donali

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/LapBand/postdetail/145557.html?vc=0#145557 http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/messageboard/postdetail/1112867.html?vc=0

I assume you mean "After PBing".... Actually, after a PB, it is recommended to do liquids only for at least 24 hours. If you're still sore after that, and/or struggling with liquids, stay on them longer...

It's so hard to navigate over there... Whoo hoo!! Shelly!! Come here and post your news!! See how good I am and NOT posting your links, so you can tell LBT yourself?!?! I can't wait much longer... SHELLY, SHELLY, SHELLY... :continue chant until ShellyJ relents! :

She's giving good news somewhere else FIRST?!?!?! Shelly!!! Tell here, tell here, tell here!!!!!

Only if you're big enough to cover up one of my private bits... lol

No, Lisa, your doc tells ALL of his patients that, not just you. My last fill was my 4th (always done under fluoro), and that was October 2003 - no problems noted. At my endoscopy June 19, 2004 I was at 40% erosion.

Oh, MEGAN!!! Girl, I am delirous for you!!! YOU DESERVE THIS!!! <3 <3 <3 xxoo

oooohooooh!! Goody!! Then I want all my private bits covered up with strategically placed little cupids...

Well... According to the more drastic warning from organicconsumers, chunk light tuna is considered a "moderate" mercury fish, and consumption of moderate mercury fish should be restricted to one portion per month. But even Betty's list claims that fish chosen from their "Enjoy" list should be limited to two servings a week - that's not two servings a week for each item, that's two servings per week TOTAL from items on that list. Of course, we're all going to die from something, anyway... lol If I were trying to become or was pregnant I think I would be more wary of my fish consumption. I don't eat a lot of fish anyway, but even if I did I probably wouldn't think about the dangers unless the people around me were dropping like flies... lol Too many other things to worry about.

I'm port AND bandless... But I should be February, anyway... Those people who buy subsequent year's calendars, though, will wonder why Miss February never seems to get any smaller... Sigh...

Hi Norma - I am so sorry that you are experiencing pain. Before you throw in the towel, might I suggest that you have your surgeon examine you throughly first, to make sure all is in order? It is possible that through some sort of surgical error you are experiencing something out of the ordinary, since the vast majority of people who have researched the procedure and decided to have it done do not regret it so deeply as you appear to. It is true that a few people really cannot tolerate the band - I don't know how much of that is mental/emotional vs physical, but the end result is the same - they have the band removed. Only you can really and truly know what you can tolerate and what you cannot. I would not try to persuade you to keep the band, not knowing exactly how you feel. I can say that by day 18 I felt pretty much back to my old self. I did not suffer from the gas that you speak of, but even if I had I doubt that I would have considered giving up my band for that reason alone. I would not have kept it under insufferable pain, however, unless I was certain I knew/understood the cause, and was convinced that it would go away in a very short time. I did have to have my band removed - my stomach started to erode around the band, and I was at 40% erosion at the time of diagnosis. I was not in any pain or having any adverse effects. After the band was removed there had to be some repairs to fix the erosion. Today, seven months later, I still occasionally will feel "stuck" if I am eating too fast, or swallowed a big, less than moderately chewed bite. Other than that, my stomach feels the same as before. As far as being able to keep up with the weightloss, unfortunately I cannot at this time claim to be one of the successful ones in that regard. My hunger has returned to the same level as before, as has my capacity for quantity, and I find myself in the same struggle I had before I was banded. I have since regained 30 of the 100 pounds I lost thanks to my band, and I miss my band everyday. If you decide to have your band removed, I would advise you to seek counseling specific to compulsive overeating to help you after the band is gone. Even if you DON'T decide to have your band removed, I think the counseling is a good idea anyway. Even though my weight is slipping back up, I still think those 6 months in counseling are 6 of the most valuable months of my life. I remain hopeful about my condition, and wake up to a new day and new possibilities everyday. Again - I have NO WAY of judging your pain level - I cannot advise you if what you are feeling is "normal" or not - only you can determine what is the best for you. I wish I had my band back, and I sobbed for a week when I learned it had to be taken away. I had been banded for 18 months. Best wishes.

Hey, Megan!! Remember this?!?! http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488 Ah, we were so young and naive back then.... xxoo

