armymom2012

I think surgery depends on each person. The biggest issue I had was pain in my shoulder that would not go away. They say it's because of the gas that they blow you up with, but mine seems to still be an issue for me at times, possibly something to do with the nerve near my diaphram being sensitive to the band. Don't want to scare you, most people apparently only feel this when they eat too much or too fast. Other than that I took a week off work, I was sore, but whatever you do, don't drink from a straw. I made that mistake early on and I had the worst stomach pains that would take my breath away. Other than that, I am almost 3 months past surgery and just hit a 40# loss. Best choice I ever made. Thats great your husband is all in this with you. Mine is to and it really helps, believe me. Both of us have lost weight and since I can't eat as much and have to stick to a healthier diet, so does he Good luck to you.

I had a fill today because my band really has had no restrictions up tll now. I am at 6cc's now. Seems like alot considering it is a 10cc band. But I feel ok, except for the burning shoulder pain still. Finally I think they are coming around that it may be something to do with the nerve near my diaphram. For some reason I must be sensitive to the band, so he said give it another month and then I may have to try this pill for nerve issues and see if it helps. So far I have lost weight pretty well since surgery, It has been alot of work trying to fight off the urges to keep eating. I have been walking my poor husband to death lately and considering he's a mail carrier, walking after work is probably the last thing he wants to do, but like he said, "We are in this together" I was getting kinda nervous because I have been able to eat pretty much what I want up till now. I really try not to, but sometimes it is really hard to say no to an awesome piece of grilled fish and veggies when we are out. Weighed in today, I have lost 40# since January. Honestly, I didn't think I would be losing this fast. I guess when you set your mind to something that really matters, the pros out weigh the cons. I feel like I am in such a good place right now. Ask me a few years ago and I would probably have to say, I wasn't there yet and probably wouldn'y have done as well. So when they tell you it's just a tool, their right. Your head and heart has to be there as well or it won't work I guess.

I have found quite a bit, but trying to get my doctor and the ladies at the clinic to get it out of their mind for a minute, that it isn't always about the amount of food I eat thats causing the problem . It's like they don't want to find fault in the band, just the person and thats whats frustrating. Especially since I loose every week and work really hard at eating healthy.

I know how you feel. The guys I work with bring donuts in all the time. Krispy Kreme plain ones, used to be my friend :ph34r:

I went to a lap band meeting last night and they gave us some recipes that might help us get some new things introduced into our diet so we don't get bored I haven't tried this, but it sounds good, one of the ladies said it really looks bad when it's done but way yummy once you eat it. 1 Package of Frozen chicken Breasts - Aprrox 5-6 pcs. 1 Jar of Salsa 2 Cans of Black Beans 1 Packet Taco Seasoning Add Water to mix season pack. Cook all day in Crock Pot until Chicken Falls apart. You ca add Fat Free Sour Cream or Sprinkle cheese (Optional) I think I might try this over the weekend, Sounds good

I have Suchi atleast once a week. So far I have had no problems, but some in my Lap Band group say Rice and Pasta doesn't go down well at all for them. But then again everyone is different. Just glad I can still enjoy my weekly girls night out still You never know till you try.

I had lap band surgery in January. Since then I have had 2 fills and I will have my 3rd one in the morning. I have 5cc in a 10cc band and so far I have felt no restrictions, no sliming or getting things stuck like alot of people I have heard on here. That part is good, but I am also able to eat pretty much whatever. Not that I do most of the time, but according to my doctor I should only be able to eat a half cup of food and no more than a cup. If I eat a half cup, I am starving in an hour, so most of the time it is a cup of food. Now saying that, I have consistantly lost weight each week and have now hit 40#'s. The problem is, since surgery I have had shoulder pain. At first they said it was due to gas from the surgery, then after a month I was told I was probably eating too fast or too much or maybe I had laid funny in surgery and now 3 months out, it doesn't matter if I eat at all. It will keep me up at night or be there in the morning before I eat anything. Yesterday I felt the burning in my shoulder all day. All I had to eat was decaf coffee with Protein mix for Breakast. 1/2 cup of very fine minced up Chicken salad for lunch and then I had a weight watcher cheese stick to hold me over until after the Lap Band meeting and dinner I had 1/2 cup Tuna salad, thinking maybe if I went down to 1/2 cup would help. All day my shoulder was burning and it still is this morning. I work in an office all day, so I know I haven't hurt anything lifting. I even bought a special chair in case it was because of that. The RN is not sure whats wrong and now seems to think I may have too much fill and may decide to take some out tomorrow. That worries me, because obviously I feel no restrictions, never have except right out of surgery. That is why I am frustrated. I told them about reading that sometimes a nerve in the diaphram can cause pain if the band rubs against it too much and he had never heard of that. I'd like to hear from any of you, if it still sounds like I am too full of fluid or not? And if not, what are your suggestions? I have also questioned if the band had moved or flipped, because last fill he kept hitting something hard, missing it every time until he pulled out the ultrasound machine to find the right spot. When I feel my stomach it is no longe a flat port spot, but more of a hard bubble, like the back side of the port, which would explain why it seemed as if he was hitting plastic or metal, but the RN in charge of the program says it could have been scar tissue causing trouble getting to it to. Scar tissue shouldn't sound like metal, I wouldn't think:( Frustrated!

