barbara465

I had burning, but it was with the needle in me and I had to stand and go to the fluro machine. While standing there she filled me some more and did another barium drink. I told her it was burning, but it was the needle I was feeling not the saline. I have to be on Clear Liquids 3 days and mushies 3 days.

Your post renews my faith in doctors. My PCP is female and caring. I just love her office manners. I'm glad you found a lapband doctor that takes the time to listen to you.

Not sure what her name is, but it was his PA. She was great. I had it done at the surgicenter, not his office. After they fill you they make you drink barium and look to see if it is going down properly. Just like they did after surgery. The first time it went really fast so they put more saline in my band and had me drink again. It was a little slower, but I didn't want them to be too aggressive with the fill. I would rather go slow than have problems. I didn't have any pain. It stung a little when I got up from the table with the needle still in me for the fluro picture. However, by leaving it in there they didn't have to stick me again to add more saline. I prefer the surgicenter and want to have all my fills there.

I had my first fill yesterday. I didn't get any numbing stuff, but the poke was like a little pin prick. I didn't look at the needle, but I did watch the camera screen. She said my port was moving around so they brought in the camera and did it by watching the screen. Really cool. No pain. I was on Clear Liquids day of, clear liquids for 3 days and mushies for 3 days after. It gives the stomach a chance to adjust and the swelling to go down. Some people get tight a couple days later so time will tell.

Right away. I was not real hungry day of surgery, but definitely the next day. I stayed on my liquids and didn't cheat, but it was just sheer willpower. I have been hungry the full 4 weeks. I had my first fill yesterday so we'll see if that helps.

Had my first fill yesterday. As they were filling me up I started getting the left shoulder pain. Not real bad, but I noticed it. As I was driving home it got a little more intense and then started subsiding about an hour later. It never got real bad. I definitely think it is related.

Thanks. I'll look for them. I probably wouldn't drink it everyday, but a few times a week to get my fruit. I am having one activia a day to keep regular and that is working like a charm. I do not feel too tight this morning. I was able to drink a cup of coffee. I need to get my protein drink in, but will probably wait until lunch. Three days of clear liquids. A little tightness in my chest, but no other discomfort. I'm going to wait to see if I get tighter as the week goes by. If not, I'll call for another fill. They said to come back in 2 weeks if you are hungry and/or not losing. I too feel like this is the beginning of the program. Scary, but exciting.

I went yesterday for my first fill at the surgicenter. Everyone was extremely nice and willing to help. There were several there that were scared and the staff was wonderful. I personally am glad he isn't doing the fills. I like going to the surgicenter and having them under floro. I picked him because he is a good surgeon. I will get my comfort somewhere else. The surgicenter is perfect for me. Sorry you are having to wait for a fill. I scheduled mine in advance. If I need another one it says to go back within 2 weeks. Why not call his office and tell them that you can't get in in a reasonable time. See what they say.

Oh I did get to feel the port today. It is a little to the left of my large scar, more in the center of my stomach. It was "moving" around a little so they used the camera to insert the needle. Glad I was at the surgicenter so they could find it and then check it with fluro. They also felt that the hardness and large area of it was scar tissue. Not sure I agree, but it was better today. Isn't that the way it is - go to the doctor and the pain goes away? I'm a little apprehensive about all of this, but we'll get through it. Going to bed so I can start a new day tomorrow. Thanks to all of you for being here. It really helps to have our community of Junesters going through this together.

Back from 1st fill. I told them not to be too agressive. They said they usually put 1 cc in. When I did the barium swallow it just poured through so they put another .5 in and there was .5 already there. I now have a total of 2 cc in a 10cc band. I feel some restriction already, but able to swallow and drink water. My doctor requires 3 days of clear liquid and 3 days of mushies after a fill. He also wants you to only have clear liquids the day of a fill. So now the fun begins ....

My doctor only wants us to drink prepared (liquid) Protein drinks. Specifically lists Carnation instant as a no no. I don't know if this is valid or not but he thinks the powdered drinks clog the band. Anyway, I don't like them either, but I have found Boost to be tolerable and Slim Fast low carb. You might want to try the liquid ones to see if they are richer in taste for you. I pour mine over ice and I can get them down. I wouldn't go with just Water.

I'm sending you my info. I want to be in on this.

Everyone has given good advice. There's not much I can add except you need to stop and ask for help to get help. Start with your DH. He won't stand up and take responsibility until you tell him he has to. Make your needs known to him. Tell him your not being a drama queen. Go to MIL and tell her you need her help. Tell her its your turn to lean on her. Make them listen to you. Good luck to you. My prayers are with you.

PAB, Don't test the waters for a few days after the fill. Give your stomach a chance to adapt to the fill. Some don't feel the fill for a few days and up to a week. Go on liquids/mushies for a few days after the fill. When you start back on solids, eat only bandster portions. Then after a few weeks if you feel no restriction consult with your doctor. Some are agressive at fills and some are not. It usually takes several fills to find your "sweet" spot.

Welcome July5forme and sbaker. Now the journey begins. Make sure you are getting enough protein to keep you from getting tired. Drink your protein drinks even if it takes you all day. That seems to give you energy. You won't feel the "full" feeling in full force until you get a fill. However, some bandsters feel it right away after surgery. That's because they are swollen. Don't worry if you don't feel it, just don't overeat. Overeating can cause you to have pain and other side effects. Just eat 1/2 cup to 1 cup, depending on what your doctor says. Most are on liquids and then mushies for a while so its not an issue. Hope everyone else is doing well. Today's the day. I'll let you know how the fill goes tonight and what all this hard mass is in my tummy.

