jennibee

My dr. calls me is "trouble child" it seems as though I am the only patient of his who has had a problem with my port flipping more than once (there have been a couple not many who have had port revision one time) He thinks it's because my underlying tissue is weak. I have my one year appt next month and will find out then if my port is flipped over again. For now it isn't a problem because I don't need a fill, it only becomes tricky when he needs access to the port. If indeed it is turned over I will need to have another revision and the dr. will detach the port and tubing from the band and put new on. There haven't been any ill-effects since the band itself has been working the whole time. I still lose weight, I'm not in any pain, and I go about my daily routine like nothing has changed. I am just getting a little worn out with having surgery every 3-4 months.

I had a similar experience two days post-op when I sneezed rather hard. Of course my "pop" was accompanied with a burning sensation and pain for a few days afterwards. I talked to the nurse at my dr's office and she said not to worry about it. Turns out I probably should have because when I went in for my first fill the dr. couldn't access my port since it had flipped over totally. I have had two port revision surgeries since my band was placed in Sept. 07. I actually think it's on it's way over again. (total bummer) I am sure what you experienced isn't as serious as all of this but it wouldn't hurt just to ask the dr if you should be worried. It doesn't hurt to make the call just to be on the safe side. Good luck!

I love steak! It's one of my favorite foods. I am able to eat it without a problem provided that it's cut in very small pieces and I chew it thoroughly. On the other hand, I cannot eat canned tuna no matter what I do.

I feel like I am floundering as well. I am ten months in and have totally lost my focus. I had garlic wings and pepperoni pizza (with ranch dressing no less) for supper and washed it down with a rootbeer float. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I don't eat like that often (in fact almost never) but it scares me crapless that I want to eat like that always. So far I have been able to curb the behavior but it's getting tough. My dr's tough-as-nails attitude makes me uncomfortable asking for guidance. Maybe I'm not really willing to admit that I need help either. Oh I KNOW I need help alright but I don't/can't bring myself to ask for it. I am certain that I have gained a few pounds but won't step on the scale to prove it. I was feeling like maybe I was alone in this dismal place, at the very least I am comforted to know that there are other people who are in the same boat. I think half of the battle for me is being aware of my self-sabotaging ways. Now I just need to find a way to fix it before it gets out of hand.:thumbup:

For me it's either/or. I absolutely know that I cannot eat french fries, they are an instant "stuck" not even one or a bite of one no matter how much I chew. I like fries as much as the next girl but it's not worth the discomfort that comes with eating them. Sometimes it kinda creeps up on me. The other day when I was on a roadtrip with a friend we stopped for something to eat. I made a very sensible choice of food, ate only a few small bites and chewed thoroughly. Twenty minutes later on the turnpike I was my mouth was watering like crazy and throwing up was imminent. I have learned to to panic, it's gonna happen if it's gonna happen. I actually felt it pass through, it was instant relief just seconds before it was coming back up. I was so glad, puking in a car when you just passed the last reststop in the state would be pretty awful. Not to mention it was like 90- degrees out that day! EWWW...today my mom was eating triscuts like they were going out of style, it thought that one would be okay, I took at least 4-5 bites out of one stinking cracker, chewed it till it was liquid and like 45 seconds after the last bite I KNEW it was stuck...it's hit or miss with me but when you are stuck you surely know!

Welcome! I want to wish you the best of luck on your WLS journey. You have come to the right place for support and encouragement. I am 9 months post-op and can't even begin to count the times that I have turned to lapbandtalk with a question or a concern ( no matter how silly it was). Know that the people in this "community" are always here for you and willing to help in anyway that they can. Good luck and keep us posted!

I experience super super tightness every morning no matter what time I get up. I am only able to eat one bite of a cereal bar! I am so tight that one little bite fills me up (painfully so) until I get my lunch break at noon. Sometimes liquid is even tough for me. It seems to loosen up in late afternoon/early evening and then look out! If it wasn't for my unwillingess to ruin my progress I would eat everything in sight! The dr. said as long as I am eating something no matter how little in the morning then things are okay. I am still losing weight slow and steady so I won't complain!

I have found that I can't eat a hamburger with the bun. It's too bulky no matter how small of a bite I take or how much I chew it still gets stuck and hurts. I don't have a problem with the meat by itself though. I try not to eat stuff like that very often. I also CANNOT eat french fries at all, not even one! And I love fries! I have tried more than a few times to have them but it's not worth the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies them.