Re: your pain - sorry you didn't come across these old posts!! lol pain survey - Julie H, 11-5-2003 http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=946 <HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1337 I am the super pain weenie. Right after surgery, I'd say I was at 8-9. Everything was extremely uncomfortable, I was hot, my throat was dry, I felt big as a house. Moving me into my hospital bed was not fun. I was on oxygen, and hated it. I finally took the mask off myself after an hour or two - I just couldn't take it anymore. Then, just laying still, I'd say the pain was at a 6 the first night. Throughout the night it continued to drop as long as I stayed still. They administered pain meds through the night on a schedule - I never asked for it. I took all the pain meds they gave me when I got home. Throughout the first 12 days, I had painful burping. Day 1 - 8-9 - surgery day Day 2 - 4 (when still), 6-7 when trying to move. Lived on couch. Day 3 - 1 (when still), 6 when trying to move. Lived on couch. Day 4 - 1 (when still), 6 when trying to move. Lived on couch. Day 5 - 1 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 3 sitting for 8 hours at work, 5 getting up and walking Day 6 - 1 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 3 sitting for 8 hours at work, 5 getting up and walking Day 7 - 1 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 2 sitting for 8 hours at work, 4 getting up and walking Day 8 - 1 (when still), 7 getting into/out of the car, 2 sitting for 8 hours at work, 4 getting up and walking Day 8's BIG MISTAKE - went to choir practice - 2.5 hours of deep breathing, sustained support Day 9 - 3 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 4 sitting for 6 hours at work, 6 getting up and walking. Left work early. Crashed on couch. Sick as a dog, thought I was going to die. Lots of waves of nausea, no actual throwing up. Day 10 - 4 when still, 6 getting up. Sick as a dog, thought I was going to die. Lots of waves of nausea, no actual throwing up. Lived on couch. Day 11 - 4 when still, 6 getting up. Sick as a dog, thought I was going to die. Lots of waves of nausea, no actual throwing up. Lived on couch. By 6pm I decided to go to the grocery store and get more supplies. Two severe waves of nausea while shopping, still did not throw up. Day 12 - 0 when still, 2 when moving (back to work) Day 13 - 0 when still, 2 when moving Day 14 - 0 when still, 2 when moving Day 15 - 0 when still, 1 when moving Day 16 - 0 when still, 1 when moving Day 17 - 0 when still, 1when moving Day 18 - first day getting in/out of car pain free - whoo hoo!

Cold/ICY = greater restriction. If you already have too much restriction, you should stick to warm/hot beverages. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but that's the way it goes...

Whoo hoo!!! Super congrats!

Definitely time for a slight unfill. IMHO.

Info on reflux: I would do everything you can to avoid reflux - even occasional reflux will add up and result in damage. You probably know the reflux avoidance guidelines (in order of least to most aggressive): 1. Do not over eat. 2. Avoid acid producing foods/drinks, like caffeine, chocolate, peppermint, orange juice, spicy food. 3. Do not lie down after eating (I think they recommend a 3 hour wait?) 4. Do not eat or drink 3 hours before bedtime. 5. Take an OTC med to control reflux. 6. Elevate the head of the bed (helps keep the esophagus above the stomach so there's no backflow). 7. Get a slight unfill. Ways to avoid nighttime reflux - stop eating 3-4 hours before bedtime. Avoid acid promoting foods in the evening, like caffeine and chocolate and spicy foods.

Happy, happy day!!

The reflux is a big concern, Kelly. You don't want that damage to your esophogus. Are you following the "rules" about avoiding reflux? Also, are the liquids you're taking in the mornings hot? You do sound too tight, although potato always clogged me up...

I was so certain that it was a good idea BEFORE I had the surgery, and had done so much research, that I KNEW I was going to feel crappy for a couple of weeks and so I never second-guessed my decision. I am TERRIFIED of needles and medical procedures, and there was NEVER a doubt in my mind that I had done the absolutely, very best thing for myself, ever. Well, that and the 6 months of compulsive overeating therapy I'd had 6 months BEFORE that. So I think my mind was primed for the changes a lot more than many others. Plus I'd watched my sister go through the RnY, so I knew at least I wouldn't be feeling THAT bad...

Whoo hoo!!! Congrats!!!

Hi Karen - On the third day after your fill, you were able to eat tuna and a hard boiled egg with no problems - in the morning, no less! When most people can't eat solid foods until later in the day. That does not sound "too tight" to me - particularly since eggs are one of the common problem foods. Your big mistake was being complacent with the lentil soup - it got stuck, and now your stoma is irritated and swollen. Yes - it CAN stay that way for a long time, depending on what exactly happened. Unfortunately the problem was compounded with the cold liquids you drank. Cold liquids generally = greater restriction. If you don't get a slight unfill, this is my recommendation. STOP taking anything by mouth for at least 24 hours. After that time frame, sip very slowly only hot liquids for a day or two. Then branch into less hot liquids, and only when evening comes (assuming there has been no problems with the hot liquids), try something colder if you like. If it won't go down and stay down you probably need an unfill to let the swelling go down, whatever may still be stuck pass, and your stomach rest and get back into shape. Be particularly careful in the mornings, since most people do tend to be more restricted then. I always started with hot liquids to see how they went before eating anything, and generally stuck with mushies until lunch. YMMV. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Melissa, I would definitely be wary in your position - if your port wound has NEVER healed, I find the explanation given a little faulty - you couldn't possibly have lost enough weight in the first month to have caused that problem, at which point it should have been healed for at least a little while. I would hate to see you have to go through Lisa's ordeal - she had two Mexican doctors NOT culture the Fluid, and although their intentions were good, the end result was many surgeries and lots of money (and WORSE - lots of misinformation about WHY this was happening!), only to find that most of it could have been circumvented if the first corrective surgery had followed more precautions, and if anyone had bother to culture the fluid. Good luck, and be well.

Philip - There will be many living things growing in her honor... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=61290&posted=1#post61290

There will be a climbing jasmine along my fence in her name - the vines are blooming already, and the scent is heavenly....