BANDIT GIRL

I think everyone is different, but I have heard alot of people say it doesn't hurt and for me my first (have only had one) didn't hurt at all. I was shocked! I don't like needles either and was nervous but no pain. My dr said it was because there are not as many nerves in that part of the skin as like in your hand for instance. Good luck , hope it goes well for u!

congratulations to u both!! i know the feeling of getting the final approval and knowing you are finally there!! good luck to you guys!!:thumbup:

congrats!!! one day after me!!! hope everything is still going well for u!!!!:embaressed_smile:

Well guys, I am now 6wks out from surgery and have had my first fill 1wk ago. I am doing and felling great so far! The fill was a breeze!! I hope they all go that way. It really didn't hurt ! I was sooo surprised. And he got it on the first try! Yeay Dr Fontana! I was starving before my fill. My appetite had come back with a vengence. But since my fill I am very rarely hungry at all. It really does work! I have lost 26lbs as of last wed. I only weigh myself once a week. I don't want to get bogged down and obsessed with the scale. I am very happy with my decision thus far and do not regret it one bit. I hope all continues to go so well from here on out. I hope everyone is doing well in band land!!!! :embaressed_smile:

i know the feeling, i lost 13lbs on my 1wk liquid diet gained 7 2 days after surgery(fluids from iv's) and lost it and 4 more by 1st post op visit 9days after surgery. so i am at 19lbs total since starting pre op diet. only lost 2lbs in last 2wks! ughhhhhh! i don't expect to lose alot especialyy with no fills as of yet but i am eating less that 800 calories a day maybe a little more. but we gotta hang in there.....we are in bandster hell right now. we will get there! a loss is a loss and we just have to keep trucking!! good luck!!!

i live in va and there a a few different dr's offices and practices that do the weight loss surgery. you should look around and find another practice. my program only takes about 3 months depending on your medical conditions. do an online search too! good luck!!

That is kinda a weird way of doing a fill. Wouldn't sticking the tubing with the needle cause the tubing to leak?? I have read one of the complications of lap band is tube leakage. The purpose of the port is to do fills.It has a soft spot in the middle for the needle. Never heard of that way of doing a fill. But if it is working for you....then happy days!!

i was banded on the 4th and i know what you mean about the gas. i was great except for that too. my tummy was a little sore but not bad at all. i did have a gas bubble in my upper stomach area where my band is that was very uncomfortable. it lasted a day or two. concerned me enough to call the dr because it was just very uncomfortable. i never experienced the shoulder pain like some people. i am two and a half weeks out and i had a stitch or two poke through and had to get them trimmed. one was irritating my port incision. no big deal though. i was on full liquids till my post op visit ten days after surgery. i was also on a clear liquid diet one week before surgery. i am now on mushies till one month out then if all is well i move on to solids. i get my first fill on the 10th. i wasn't really hungry in the beginning but am feeling hunger now. so i am eager to get my fill and hope it gives me at least a little restriction.i was told the lap band has some Fluid in it that is left in. i guess i'll find out how much then. well good luck to you all!!! it really does get better as time goes by.

hello heather, saw your surgery is today! just wanna wish you luck!! it really is easier than you probably think. everyone at ng is wonderful. they really make things quick and easy and everyone was really nice. let us know how you are when you can. again good luck!!:smile2:

i had my surgery aug 4th and my port was the most painful of the incisions. it has gotten much better but still a little sore but not enough to complain. i would suggest wearing loose fitting pants like stretch or thin material sweats if you can cause i notice more discomfort when i wear pants with zippers and buttons. my biggest complaint of pain or discomfort would be the tightness i felt in my upper stomach wear the band is. it was from the gas/air and swelling at the band site inside. that has gone, thank goodness. otherwise, i feel pretty normal unless my port site feels tender. good luck on your new journey!!

hello, i am currently going through the process of getting banded and i am looking for anyone who may have been banded in norfolk,va and i would love to hear from anyone who is like 3-4 years or so out and pick their brain a lil.:wink:

Hello again! I cannot recommend any shakes because the few that I have tried were yucky. I kinda feel a little restriction. The PA Deborah told me that Dr. Fontana leaves in a little Fluid in the band during the surgery. Not sure how much, probably differs per patient. I am out for 2wks per Dr. Fontana. I go back to work on the 18th. :frown:lol. The hospital stay was wonderful. Everyone in the short stay unit were great! I honestly wasn't that sore. I probably used my pain med pump a hand full of times. It really only hurt some when getting up and after walking cause ya use those stomach muscles when getting up and walking. You will have an upper GI test before you go home the next morning. The barium you have to sip is a little yucky. They do that to make sure everything is in place. I really would take the 2wks. I don't think I would've wanted to go back in a wk. It's just better with the tummy soreness and being on the liquid diet and concentrating on that. It honestly isn't as hard as I thought it would be at all. So i wish you luck!!! Keep us informed.

