audjbr

<HR style="COLOR: #c9ced4; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9ced4" SIZE=1> I need some help. I had surgery 07/15/09 and since then have not been able to take my Zoloft. I so desperately need this medicine as it helps my PMDD (severe PMS) and makes me tolerable to be around (lol). I just CAN NOT take it. When I take it...it must disolve rapidly and makes me salivate terribly where I end up spitting up (almost like throwing up) saliva for 1 1/2 hours or so...then I feel terrible the rest of the day. I asked my doctor if they make it in a liquid form or something...but no. I have even tried emptying a capsule from another medicine..and putting my zoloft in it so that maybe it wont dissolve so soon...first day I did that..it seemed to work..but yesterday...SICK all day from spitting up and all. I am just at my wits end and don't know what to do. I am scared to try another medicine cause this one works for me...when I can take it that is. I have been very short and hard to be around lately...but just dont know what to do. I know I probably sound like a basket case :thumbup: ... but I need some suggestions or something. I have taken other medicine without problems...it's just this one that I really need... Thanks for listening :tt2:

I have been experiencing pain right in the middle of my stomach...about 2-3 inches to the right of my port. It happens when I have been sitting for a while and get up...or when I am bending and stooping..like cleaning or getting the clothes out of the dryer...if I take it easy when I first notice it..it goes away..but when it first started happening I kept on and would end up in EXTREME pain. Well I have kinda learned to adjust to it and ease off when it starts happening...so when I went for a follow up with my surgeon last week, I mentioned it but said it was getting managable and he said if it starts to get bad again..to let him know and he will do some workups to see what it could be. (I was banded 07/15/09 and have only had one fill...didnt feel like I needed one this past week when I went). My question is..has anyone experienced this pain..right in the middle of your stomach...and found it to be scar tissue or something about a stitch pulling?? Just wondering. It was hurting today again pretty good and just isnt normal..so I am going to call my doctor this coming week and go ahead and set up appt so we can get to the bottom of it...cause I don't believe I should be in pain like this when I try to do things... Any thoughts would be appreciated!! Thanks!!:w00t:

Wow...I am so impressed with you and mbranham0306...65 pounds in 3 months!! Is that all post op? I was banded July 15th of this year and including the 8 pounds pre-op, I have lost 30 pounds. I have only had one fill...and have a 10cc band...he put not quite 1cc in it cause he said I was already a little tight (didnt have any fill during surgery itself)..and I honestly do not feel like I need another fill...cause when I do eat, I am not able to eat much before I get that stuck in the throat feeling...however, I do get hungry about 2 hours later. What did ya'll do to lose so much? I have also started walking on the treadmill in the last month and for the past 3 weeks..have been at a plateau...any suggestions for overcoming that?? Congrats on your progress!! That is truly inspirational!

Hi All, I was banded July 15th of this year.. This has happened like 4 times to me in the past 3 weeks or so. I have finally figured out that I pretty much CAN NOT eat anything until I have been up and around for at least an hour...I guess because I am too tight in the mornings?? Well I think I have finally pinpointed another problem I have to avoid...what do ya'll think?? The other day I made some coffee and I take Zoloft, but havent taken it in a few days so broke it in half and took it with 1-2 sips of coffee....well I spent the next hour 'spitting up'...I say spitting up..because that's all it was...spit spit spit....it was like I was vomiting..because I was literally with my head in the sink like I was throwing up..but all that kept coming up was spit...and I felt awful....like you have to keep throwing up..but it's spit. I didnt eat ANYTHING. Well like I said this has happened about 2-3 other times when I didnt eat anything, just drank something first thing in the morning..and I realized it was when I also took my medicine. So help....is the problem that I am trying to take a pill first thing in the morning?? or what. I just know that I dont even want to try to drink ANYTHING period till I have been up a while cause I am not 100% that it's only when I take my medicine (since I wasnt taking it regularly like I should)....anybody else have this happen? Thanks for 'listening'!!

What did they say about your pain?? I am wondering cause I have something similar.... Thanks!

What ended up happening with this last surgery?

