micheleangelina

I was banded May 11 by Dr. Ahmad and I couldn't have been happier with him. From the very first phone call to find out about informational meetings to being discharged from the hospital I felt like I was in the most competant hands possible. His wife, Seema is the most amazing woman and knows every one of his patients names, surgery dates, keeps up with our progress. I had my surgery at Mather and even the nurses and aides were gushing about him. Several told me they had waited to apply to get on his service. He was not the closest surgeon to my home and I travel over 45 minutes each way for an appointment, but honestly I would travel 3 times that distance for him.

I was banded May 11 and am down 24 lbs! So we are very close in results. I just had my first fill this past tues. I was getting a little discouraged because i was steady for the last 3 weeks prior to my fill but the weight is starting to drop again. I will admit though that after about 4 weeks post op my diet was more about "seeing what i can still eat" rather than focusing on healthy foods and Proteins. to my delight i was able to eat pizza, burgers, Pasta. but i think i've gotten that out of my system... i know that i can still eat those things in strict moderation and i feel better knowing that and don't feel the need to try it again... if you think about it we're losing about 3 lbs a week which is EXACTLY what is recommended so we're actually doing GREAT!! I am often amazed at how some people lose so quickly, and good for them! but i know i've never in my 40 years been able to lose weight so consistantly knowing that i'll be keeping it off for good this time.. and btw i haven't updated my ticker yet, but i reached Onederland this morning :frown: :tongue_smilie:

It took me a good 2 weeks to be comfortable sleeping at night. 3 weeks out and i'm sleeping on my stomach and side with no problem. You'll get there. I've had 3 abdominal surgeries. the other 2 were "open" procedures and i found this one to be the easiest. If you are still in SEVERE pain after 7 days or so you should call your drs office. You will still be very sore all over for a while...but it should be tolerable in my opinion.

Haven't done the deed. Got the go-ahead from the dr. but hubby has really bad cold that I seriously don't want :redface:. But I've been really concerned about the port being kinda lumpy too. Mine is on the left side mid abdomen. I have noticed just in the past 2 days that it has DEFINATELY gotten smaller. So my guess is that it is swelling and hopefully continues to go down.

I'm sorry but your dr. doesn't seem to know what he's talking about. Not just as a lap band surgeon, but as a dr. in general. I can't imagine any dr. thinking that vomiting and not being able to keep water down is normal. Also I've NEVER heard ANYONE who advises not to excersise. I don't know if it's a language barrier or not, but I would get someone to go with you who can translate. You need to get to the bottom of this. Good luck and please keep us posted.

I was banded and had the hernia repair at the same time 3 weeks ago. The left shoulder pain was worse than the incision pain so I can relate. I used a heating pad and also made sure I did a lot of walking 20 mins 2-3 times a day. It will get better in just a couple of days. I found that every day got better and better in the first 2 weeks. Now I have just occasional slight discomfort on the port incision, but I think it's because my port kind of sticks out (it's like a little lump) i'm not liking that too much, but will speak to my surgeon and hope it will continue to go down with the swelling. But you'll feel sooooo much better soon! Congrats!

My guess is that it's gas. I found the gas pains to be more painful than the incision in the first week or so. Make sure you're walking several times every day for at least 20 minutes. That will help move the gas and lesson the chance of blood clots. It can also be hunger pains. I would mention it to your dr. at your follow up just to be sure. Congrats on your banding!

Good luck!! But don't forget this is a marathon, not a sprint. Every day you have the opportunity to recommit! You've done the hardest part already, just admitting to the fact that the party is over, it's time to get back to work. So you took a little "vacation" from your weight loss. So what, you've come a loooooongggg way! You're gonna do great!

Yes, for me it got a little bit better every day and disappeared after 4-5 days i think. My port incision is still quite sore though, but that's a whole 'notha story

How awesome! You crack me up! I needed that :party:

Shorts that don't ride up. Taking the annual photo with me and my 4 cousins (the "grandkids photo" for my grandparents) and not being the "old and fat cousin") Not being the fattest person in the room/office Not shying away from the camera Getting out of the pool without immediately running to wrap a towel around me and then having to walk around with it around my waist to cover myself up. Victoria's secret and sexy things. Dusting off the cobwebs of the "ghosts of past sizes" in my closet. Being comfortable in a theater or airplane seat. Working out at the gym in a body that doesn't rebel against what I'm trying to make it do and having the instuctor "modify" the technique for me. I could go on and on.... :cool:

