I am not listing how much for spices because it depends on how spicy you like things. This is really thick and a half a cup is filling and full of protein, very little fat because Bison is so lean.

With the boards I haven't had a chance to say hello to everyone. I really do wish everyone the best of luck on this journey. I think this is a good place to vent, share triumphs and joys. Looking forward to getting to know you all a lot better.

I know and it annoys me that I don't have a quick tab that I can just jump to my blog. My blog is my venting place. Not thrilled with this but not much I can do about it. Edit: Sorry about that, I found my quick tab to my blog~ LOL Still don't like the new lay out though.

First of all I haven't heard of chewing 28 times. It just has to be small enough to swallow. So don't beat yourself up. I was not allowed to eat regular food. It was liquids first, then puree/musy and then regular food. Now I never said it didn't hurt, it was minimal for me, by day 7 or so I was over the worst of the gas issues. I walked a lot and most of the gas was out by day 5. Some people just have a harder time getting the gas out of their systems. IT is also more painful for people who had to have Hernias repaired so none of them would tell you it is a walk in the park. It is a major surgery. Oh and I also slept upright for one week.

If my doctor knew that the visiting nurses hasn't called me today to set up the wound care he would be mad, this infection could spread with out proper care. I am upset because I found another infected area. UGH I popped it and cleaned it out really hoping it doesn't get worse. I am still taking my infection meds so hopefully it will all be okay. However Sulfer is disgusting! LOL As far as everything else in life, it is good. I went to the support meeting tonight with the bariatric group. It is always nice to hear positive stories and those who are struggling and what they are going through and offer support. Overall I am feeling really good, believe it or not. The infection is more a bump in the road rather than a huge issue right now. If I need another surgery, well that will be more of an issue wouldn't it. Trying to remain positive. The weight is still coming off so that is good. Being on solids with no restriction has been a challenge.

I have never had Cellulitis before, my doctor said it was due to Water pooling around the wound. So this is a cellulitis came after the surgery.

I am 5' tall and was 234. I call myself the weeble wobble. I had no comorbidity, in other words I have no illnesses. I didn't have high BP my cholesterol was only up 2 points and down 2 points for good cholesterol. I had no signs of diabetes but I have Hypothyroidism which causes weight gain and then PCOS which causes weight gain. So with the odds stacked against me and wanting to be proactive I was blessed that the insurance approved me. As far as the first few weeks, they are tough, liquid diet to mushy to solids. Definately research recipes ahead of time, it will make your life so much easier to have several ideas for mushy foods. I made thick chili with bison meat. 4oz or half a cup was 23g of Protein. The pain wasn't that bad, as long as you don't lay around. You have to get up and walk and it is uncomfy, but it is much more uncomfortable to have gas trapped in your body. Once on solids before a fill, you are going to be hungry at times, Water, water, water, fluids, fluids, fluds. Stay away from sugar and carbs and you should loose weight fine. I wish you the best of luck.

Okay so first vent, I don't like the new board. Okay beyond that, I had a single incision surgery through my belly button for lap band. Last thursday I went for my 2 week post op and the doctor cleaned the belly button and said everything looks great. So then Friday my belly button was sore, figured it was just from cleaning it out. So I was thrilled waking up Saturday Morning to find a hot red spot going down from my belly button. I went to the ER and they agreed it was an infection, they called my doctor and he came in even though it was his day off. He reopened the incision while I watched. We cleaned it out now and I have to go for wound care. It also delays my first fill which sucks because with my luck I am going to gain back all the weight I lost. So now I am just hanging in there on regular foods, and hoping that this process goes quickly. I have Cellulitis, this little bump sucks. I thought I was out of the infection risk catagory two weeks out.