B-52

Very first thing I notice, is I get hiccups. Then soon it develops into the real thing.

I was banded 1/31, and scheduled for my first fill Tuesday. 3/1. One Month exactly! I don't find it overwhelming at all. As a matter of fact I can't wait!

I wouldn't want a "Loose" band either.

I had the exact problem. When I sipped water, it would go down no problem, then wait a brief second and you can feel the water pass through the band, with pain and sometimes gurgling. Called the Dr.told him I was getting no fluids, and he had me come in, 2 days after surgery. I demonstrated sipping water for him. He inserted a syringe in my port to make sure there was no air in the band. I left his office feeling no better. He told me it was probably post op inflammation. It did slowly get better, and was all gone in a day or 2.

I'm in the same boat as you. I feel fine, as though nothing has happened. I was banded 1/31, will get my first fill 3/1, exactly 4 weeks.

When were you banded?? For abdominal surgeries, they pump the cavity with air to lift the skin and underlying tissues (fat) up away from the organs to have access to work. Post surgery, depending how much air they are able to extract, will cause pain first in the upper abdomen, then under the sternum, ribcage, and eventually it moves up to the shoulders, primarily the left. The only way to relieve this is to get up and walk. as much as possible. My daughter is a Nurse practitioner and she explained this to me. It should only last a couple of days, no longer than a week, typically. If you were banded way before that, then your pain is unrelated to the surgery and maybe orthopedic.

First off, I'm a newbie, been banded since 1/31. When I was on liquids and then mushies. I was freaking out because everything was going down without any effort, as though I did not have the surgery at all! I was still taking shakes, because I was gaining weight. Well what I learned is that, in my case anyway, I was always feeling hungry because mushies and liquids pass right through the band. Duh..... It's only when I began eating solid food did I feel as though anything was working. I started solid foods yesterday. Today, at work we went to a food court and I ordered stir fry chicken with veggies and chinese noodles (Lo-Mein) Forget pasta! No matter how much you chew it is too doughy and goes down like a ball. I've been stuck once or twice before and this felt like it would do the same. But I did eat very little, like one noodle at a time. So I picked at the chicken. Again, found that large bites, no matter how much you chew, will feel like it will get stuck. So I learned to take smaller mouthfuls. After I finished off the chicken, I picked at the veggies. Had no problem with them, other than I wasn't hungry! I would have normally cleaned the plate and look for more, but this time I ate maybe a 3rd of what was there. I was satisfied, and was not hungry all afternoon. So if this is the way it's supposed to go, I can live with that. And I have not had a fill yet (next week) I'm going to lay off the shakes as Meal Replacements. They may be beneficial nutritonaly, on the go, but they do not leave you with the feeling that you ate anything, leaving you hungry.

I have to ask. You have been banded for 2 years and your ticker says you have only lost 18 lbs?

Yes, Call your Dr. ASAP!. Deep leg Thrombosis is a very real and potentially fatal condition. During surgery they put air splints on your lower legs to help prevent this condition. Would not suggest that is the case, but a call to your Dr. would not hurt.

I never understood that theory, since chewing is most important, thereby thoroughly mushing foods larger in size.

I had the same problem. Extreme pain when I swallowed. Even Water. I can take a sip of water, feel it go down, then wait a second and then can feel, with pain, the water passing through the band. I was not eating or drinking anything. I called my Dr., and he had me come in. Had me take a sip of water so I can demonstrate the short delay before the pain. He stuck a syringe in my port, and pulled out anything that might be there. My band was not filled, but he said sometimes there is a little air in the band from the manufacturer. He also said it was probably post-op irritation, swelling, etc. He was right. It did subside more each day. I am now 16 days post-op and it does not even feel like there is anything there. When exercising, I can guzzle down a bottle of water as always. I get my first fill 3/1.

Same for me. I was banded 1/31, and my first fill will be 3/1. Can't wait! Right now I feel the way I did before I had the surgery, with no restriction. I have to struggle to stay on a diet to stop from gaining weight. It's the same for me as dieting before being banded. I'm keeping the weight off by substituting meals with Protein shakes. (pre-op diet)

I'm a 59 y/o male and my surgery, 2 weeks ago, sounds about the same as yours. Only exception, I was able to go home right after the X-rays. My surgeon told me it was to check for leaks. Once he reads those results, I was on my way home. I arrived at the hospital at 7:45 am, surgery was at 11am, on my way home at 6pm. I'm on mushies right now, but I have a hard time finding things to eat. So I still substitute one or two meals with protien shakes. One more week and I can move on to solids.