I think you are a wonderful person! You made a very tough decision in being banded and you have put in countless hours of hard work since. So what if you lost your way? It's a new day and you can put all of that behind you (you have already done so by moving) get rid of the old and bring in the new! I really got off track and gained a few pounds. I stopped exercising because I could always manage to find something better to do. I started to slip back into my old bad habits and somewhere along the way started to care less and less. It took my daughter (who is 11) asking me if I'd lost it or what. Those were here exact words "mom have you lost it or what?" (She is a very respectful kid, she wasn't being smartmouthed when she said it) She reminded me that I had to work very hard to be banded in the first place and that she loves me and thinks I am wonderful and that I should start thinking so too. I coulda hugged the snot right out of her! It took her brand of 11 year old brutal honesty to get my head right. I have had a fill since losing my way and things have gotten back on track. I have lost about 6 pounds since and feel great! Things will fall into place for you, you just need to believe in yourself and remember why you did this to begin with. I believe in you! :crying:

I had a really hard time getting rid of my "fat clothes" everytime I would get in my closet my friends/family would say "why don't you get rid of those clothes?" I simply replied that I would clean them out when I was ready. It might seem silly but I think they were sort of like security for me. I know that I will NEVER be that size again, but saying goodbye to the old me was harder than I thought. I finally gathered up all my stuff and packed it up for the local thrift store. Yesterday I got out my summer clothes that have been packed away since before my surgery. I was delighted to have to put each and every pair of shorts,capris,pants, etc. in the goodwill box. Just for fun I put my favorite pair of shorts on and was able to fit both me and my two year old 28 pound godson inside! We took a picture and had a good chuckle, it's so hard to imagine myself being that large. I am off soon to have a healthy lunch "date" with my wonderful mom and to get myself some new smaller summer clothes! What a feeling :tt2:

I have a 10cc band and right now I'm at about 6ccs. I lost like crazy after my first fill and then it kinda dropped off. When I went in for a second fill we found out that my port had flipped so I couldn't get filled. I was able to get some more in during my port revision surgery but still don't have restriction. NONE AT ALL...I am hungry 24/7 if it weren't for knowing how hard I had to work to get this band in I probably would have gained at least 20 pounds already. I am awaiting a second port revision (that bleeping thing flipped again) hopefully after that I will get back on track.

Burping has become commonplace with me. So much so that the people closest to me aren't even annoyed with it anymore. I try very hard to be discreet about it and always excuse myself. If burping is the worst thing I have to deal with then I'll take it. My daughter (who is eleven) just giggles and gives me a score on a scale of 1-10...lol

I was wondering if there is anybody else out there that is having as hard a time with their band/port as I am? I was banded in Sept. 2007. I had my first fill 6-7 weeks out and was good for awhile. When I went for my second fill we discovered that my port had flipped completely over. I had my first port revision done in mid-January of 2008. At my six month check-up I mentioned that things weren't feeling quite right and was told not to worry about anything I'm fine. So now I go in for a fill (I am STARVING when I am done eating) and the dr. has a hard time accessing my port. Under fluro we discover AGAIN that my port has flipped. So now the dr has to determine which is the best course of action. Do another port revision even though it's ripped through twice already or do the whole surgery over again. Either way I am faced with another unpleasant experience. And I couldn't get a fill so I continue to starve until I know what's going on. Am I all alone in this miserable boat or is there anybody else who can sympathize?

My port is pretty much right in line with my bellybutton. It is located on the right side of my body. I noticed right away that any type of movement produced a "weird" sensation in the general area around my port. It could be that it wasn't right from the very start and it just took 6-7 weeks to figure it out. I still havent' heard from the dr as to just what approach he plans to take and when. I just know that I am more hungry now than b4 I was banded and I am tired of starving myself.

I have always had a sort of "uncomfortable" feeling in the general area around my port. The first time it flipped I know exactly when it happened. I called the dr's office and they told be that it was possible but not probable. Boy were they wrong. This time I could actually feel my port flipping up and to the side. Anytime I would sit or lay down it would stick up (you could see a bump on my belly) upon standing up I had to put both arms above my head and arch my back to get it to lay back down. I asked to be seen and the dr. assured me that there was NO WAY that my port could be flipped/flipping again. Wrong a second time. It actually stopped popping up a few weeks ago and that was when I was sure that it had totally gone over the whole way. I wish that they would have paid more attention to what I was saying, if they had maybe I wouldn't be facing surgery again. So I guess to answer your question it kind of felt like a dull aching, sometimes a little more painful with alot of movement (like exercise or dancing) I don't think that it's the same for everybody though I can just tell you what it felt like for me. Honestly this is the first time since I've been banded that my port doesn't hurt or bother me and now they are going to have to take it out..lol

They said perhaps I am "allergic" to the material they use to suture the port in. Maybe my body is rejecting it and trying to expell it? He also said that the gristle that he is suturing into might be weak. To be honest I don't know if anybody knows for sure why. I am so discouraged, I feel like I have come so far and am afraid that this will set me back. I am trying to stay positive. It's been worth it by far but I just wish things would be going a little easier.