Oh my goodness!!!! I cant believe I found this post! I was coming on here to try to find something that sounded similar to what I have going on..and sounds like you are experiencing what I am. Let me start by saying I was banded July 15th of this year...and overall..am very happy I am banded.....ok.. so now let me describe what is happening to me.... It started I guess about 2 weeks ago..noticed a (what I call) burning pain right smack dab in the middle of my stomach...it's not heartburn or anything like that....it's under the skin. Well Tuesday nite of this week I was doing some major cleaning and bending, stooping and all and noticed the pain coming...the more I moved around the worse it got...so I finally laid down...well I was hurting so bad I was at the point of almost going to the ER. I told my husband about it and showed him right where it hurt..and when he barely touched the place, I jumped back in pain...it was so tender to the touch but nothing red, swollen or anything visible. Well it finally subsided enough that I went to sleep and woke up with no pain at all..could touch the spot with no problem or pain. Well today, I was once again doing some things around the house and the pain started up again. So I think I have come to the conclusion that it's like maybe the where he stitched the port...that it's in a muscle that is being pulled really bad when I am actively moving around a lot....is that possible? That the port is stitched to a muscle and it's pulling really bad? and if so, how do they 'diagnose' something like that?? I wonder if others have had anything like this and if so, what did they do to fix it??? I am going to my primary doctor tomorrow (my surgeon is out of town and I dont have appt until 11/03..but may try to get in sooner if this keeps up)...but anyways, going to my primary care doctor tomorrow about something else..but since this pain came back today..I am going to ask her what she thinks and all..... Please keep me posted!!!

My Doctor said that he didnt think it was my food getting stuck, but just when I eat it takes a little while to go through the stoma that it will stay in my throat....something like that. It's uncomfortable and it's only a few bites before it does that..but then an hour later I am starving again! I could tell when he did the feel..I could feel that tight feeling when it was too tight..so that's why my doc only put in 1 cc...my next appt is in 6 weeks..but he said if I need to come back sooner just to call. I can't eat much at once..but just get hungry soon afterwards. :biggrin: so guess I wasnt lucky enough to hit that sweet spot with one fill..lol

Hi All, I was banded July 15th and have lost about 24 pounds...I am jealous of the 32 you have lost:tt2:! That is great!! I just had my first fill Tuesday of this week and he only put barely 1 cc in...said from the fluroscope thing that it looked tight to begin with. I do get that food backed up in the throat feeling after eating sometimes..but seems since my 'fill', that I am more hungry!! maybe that will pass. My doctor reiterated that you are only suppose to lose 1-2 pounds a week which is like 52-104 pounds a year..so if you think of it like that..you've lost 32!! So you are definitely doing great! I know I know..we all want to see 5 pounds a week gone, but remember, we chose the lapband and it's a slower, steadier weight loss surgery than gastric...so you (and me for that matter) need to be patient. :biggrin: Hope that helps!

Hi all, I was banded July 15th and suppose to go for first fill next week. I have noticed in the past 2 weeks or so, that I can only eat a little at a time, but get hungry shortly there-after. Seems like before that I could almost eat as before..is that normal to seem to have more restriction as time goes on? When I eat meat and some other foods, I get that lump in the throat feeling even though I am taking small bites and chewing really good. I almost at this point feel like I dont need a fill. I have lost about 20 pounds in all. Just wondering if this is normal. As far as I know, I didnt get any fill during surgery. Thanks!

I work for an insurance company. I know a lot of times for a prior approval we are approving or denying whether something is medically necessary from a clinical standpoint, however, in our approval letters we say something to the affect that 'it's been determined that this is medically necessary. The procedure is still subject to your benefits. please call customer service to check your benefits'..something like that. But your letter sounds like they gave you what the benefits were...so that part is confusing to me..like they approved it and here are your benefits for it!...also, I am sure your provider called to verify beforehand if it was covered or not...I would talk to them as they usually have in your chart a verification of benefits sheet showing who they spoke with and what they were told. Once you get all that info together...I would call your insurance company and appeal...send in all the supporting documentation that you have!! Good Luck!