I can appreciate your frustration because we just had major surgery and are anxious for results. This may not be the popular thing to say but I think we all need to have a little patience with ourselves. It is unrealistic to think we can lose 10 lbs the first week and keep doing that week after week. Our bodies do not know how to read a scale. I also don't think a dr. should ever get "annoyed" or "mad" if you are not making significant progress after just 4 weeks. We are healing, our bodies are adjusting to the trauma of surgery. This is a marathon it is not a sprint. I have lost 11 lbs in 2 weeks and don't for a minute expect that to continue. I know I am on the road to better health, weight loss is just an extra benefit to keep me motivated. I know we all feel that way so try not to let the scale ruin your motivation. You are eating healthier, learning to count calories, protein and excersising. You have already begun to win this life long battle with food that many of us have fought. The weight loss is just our reward and it will come in time. Just my honest opinion. Hang in there!! :thumbup:

I was banded on the 11 and had terrible left shoulder pain. I would also get pain in the center of my chest (between my breasts) and feel like i needed to burp but couldn't. It was excrutiating, but it was always kind of there. Not sure if it was gas or hunger. It did go away after about 4-5 days. I made sure I walked 3x a day and ate VERY SLOWLY when I felt hungry. It should go away very soon otherwise talk to your dr. Congrats!!!! :thumbup:

I was banded on May 11 and feel very good so far. Port incision is still sore, I'm a little hungry but other than that I'm very, very happy with this decision and have shared my story with anyone who will listen. My brothers girlfriend was instrumental in me getting lap band. She had bypass a year ago and lost over 100 lbs. I had always thought about lb and once I got some information I knew it was for me. She has recently had her gall bladder removed which I know is an occurance with either surgery. But I hear her talk about all other kinds of problems such as dumping, thinning hair and now she has low sugar and is passing out. I went on a bypass forum to try to understand it more to offer her support and came across some real horrible sounding things. Besides what I thought was the worst side effect, dumping, they are really suffering from low sugar, copper deficiency, iron, vitamin d and calcium difficiency, major constipation, and even eye problems. I would never want to post this question on their board because I dont want to appear insenstive, but can anyone help shed light on why someone would choose bypass over lap band (besides dr.s advice for some underlying medical condition?) if there are so many side effects. Am I naive to believe that bandsters are free of so many of those undesirable side effects? In essence I'm wondering if there's something I don't know about the side effects of the band that would make those side effects bearable. I hope this doesn't come across as condescending. I really just want to be informed. thanks

I was able to find a thread where people gave their reasons for bypass. Most did want the faster weight loss, and they also were afraid of being able to 'cheat' the band. And I suppose the most important reason was the cure for their diabetes. I don't know if it is trading one problem (diabetes, overweight) for others (vitamin deficiancy and blood sugar disorders) I'm just glad that there are options out there and that insurance has indeed jumped on board in many instances, but there is such a long road ahead to advance this to be available for anyone who needs it. thanks for all your input

I'm sorry I don't have any real advice for you since you are further along in your journey than I am. So please take my opinion as just that. Maybe because you are nursing your dr. doesn't want you to feel too much restriction right now? I do think that eating 2 slices of pizza seems like a lot though even if you are nursing. Have you tried sticking with mostly protein since that is supposed to fill us up and keep us full longest? because you're nursing your situation is probably very different but i would speak to your surgeon and/or nutritionist for advice. Please post again and let us know how you are. Also I wouldn't really worry about weight loss so much 4 weeks out...you are still healing.

I just wanted to chime in on the constipation thing in case anyone is still having difficutly with that. I was able to eat farina on day 5 along with full liquids and that really helped a lot. I try to have it for Breakfast and then again before I go to bed and it helps me sleep, but the bathroom issue has completed been eliminated (pun intended :purplebananna:) This is day 8 for me and I'm really feeling pretty good. I almost feel normal except for the port tenderness which I expect to last for a while. But the gas pain and the weird pain in the middle of my chest that made me feel like I needed to burp but couldn't is gone. I'm not to start mushies for 6 more days but last night I had a few licks of mashed up avocado and that made me feel wonderful. I didn't think it would be a problem since it seems that there are soooo many versions of the post op diet and they seem to be working for all of us, not that I'm not going to listen to my dr. but I'm also ok listening to my body and using common sense as well. I love to hear we're all doing so well!