I actually did do some damage by coughing/sneezing. The second night after my surgery (during one of the worse seasons for my allergies ever) I had a coughing/sneezing fit. During one rather bad spell I felt a burning right "under" my port incision. It hurt all weekend long and I got worried so I called my dr's office. The nurse told me not to worry that it's posssible but not probable that I ripped out stitches. Two months later when I went in for my first fill we discovered that my port had totally flipped over. I had to have port revision surgery and the dr. said that all four of the stitches had been pulled completely through. I am certain that things like this don't happen that often but in my case it sure did. It's only two months after port revison surgery and my port if flopping around like a dying fish again. My dr. said to grin and bear it for a little while longer as he is planning on putting in a smaller port soon anyway.

When I went for my first fill about 8-9 weeks post op my we discovered that my port had flipped completely over. I was scheduled for port revision surgery on January 15th. I have an appoinment with my doctor today because it's happening again, this time I KNOW it. When I lay down or sit a certain way I can literally feel it turning on it's side, there is a lump when it starts to turn over. I have to stand up and stretch my arms above my head and arch my back to get it to turn back over, then there is no lump, it gets nice and flat again. I'm not thrilled at the prospect of having another surgery but if it has to happen then I suppose I don't have much of a choice. It's not painful, just bothersome and the dr. has to be able to access my port at some point so I don't want it to turn over totally again.

I was banded in November also and I have been losing hair at a ridiculous rate. Everytime I wash my hair I'm devasted to see how much more is gone! I have a pretty short sassy haircut so I really can't afford to lose much more without looking bald. My dietician said I should try to get as much protein over the recommended 50 grams a day as I can. She also suggested using whey protein powder in fat free milk twice a day. I did that for two weeks and ended up gaining 6 pounds! Perhaps I might not have gained but I have a broken foot so I am not able to exercise like normal. I also bought some shampoo/conditoner at my salon, cancer patients use it (or so I am told) to help slow their hair loss. It is called Nioxin, I got the shampoo, conditioner, and a scalp treatment for 20 bucks. I think it may be helping somewhat. Just a suggestion.

I am five months post op and haven't lost a pound in almost 3 weeks. I also have a broken foot so exercising is out for me at least for a while. I'm willing to admit that I haven't been making stellar food choices (I think being depressed about my foot and sitting at home alone all day might be at fault) I haven't been out of contol with my eating either, I am sensible and don't over eat. I'm frustrated, I have already lost 50+ pounds and now-nothing...Any ideas about how to jump start losing again?

I don't think it was the fact that I ate the candy that upset me so much really. I think it was that I wanted to eat lots and lots of it. I was feeling like maybe I don't have a handle on eating and scared that I'll fail at yet another weight loss attempt. I am feeling much better about myself today. I know what I have to do and how to do it. The hershey kisses didn't kil me or set me back too much. And to be honest, THEY TASTED WONDERFUL..lol!

I am so glad to know that I'm not alone. I am nearly 5 months out and have been beating myself up over everything I put in my mouth. I was super good about what I was eating and when but lately I feel like I am out of control. Yesterday I ate two hershey kisses (before I would have eaten at least 20) and I sat in my car and cried about it. I feel lost sort of. I made an appointment with the dr. who gave me my psych eval. I am hoping that he can help me with some of the issues I'm having with food now.

The first picture is of me last St. Patricks day...somewhere around 275 pounds the second is of me on New Year's eve 08 at 217 pounds.

I had port revision on Jan 15th, my doctor wasn't able to access my port in the office and sent me off to x-ray just to discover that it had flipped over. The surgery was really easy, I went in at 12 noon and was home by 4:30 or so. I went back to work the next day, and a week later the only reminder I have is the scar and a little yellow bruise. He used different sutures this time so I shouldn't have anything to worry about now. He also gave me a 1cc fill a (which was why I went to him in the first place) and things are picking up again!

Seeing some of the other posts made me think about this guy I met at a bar once. He helped himself to the seat next to me and struck up a conversation. He mentioned that he liked dating "bigger women" and then went on to list some the the reasons why, some included that he knows he'll always be well fed and that we keep him warm in the winter. OMG, I wanted to kill him right on the spot! In what stretch of the imagination is it appropriate to talk to another human being like that? I should of said that I enjoy dating men with little "dingies" cuz I just got a new microscope.