sfwaitinginma

Personally I rarely come on this site when I am NOT having a problem. It's only when I am having some issues and looking to see other people's experiences and get answers that I come here. So I would not think that because you see so many issues on here that this is anything like a "random sample". Don't let it scare you, but obviously do as much research as possible to be informed. And I agree with what an earlier response said about not everyone being online.

I had similar symptons in March this year (original band 11/08) and went to my doctor and found my stomach had prolapsed over the band (stomach was hanging over the band). So nothing was going down and at night it would come up. I had to have surgery and a new band put in right away. My doctor considered it an emergency and did the surgery on the Monday after he saw the problem on the upper GI (Friday)

Wow, this happens to me too. My doctor and the nurse both had never heard of that and looked at me like I was crazy when I told them about it.

crossing my legs! Wearing skirts because my legs rubbed together too much. Sitting comfortably.

skirtini's! like a tankini with a skirted bottom. JC Penney has some really cute ones - check them out on their website and good prices too! I got a couple there. Most are separates so you can get a perfect fit and mix and match and the st johns bay ones come in misses and plus sizes (the other ones might too but didn't check) JCPenney : women : swimwear : mix + match separates

Good luck and wishing you much success on your LapBand/weight loss journey!! I just started one this week. I only wrote 2 posts and they are more about anxiety and other issues (obsessive thoughts etc) that I deal with, but I plan to write more about my weght loss and the struggles I go through. I was banded 11/17/08, had a new one put in 3/22/10 due to a prolapse and have lost 99 lbs. I started at 270 and am now down to 171. I'm 5'7 1/2". As I wrote these it almost felt like a diary or journal entry. Like I said, I just started so not sure how it will progress, but take a look and follow it if you'd like. Living Life

I used to get a runny nose whenever I was full. Maybe there is something near the upper stomach that connects to the sinus area and causes pain or other sinus problems.

I'm 5'7 1/2" and 171lbs. I am still wearing a size 14, they're a little big but 12's are too tight still. I started at 270 and was wearing a size 20 - 22 (mostly Lane Bryant brand). Crazy how different it is based on body shapes..... Funny someone said their skeleton size, I've always said, I think my skeleton is an 8, and the smallest I could ever be would be a 10.

Are you eating a cup of food or less (or whatever you're docs guideline is)? Chewing until liquid and pausing a minute or 2 between bites? If you're just feeling full, I would think that was a good thing? But by stuck do you mean that horrible, extremely painful feeling in your chest? If so, I would contact your doctor immediately. You shouldn't have that with no fill and eating by the right guidelines. Or maybe it's the foods you're eating. chicken is difficult for a lot of people, so is bread, past a and rice. Also, if you are stuck, the only thing that ever worked for me, was downward facing position or a modified version of it. If you can't put your jhands on the floor, use a low stepstool or chair and stay in that position for a few minutes or longer until you feel some relief.

Congratulations!!!!!

I have no problem with Quinoa or couscous, but can't eat pasta, bread or rice. I too try to eat mostly whole foods. And have been cooking a lot more since getting the LapBand I do get some prepared foods from Whole Foods - they have a lemon cranberry quinoa that is DELICIOUS! It's quinoa with lemon juice, a little oil, cranberry, nuts, and seasonings.

It sounds like a prolapse - where your stomach comes up through the band. I had that happen in MArch and had to have a new band put in. I would definitely go see your surgeon ASAP with issues like that. My surgeon said I needed surgery right away to prevent damage and the inability to put a new one in. I found out I had the prolapse on Friday and had surgery Monday. I was able to eat but had severe heartburn and continuosly burping up stomach acids after a fill. LUckily he was able to place a new band due to a lack of any significant inflammation or damage.

I am having severe shoulder pain 17 days out from surgery. (replaced band due to prolapse- not new). I was having it right on the outer edge of the shoulder (the outer corner maybe you describe it as - where the seam of a sleeve would be). Then it moved to the back side of the shoulder but still near that "corner". Now since Monday it has been just under the edge of my shoulder blade (about the middle heightwise) near my spine in the center of my back, but still a little under the edge of the shoulderblade. Since Monday I am trying to figure out if it is muscular now - because it almost feels like it could be a knot - but I am not getting any relief from heat, ice, tylenol, massage or even the painkillers I have tried (they work the best but only dull it, it still doesn't go away and of course I don't want to take those). My doctor gave me a small fill Wednesday to prevent any movement of my band on my stomach - which he said could cause it. It went away right when he did that but has come back. He also suggested in very rare situations tubing could be touching the diaphragm and causing referred pain - but that is not likely (I can't take another surgery so hope it's not that). He said to call if I got the pain again (will do tomorrow) and I have, but am now seriously wondering if it's just muscular or not. But it feels worse when I take a deep breath and intensifies when I am full. My Doctor also said it wouldn't still be gas, that would all be gone by this time. I am looking for any responses as soon as possible (hoping for some before I call my DR tomorrow). Can you tell me what your pain was like, exactly where it was, how long you had it, if you got any relief from it, etc? I just want details from others. Thanks everyone! start weight 270 surgery weight 253 on 11/17/08 prolapse and replacement surgery 3/22/10 current weight 169 goal weight 155-160

He performed my surgery in Nov 2008. I chose him because of his experience. He is the chief of minimally invasive surgery at Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center. He is a nice guy, down to earth, pays attention to you, listens to you and doesn't rush you out the door. He was great!

the only thing I found that gives me relief when I am stuck is a yoga pose (can't remember the name of it - downward dog maybe?). You stand, bend at the waist and put your hands on the floor (so your upper body is upside down). If you can't go all the way to the floor, use a stool or a chair. Stay in that position as long as you can or until you feel "unstuck". If you need to stand up and then do it again that helps too. It has worked for me EVERY time. I learned it on here, but figured I would re-post with a title that would be easy to find. Also, just eat SLOW and CHEW and you can avoid that stuck feeling. I had surgery Nov 17, 2008. I am down 60 pounds (267 to 207, 5'8"). I still eat too fast sometimes though, especially when I'm hungry. I know it's going to happen, but sometimes I just can't help myself and have to get that food in me.........ugh

I was just wondering for everyone out there that has lost a good amount of weight and has been continuously losing or is at goal weight - how much did you exercise, what kind of exercise, and is there anyone out there that didn't exercise and still lost? I am just curious what everyone's experience has been. I was banded 11/17. I lost 14 lbs pre-op and 21 since. A week after surgery I started walking 20 minutes a day increasing a few minutes a day and have been doing 35 minutes since week 3. In another week I can start doing more than that.

ginnytwo - I tried some chinese food this past weekend and spit it out (only two bites, but I knew I couldn't cheat). Then I was disgusted with myself afterward. But, I know exactly what you mean when you say you just want to chew and savor something. My surgery date was 11/17. I was on a modified full liquid diet for 3 weeks (included yogurt, whipped cottage cheese, applesauce and pudding). I called my doctor yesterday and said I was starving (which I'm not but I needed some new food, some flavor or something). So they said I could add mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, very wet/moist salmon and haddock, tuna fish salad and saltines!!!!!!!!! I was so excited, the second I got off the phone I made the tuna and it was the best tuna I ever had, then 4 hours later I had the best scrambled egg ever!!! for dinner. Today: B - protein shake S - low sodium V-8 L - 1/4 C tuna and 5 saltines S - protein shake D - 4 oz salmon & 2 oz triple squash soup. Plus, I've sipped 40 oz of water. I lost 14 lbs. pre-surgery and 14 lbs since. I am so frustrated though because you can't see it at all and my clothes are hardly even loose (a tiny bit only). I am 5'7" and my starting weight was 267, I'm now 239. How can someone lose 28 lbs and it not be visible or have a change in body???? Oh well, I guess when I'm down 100 lbs it will be apparent and I suppose the end result is all that matters.

Ok, J Joseph, I sincerely hope that was a joke - sick..... I had surgery 11/17 and my Dr said to wait 2 - 3 weeks. I waited about 6 days for an O and that was sore, but not painful. I waited 13 days for actual sex and it was ok, until I moved a wrong way and had a really sharp pain in my lower back and then my port area at the same time - it was awful! But, being the trooper that I am, we tried again the next day and just being very slow and careful it was painless.

I have the same thing. This happened to me off and on pre-surgery, if I sat for too long. NOW, it has not gone away at all since my surgery on 11/17. I called the doctor and asked about it and they were not concerned since it had happen me before surgery. Mine is actually starting to cause a little bit of pain though right in the crease at my hip when I am am sitting. I just move my hip as much as possible and massage it. I also have been using a TENS unit on it (electrical stimulation to the muscle). I happened to have one because I sell medical supplies and it's good for circulation issues. I figure if it it doesn't go away next week after I am back at work and moving a lot more, I will call my regular doctor about it. It is constantly numb from the top of my hip (right side) down my thigh about halfway and around from the middle of my butt almost around to my bikini line.

FINALLY got my insurance approval today. I have had my surgery date for a couple weeks and was getting nervous waiting for the approval. It got denied at first and they re-submitted the paperwork 2 weeks ago. My surgery is 2 weeks from today, Nov 17th. I can't wait. I had my pre-admission testing with the anesthesiologist this morning. So excited!

I REALLY hope they will fix them, because I can't wait and do another 6 months, I'll go crazy! I did tell them exactly what I needed when I started the process.

Cigna denied my surgery, they said they didn't get all the information. So I went through my doctor and nutritionist's notes that were submitted (for my 6 months of medi. supervised weight loss program) and see that not all of them state that diet AND exercise were discussed, so now I have to get them to basically re-write their notes with all the required information, because we DID discuss both diet and exercise at all of the appointments, they just didn't document it! AGHH...... Insurance and doctors are so frustrating and my PCP is so by the book, she may say she can't alter her notes. I just hope I can get all of this information and submitted soon, so I don't lose my surgery date. I am trying to think positively - and hope it gets done.

Cigna denied my surgery, they said they didn't get all the information. So I went through my doctor and nutritionist's notes that were submitted (for my 6 months of medi. supervised weight loss program) and see that not all of them state that diet AND exercise were discussed, so now I have to get them to basically re-write their notes with all the required information, because we DID discuss both diet and exercise at all of the appointments, they just didn't document it! AGHH...... Insurance and doctors are so frustrating and my PCP is so by the book, she may say she can't alter her notes. I just hope I can get all of this information and submitted soon, so I don't lose my surgery date. I am trying to think positively - and hope it gets done.

Well I just got a surgery date for Nov 17TH!!!! I am so excited, but a little apprehensicve about my insurance approval. Cigna is horrible for everything, I just hope I get an approval with no trouble. I'm not sure if I should call them or if that would make it worse. Anyone else have experience with them?

I just had my first appointment(s) yesterday at Beth Israel in Boston. I didn't sleep at all the night before. I'm really worried about my insurance approving the surgery. I have my next set of 5 appointments scheduled all on one day 9/16 and hope to hahe Lap Band surgery before the end of October as long as Cigna approves it!!! :w00t: