gyfts

Irishgirl520. You definitely need to call your surgeon. They will probably want you to come in and be checked. It may not be anything but its always better to be safe than sorry. Wishing you a good outcome. ☺

My dr's plan was 1 week of clears, 1 week of full liquids, 1 week mushies/pureed, then regular food, or advance as I felt I needed too after the first week. I was eating regular food by end of week 2 without problems. I just chewed chewed chewed and was careful in types of food i ate.

I was banded on 8/15 and the gas pains from the CO2 that was blown into me during surgery hurt the worse. Any type of gas pain will get better with walking. also if you have bad gas pains in your belly, try the gas x strips. you put them on your tongue and they dissolve. They work great!! Good luck to you both on your recovery, and welcome to the losers side!!

I have the AP small band which holds a total of 11cc's. It should always have at least 1 cc in it. Thats for the cushions all around the inside of the band, to decrease risk of slippage and erosion. So that leaves room for 10cc's to be added over time for restriction. The large band can have a total of 14 cc's.

My first fill was 2.5 on 9/17 and my 2nd fill on Nov 7th, was 1.75 cc. For now i feel great restriction, but it will probably loosen some as I lose more weight.

I have had 2 fills so far, and with both fills my stomach has gurgled. Its from the inflammation around the band and from the restriction.

Are you having any problems drinking liquids? Does the noises happen all the time or just after trying to drink or eat? If you are having problems drinking, or wake up at night coughing, or feel really tight all the time, then its possible you have too much restriction.

Give it another day or so, and see if it gets better. If it doesnt, call your doctor, you may need an unfill.

Laura, what you experienced isnt that uncommon. Some people have difficult fills at first due to many reasons. I had a difficult fill my first time as well. I was stuck 12 times, but the PA used lidocaine to numb first, so it wasnt bad. However, she wasnt able to access the port. So I was scheduled to go to the hospital to Interventional Radiology and have the fill done under fluoro.

This is done by a radiologist, under a special type of xray viewing, which shows the band, the tubing, and the port. So I will have mine done under fluoro for a while until I lose more weight.

Some of the reasons for the difficulty is: 1- the port had to be sewn into deep fat tissue; 2-at first the port can move more because there is still alot of fat tissue in the belly; 3-inexperience of the dr; 4-one or both stitches holding the port in place has broken. these last 2 reasons are worse case scenarios.

so just ask your doctor if you can have it done under fluoro (if your insurance will cover it of course). Or ask if someone else in the office could try, AFTER numbing you with lidocaine.

It will get better, dont give up!! Good luck!!

hi im a fellow minnesotan, i live in st. paul. I had my band placed 8/15/07 at methodist hospital by dr. wetherille. It was such an easy surgery. Congrats on taking this big step to the new you. You will be a loser before you know it. The pre op liquid diet wasnt so bad for me, i lost 14 lbs prior to surgery. Good luck to you!

Kim

yea thats what i kinda thought.. gaining weight has always been a big reason why i didnt like to stop smoking. cause the weight goes on REALLY fast. So i thought if i quit now, then get the lap band, that will take care of the weight, plus i will have healthier lungs so i can exercise more.

Just wanted to let everyone know that my PCP did, in fact, sign my recommendation letter for the lap band surgery. After I told here everything that I had learned, and read, and saw, and talked about, for months. What was so funny, was that I went to see her because Ive been having severe knee and hip pain lately. which im sure is arthritis. She agreed, and said if I would lose some weight my arthritis would probably not give me any problems. I told her that if she would sign my recommendation letter that i could lose weight. She also told me that i needed to stop smoking to have the surgery, I told her that if she would prescribe chantix for me, that i could stop smoking. I walked out of the office a winner that day!

Thanks to all of you for your words of wisdome and support.

congratulations on your band date!! Hope all goes well for you.

:clap2: congratulations and good luck with your new journey.

:clap2: congrats on your new "birthday"!!

Congrats on your new band!! The gas will get better after a few days. As the other posters said, walk walk walk!! and the gas x strips do help also. good luck!

HI I am new and will be banded on 2/22/07 I am married and have two girls I wish you all the best

Hi Karlee-welcome to bandtalk. Hope all goes well with your surgery.

Well, my PCP prescribed Chantix for me yesterday. I started it already. So I am planning on being smoke free Saturday, Feb. 25th. YAYYYYYYYYY And low and behold, my PCP recommended me for the lap band surgery. She must have had a change of heart.

Kelly-congrats on your surgery. Hope all went well for you, and continues to go well. Keep us posted!

Im with chrissy ...BAH HUMBUG on valentines. Im just wondering how do all you ladies meet so many guys? Im 46, and dont have a clue how to meet men anymore. Ive lived a sheltered life for too long!!:help: However, it is fun to read about everyone's dating lives. Im living my life through all of you, and giving myself something to dream about . :bandit

Hi everyone,

I just want to say I'm doing really good. Weighed myself today and all together I lost 30 lbs. I'm starting to feel good about myself.

If have a question. Anyone that had the Lap Band surgery in Boston can you let me know what your doctor's name is? My Operation Manager's, close friend is starting the process and her Primary care doctor is at Mount Auburn. I told her about this Web Site and how great it is. Please let me know.

Thanks

Chris

congratulations on your success so far. You have accomplished alot. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.

Thanks yuka!! Any and all help is appreciated. Not only is it an unhealthy habit, but an expensive one too. Ive counted up the money I would save if I didnt smoke, $1200 a year!!! I could use that to take a great vacation, or to buy new clothes after Ive lost weight with my band. Plus Ill be able to breathe !!