I was wondering about that myself. About a month ago, my port seem to be moving around and I have only had it in for 3 months. At first I could feel the flat side where they put the needle in, now all I feel is like a hard ball or something. When I said something to the doctor, he said it was ok, but then when he went in to give me my second fill, he dug and dug and couldn't hit it and had to pull out the ultrasound machine and realized it was not in the place he thought it was. I thought that seemed strange, so I asked him again and he still said it was ok and that since I had lost over 30# since surgery, it would seem as if it felt different. So how did you find out it had flipped and how do they fix it? I go in Thursday for another fill and really hope he can get it the first time, because I really hate needles and digging around just creeps me out. Hope your gets better soon.

I usually will have a weight watchers cheese stick or a boiled egg white with some hummus or maybe a slice of deli chicken or turkey. That usually will get me to my next meal. Today I actually had a special K bar for something different.

Feels great don't it:) I did that last week to. I really hated to get rid of all the clothes, because most of them were pretty new to start with. Pre-Surgery. But I also had kept alot of clothes around for years, thinking my weight would go up and down aNd I might need them. Good thing, because I have quite a few things I am now able to fit into from my smaller days. But the other stuff had to go to make room for the NEW. Now I find myself bying a few things that are to small, knowing I will be in them by summer. Good Luck to you all:)

I had that issue early on as well. You might want to try Milk of Magnesia, it really helped me. I still have to take it now and then because of the lach of fiber in this diet causes issues once in awhile.

I eat around 700-900 calories a day. My doctors will not really give me an answer to that question. Last week I lost 4# and have consistantly lost 1-2# each week since surgery to the tune of 38# sinc Jan. 25 of this year. Sounds like I am on track. What is really confusing and irritating to me is that I can eat a cup of food each meal, no problem. For the most part I stick with the high end of protein and then eat my veggies like I am suppose to, but last week I was lectured about eating a cup of food at each meal. I have 5cc in a 10cc band, which Thursday I get another fill. They think I haven't hit my sweet spot yet. If I only eat 3/4 cup of food a meal, I would really like to know how you can meet your 60-70 grams of Protein in a day as well as not go into starvation mode eventually? If I did that I would be under 500 calories a day it would seem. She told me that I could cause myself to slip or erode my band if I eat a cup each meal. Seems to me if I can lost 4# in a week and lose 1-2# each week outside of that, I am probably not risking hurting myself. If anything I would think the band is getting looser. I don't know call me sllly, but her scenerio really doesn't make a lot of sence. I could see it if I was gaining weight eating what I do, but I do not. Plus I excercise about 5 days a week now. So the answer to your question may depend on your doctor. Sounds like alot of our doctors have different ideas how this procedure works.

Last week I was kinda bummed out because I gained a pound. Today I weighed in 4-1/2 pounds lighter. Guess adding the walking a few miles a day- 4 days a week and increased protein does help a lot Although I loose weight each week, she is still concerned ,that because I am able to eat a full cup of food each meal seems to be a big issue for her. Can anyone tell me how much you can eat each setting? Seems to me if I am loosing consistantly, that band erosion and slippage should not be a problem. Plus I have never had anything get stuck or come up either, but then again I'm still new to this game:( Going in for another fill next week, because she seems to think I have not hit my sweet spot yet. But for now, I can handle almost being out of the 190's.

I was told to eat a light breakfast and nothing except my water until the fill, which was also in the late afternoon. Then you are normally suppose to be on clear liquids for 2 days, Puree the 3rd and go back to normal if you are ok to do so after that. Some doctors have a different plan, but thats what I have to do for my fills. Hope that helps.

Yea, I have been pretty good about waiting the 30 min. before and after meals. Sometimes, I actually don't even get the majority of my water intake in until later in the evenings, because I sometimes forget that I haven't had my 64oz in. I pretty much eat either fish or chicken to get my protein in and drink my protein shake of a morning. As far as weighing on a scale, I don't, but most of my fish is individually packed by weight and the chicken I go by size usually according to a plate display the doctor showed me. Well I go in tomorrow evening for a weigh in. I feel pretty good this week about it, but planning every meal everyday takes some getting used to I guess in order to get the protein I am suppose to have and making room for some veggies to go with it.

