running_scared

Did you see a doctor at any time in the past 5 years?

For the first few days, it is going to be a challenge, especially 3 litres! If it's medically necessary for you, could they do some IV fluids?

A bit of pineapple juice? Would a small amount of something else soft push it through?

I took 4.5 weeks off, but I have a sometimes physical job.

I still get the referred nerve pain from the gas, but I get it up my sternum. Talk about weirdly uncomfortable. It should get better with time.

I knew that. My liver has been man-handled before, and I'm just fine

Oh, I forgot to talk about the weird sensation with the fill. Did anyone else feel the weird crunch as the needle went into the port? That was the freakiest feeling! Also, when she pushed the port, and it felt like someone was poking me from the inside!

I got my first fill Tuesday as well. My doc does a prime, where he lets the band take in whatever saline it wants during surgery, so he didn't know what I had in. Turns out, I already had 5 cc in my 10 cc band! I got another 0.8 added. I've been abled to stay satisfied with 350 calorie meals, for a solid 2.5 to 3 hours now, so I'm on my way! Before that, I would be hungry within 2 hours with that size of meal. I'm still just a few pounds below where I was at surgery though, so I still have a long way to go. I just saw the fill nurse, and she had a heck of a time finding my port though, just call me a pin cushion! I had a big hard lump under my 2 inch incision, so I thought that was my port, but apparently that's just some scar tissue. My port is hidden about 2 inches above my belly button, under a good layer of fat. Oh well, now we know for next time. I'm back at work today for the first time since surgery, and I'm doing pretty well. I work away from home, and I have to drive about 10 hours to get there, so it was a long drive, but I didn't have any issues. I had to have a co-worker unload all my heavy work gear though, but he didn't mind. Some of my co-workers know that I had surgery, but only one has asked what it was for, and I told him a hiatal hernia repair. I took it easy with food since Tuesday, having protein shakes, and soups. Yesterday afternoon though, without even thinking about it, I made myself a chicken wrap, and I was able to eat it normally, without any issue. I guess I'll have some more time to practice my chewing and bandster eating skills

I'm in Canada, and I paid $17,000 for 5 years of care, everything included, even if I need another surgery down the road.

Cool. I can eat the really skinny rice noodles, but not spaghetti.

I am also hungry every 2.5 hours. Bring on my first fill!

Whatever questions you have, be sure to write them down as you think of them beforehand. I find that as soon as I leave, I'll think of something I forgot to ask, if I didn't write them down. Good luck!

Yay!

Burton PR, Brown WA, Laurie C, Hebbard G, O’Brien PE. Mechanisms of Bolus Clearance in Patients with Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Bands. Obes. Surg. 2010 Abstract found here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/54gnj60085v3628g/ Another one worth looking at: Reference Type: Journal Article Author: Burton, Paul Author: Brown, Wendy Author: Laurie, Cheryl Author: Richards, Melissa Author: Afkari, Sohail Author: Yap, Kenneth Author: Korin, Anna Author: Hebbard, Geoff Author: O’Brien, Paul Primary Title: The Effect of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Bands on Esophageal Motility and the Gastroesophageal Junction: Analysis Using High-Resolution Video Manometry Journal Name: Obesity Surgery Cover Date: 2009-07-01 Publisher: Springer New York Issn: 0960-8923 Subject: Medicine Start Page: 905 End Page: 914 Volume: 19 Issue: 7 Url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11695-009-9845-3 Doi: 10.1007/s11695-009-9845-3 http://www.springerlink.com/content/l664584403835lm7/ That study looked at the mechanism by which food is transported across the lap band by patients, and it shows that the food does not remain in the pouch for very long, although slightly longer than food remains in the upper portion of the stomach, for unbanded folks.

Stevia is a plant extract, while splenda is modified sugar.

I found that it was made worse by eating too many artificial sweeteners, so maybe try to limit the sugar-free jello and whatnot, see if it helps.

Did you get specific post-op eating directions from your surgeon? I'd be following those.

I think our bodies need at least a week to show the differences from a diet change.

It's probably swelling that's causing the issue now, after you've had an unfill. Some people swell more than others, and you might just be a sweller. I hope everything settles down for you.

I don't have my information mixed up, but thanks for assuming. food only stays in the pouch for longer than about 30 seconds, when you are stuck. The clinic dietician doesn't recommend drinking a lot while you eat, because then you fill up on liquid, instead of food. That being said, she told me that it is alright to drink a bit while eating (like one glass of water), as long as you don't do it in the same mouthfuls. I'm not telling people to go against their doctor's recommendations at all, but just sharing what mine says. Also, a lot of research has come out recently, that changes the way doctors understand the functionality of the lap band. This is where the information about the sensation from solid food comes from, as opposed to the 'food drains slowly from the pouch' thing that most people were originally told.

Honk, you have to have more fills as you lose weight, because the fat pad around the stomach shrinks as well, and that causes the band to loosen off.

Try getting a spoon, and eating the soup like that, to keep the 'sips' small.

I wouldn't take a whole large pill while you are first post-op, and still on liquids or mushies. Once I was eating solid food again, I transitioned back to pill tylenol, and I've had no issues. I'm due to have my first fill this week though, and so I'll let you know what happens after that.

The sensation of solid food moving past the upper stomach (where the pouch is) that triggers the brain to think you have eaten. Apparently that subtle feeling happens rather quickly with each bite, and so as long as the food is past there on its own, drinking isn't an issue, which is why 45 seconds between the two is enough.

Nothing stays in the pouch, unless you are stuck, and you don't wash food from the stomach, because of the sphincter at the bottom.