tigers1998

I had more first feel and I felt more restriction immediately. I stop whatever I'm eating when I get the stuck feeling. It usually happens more in the morning than any other part of the day. However, during my TOM, it gets so tight, I get stomach spasms when I try to eat. So I go on shakes and jello/pudding during that time. I asked the doctor, and I was informed that Fluid retention throughout the body can cause band tightness. If you've had a problem with fluid retention in the past, may be something to look into. If like me, it happens only once a month....well we know the answer to that.

Update: my first fill was completed last Thursday. It wasn't bad at all. BUT, the doc did have to dig around a little to find the port. Wasn't really painful as much as annoying. I definitely feel more tightness.

Can you all eat chicken. I thought chicken was hard to digest?

I drink AdvantEdge shakes. You can get them at most major chain grocery stores. I buy mine from Wal-Mart. Feel free to ask me anything. I will answer as best I can. I have done a lot of hilarious stuff since surgery and I keep a blog about all my experiences.

Banded July 10. Hands down the best decision I made. Also my first major surgery. To all the preops get your mushies and liquids in advance. Wear something comfortable to surgery, take your gas meds.

Wish you the best.

Congrats

Simple question: Are fills painful? I simply dislike needles but I found I do better if I know what to expect upfront. Surprises are not good for me. Please let me know how your first fill went. Nervous here.

Yes Ma'am. I had stomach spasms for three days at one point. Yes I feel pain at my port site whenever I get up too fast from a seating position. All of this is normal. I am so happy you brought it up. I was starting to feel a little weird...lol.

I agree and I guess disagree all at the same time. Yes your hunger will return. No you should not over indulge in fatty foods. Change however takes time. Don't be embarrassed that you ate chips. Just limit the amount you eat. Deprivation is the mother of all diet breaking habits. The best thing my mother (who lost over 100 pounds without surgery and has kept it off) ever told me was this: you strive to have a healthy diet as much as humanly possible. But when you truly crave something and you don't eat it, sometimes you over eat other things trying to compensate for the one item you are avoiding. It is not the fatty foods that make us lose control - one chip did not make you gain several pounds over night - it took several chips over a long period of time. So every blue moon if you have to have some chips than do so. Portion Control is the key.

Glad I had this diet before surgery. However I understand the feeling of hunger. I agree with the previous poster. Have something at the top of the hour.

You're probably just healing. I had dermabond aka body glue on my incisions. It was quite bumpy until the glue came off.

First, you are not alone. I believe that most people have doubts before surgery. I also had doubts, although not so much about having the surgery as what the results would be. Having surgery was not an option for me due to my health conditions: only choice I had is what type of surgery I wanted to have: wrap or lapband. However, in the big scheme of things, doubts or doubts no matter the reason. You have dedicated many months to this, subjected yourself to several tests, and of course bills...LOL. Never can get rid of those. So you have decided to take action to better your health. Bettering your health is always a good decision. Emotionally, it never helps to look upon the past with regret. Regret only sows doubt and stifles growth. We experience things in our lives that change us: sometimes for better and sometimes (and only however long WE ALLOW IT TOO) for the worst. We cannot undo what has been done, only make changes for our present and our future. Whatever happened to get you where you are, was NOT enough to keep you there. And that is what you should remember. You may have been set back BUT YOU ARE NOT DEFEATED. Your spirit is still strong and that is a beautiful thing. HOLD on to that and FIGHT for your joy. This journey will have its moments, but there are great things ahead. There is no surgery in the world that will FIX what you think of you. Only you can. But in my eyes, you are still winning this fight and you will be VICTORIOUS in the end if you keep trying. So smile and starve the negative emotions of power.

Are you allergic to adhesives of any kind? That could be symptom. I would ask you do you keloid but I think its to early for that. Does it itch and/or is it painful? My incisions felt a little hard and knotted at first. Now they are smoothing out ( I was banded on the 10th of July). I was told this is normal. BUT and I stress this advice: Consulting the doctor would be the best thing to do if you are concerned.

Wow. I am sorry to hear about the band. I wondered what the symptoms where to band erosion. I heard that is rare though. Did they tell you what they think may have caused it?

What does your pre op diet consist of? My advice: don't let your stomach get empty. What I mean by this is the following: keep something on it as much as possible. For me I could only have Protein Shakes and Water. So I had a shake every three hours and 1/2 to a whole bottle of water during the three hours in between. Yes you will use the restroom like its going out of style, but it will help with the hunger. Crystal Light I am told helps with the headaches. Didn't help me, but its worth a try. broth is good, fat free Jello, popsicles: all I am told help. I was not able to have those items. So again it depends on your restrictions.

To answer the question, I found that drinking a Protein Shake every three hours and half to a full bottle of Water in between is what helped me with the hunger. But for weeks, I have been trying to understand why others thought my diet after surgery was so weird. LOL. Now I get it. It seems based on most of the posts I've read, that many doctors have strict POST OP diet restrictions. I had a MONTH of PRE- Lapband diet restrictions and now a more lenient post up diet. I guess its different from doctor to doctor. I also had a moderate size hiatal hernia and an ulcer. So I wouldn't necessarily fit the normal circumstances.

I agree that is does get better. You will get less stiff as time passes. I was banded on the 10th of July.

I am sorry for the bad news you have received. I know the cancer fight is hard. I have had my own personal experience with it: twice as a matter of fact. All I can tell you on that part, is to love your brother and think on the good memories. Instead of sorrow, make it your duty to bring joy to him, to family, to yourself. As you must fight for you health, you also must fight for your joy. It is something I practice everyday of my life. If I can cry than I can laugh. If I can frown than I can smile. Where there is bad, there is also good. Rough days are ahead, but good days are well in reach. I have no advice on emotional eating. When I am emotional, I don't want to eat at all. So, I would go with the advice of others on that topic. I will pray for you and your family.

I have been told several times that chicken is one of the foods that most banders have problems with. It tends to get stuck.

Short and to the point: The Last three days have been horrible. Night sweats, unable to eat, stomach spasms, cramps, lower back pain. Ordinarily, I would not be concerned, but I have never had night sweats and stomach spasms. Today would make my 13th day post surgery and I am due to start tomorrow. Have any of you experienced band tightness, stomach pain, inability to eat food, night sweats three or four days before your cycle and/or during your cycle?

I wore my biggest scrub set. But my advice, wear something comfortable and forego the bra. You wont feel like putting anything on afterwards. I guarantee you that.

Today was NOT a good day. I struggled to sleep most of the night with dull stomach pain. In the morning, I tried to eat but couldn't finish a thing. I have been tired and cold most of the day. I am a little irritated and I just didn't feel like being bothered. I have had a Protein Shake day - food just not happening. My girls are sensitive and my back aches a little. I am two days away from my monthly nightmare. However, this is my first cycle POST lapband surgery. I'm 10 days out and I'm just not sure what is PMS and what is lapband symptoms? I'm guessing most of this is PMS. If you don't mind, please give me some advice to deal with this sensitive time. I don't know what to expect or when if at all to be concerned. My doctor is a man, not really a big help here.

LOL, love this topic. I am currently single but given the opportunity I would follow your lead.

Don't feel bad, I had the same question. I got banded on the 10th of July. I am obviously able to eat more of a variety of food than most are allowed post surgery and/or able to eat. I do feel restriction though. I can only eat little bits a time. I have lost a little wait post surgery but not at a dramatic speed. So we will see. The main thing right now is to heal. You are almost to your first fill. So update us afterward.