DianaG

HI, I am like you, in that I do get that bloated feeling a lot. Sometimes when I am constipated, I will feel a lot of pressure at a spot on my left side. It goes away after I have a bm and pass some gas. My port is really deep and the doc has to use a long needle to reach it....so, I don't have the problem of it sticking out. I do hope it gets closer to the surface,as I lose more weight. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Diana

Leigha, couldn't agree more. Oh for the "good old days"!

As others have said...don't be so hard on yourself. The period between the surgery and the first fill is the time in which your body is recovering from the surgery and the band is settling in. You aren't supposed to be worrying about losing weight at that time. I know, that it is hard not to. I was banded 6 months ago and am just now down 45 pounds. A friend who was banded in October has lost the same amount of weight. That kind of bummed me out, but then I realized that I was really glad for him because he has some major health issues. I then reminded myself that he was also a lot heavier than me and was losing a lot of Water weight at first. My surgeon does not want me losing less than a pound or more than 3 pounds in a week. I had a fill last week that brought me up to 6cc's in a 10cc band and I am getting some major restriction for the first time in 6 months. So please don't get upset with yourself. Give yourself a hug because you have been brave enough to find help that you need. Give the band a chance to help you finish the weight loss that you have started. It will happen!!!

I was on Optifast also and found that if I drank them at 2 hr intervals it really helped. I drank black coffee until 8am, when I had my first optifast, then 10,2,4,6,8,. It also helped a lot to have them really really cold and I sipped them so slowly that I could make them last for 15 to 20 minutes. One person in my support group said that she froze them until they were mushy...then put in blender to fluff them up..the back in the freezer for a while. Really, as someone has already said...it does get better!!!!! Good luck!

Ladies, what wisdom and support you provided our new friend!!!! I am very impressed and also will visit this thread when I hit a difficult spot! Thank you sooooo much!:ohmy:

I got mine from the pharmacy in the clinic where my surgeon has his office. You might ask your surgeons office employees if they know of a source.

Welcome! I know you will find the time you spend here to be helpful. Everyone is so supportive of each other. I know you will be glad that you joined!:biggrin:

I am sorry that I can't give you any helpful information, but just wanted to say that I am sorry that you are having trouble. I hope that the problem is resolved quickly and you can be on your way to a wonderful new life. All the best wishes.

I have posts from some people that mentioned having a blood thiner given them right before their surgery. I can't remember exactly what for, but if your surgeon gave you some, that is probably why you are bruising now. You might try a search on this site and see what you can come up with. Personally, I wouldn't have noticed any extra bruising after surgery (except that caused by the surgery), because I bruise easily anyway.

I haven't gotten stuck yet on food, but after a fill they had me drink Water, and it wouldn't go down. Lots of pain until the doc took out some saline. I have read, on this board, that after you have a stuck episode you should not eat solid food for 2 or 3 days in order for the swelling to go down. If you eat solid food too soon, you will just irritate the already irritated stomach tissue. I have also heard that finding a doc in the ER that knows how to remove some saline may be hard to do. If I were you, I would call the ER and tell them what happened and see if there is someone there who can remove some saline, or if they can get a doc with lapband experience to meet you there. Does your doctor have an emergency phone number where you can reach the doctor on call on weekends? If so, you could try that number also. Good luck to you! Please let us know what happens.

I didn't have too much trouble staying on the 2 week Optifast diet. My DH and I live next door to our son and his family. They are all very supportive and tried not to eat in front of me. My DH is Cajun and is a marvelous cook, but during this time he refrained from cooking any of those marvelous smelling (and tasting:tongue_smilie:) dishes. In fact, he is now eating the same things I eat and has started losing weight!! There is a lady in my support group who is starting her liquid diet on Thanksgiving Day :thumbup:!!! She is going to her sisters home, and her sister told her not to worry about it, as the whole extended family will help her get through the day. They are all very supporting and understanding! You can tell your family how hard it is for you and I'll bet they will be very understanding and try not to eat in front of you very much! Just keep reminding yourself how proud you will be when you have made it through the day and haven't been tempted to nibble!!:cool2:

My support group meets once a month. I have a 160 mile round trip to attend. I think that attending the support group is very important and helpful. Attend one if you possibly can!:thumbup:

What a Christmas gift!!:biggrin:

I didn't have to pay a "program fee". In fact I had never heard of one until I read about them on this forum. Also, my insurance paid for a psyc consult and a nutritionist consult also. Personally, I think they are trying to rip you off!:tongue2: Check carefully with your ins. co and other facilities and doctors in your area before you decide who will be doing your surgery.

