dezzyntx

Sorry Jennifer, in my first post I asked if you had the endoscopy barium test. DUH! I meant flouroscopy barium test. Just fixing my mistake. I guess you can tell I'm not a nurse. I did have diarrhea after surgery. I just figured it was from only drinking liquids. Hope you are feeling better.

The liquid pre-op diet varies. It is at the doc's discretion. I had 1 week clear liquid pre-op, but have read that some have 2 weeks, some do not have a pre-op diet at all. I would call the doc and ask. I was told the purpose of the pre-op diet is to harden and shrink the liver to make the surgery easier. Good Luck

My port is on the right side. It is located next to my rib cage.

The chest pain you are experiencing is most likely the gas they use to blow you up during surgery. The gas pain will come and go. There are usually certain signs and symptoms of an actual heart attack. They include sweating, tightening of the chest, arm pain and I can't think of any others. Usually though at this point it is just gas. I am two weeks post op, and still feel the gas occasionally. It should get better eveyday. I can't help you on the port pain, because I have had no trouble with mine, I had to ask where it was (I was lucky in that area). I think if your port pain gets too bad I would go back to the doctor. Did they do an endoscopy barium test prior to you leaving the hospital? If they did, than they should have been able to see if you damaged anything from all the vomiting. I do pray that you begin feeling better. Keep us posted!

I am in the mushy food stage. I've also been eating some real type foods (just soft). I feel I already eat too much, and feel like I could probably eat anything I wanted. I have five incisions. The largest is about four inches down from my right breast. My port is just under it, close to my rib cage. I am one of the fortunate ones that hasn't experienced any port pain. That is one of the things I worried about pre-band. Everything is still going well. I just wish everyone will stop asking me how much weight I have lost. They don't understand how the band works. It is just really getting on my nerves. I wish I hadn't told anyone. Oh well, I guess once I really start losing I won't mind them asking.

Christina, I think we can all relate. I was a bundle of emotions and nerves. When it was over I was so relieved, and thought how silly I was for all my crazy thoughts. Just hang in there and good luck!

Hey bev, I have not yet had a fill, but from what I understand after a fill you go back to liquids for a day or two, then mushie for a day or two, then soft, then regular foods. Just take it slow while you adjust to the new fill level. Good Luck

I was banded Sept. 3. Everything is going well, haven't had any problems except I hate liquids!

Just hang in there. I was banded on 9-3-03. I had the same thoughts and feelings..still having them, but I just keep remembering why I got banded. I am still having some gas pains in my left shoulder, but I keep getting better everyday. My incisions are way better, and I am just looking forward to being a bigtime loser! Good Luck

Just one more difference...the doc told me that exercise is ok, just no abdominal exercise or heavy lifting for 3 months. I havent begun exercising yet, just banded 1 week ago. I figure I will begin walking soon. Also, my whole family is overweight, and my mother buys all the new exercise equipment (I know yall know what I mean) She just about has a whole gym! I figure I will exercise there after I dust them off...lol. Good luck to everyone and happy exercising.

Hey Linda, I just had surgery on Sept.3. The most pain I have is gas bubbles. When I stand up, I feel like I have an air bubble in my stomach for a minute, then it goes away. I also hurt a little on the right side, but it is not unbearable. I've been taking liquid tylenol for pain. I had gallbladder surgery 2 years ago, and when I woke up from it I was hurting REAL bad (gas), I was scared that this surgery was going to be like that, but from the time I woke up from surgery it was a minimal amount of pain. Good-luck, I will pray for you.

Thanks yall', Lisa the hospital was miserable because I couldn't get comfortable, I had wires all over me(IV, heart and oxygen level monitor, then they gave me oxygen), I had those hose on along with some other leg things that blow up to help circulation to prevent bood clots. All I could think about is I gotta walk around and get this gas to moving, but couldn't do to all the restiction. I just have a hard time sitting still. I feel like I have to be doing something. So that is why I was miserable. The nurses were really nice and I had no problems with the hospital itself.

Well everyone, I made it through surgery. Everything seems to be going good. I am soooo excited! I'M A BANDSTER! I worried so much before surgery its a wonder I'm not bald. I just got home and I'm taking it easy. I sure am glad to be home, the hospital was miserable. Thanks for the support and prayers. Going to lay down and rest, will post again soon.