Another great thread for us singles!! I hope it takes off.

I cant figure out how to post my picture though.

Name~~Kim

Age~~~46

Place~~ Twin Cities Minnesota

Pre Lap Band

Hi everyone! Im new to LBT, and just found this thread. What a great thread!! Im 46, by just a few days, and single. I was in a long term relationship until 18 months ago, it had lasted about 4 yrs, then my ex decided one day that he wasnt going to call anymore, wasnt going to return my phone calls, wasnt going to see me anymore, with no explanations I might add. Needless to say I was devastated. Now, Im just starting to try the dating game again, but geeessshh its difficult. I know that I have to love myself, before I can love anyone else, or expect them to love me. So thats why Im concentrating on me right now. Dating is fun, but nerve wracking at times too. Ive just decided to do the lap band, concentrate on getting me healthy physically, and i think in turn that will help with the emotional part as well. One step at a time. Congratulations to all of you and your new journeys to your weight loss and dating lives!! :clap2: :clap2:

Well, here I am at two weeks out. Feels good to be done with the gas. I said earlier that I'm glad I had to deal with intense gas for 11 days, than have port pain that so many of you have.

So tonight was my first meal of 'mushies'. I had 3/4 of a Gortons Grilled fish fillet, and about 1/4 cup of creamed spinach. FULL, fabulous, fantastic. Took about 20 minutes, as I was pacing myself. I would LOVE to have this restriction last, but thats doubtful.

Also cooked up a pot of chicken thighs, bought some shaved deli meats, more fish; and I'm off and running.

Wow, hopefully the worst is over.

Oh yea, and I'm down 16 pounds, and my BMI has dropped!!:clap2:

:clap2: :clap2: Way to go Sherilynn!! you have accomplished alot in your first 2 weeks. Keep up the good work! Keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks for all the congratulations. Today is 53 days smoke free.

The habit thing was hard for about a week.

I never smoked in my house (kids) and I rarely smoked with them in the van. I would smoke after dropping the kids off at school, work breaks, lunch, and outside. After I had my stroke two years ago, I didn't smoke infront of my DH. (really mad I couldn't quit!) So when he'd take a long bath, run to the store....bam! my heart would jump and my brain would think "cool, I can sneek another smoke before bed!"

But now, smoking doesn't even cross my mind. I NEVER thought I'd say that. I smoked for 20 years and quit three times, this is my fourth and final time.

I'm hoping the LB works for me and my eating like the Chantix did for my nicotine habit.

I really have been pushing this RX to everyone I know that wants to quit. I can put up with the gas and crazy dreams. I realized I could not put up with the prospect of having another stroke within 3 yrs if I didn't quit.

Marissa...keep it up, you can do it!~

ive asked my PCP to prescribe Chantix for me, Im waiting to hear back from her. Im not gonna get my hopes up that she will prescribe it though. This is the same PCP who wasnt supportive of my decision to get the lap band. Her comment to me was " why not just do it the old fashioned way, with diet and exercise?" grrrrrrr :girl_hug: :angry :angry So we will see what happens. Ive got to quit, because I know my lungs are damaged enough now that I will have breathing problems after surgery. Im getting bronchitis/pneumonia 1-2x/year now, and its all because of the smoking. Im a nurse, and you would think Id know better. Thank you for the support and encouraging words. thanks to all of you who responded. Ill keep you posted on what happens.

I quit, but ONLY with the help of an accountability partner and the nicotine Patches. The patch didn't help that much except for keeping me from wanting to kill people, the accountability partner helped a lot more. I knew she was counting on me to not smoke, and I was counting on her to not smoke. There were times that knowing how disappointed she would be in me was the ONLY thing that kept me from lighting up. NOTHING else kept me from it.

Good luck. Just know that it CAN be done, it's hard, but not impossible. I smoked from the time I was 10 or 11 (inhaling!) until I was 28.

Travelgirl- congratulations on your continuing smoke free life. It must feel great!! Im sure your lungs thank you too. Mine are begging me to quit!! (as i sit here and cough cough) .

Kim

I have said this a few times on the forum...I love Chantix! I totally agree with conroe. You take it for 7 days, on day 8 you QUIT, yep, cold turkey! And keep taking it for 12 weeks.

I actually quit 1 day b4 my quit date. I have been smoking for 20+ yrs and have "quit" many times before. This time I can truly say "It's for good!" In the beginning, I would think, I just got in the car, now I need to light up, but it's a habit thing, not a craving thing. I don't even have thoughts of smoking pop into my head any longer. I've been smoke free for 47 days.

There are side effects. I have had bloating and gas, and just an overall feeling of not being hungry. Maybe that's just me, but without trying I have lost around 5lbs. since the beginning of Jan. Don't get me wrong, the side effects are worth it!

Good Luck, you can do this!

Way to go Mary!! :clap2: :clap2: 47 days!! Thats wonderful!. Can you feel a difference in your body? Was it difficult to get past the habit things? The "last time" I quit it was the habit that was hardest for me to overcome. Id sit down to talk on the phone, Id immediately reach over for my cigs, or get in the car, think I needed to light up. Old habits die hard!! :nervous :nervous Keep up the good work and thanks for the reply.

Welcome, Kim-

I'm just down the street from you in Blaine, and I teach in Andover. There are Minnesotan's lurking, we must all just be quiet :confused:

Blessings to you!

Jon

Hello Jon

Thanks for the welcome!! I drive thru blaine every day on my way to work, so Ill wave the next time I go by, Ok? Have a great day!