sap1021

Hi. Banded at Lahey but live in Southern NH.

Sounds similar to the pain I got a few days ago when it had been 9 days post-op. I ended up sending an email to my surgeon that night and in the early morning he responded back telling me to come in that morning (Fri) to check it out. I described it also as sharp, stinging sensation that came on suddenly and didn't subside too quickly. Turns out everything's fine and it's the "port" region (left side). He said it's part of the healing process. I was already scheduled to see him this coming week to get staples out, etc. but he is very accommodating and to come in which I did and in less than 2 minutes I felt reassured and not worried these last few days before seeing him again. That was 2 days ago while I'm still feeling twinges now and again that can be described as slightly bothersome, it's not like the sharp stinging pain that I got Thursday night. Long story short, you should probably call your surgeon's office. for peace of mind. Hope all works out for you!

Hey everyone.
I'm kinda just here. It's been one week since I started regular food, and all I can say is that I've been pretty naughty. I haven't reverted back to any old lifestyle choices (like fast food twice a day, every day), but man, it sure is hard to cut carbs down to only 30g a day. I'm still working on that.
I think my swelling is officially gone, because I don't have anymore restriction. I can pretty much eat regular portions now, but I still have to chew, chew, chew or I'll give myself a stomach ache, and that just plain sucks. If I take too big of a bite, I also have trouble breathing afterward. It's teaching me to eat slower and chew more, which is a big turnaround from all the inhaling of my food I did before, lol.
My first fill is schedule for July 19th. I can't wait to see how that goes.

I was banded on 6/12, and had to sleep in a recliner for the first week, as lying on my back made me very nauseous. After the first week I could sleep lying down, but I've never been able to sleep long on my back, but was also scared of trying to sleep on my side. I bought myself a body pillow ysterday, and had the best sleep last night that I've had in a long time. It supports and cushions enough to be able to sleep on my side comfortably.

Hi everyone! I wanted to give y'all a quick update on my progress; since posting this a few weeks ago, I've applied some serious changes to my lifestyle. I no longer force myself to eat more than I can. I began going to a psychiatrist, there I was diagnosed with post partum depression (it all makes sense now) and put on an anti depressant, I will meet regularly with a therapist this way I can sort out the issues I've been having all along. I'm also exited to say that this morning I weighed myself, only to find out that I FINALLY made it out of the 250's. Today I weighed 245!! That is 11lbs! It may not seem like much, but I AM STOKED!!
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and your encouragement. I wouldn't have found my encouragement and motivation had I never posted my story on here. I'm so close to my short term goal, I can almost taste it!!
You guys mean a bunch, thank you!!
Lymarie

ledavis - PB is Productive Burp...yep, it is when your food doesn't or won't go down and your body brings it back up. It usually comes with it's cousin "slime" and nephew "chest pains". It is awful. It is a sign of eating too fast, too big, too much or your band is too tight - sometimes I think it is just "because". I have been banded a year and it was only recently that I have had to deal with this. My band is pretty tight and that may be why or it just could be ME. Anyway, I have lost 98 pounds in this year of adventure and I wouldn't go back for anything so if I get a visit from Mr PB and cousin slime and nephew chest pains - then so be it. I will be more careful next time. You do need to be aware of this as in some cases it can cause your band to slip. I had plication with my band so slippage is less likely. Have a good weekend and be sure to CHEW baby bites..
Melinda in Florida

Everyone has their own circumstances for wanting/needing the surgery. Real important thing is we support and encourage one another. That's the whole purpose of this site and the real reason why most of us come here.

Well, I feel it's important to "chime in" and express the other side of the issue. I regard this forum as a supportive environment where a diverse population can come for shared experiences, helpful ideas to improve health, self care, and emotional support. The key word is diverse...no one deserves to be put down, even those who have less weight to loose.

What I failed to read in the previous posts of this thread was any mention that there are many individuals who have to loose less than 100 pounds who are motivated to have their band surgery due to medical reasons, and not vanity. As for me, my weight loss goals are for just over 100 pounds, and my decision to have the band surgery was motivated entirely by medical issues.

I had already crossed over the A1C level to be given a diagnosis of Type II diabetes, but managed to lower it below the diabetic threshold through diet and exercise. I was so close to being diabetic that my primary care physician was concerned that during my 6 month medically supervised required diet for insurance purposes, I would become officially diabetic, and have to be diagnosed as such, which carries many repercussions from a medical and insurance standpoint. So, my surgery was motivated by a race against the ticking "diabetes clock", which I believe was a valid reason to opt for the surgery. My physicians and the insurance company did also.

I believe that I can have empathy for the forum members who have a further distance to travel on their weight loss journey...I also have had many complications to contend with, including and not limited to multiple hospitalizations for band related issues and a limited ability to exercise due to still trying to recover from multiple fractures sustained in a near fatal car accident.

No one can possibility have all the details of another person's perspective and motivations. As the saying goes, you must walk in my shoes to understand where I am coming from. There is too much we don't know about others to render any thing which approaches accurate judgement of others and their motivations to have the surgery.