That's great that you have your date!! Congratulations!!:cool2: I just had my surgery Aug. 4th with Dr. Fontana. I can tell you that the whole experience was wonderful. From check in to check out! Everyone in the short stay unit was wonderful. I have nothing negative to say. I was very happy with my first surgery and hospital stay. I have had no problems and am doing very well so far. The liquid diet really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was only a little harder the last 2 days because it was the wknd. I had more free time and was used to going out to eat alot. But I lost 13lbs on it and felt pretty good. So good luck with your surgery and keep us informed! ps sugar free popsicles were my best friend during the liquid diet and are unlimited pre op....:biggrin:

my advise to you is ....bottom line , do what is right for YOU. you are the only one who knows how you feel and how it feels to deal with being overweight. don't let anyone make this decision for you.this is a forever life change that will make you so much happier and be able to strut your stuff in front of those people who say not so nice things. i know your boyfriend is important to you but not to sound mean , men come and go in our lives and you will always be you no matter what so do this for you if that is what you feel is right. if he loves you for you then he should be fine no matter what you look like big or small. good luck !!!!

well guys, it has been 4 days since surgery and i am feeling pretty darn good! i still feel a lil gas in my upper stomach where my band is. the nurse said it was trapped air. a lil uncomfortable but no real pain. my stomach feels better everyday. i only used my pain meds 3x since coming home. but only to take the edge off. wasn't hurting alot. i am very shocked at how well everything is going(hope i didn't just jinx myself). i am having no problems getting in my full liquid diet. i keep expecting to but not as of yet. i am going walking this evening around mt trashmore with my sister who had gb 2months ago and is doing great too. i really wish everyone getting ready to have their sugery great success!! this site has truely been a great help and i have gotten alot of good advice. thanks to everyone here!! it really helped me to get a good idea of what to expect.

hello everyone. my name is della and i was just banded on monday the 4th. i am doing pretty good ,better than i thought,but i do notice a tight/pressure like feeling in my chest/upper stomach and was wondering if anyone else experienced that at all? also i weighed 286lbs day of and day after discharge i weighed 293?????? i had lost 13lbs on my pre op diet and after i have gained 7lbs!!! what is that about??? could it be the iv fluids? :thumbup:

not too many questions.....ask away. my dr has me out for 2wks. i stayed overnight and went home the next morning after a upper gi test. and i have to be on a full liquid diet till my first post op appt next wed. then if everything is ok i can move on to mushies through my 1 month post op then solid food then on if all is ok. i do believe dr's tend to differ on when people can move on.

good luck tomorrow!! i was just banded monday. it really was a breeze compared to what i thought it would be. just think positive and it will all be over before you know it. i wish you luck and great success!!! :thumbup:

i'm sorry to hear about your insurance. i have optima through sentara healthcare and they just started paying for it this year. they do make ya jump through hoops though. what company is your insurance through? i know va beach public schools and the city of va beach cover it through optima.

thanks for the advice. congrats to u on losing 160lbs!! that's awesome!! and wonderful to have gained a baby!!! i hope to have 1 or 2 after a yr or so after surgery.

well guys, i got home yesterday from having my surgery. i am feeling pretty good so far. just a little sore at my incisions sites, mainly my port incision. it really just feels like i did a whole lot of sit ups or any serious ab work. but i am glad it's over and im entering into the banded world. i wish everyone well who is getting ready to have theirs. good luck!

that was for you tracyde730. sorry i forgot to do the quote reply...lol:thumbup:

good luck tomorrow!!!!! let us know how you are doing after when you are up to it.

I see you were approved!! Congratulations!!! Our prayers worked!! You are 3 days b4 me. Lets keep each other posted on how we are doing. Good luck!!!:w00t::thumbup:

I am sorry to hear your experience! That is aweful to be treated like that. He needs to realize that surgery is a last resort to everything else we have tried to lose weight. I would absolutely change dr's and I would tell them why. He needs to know he is affecting people like this. He shuld be ashamed of himself. Some dr's just don't have any bedside manner. You shoudn't let him make you feel hopeless......you sound like you have alot of hope to want to take this step to get healthy and happy. I wish you luck. Just remember, there are alot of dr's out there.......get another one.Just think of it as getting another opinion.