I was banded July 15th. I feel as though I am pretty much healed and the bad thing is, I can 'almost' eat as much as I could before. I can't wait till the 28th..that is when I go for my first fill. I can feel restriction, but could definitely use more. I have lost about 18 including the pre-op diet. Havent weighed in the past week or so cause I dont want to get discouraged. Doctor emphasized that they dont care if I dont lose any weight before my first fill cause I just need to heal..but I guess just like with everyone else...we want to see quick results. I am pretty much eating regular foods..just chewing, chewing chewing. Some breads don't go down too well...so kinda stay away from that. How about you??

I was wondering the same thing. I had surgery July 15th and should have started around the 17th....NOTHING as of yet. FIgured my body was going through a lot and that I'll start eventually.

I originally was going to go back to work on the Monday after my surgery (surgery was on a Wednesday). But I ended up taking 2 weeks as I didnt bounce back as quickly as I thought I would. It hurt to drive (stomach) and to sit in an upright position for too long (and I have a desk job). So since I could get short term disability..I went ahead and took that extra time to heal. (if I didnt have the short term disability where I could get a paycheck, I wouldnt of been able to take that extra time). I would recommend more than a few days....IF you can take it. Nothing wrong with taking the time if you can..your body needs to heal. Good luck!

I too had a strange bruise on my left hip. It was about 3 inches in diameter and purple. I have no idea what that would of been from either. I have small bruises around my incisions.

:sad:Hi all, I got banded July 15 and am on liquids...but I am seriously missing being able to eat. If I have to have any more broth..I think I will die! or one more Protein shake and it will put me over the edge. PLease help...what can I have?? It's so hard when DH and kids are eating regular stuff and I can't. I almost question my decision to have the lapband just because of I can't eat anything right now....guess I am just in my post-op blues :smile: Did any of you start mushies after the first week? I just need some encouragement...and something beside Protein shakes and soup!! Feel like I am not getting enough nutrition at all. Thanks for listening

I am 8 days post op and I am still having those pains. I cant stand them...come and go like a wave. I thought all the gas pain would be gone by now and I am hoping this resolves soon. It happens everytime I get up from a laying or sitting position and then sometimes just out of the blue. I feel your pain!:thumbup:

I really appreciate all the support. I really need it!! As of yesterday (which was one week post op) I added a scrambled egg for breakfast. I dont even like eggs and it was good. I also bought vanilla carnation instant breakfast and some fresh strawberries and will make a shake for lunch. I still have like 'mini heart attacks'..that gas pain that travels through your chest and lasts about 10 seconds. How the heck do I get rid of that?? It drives me crazy. I guess I am still a little depressed and didnt think this would be as hard as it has been, but I just look forward to the day I can eat regular foods again!

My surgery date is 07/15 also! I started my pre-op diet today..and thank goodness I dont have to do 2 weeks, cause I am struggling getting through day 1 :thumbup: . It's hard when you have a family that is eating hamburgers and chips and you are having a slimfast shake! I too am obsessing about food, however, I am trying to keep in mind the new, smaller me that will hopefully come out of all of this. We can do it! Good luck!

I start my preop diet tomorrow...surgery the 15th..so just barely under one week on preop diet. Had all my preop done today including EGD...so all that's outta the way. My doctor said for the pre-op diet pretty much no food...just carnation instant Breakfast and/or slim fast. Dont think this is going to be real easy..especially when the rest of my family will be eatin regular foods right in front of me! Lol Good luck!

July 15th!! Thanks!

Hi! I just got the call from my doctor's office...pre-op July 8th and surgery set for July 15th. I am sooo excited. I do have some questions maybe some of you can help me with. 1) What is a good Protein shake? 2) Did you use anything to help diminish your scars? and if so, what did you use? 3) The gas pain has me worried. That is one of the biggest after-effects of the surgery from what I can tell from reading on this site..what works the best?? 4) What can I expect the day of surgery as far as afterward...will I want to sleep all day? 5) How are your emotions :biggrin: in the weeks following the surgery? Any insight you can provide would be appreciated!! And if any others are getting banded that day or around that day..please contact me so maybe we can be 'buddy's'. :redface: Thanks!