I was also banded on May 11 and very sore over the largest incision. Is that the port or is that where the band is? The other incisions I don't feel at all, even if i put light pressure. But the large one is still pretty sore if I bend down, it also seems to be swollen or a lump...reminds me of being pregnant with my daughters elbow sticking me...not sure what that is...:purplebananna: Anyway I only tried one protein drink but it is really great it's called BSN lean dessert and I found the best price at vitacost.com I've tried vanilla, chocolate and banana and they are all very good. no artificial sweetners either and something like 8 carbs, 2 sugars, 20 protein.

My husband is making burritos for dinner (i don't trust myself to cook real food) and I just ate a bite of avocado. I mashed it up on a plate and licked it off the fork in probably 50 licks I was so paranoid. Of course it was probably thinner than the soup i've been eating, but I was so nervous since I'm still on full liquids being 7 days post op. I won't make it a habit but it did feel good. I'm on LI too, who was your dr? I used Dr. Ahmad at Mather and he and his team are amazing!!

Hello all! Surgery at 3pm Monday. Left the hospital at 3pm Tuesday. I've been telling everyone it feels like i went 10 rounds with Tyson working on just my stomach. I can't even feel the other incisions. Pain in the left shoulder that subsided by wed. only take pain med at night to make it easier to sleep. occasional tylenol during the day. i worked friday and even went out with some friends tonight (saturday) poured my protein shake in a coffee cup. i've told everyone i know so i wasn't concerned what anyone was wondering. it has gotten MUCH better yesterday and today. hungar hasn't been too much of a problem, have tolerated full liquids well. i'm sure the real hunger is only a day or two away though and will probably never be able to look at a can of Campbells condensed soup again :rolleyes2:

didn't proofread before publishing. my brothers gf had the bypass not the band

thanks for the question. i am 6 days post op and thinking of what you said has allowed me to kind of solidify in my mind that i feel i made the right choice. i can give you more than 5. 1. i felt that by pass was too invasive. 2. hospital stay and time out of work simply too long for my schedule (i have a 5 year old and work and have my own business) 3. while i want to lose weight, like the other poster, i don't want to lose it too quickly. gall stones is a concern after either procedure but it is my understanding that what really causes gallstones is rapid weight loss and the band loss is more gradual 4. being more gradual there is a better chance for my skin to pull tight rather than sag and i don't just want to be thin, i want my body to look healthy. 5. i didn't want to worry about mal absorption, thinning hair 6. once i heard about dumping syndrome i knew it wasn't for me. i don't think i can go the rest of my life without EVER having ANYTHING with sugar in it (i can't stand artificial sweetners) and the thought of dumping scared me. 7. yes with lap band there is PBing which i haven't experienced and i know how awful it is, but i felt that it might be the lesser of 2 evils (we'll see after my first experience with it) 8. bypassers lose more weight up front but then gain some back. i don't want to continue to yo-yo. 9. knowing that the band is reversable and adjustable. in case of serious illness and i need to focus on my nutritional intake saline can easily be let out to allow for more calorie consumption. 10. if i start gaining in the future i can always have the band tightened again for continued results 11. complication rate/infection rate is lower with band i think i could go on and come up with even more. i would join a bypass group and ask the same questions to them. i would be curious to hear their answers. i will tell you that my brother's girlfriend who is 27 and lost 115 lbs on the band told me some of the reasons she chose bypass over the band were that she didn't want to have to deal with such close monitoring required for fills (which is another thing i actually like. i like my surgeon to be involved as an additional support person for the rest of my weight loss journey) and she also had acid reflux which her dr. felt would be made worse with the band. please post again and let us know what/if you decide. good luck

Hey Tegan I noticed we were banded at the same time. What are your goals? And Susan D we have almost the exact same start weights and goals! Let's keep in touch and do this together!! :scared2:

I had my surgery on a monday afternoon and went to work on Friday. I'm a receptionist in a fairly busy office. The pain wasn't bad at all. I moved a little slower and certainly wasn't going to be employee of the week but was able to do everything I needed to. I did find it helpful to get up and walk around every hour or so. Feel good!!

I absolutely love that you asked that question! And what I love even more is that people answered you honestly and you didn't get bashed. Nice to know there are so many open minded people I have always gotten what I've called the "reverse munchies" for some reason smoking always takes away my appetite. I don't know anyone else like this. So last night I was really hungry and decided to take a hit or two (didn't want to cough) I then reclined on the sofa and had a wonderful and long conversation with an old friend who lives far away and after about 15 minutes realized for the first time in 5 days I had NO pain! Nothing. No hunger. Back didn't hurt. Port didn't hurt. No gas So if you don't have a problem with munchies...I would encourage any smoker to not be afraid to indulge a little :scared2: