CAROLYNFC

So needed to read this today. I had a hernia repair in April and my had to be repositioned. When I had my original surgery I had no appetite and lost weight quickly. The most Fluid in my band was 5.5 cc. Now I have 4.5 cc's and can eat anything. My appetite is as big as it was before I had surgery the first time. I have gain 30 lbs. since April. A lot of this is due to steriods for bulging disk in neck. My doctor is filling me very slowly. I am really struggling. I try to eat right but it is just to easy to fall off the wagon. I loved when I knew bread would make me sick. Hate to throw up so just didn't eat it.

I had Hiatal Hernia repair and lap band replacement in April and have been experincing horrible shoulder pain in the left shoulder since surgery. I am currently in therapy for what the doctors are calling a neck issue. But I want to give the whole story and find out if anyone else has ever had this happen. When I had surgery the IV had to be placed in the bend of my arm on the left side. My hand swelled and ached and the next morning after surgery I was begging them to take it out. When I got home from hospital my arm and shoulder ached and I called the doctor several times because it hurt so bad. Since surgery it has ached on and off but in the last 3 weeks it has been killing me. I can't sleep and I am taking to much pain meds. My family doctor thought it was rotater cup and sent me to theraphy. Theraphy thinks neck. Now here is what I think and want to know what others think. When I eat I get awful cramp like pains in my left shoulder. I wonder it has something to do with the mesh that had to be placed in me during hernia reapir. I don't have a lot of Fluid in my band like 3cc. It is crazy I know! Please let me know if anyone has had this problem and what the outcome was. I see my surgeon tomorrow and I am going to try to get to the bottom of this but I would love some input!!!

Brenda my doctor said if you can eat more than a cup of food its ok as long as you are losing or maintaining. Best advice from nutristisit I received after 3 years banded. Write down what you eat. Keep records of calories, fat, and most importantly Protein. That way you can make adjustments to get the right amount of what you need. Also this is a great site to ask others what has worked for them.

OK I went to see my surgeon today and she really has no idea why I am having this pain. She has suggested pain managment doctors because they will know more about nerve pain. She is going to a big conference this weekend and she is going to do some research while there. She did tell me to keep taking my pain meds and doing thearpy to see if we can get this resolved.

I am celebrating 3 years of being banded and have lost 60 lbs. I only have 20 more to go. Here is my problem. For the last year I have been in a consented struggle with my band and reflux. I currently only have 3.5 cc in a 10 cc band. I have been working with my doctor. She adds a little like .2 cc on Monday and now I have reflux again. If I go back she will take me back down and I will be ok and wait a month to six weeks and go back for another fill. She will add a little and I will be fine. This has been the cycle for a year. I have only lost a couple pounds since the cycle began. At the beginning of this I was almost at my goal but was really sick from reflux so I had to have all Fluid taken out and I gain 20 lbs back. Now the reflux thing. I have had 3 barrium swallow test and my band hasn't slipped. They do think I may have a small hernia. Anyone else out there with this problem. Its only been 2 days since fill could I just be swollen and it will get better? I take prescription Prilosec everyday but when I lay down at night is when I have problem. I sleep on 2 pillows, don't eat 3 hours before bed and drink plenty of Water to wash out pouch. All the things I have been told. HELP!! Any ideas from anyone with this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Well it turns out I had an enoumous hernia (Doctors words). They had to put in mesh to hold it. I did get to keep my lap band. Which was repositioned while they were in there. Today makes a week recovering and it has been a hard recovery. I haven't bounced back like I did from lap band surgery. I have had no reflux this pass week which is fantastic. While in surgery another Doctor was called in to see what the best option for hernia repair. So happy I am headed in the right direction!!

Well here is another follow up. I am scheduled for a hernia repair on April 14th. They are going to unhook my lap band and then repair hernia and rehook my band. The problem I have been having is that when band was tightened it cause the hernia to rise farther in the esphagus. I am looking forward to surgery.( As weird as that may sound) I can't wait to have my band work properly for me again. I have had good success with my band. Of course with no Fluid in my band I am gaining weight. I am treating this just like I did when I was first banded.

The best Protein I have found is Carnation Instant Breakfast in sugar free. Mixed with Fat Free milk it gives you about 16 grams of protein. It is smooth and not clumpy. It taste like chocolate milk.

I had my barrium swollow and it was found that I have a hernia and my esphogus is draining slowly. I am scheduled for hernia surgery on April 14th if my insurance approves it. My insurance does not cover my band. My band will have to be undone to fix hernia and then put back. That may be the sticking point for my insurance. What is happening every time I have a little Fluid put in band it is pushing my hernia up in my throat farther. I will let you know insurance decision.

Update I go on Wen. the 12th for Barium Swallow and then up to see my doctor. The weird thing in all this is still having chest pain and have some restriction and they suppossedly took out all 3cc I had in my band. I burp alot and have a full feeling. I will be so glad to find out what is going on. Of Course, I have doning my own research and everything points to a hernia. We will see! I love being able to talk on here and know there are others like me! Thanks for listening!

Well here is where I am now. Saturday was a terrible day. After a night of no sleep and reflux I threw up 4 times and could not eat or drink. Saturday night woke up with food particals in my mouth and horrible reflux. Call my doctors office and meet the doctor on call in emergency room. They took out all 3cc from my band. My actual doctor did call me and I am to make an appointment to see whats going on. I am seriously going to tell her its time to fix this thing. A year of Fluid in and fluid out is long enough. Something isn't right. My chest is sore from reflux and I still don't feel great. I will keep you updated!!

Best decision I made when this happened to me was a revisit with the nutristionist. She taught me to re-eat and gave me some new ideas to get me motivated. Good Luck!

I am far from green zone. I can eat about what ever I want. I do feel some tightness if I eat bread. I just wondered if there is some magic trick to stop the reflux at night. I would like to have the feeling I had when first banded. I lost 58 pounds the first year but seem to take one step forward and 2 steps back now.

I am with you Ilene. I fell off the wagon fromThanksgiving to Christmas. Tomorrow starts my new year and new me. I worked to hard to lose 70 pounds and I will lose the other 30 starting December 30.

I have been banded for 2 1/2 years and have had no issues until a few months ago. I started having acid reflux really bad at night. I had to have 2cc of fluid removed from my band which put me at 3.25. I gained a few pounds because I had very liitle restriction 4 to be exact). I went back to the doctor and had .50 put back in on Tuesday and last night I expereinced some acid reflux. I had not eaten 4 hours before bed and had a glass of water about 30 minutes before bed. It felt like the water was coming back up. I have been taking omeprazole 20mg for about 6 months 1 time a day. I also had really bad reflux before surgery. I am so discouraged. What in world could be going on. I am fine all day. I don't have much restriction and did not over eat yesterday. Any advice!!!

I have had 2 barrium swollow test in the last 6 months. There is no slip but they do believe a slight hernia has formed. I had a large hernia when I had my surgery.

You need to remember you are still healing. My weight lose was slow at first but after my first fill it really took off. Just be patient! Good Luck.

Glad to see this post. I threw up one time Sunday morning because I had a pill stuck. Last night my acid reflux keep me awake and I take Omperazole 20 mg every morning. I was hoping it was just some irriation but I am going to call my doctor now. Maybe I need just a bit of fluid removed. I have had to do that once in the past.

I have used FF Kraft Mayo for years. It isn't bad!! My husband and 5 year old also use it.

My doctor told me to take Colace. She said it helps get water to the bowels. It is not a laxative so its safe to take everyday. This is what I have to use and works great.

Remember Health first. With your success you can get back on track after you are sure your health is good!!! Good Luck

When I first had my Lap Band Surgery I remember being told not to eat popcorn. Does anyone know if you can have popcorn after you have been banded for over a year. I would like some every now and then.

Three weeks post op I was not eating chicken. I was eating cottage cheese, fat free pudding and those kind of soft foods. I did not start eating chicken and such until 6 weeks after surgery. Maybe stick to softer foods for a while longer. Everyone heals different.

Thanks! I like the single serve 100 calorie microwave popcorn. When I am watching a movie with my daughter. Just haven't had any lately.

I just want to say that insurance did not cover my lap band. I was self pay and it was the best decision I ever made. 2 yrs. out and 80 lbs. thinner and feeling great. Self investment, family investment and best investment ever!!!