RestlessMonkey

NBD! :laugh:

My port flipped but my doc can still access it. It's not COMMON, but not really uncommon either. From what I've read, the surgery to repair the port is really quick and recovery is fairly fast, too. No one wants more surgery(unless it's cosmetic to remove excess skin! LOL) but a flipped port repair isn't too awful.

If yours was clamped I'm betting it is a REALIZE band? I think the lap bands are sewn in, realize clamped. They both flip, though.

Your thread title says "port flipped" but your post says the BAND flipped. Which is it, please? the port?

My doctor told me to drink up to the point of eating then no drinking during the meal and for 30 minutes after. I had my first fill on the Sept 2 and he told me then he wanted me to work up to drinking an 8 ounce glass of Water just before each meal. He said this keeps you from eating as much and quickens weight loss. He has been doing WLS for over 20 years and swears it works wonders.

Which is the exact opposite! of what most of us (also with skilled experienced surgeons!) have been told. The plot thickens.

The effects are not cumulative. Livers can be ruined beyond recovery by 1 overdose. I'm not exaggerating for dramatic effect, either. I'm shocked you missed the brouhaha about cold medicines containing tylenol and people taking additional tylenol. Just because you got away with it a time or two doesn't mean you're impervious, you know. You can not look when you cross the street and make it a time or two; or (for a more adult analogy) have unprotected sex with a stranger and not get diseases (or a baby depending on age) too...but do you risk that?

And I don't know about the ER personnel I only know about me! I wouldn't have let it slide. What good is curing a bone infection only to lose your liver? Hmmm?

If you don't think it's really THAT dangerous, google it.

And QUIT taking 3 or more at once! Take tylenol and an NSAID if you have to take more pain med, but take then both at recommended doses!

Don't make me put you in a time out. It would be for your own good.

I'm getting stuck almost every day. I should get an un fill but thinking it's me. :laugh:

You do know that PB ing comes with the band but to do it daily is dangerous and you risk a slip? Maybe you meant you just feel uncomfortable and it goes through; but if you're getting stuck daily and vomiting it back, call your surgeon. You may need a SLIGHT (I mean slight, like .25 of a cc or less) unfill until you master the mechanics a little better.

I did that; it was smart of me. I hit good restriction in March 09, during the last 2 months of my senior year of nursing school. To say things were insane is an understatement. That was NOT the time to finally feel restriction! A small unfill; I graduated with band intact, and the day after my last final went and got the unfill replaced, plus a little more. YAY!

You don't need to suffer and you don't want to risk your band.

how about swallowing meds i take these big ass 800 moltrins will i be able to get them down????larry

I take big pills but they are potassium and dissolve.

First; check with your doc about the motrin. Many say DO NOT take NSAIDS (of which Motrin is one) because they are really harsh on the stomach and you don't want stomach trouble with the band. (you never "WANT" it, but you REALLY don't want it with the band)

Secondly if s/he approves, take 4 of the 200 motrins; that way you can take them singly or in pairs.

I am supposed to stop 15 minutes before but since I always have a bottle of Water (or later unsweet iced tea) "going", that is often problematic. And I find it REALLY hard at a restaurant where I will drink tea or water before the meal then stop when served. It moves on through the pouch quickly and so doesn't make me too full to not get proper nutrients. I eat the same amount (now about 1 cup) regardless

I think it is probably OLD data they are still giving us, like another poster (Julia N) said. IF there's a good reason I want to try to do it. If not, well, we can spread the word, right?

It's a LOT to learn! Just work on making sure you're hydrated; as you heal and move through the food stages it will get easier. Think of how long it takes babies to learn to eat? (peas everythere, etc) at least we don't do THAT (? LOL) but we do have to learn quantities, to chew, how bit a bite, and in some cases what we even CAN eat. So it's easy to get stalled out and confused.

Restless Monkey:

What form is your papaya enzyme? chewable, liquid? I'm not allowed to have pills yet. And am darned tired of crushing my meds!

As another poster said, it's chewable! I read about it on here and am happy to pass it on! :laugh: I figured it couldn't work or if it did it would tear up my esohpagus but then found on it doesn't work on living tissue, so I tried it and BAM! relief!

And I'm shocked you can't just take your pills. Check with your doc! I didn't take many during liquids (thinks like Vitamins can upset the stomach if there's no food in there) but once I was on mushies I took everything and have since then, over a year now. Each doc is a little different but mine never told me I couldn't. He just said to crush the crushables or get liquid IF pills gave me a problem. :cursing:

Thank goodness,

I think it would depend on many factors. If you attend a seminar the surgeon who runs it can advise you!