I hope this forum can continue to be a place of mutual respect, support and understanding for ALL who are on their individual weight loss journeys.

Your mileage may vary...best wishes for continuing success to all of us as our journey continues...

Ok. I'm a year post op (6/6) and I've lost 78 lbs. I've gone from a size 18 to a size 10. I'm told I look great but I've got to honest, sometimes I don't see it or realize how far I've come. I got a HUGE reality check yesterday. Over a year ago I flew in a plane and squeezed myself with the seatbelt. I didn't want to ask for an extension so I sucked it all in and barely buckled up. You couldn't even see my seatbelt as it was tight and hidden under my big belly. Yesterday I flew on a plane with my family which included my sister and her two year old twins. One fell asleep in my arms mid-air. The seatbelt light came on and I didn't want to put my nephew down because I didn't want him to wake up. Ready? Ready! The seat belt fit around me AND my nephew AND IT WAS STILL LOOSE!!! I couldn't believe it. I was in tears. It was a reality on how far I've come. My weight has come off slow and I've run across many plateaus but it has and will continue to come off. I just wanted to share

A little off topic but doncha just hate those little kids selling the $1 chocolate bars at the entrance to the grocery store. They're so cute and it's for a good cause(soccer, cheerleading, scouts, etc) and I love chocolate and want to help them so I always buy one

As long as it's not going to interfere with the payment plan you have with your parents go for it. Might just be the self esteem boost you need after a divorce. You sound like a very hard worker and deserve to have a little something for yourself.

Happy Dance time.
tmf

A big piece of me feels somewhat ashamed to be here, but another side knows it is time and realizes I need to be here. I was banded more than 4 years ago, but never completed the regimen of adjustments and did not keep up with my doctor. I paid for my surgery entirely out of pocket as my insurance company was unwilling to pay for it. You would think the large cash outlay would have motivated me to see this through. Well the recession coupled with a poor insurance policy meant that I had to continue to foot all the bills out of pocket, something I could not do for the last three years. I basically let several thousands of dollars just go to waste, while all the weight I had lost in the first half year or so just came back, even with a lap band reminding me each day that what I was doing was unhealthy.
Tonight, I went back to my bariatric surgeon for the first time since the fall 2008. I am starting over. No they are not taking the band out, but we are going back to square one. He was extremely supportive and spent the time walking me through what happened and how we can start the process again with an adjustment and a regimented diet prepared with the practice's dietitian. I am on a week 2 diet in preparation for the adjustment (yummy mushy food), and am going to the gym tomorrow for the first time in three years, if nothing else to start the mental preparation of succeeding in this journey, once and for all.
I am a 41 year old husband and father of three children, 14,12,8 (girl, girl, boy). I live in northern New Jersey and work in finance for a health care company (started in 2012) that appreciates and encourages good healthy habits. The new company and the emphasis on well being motivated me to take this big step and start again.
Thanks for reading this banter. For those on the road to surgery, I offer you this advice - put your health first and keep with this program. It works if you dedicate yourself to it.

I realized that for many years I didn't Love Myself. Loving others and food was more easier then loving me!! I hated the way I looked and allowed many to just come into my life and treat me so bad. As a way of medicating myself I turned to food! It was easier then facing the truth!! I away's wondered why God kept me repeating the same cycle in my life as if I were in a summer school class. Then I got it clear as day. I had to repeat those classes (Life) because I had not learned from my mistakes. If you don't love You then no one else will!! I love myself more and more each day and will never allow food, men. harsh people take advantage of me ever again!! I learned from my mistakes and I am going all the way to being a much better me!!! NO MORE SUMMER SCHOOL!!!

Lol this is so funny I didn't get to count. They told me they were putting something in my IV to help me relax, when I woke up I was in recovery. Only thing I remember is being wheeled into the OR and getting on the table.

From my personal experience, the farther out from your banding date you are the less time you spend on the forum. At the beginning stages (preop, intial banding, first few weeks) everyone spends much more time on the boards. I know I was more apt to check in throughout the day several times. As time moves on, I find myself busier with exercise, spending more active time with my family and overall enjoying my life again. So I spend less time on the forums. However, whenever, I need reassurance or a question answered, this is the first place I go to.
It is kind of like having family. When we are younger, we spend lots of time with our relatives (cousins, aunts, uncles, etc). As we get older, we don't rely on them for our daily social life but we know we can count on them to be there if needed.

just a thought you might be losing fat at the same time as you are gaining muscle(the weight training)muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space(dense fibers) so you will look slimmer but the scale might not show it just a thought. If you need verification(more than looser clothing) start taping different areas of you body every week (a month is even better)

I didn't think it bothered me until I started looking at old pics of myself last night...we have to choose some for a photo montage at our wedding. I kept saying to my fiancé "Geez, aren't there any pictures of me where I don't look like a house?!" It definitely makes you appreciate where you came from and where you are now. I think all our wedding guests are going to think "Who is this fat girl that's in all these pictures with the groom?"