Hey everyone, I know I don't post much, but I sure read alot. I am to leave for the hospital in 5 hours. (I guess i should get some sleep.) I am just full of so many emotions it is unreal. I am excited, scared, worried and nervous. I am sure everything will be just fine, I have had laproscopic surgery before with no problems. It's just pre-surgey jitters. (Hoping to wake up from the anastesia (sp?)!) Anyway, I just wanted to vent some feelings to people who know where I'm at, and ask for a couple of prayers. Thanks for the vent time. I will post when I return as a BANDSTER. YEAHHH!!!

Good luck on your surgery. Mine is scheduled for Sept.3 at 8am. I will keep you in my prayers. I am so excited to almost be a bandster!

At the seminar my doc offered, he stated that after being banded the reflux should disappear. Good-luck!

I think a support group would be great, I would definately join yall'. The only problem I have is I work nights Mon.-Thurs. Let me know what gets decided. I start the clear liquid pre-op diet tomorrow..YUK!

There was a flyer in the examination room that talked about a support group that cost $25.00 a session. On another board I read that there use to be one in Orange (free). The lady is going to let me know if they still have it and where it is. When I find out I will let you know.

Hey Candace, I am using Dr. Spiegel. I am to be banded on Sept.3. I like him just fine. When I went for my consultation, the nurses were real nice, and three have been banded by him. When I talked with him, I wish I would have asked more questions, he was ready to answer anything. I just couldn't think of many, plus I already had learned alot from these boards. The problems I have encountered is getting them to return phone calls and they don't seem very organized yet. It is like they don't give enough information prior to surgery. I went to the hospital on my own to find out how much money I would have to pay prior to surgery. They were not going to send me until the day before surgery(everyone is not rich!).I am very thankful to the boards (mostly this one). I have learned alot more from being here than from the dr's office. I am still having the surgery, and I do like the doc, I just wish they were more informative and organized.

Oh gosh, I am to be banded on Sept. 3. You sound just like me. I figure everyone has these crazy thoughts. I keep thinking what if I dont lose weight, what if I'm allergic to the band and my body won't tolerate it (I'm not allergic to anything). All the money I may be spending for nothing. I just end up letting go of the thoughts. I know I will use my band to its fullest. I am going to do everything right. I have just been trying to keep a good attititude and think positive thoughts. I know this can work for me and you too! Good Luck on your band. I really cant wait to get mine.

This has nothing to do with lap-band talk, but I have read several posts on people getting viruses. Last night, I opened an e-mail that said re-application. Well, I should have known better because the sender had numbers for the name, but when I noticed it was too late. I must add, I just applied for a loan to help pay for my surgery. This worm was trying to send emails to every email address i had ever seen. Luckily my virus scan picked it up and I was able to stop the emails, but it didn't delete the worm. Well, my computer was going crazy, but I was able to do a computer scan at a web site the road runner man told me about just yesterday. I was able to delete this worm. I just wanted to let everyone know about this site. I will be regularly scanning my computer. Here is the site.

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I am not trying to promote this site either. I just have never had that happen to me, and wanted to give everyone a heads up. If you receive an email like i descibed, do not try to open it..VIRUS!

I also want to add that I don't post much, close to never, but I read the posts everyday. I am a newbie, and have learned so much from here. Thanks alex for making this website. Thanks to everyone of yall that post here. Surgery date scheduled for september 3, YEAHHHH!

Well Alex, I think I was too late getting home. When I signed on around 10:30 central time no one was in there. With the power outage in the eastern states, maybe some were unable to join last night. I would love to try again. Hopefully it will kick off. Thanks again for the reply.

I do not get home until 9:15 central time. I will get on as soon as I can. Thanks Alex, and good idea Chris.

Everytime I go to the chat room, no one is in there. Does anyone go there? Is there a certain time to go there? Am I doing something wrong? Wassup with it?

Just wanted to add that I love this site, I have learned a whole lot. I know everyones information will really help when I finally get my band (which will hopefully be soon...ins.approved...waiting on the doc).

To cut down on the badgering, I got set up on my insurances web site. I was able to check it daily to see when I was approved. Maybe your insurance has a web site like this. It won't hurt to check it out. I just recieved my letter in the mail saying approved yesterday, but I knew I was approved last week. Good-Luck!