meg0880

I'm in St. Louis! I was banded 3/21/2008 and have lost 80 pounds so far. I have about 30ish to go. I have had issues with my band being too tight a few times so I've gone up and down on the scale for the last year. Dr. Wagner did my surgery and I am very happy with him and his office staff. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Anyway, any questions--ask! Need support--I'm here!

Megan

I can totally relate! I tried warm/hot drinks and that worked for a while, but now I've basically resigned to the fact that I can't eat until about 11ish. There are some mornings that I can't even get 4 oz Water to stay down. It's weird! But usually I'm okay to eat/drink by 11am.

I must be the odd man out here! After a fill I usually feel okay the day of but for about 3-4 days after I feel like I've come down with the flu. No stomach upset or anything like that, but really achy and just not feeling well. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that I can't eat much right away due to swelling, thus causing my body to go out of whack or what. I DREAD getting fills but I think the one I had on Tuesday will probably be my last. I'm pretty sure this will be my sweet spot....:blushing: Especially considering I've lost 6 pounds in 5 days!

I can fit into a size 14 jeans for the first time in my life!!!

I'm always cold--never hot, ever!

My shoes are getting big! Time for some new ones!

I sleep better at night.

Dr. Wagner is awesome! If you ever have a problem or need an adjustment his office is more than accomodating!!! I would recommend him to anyone considering lapband.

I really didn't lose much the first couple of months either. Don't be discouraged. When you get the right adjustment, you will see a HUGE difference in your weight loss. I am just now, one year out, finally losing a steady 12-14 pounds a month. You'll get there...just be patient! :laugh:

Didn't mess a thing up for me. Perhaps you should see your doctor. I know that anesthesia can really mess up your whole body so I guess anything is possible.

Megan

The only thing I needed pain meds for was the air in my shoulder. Otherwise, I didn't need anything at all. Good luck!

Just an update...

I saw my PCP last week and she doesn't at all think it's the phrenic nerve but instead thinks it may be little muscles coming off of the coracoid process by the shoulder. She thinks they are spasming?? I don't really agree with her but she gave me shoulder excercises to do every day and take ibuprofen for the pain. Ok, so I know that doctors have no idea what this is and this visit was a shot in the dark but really, for those of you that have this pain, do you REALLY think ibuprofen is going to help?!?!? NO! She said to come back in 3 weeks if it's not better. Guess I should be making my appointment now....

Good to know I'm not creating this pain! :cursing: I'm seeing my PCP on Thursday to see if she can help me.....thanks everyone!

akindofmagic-Don't be discourgaged! Don't get me wrong, I'm SO glad to have my band. I'm just irritated with this shoulder pain and everyone that doesn't know what it's like looks at me like I'm a freak! I am also glad to know that others are having the same problem but I wish there was something that could be done--a nerve block?? :thumbs_up: Something would be better than nothing! Hang in there and at least your doc has some sort of idea!

I know this has been talked about a thousand times already but my question is this: I am 10 months post-op and I have very severe left shoulder pain. It's not all the time and it's usually in the afternoon, although I've had it in the morning too. It doesn't always happen after a fill and it can be very random but when it's there it's PAINFUL! I have done about as much research as I can and I've come to the conclusion that it's the phrenic nerve (possibly referred pain). My doctor doesn't know what to do with me and thinks it's odd that I still have shoulder pain as he has concluded it's free air. I have a hard time believing that.

So, does anyone out there have any suggestions as to what kind of doctor I should see or start with to try to fix this? The only relief I get is from narcotics and laying on my left side. :thumbs_up:

I agree. You need to see your doctor ASAP!! This is certainly not a normal reaction from surgery.

I'm having the same issues. I have been at the same restriction since late October and everything was going fine (eating okay even!) and then the last two weeks have been horrible! I go next week for my routine appointment so I may ask him to unfill me a bit. I'm losing steadily at about 13 pounds a month, which is a lot, so I'm sure he'll be okay with it.

Just hang in there and make an appointment to be re-adjusted. I'm sure your doctor won't mind taking a little out so you can eat :biggrin:

You just don't have enough restriction yet. I did the very same thing until I found my sweet spot and now I don't want to drink anything before, during or after I eat because it's VERY uncomfortable! Good luck!

Katy-

Thank you! I will try that tonight when I get home. And oh my gosh, you are only EIGHT pounds from your goal weight!! That is awesome!! I can't wait to be there...

Suzanne,

I thought I was swollen from the PB but I guess I needed reassurance there wans't something wrong I couldn't fix! I just managed to keep down about 2 ounces of orange juice so maybe that's a sign of good things to come! Thanks!

And Anne, yes you need another fill. Mine was all willpower too until he got to about 4.5 cc's and then after that I was getting full. I'm at my sweet spot right now with 6.8cc and I am losing a steady 11-13 pounds a month!!! You'll get there, I promise!!!!!

I still have air trapped up in my left shoulder, if that's what you mean?? It was worse, but the further out from surgery I get the better it gets. For me it only gets painful in the afternoon and it's not everyday. My doctor told me he has no idea why it's still there but it should go away at some point. I don't get pain when I eat though.

Ok so I did something stupid yesterday and ate one of those sticky, chewy, surgary orange slice things and part of it got stuck. I thought last night I got it all up but I'm having a horrible time getting things to stay down. Little bits of Water will stay down and right now I'm afraid to eat anything for fear it'll come back up! Will the stuck food go down on it's own or will I need to be seen for this? I know, VERY stupid and I'll never eat those darn things again!!!!!..

Thanks!

Megan

I guess it's just weird because pre-band I ate, ate, ate when I was stressed--now I can't! LOL! And yes, it's hard to keep Water down right now too. Strange.

Just wondering if anyone out there notices more restriction when they are stressed? I have been noticing the past 2-3 days that I've been tighter and the only thing I can relate it to is stress. Anyone else?

Hi there! I was banded 3/21/08 by Dr. Van Wagner and I also went through the St. Alexius New Start program. If I had to do it over again I would have chosen to do the outpatient surgery instead of staying overnight in the hospital. I was self-pay and Dr. Wagner takes CareCredit--my surgery was about $15,000 and that included a lifetime of band adjustments.

I love Dr. Wagner and his office staff. They are very helpful and very responsive to your needs. Dr. Wagner is sort of quiet and reserved but his bedside manners are excellent. It has taken me a little longer than most to get to where I'm at (total of 26 lost now) but I'm okay with that. It just took a little longer for my band to be restricted the perfect amount! If you have more specific questions let me know and I'll try to help ya out!

Megan

My doctor has an all-inclusive package for self-pay patients. My total included lifetime adjustments. I thought most did this but I guess I was wrong. Maybe you should ask if you can do that still or if they have that option???

Interesting, never heard of anything like that. Maybe I'll give them a try.

I was banded in March and (as you can see from my signature) I've only lost 15 pounds. Now, since my adjustment on Tuesday of last week I've lost another EIGHT and I think this will be my last fill! Keep up what you are doing. Have you have a first adjustment yet? If not, that's probably why you aren't losing. Are you getting in your 30 minutes of excercise every day? If not, start moving! You are doing just fine.