Hello everyone,
I was banded on June 13, and I am currently 5 days post op. I just keep getting these random questions in my head and figured who better to answer them then my fellow lap banders!
1. Is there any specific foods you can't eat because you can't tolerate them? (not because they aren't good for you)
2. Very random, and may sound stupid, but can you do all the rides at amusement parks, I mean before the band my tummy use to feel all funny (in a good way) so just wondering because I love park rides!
3. After reaching your goal weight, have any of you thought to either completely unfill your band, or have it removed voluntarily to avoid future issues? (erosion, slippage etc)
4. Is there something I should be asking that I am not, or something that you never thought about that you couldn't or weren't able to do?
5. Is there anyone who didn't have to get a fill ever? I mostly see people with anywhere from 4-6 fills, and I am self pay and that cost just freaks me out.
6. After getting a fill, how long are you on the liquid diet again?
7. As of now it is very painful and uncomfortable to cough, let alone throw up, so anyone who has vomited is it painful, or just how it use to be before getting banded. I am terrified of throwing up!
8. What exactly is a PB, I know it stands for 'productive burp' but what does that mean?!?
9. What is slime or sliming? Sounds nasty. I would be so embarrassed if that happened at a restauraunt...I think?
10. Is there anyone else who only had around 50-55 lbs to lose? At what rate did you lose your weight? And what was your diet and exercise routine?
I think that is all I can think of right now! Thank you fellow bandsters!

I would like to thank those of you who tried to help me with my laughing pain. I am 6 days post op and it like 80%better. Only time it give me pain now is if I am walking and laughing. At that point I buckle over and hold my stomache. But this surgery did not steal my joy I am still laughing and carrying on as normal.

Hey, somebody yelling at me about moderation....Dad? is that you??

1. Losing more weight then I ever thought I would.
2. Wearing smaller sizes then I ever thought Il would.
3. No more medications.
4. Eating out and leaving food on my plate like a normal person.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE
5. Being called a skinny bit-h

Haha, I guess I was pretty thorough, for the stage I am at right now.

1. Is there any specific foods you can't eat because you can't tolerate them? (not because they aren't good for you) Yes, Pasta, breads, thick crackers and dense food. I have a hard time with boiled eggs, the stalks of broccoli or any veggies that are under cooked. I haven't tried eating bread since my surgery.
2. Very random, and may sound stupid, but can you do all the rides at amusement parks, I mean before the band my tummy use to feel all funny (in a good way) so just wondering because I love park rides! I plan to!
3. After reaching your goal weight, have any of you thought to either completely unfill your band, or have it removed voluntarily to avoid future issues? (erosion, slippage etc I was thinking about removal before surgery but not now.
4. Is there something I should be asking that I am not, or something that you never thought about that you couldn't or weren't able to do? Ask as much as you want. This forum is awesome and everyone here is more than happy to help and support you! I can't think of anything I can't do other than eat too much which... was my problem all along.
5. Is there anyone who didn't have to get a fill ever? I mostly see people with anywhere from 4-6 fills, and I am self pay and that cost just freaks me out? I'm self pay and I just considered the expense of the fills as part of my surgery. My doc is a little different than most. He only wants to do 2 or 3 fills in my life time so I'm ok with that. I'm losing slow but that's ok as long as I'm losing. I'll get a fill when I've lost more and don't feel any restriction and then I hope to lose the rest and maintain. From the time of surgery until you first fill is what many call "Lap Band Hell." It's a time for healing not losing. Which is exactly what I did. By the time I was able to get a fill, I was more than ready!
6. After getting a fill, how long are you on the liquid diet again? I didn't follow it very well but 2 days.
7. As of now it is very painful and uncomfortable to cough, let alone throw up, so anyone who has vomited is it painful, or just how it use to be before getting banded. I am terrified of throwing up! I haven't been sick yet but understand the concern.
8. What exactly is a PB, I know it stands for 'productive burp' but what does that mean?!? I think it's when you burp to help the food go down but I'm a newbie too. Anyone?
9. What is slime or sliming? Sounds nasty. I would be so embarrassed if that happened at a restauraunt...I think? ? I should know but I don't.
10. Is there anyone else who only had around 50-55 lbs to lose? At what rate did you lose your weight? And what was your diet and exercise routine? Yes, me. I'm losing very slow but I have to remind myself that slow is good and at least I'm losing. My diet is pretty normal. I try to eat at least 3 meals a day and not eat too much. I focus on getting lots of Protein. Exercise isn't my strong point unless you think of house painting in 108 degrees as exercise Yes, Arizona is HOT!
Hope my answers help. There are so many helpful people on this site! You'll get tons of help and support here.

Great questions! Wish I had some answers, but I am about the same as you. I have about 50 lbs. to lose and I would appreciated the answers to your questions. I had band the 30th. I am having a fill the 26th. I have only lost 12lbs., but I can eat anything so my band must be empty. I hope, after the fill, that I will have some restrictions and lose more weight. I had the hernia repair, also. This has helped tremendously with the Gerd and nausea. Dox