Yep....been banded since 1/31/11. I used Central Jersey Bariatrics out of Freehold at Centra State Hospital. Won't have my first fill till 3/1.

For me, it was taking my pain meds, drink plenty of liquids, and get up and get moving! I am now 10 days, and It does not even feel like I had surgery at all!

I have reading posts here for only 1 week. I am a active member on a few other sites with different interests. What the OP is stating is no different than what is the case on other message board sites. I can cut and paste her message on a site for classic automobiles and it would fit right in. It's unfortunate, but that is the way message boards are. It's not going to change.

No, I had to do it also. 6 month medically supervised weight loss program, with progress notes. I have Highmark Blue Shield. They have been a very good insurance co. for me. Even have my own case mgr. that calls me every now and then in the evening to see how everything is going.

How many CC's did they inject for your first fill? The way my Dr. explained it to me, he will do it the same way you had yours done today.

I feel about the same as you do. I am 1 week post op. I feel no restriction, or any other after effect from the surgery. My incisions are healed, for the most part (no bandages and cleared for heavy lifting and soaking in the whirlpool ) I feel no different than I did before the surgery, other than the weight loss from pre-surgery and the week I just spent on liquids. I really wanted to cheat, but I put so much into this, that now that it's finally done I don't want to screw it up. Like damage or do harm to the band and stomach area, etc. Went to the Dr. today. Had to laugh, read your post on my Blackberry sitting in the waiting room. What a BUMMER. Hope I get better results. He told me forget the "Mushies", but eat only very soft foods. Pay attention to calories, Protein, etc, etc. Watch your diet. Scheduled me in 3 weeks, 4 weeks from surgery, to "Begin the fills" in his words.

I had surgery last Monday, 7 days. For those starting out, I have to tell you that today I feel as good as I did before the Surgery. Better even, since I have been on liquids the whole week I dropped some weight. Any and all pains I have had are no more. I can swallow freely (liquids) with no restrictions. First full day of work, and turned out to be one of those 12 hr. days. But I'm not complaining! Now I know this is the healing phase, and that my band is empty. I have my one week post-op appointment with the Doc tomorrow. Then after that I can look forward to my first fill.

250 lbs 5"7" 39 Diabetic, elevated Triglycerides, Cholesterol HDL and LDL, High Blood pressure, CAD with stent. (probably forgetting something) Highmark I am 59 y/o male. My Sister died at 64, my Brother at 60. I was taking 12 pills every morning, plus injection of 60 units Lantus at bedtime, and 3 injections per day (before meals) of Byetta. I have been Banded now for 6 days. Since I started this process, 6 mo diet, pre-op diet, etc, I have stopped all Diabetic medication, numbers holding fine. My goal is to be off ALL medications in 6 mos.

That's a first. But then I'm no expert. Did he totally dismiss you? Or did he talk about other options like the sleeve. Also, did he tell you this on your initial visit? You also said YOUR Dr. Is that your GP? Or the people who actually do the band? In any event, you will ultimately need clearance from your GP

1-3 days post op - Clear Liquids including broth 3-4 days post op - Full Liquids, including shakes, strained creme Soups, yogurt 7-13 days - Bariatric Soft - "Mushies" Week 3 - Bariatric Regular - add veggies, meats, pork, Week 4 - Reg lap band Diet These are the "guidelines" handed to me. Everything is subject to change based upon how I am doing. I am on day #6, start "mushies" tomorrow. Have 1 week surgery follow up visit with Dr. Tuesday. So to answer your question directly, 1 week before "Mushies"

Depends on the Gym. My wife and I belong to one that offers dozens of classes all times of the day. She takes advantage of a few. After I drop 50lbs I'm going to sign up for beginners yoga.

Mt daughter is a Nurse Practitioner, and has tons of OR experience as well as on the floor. I told her about some strange pains I was having. She explained to me how for these, and other surgeries, they need to pump you up with air to have room to work. They try to extract as much as possible but never get all of it. Air can become trapped and cause a lot of pain under the ribs, sternum as it slowly rises to the left shoulder. Why left I'll never know. That is why, as soon as the patient gets up to the floor, they get them walking. The more the better to work that air. Everything my Dr. handed out stated for post op to start exercising, if only walking, the next day. Strenuous lifting, heavy cardio, etc, is another issue. I'm on day 5, and get on the elliptical every day now. No more pains.