I don't know but you really need to either NOT indulge for a month or two preop, or tell your surgeon. Why? Because the smoke is hard on your lungs and if you don't tell them, they won't know to handle your anesthesia properly. So Talk to your surgeon about it.

Welcome and good luck! If you want, brace your abdomen/torso with a pillow when you sit/stand, or cough, for example. The counter-pressure helps keep the pain away! :thumbup:

Has anyone had experience with Cymbalta? It's a capsule and my surgeon said just to open it and mix it with something (although now I'm just "shooting" it straight with water).

Does the lack of coating impact the time release? Would a pharmacist know best?

I'd ask the pharmacist. However you may always be able to take it. I can take pills still, without any problem, and I take a BUNCH of big ones.

I agree that you need to stay really really hydrated and see if that does it. If not, then go for the unfill.

I know you're busy while working but if you work at it you should be able to work in enough liquids to keep you hydrated. Good luck

20 oz of Fluid isn't nearly adequate and you'll end up dehydrated...possibly over the weekend, and in for a trip to the ER.

Do you HAVE to sip? For many of us, Fluid flows easily and while you wouldn't want to chug, you can swallow.

If you can't; call your surgeon. You'll need immediate intervention. I don't mean to frighten you but dehydration is serious and you don't want it. You've probably been ok so far because of fluids pumped into you during surgery but it won't last. Dehydration can kill an animal (like us!) WAY faster than starvation ever will. We can't go without liquids.< /p>

if I did I tossed them. The band is a whole different ball of wax and I refuse to count, way, or measure ever ever again! (play dramatic music here!)

I took 3 Tylenol and went to bed.

CATHY! is this a typo? You KNOW you aren't supposed to ever more tylenol than the dosing limit; it is extremely hepatotoxic and you can literally ruin your liver by taking too much. I hope you didn't; if you did, don't do it any more! I'm just SURE that you meant "tylenol 3" or something...!!

I just had a thought. Denouement, if you are alone, just DON"T buy candy and junk like that! It works for me. I don't really have anything in the house right now that I could snack on. I could COOK something but normally have enough will power to not do that. :thumbup:

I don't have any candy, any chips, crackers, Cookies, popcorn, cake, etc so if I want to snack i'm gonna have to bake some Gorton's fish filets or just eat grated 2% cheese! LOL It's easier to resist temptation when there isn't any.

Obesity is a nasty disease, that's for sure. I went to my therapist as my "last rope" before surgery and she helped, but not enough that I felt I could lose the over 200 I need to just using what she taught me. I did well with the band (esp once I hit my green zone this May! It was love at first sight! LOL) but life is stressful and I found myself falling back into the "grazing" thing I used to do at night. It's a struggle, but then what isn't, right? My therapist is helping me and between her and the band and my desperate desire to lose more weight, I think (cross fingers) I've got the right mix! :thumbup:

And thanks, ReadyinCT, for your nice words! I googled "behavioral therapists eating disorders San Antonio" and that's how I found "my" therapist; so if your idea doesn't come up with anything, try google! :frown:

Walgreens has it. Mine is "NOW" brand but any should work. If you have a large supermarket, it may carry it too. My DH bought the bottle I have now, but I'm getting another bottle to keep in my purse. I love it. :thumbup:

AND thanks for your kind words! :frown:

Just another suggestion; I don't want to be "different" (like using special utensils etc) because I've been different (fat) for far too long. If buying special equipment doesn't appeal, this is what I do. I cut a normal "bite" and then half it and it works for me. :thumbup:

If it's something that doesn't need to be cut, get your normal "bite" and then put 1/2 back before you take the bite of food. Works like a charm for me! :frown:

Wow 8 years? That's amazing! :thumbup: You were a young guinea pig, weren't you? :frown:

The pouch probably does just hold a little, but until you are restricted (filled) it is essentially useless because food just goes on through to the rest of your stomach. And some DO have swelling and reduced hunger etc post op, but not all. I didn't, for example, and I'm not alone there!

I understand how you feel; for some it takes 6 months or more, other lucky souls hit the sweet spot early on.

Just hang in there!

I go to a therapist so I wasn't being high horsey either! :thumbup:

In fact I went to her for a year before I got the band and just started going back about a month ago. I think it's vital if you are struggling with head hunger, actually.

If I may suggest it, buy some papaya enzyme and keep it on hand. It will help dissolve stuck Protein (and the one I have is formulated with lipase and cellulase so it will also dissolve fat and veggie matter). It doesn't work on living tissue, and it has saved my fanny and my sanity AND my evening more than once.

If you are stuck and it won't go through, Papaya enzyme can almost be miraculous.