Watch that burping. I thought that was a sign of being too tight. Glad you've got some restriction. just be careful. I'll join you tomorrow in restriction land I hope!

Leila, Thanks for all the good information. I'll ask my PCP about the B12. I guess its more expensive that way, but DH wouldn't have to give me the shots anymore. The liquid for the shots is less than $5 and the cost for needles is not much. I do like the convience though of the tongue melties. Sounds like you are on a real adventure. Glad you are getting to travel and enjoy this time. Check on the internet for water aerobics. There are varied exercises you can do in the pool and you really get a workout. You may be able to join up with a group where you are or vary your own routine to incorporate some of these exercises. I get my fill tomorrow and I hope it is everything I want it to be and none of the problems I've read about.

I just received Before & After: Living & Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery. by Susan Maria Leach. I'm not real impressed. Very few recipes. She includes many variations to making protein drinks. I was really looking forward to a good cookbook, but this isn't it.

I had given them as gifts, but never used mine. When DH and I went on our Alaskan cruise I pulled that flip fold out. It worked like a charm. I was able to get so much in my suitcase. I folded everything with it. Once I figured out what all I could do with it I folded pants, shirts, T-shirts, etc. Hope you like it. p.s. I haven't used it for sheets yet.

I visited several doctors during my research. I must say they took every chance they could to slam the competition. I say that not lightly because this is a new trend, one we are not used to. Most surgeons have egos. You wouldn't want it anyother way. That being said, lapbanding is now big business. There is mucho grande dollars to be made. Communities are small and the competition is fierce. Everyone is joining in. Doctors that didn't do the surgery before are now doing it and cashing in. That is why, as patients, we must do our research and demand what we want. We are more informed than other patients with other surgeries. Now I see billboards, TV ads, newspaper ads, radio spots. You don't see this with "other" types of surgeries. We must protect ourselves from those that are in it to merely profit.

I have had the shoulder pain off and on since surgery. I discovered it is really bad when I overeat. I've also noticed I start getting twinges when I'm eating. Maybe this is my "full" signal. I just got back from lunch and had a thick soup. Shoulder pain big time. I get a fill tomorrow so I'll see if that causes it as well. I use a heating pad and wrap it around my left shoulder front and back and lay on it. I have noticed that after that I have gas. Some say it is gas, others say it is nerve damage during surgery. I don't know what it is but it is definitely related to the band and eating.

Glad to see some of you post. I thought you all had left. I take a B12 shot every week. The inability to absorb B12 through oral intake is most likely the result of the stomach. This happened to me when I got a series of immune problems, including pernicious anemia. Since surgery I haven't been as tired as usual and I don't wait in anticipation for my shot. I now have been over a week between shots. Its not because of my tremendous weight loss, i.e. 10 lbs. The reason you don't drink is because food collects in the small pouch made by the band. There are no digestive juices in that pouch so nothing breaks down the food. It passes with time through to the large stomach, taking about 1 - 1/2 hours. If you don't drink the pouch will stay fuller longer giving the sensation of being full. The nerves that tell you that you are full are at the top of the pouch. Drinking will push the food through faster and thus you will feel hungry. Chewing the food gets it to a consistency that will allow it to flow through, but think of it as a funnel. If you have food particles it will take it longer to go through the funnel. Liquid will make it go through much faster. pills shouldn't just lay in the pouch. I think that is why they want them crushed or liquid. It will allow them to pass quickly to the large stomach and out into your bloodstream. You wouldn't want some of those medicines just laying in the pouch and irritating the skin. I am still scared enough of the band not to try some things. I would love pizza and Pasta, but it just scares me. I must say that I ate a bite of toast on Sunday and nothing happened. I chewed it really well, but I was afraid that it would swell on me and sit there like a plug. I hope I remain scared because that is the only thing saving me at the moment. On the back of my picture it says I have a 10 cc band. Does that mean I have the Vanguard large one? If so, no wonder I have no restriction. I can't wait to get my answers tomorrow at the fill. I hope they can do it and that these hard lumps are not a problem. I want to get on with it, but I am hungry most of the time. I am really trying not to obsess about food. I am not looking at the foods I can't eat, but more on what I can eat. I told DH that we were not going out to eat for a week or so after my fill. It is just too scary for me and who needs that. Keep up the good work everyone. These are our challenging days. Let's hope we all survive the fills and no PBs. Let's go slow and stop before we get in trouble. Only eat moist meat covered with some type of low cal sauce to make it easier. Keep the faith. We can do this.

With no restriction you are hungry. I am too and I'm 4 weeks out. You shouldn't try to eat that much in one seating. The stomach is healing and the "weight" of the food in the pouch is what they are trying to avoid in the beginning stages. If you are really hungry eat smaller meals, but more of them, until you can get a fill. Don't let the soreness come after eating. That being said, when in doubt, call your doctor for instructions.

I would just eat soft foods and things that won't stay in the pouch long. that way, the pouch won't get overworked or too full. You may try very small meals more than 3 times a day until you get this resolved. Just my opinion. :confused:

OK, I'm in hell with you. I can eat way more than I should. I am eating good food, but too much of it. I have been hungry almost from day one. I don't think I had much swelling. I do have a very large area that is hard, from below my brest to the large incision. I don't think the port is this big so not sure what is going on. I will have a fill on Wednesday and hope I won't be able to eat as much. You are not alone in bandster hell.