Hey, I have had 3 fills so far and am scheduled for the 4th on Wednesday. My surgeon has tried to find the port without using the flouriscope, but hasn't been able to do it. Which is frustrating him no end! After all, he is a trauma surgeon and does a lot more difficult and challenging things each day!! My port is under a lot of fat and stitched to a muscle, so he has to use the "long" needle to reach it. He always deadens the area before inserting the needle. As I lose more fat, it will be easier to reach the port and give me a fill. Anyway, sure enough, with the flouriscope he has no problem finding the port and filling the band, so don't worry too much. Just remind them before each fill, that they had to use the flouriscope/x-ray with your previous fill. That way they can go ahead and schedule it and won't have to reschedule like for your first one.

I was banded July 29 and have lost 33 pounds. I haven't really lost anything for the last month, but an getting a fill (my 4th) next Wednesday and hope that will get me going again!

Sometimes food gets "stuck" if a piece is too large or you haven't chewed it well enough. It will eventually come back up, or go on down. Until it does you will have discomfort (from slightly uncomfortable to pain), and your salivary glands in your mouth will go into overtime, bigtime, there will be saliva filling your mouth and overflowing....thus "slime":drool:

Hi Abby, Just saw your post here about the choice of surgeons and facilities and wanted to let you know that I think you have made the right choice. I can assure you that the aftercare is a very important part of this whole process and it sounds like you have found a surgeon and staff that will help you through both pre and post surgery. I was lucky enough to have found a very skilled and caring surgeon. He did require the 2 week liquid fast to shrink the liver. They have to move the liver out of the way so they can band the stomach. I did the Optifast and must say that the taste was great and it wasn't too hard to make it throught the 2 weeks. I have had 3 fills and scheduled for another on Wednesday and my surgeon is the one who personally does the fills!! His staff is great to work with also. A long way around to say that the way you are treated by surgeon and staff is very important with your aftercare!:cursing: You have really done your homework and I congratulate you and think that you have made really good choices!!!

I am so glad that you hung in there and did the work to make it happen!!!! Now you are on your way!!! CONGRATS!!!!WAY TO GO!

Fingers crossed until we hear that you got approved!!!:thumbup:

Hi Sam, Don't think that it is a rule about long hair after 50, it is just that I have seen several(ages 60+) women around where I live (including my aunt!) Who have dyed their long grey hair coal black (with some cheap hair dye) and have absolutely no highlights. That coupled with their deep facial wrinkles does not look good! So, if you are going to get a really good professional hair color...go for it!! If you have the money to really go all out on your makeover, why stop at a tummy tuck? If you want a face lift ....go for it!! I am saving my money for a tummy tuck a couple of years after I reach my goal weight! Wish I could have a whole body lift, but will have to rely on my wardrobe to cover up other saggy parts!! I am really looking forward to having that new wardrobe!!!!! and maybe some new glasses also.... and of course SHOES!! Do whatever makes you happy and have fun doing it!:drool:

I have to agree with LollyMoe. I am 64 now and have my hair cut short because I think that older women (like over 50) who have long hair, to try to hold on to their youth, actually look older. Not as old as those who think black hair will help them look younger. There is nothing like coal black hair to emphasize those wrinkles ladies!!:drool: So, if you are over 50 and have long black hair perhaps you should get a face lift along with the tummy tuck!!!.......Hummm, perhaps I should reconsider:wink2:

Abby that is great news. I will keep my fingers crossed for you!! Wouldnt that be a great Christmas/New Year's gift for you...:scared2: Let us know what happens.

Carlos, I just wanted you to know that you are to be admired for doing all you can to help your BF throught this. I have a very supportive husband and I know that sometimes my selfdoubt has been hard on him. He kept telling me I could succeed with the lapband and I am just about to believe him....3 mo. after surgery!! So just keep doing what you are doing and also take time to give yourself a pat on the back now and then! He is very lucky to have found you!!

I had the Dermabond also. It is Great Stuff!! The doc said I could take a shower (not bath) the day after surgery, but that I should use anti-bacterial soap and not "scrub". He said that I should not try to pull the Dermabond off, but that it would come off by itself. It did! and I am glad that I didn't have to go back in to have staples removed!!! Hooray!!!