Last week, I apparently gained a pound at my weigh in. This week, I waked 3 days at the park and went hiking yesterday with my husband. Got on the scale this morning and it looks as if I may have lost 4 pounds since last Tuesday. Guess I will find out tomorrow at the weigh in:) Honestly, I thought having the surgery would help me control my intake, but so far I really haven't noticed much if any restrictions, outside the first few weeks after surgery. I have consistantly lost weight each week, except last week, but it had more to do with me watching everything I eat and writing it down, so I didn't lose control. I'm just concerned that after awhile that motivation without some kind of restriction is going to pass and I will be right back where I was before if I don't watch it. I have talked to my Bariatric clinic about this and they are confused to why I don't feel any restrictions. I have 5cc's in a 10cc band. You would think that if it is actually half way full that I would stay full longer and be forced to eat less. Honestly I have no problem eating the majority of any meal I have if not all of it. Although I do try and pick healthy choices, it is still more than a cup sometimes and I was told that I should actually only be able to eat 3/4 cup most of the time. Anyone else have these issues where, you don't feel much difference with the band?

The only reason you would really have to worry about Thera Flu would be because of a conflict with your other medications, like Blood pressure meds and stuff like that. As far as joint pain, I was told nver to take ibuprofin, because it can erode the band. So now I take tylenol. You can either buy a pill slicer or get liquid. Although unless the pill is huge like some multi-vitamins, I really have no issue taking anything really, but everyone is different. Hope you feel better soon.

When I first had surgery, I kept having these painful shoulder pains. I was told they were from gas build up and then I was told it may be because I ate too much at one time. Now after three months I am still getting the shoulder pain. I will get them even if I haven't eaten anything in hours or had a very light meal or just liquids. It doesn't seem to discriminate. Has anyone had this problem and what did the docs tell you? If it wasn't for the fact that I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and take meds for them, it wouldn't bother me so much. But I can't help but wonder if that might be part of it, even though I am only 43, my family history has a lot of heart issues, which really concerns me. The doctors tell me I shouldn't worry at my age, but now wth this surgery, I am wondering how will I know what exactly is causing it? The band or something eLSE? Right after surgery I had an EKG, because the pain was so bad, but it came out ok. So I really don't know what to think.

I agree you should get that checked out. I had a lump under my right arm a few years back, come to find out after they removed it and tested it, it was just a fatty lipoma. Even so I am glad i had it checked out. Good Luck to ya.

I have to take an antibiotic before I go as well, because I have had a heart murmor that was diagosed as a kid and has been detected a few times since. Although I usually take them prior to my visit, I have forgotten a couple times without a problem. I guess it all depends on how serious your condition is as well and if it is an actually medical procedure like a root canal or extraction, then I would definately go get them and take it before you go.

I have Tricare Prime North and I was below the 40BMI, but because I have High Blood Pressure, cholesterol and joint issues related to my weight, they passed me right through. I did have to do a psych evaluation and an EKG, prior to being approved, but other than that, I did not have to show proof of 6 months trying to lose weight, but my doctor did state in her letter that she had been my doctor and had been seeing me for over 5 years and that I had been over weight all that time, which had been causing issues with my health. The only thing I had put on my application as attemts to lose weight over the years was, weight watchers, the gym, pills etc. But they didn't need to see written proof. Hope everything goes your way. I don't regret my choice at all. Plus the weight is coming off quicker than I thought:)

After I found out my insurance would cover it. I signed up at the hospital for one of their free seminars to get all the information about the procedure. That way when I talked to my doctor, I let her know that I was serious enough to find out every detail before making such a big decision. At first she was hesitant, probably because she only weighed about a 100# soaking wet and coudn't understand my delema and advised me to first change my diet a bit, add some exercise and she drew blood to check my thyroid and other things to rule any other issues out first, which delayed me almost a year, but when I went back to her and said that I wanted it done, since nothing else worked, she was in total agreement. Every doctor is different, but you have to be a bit firm and show them you are serious about making those changes and hopefully they agree. If not find a new doctor. Good Luck to Ya.

I take Viactive Vitamins with Calcium, carmel chewables, two a day. Yummy. They also have them in chocolate.You can get them at Walmart. I also take Vitamin B-12,Two,Fiber chewable tablets each day, because our diet is so limited after surgery. It sounds like a lot, but I am actually feeling much better. I didn't start taking all of this until after my surgery. But I did start n the Viactive before hand to get used to taking them and to see what worked best for me.

I wouldn't take Ibuprofin. I was told to only take Tylenol, because the other may cause erosion of the band. I had really bad pain for about two weeks after surgery, but mine was because I was not having regular bowel movements. Apparently that can cause extreme abdominal pain if not taken care of. Good Luck to ya.