Mickey527

First I should say I was banded on 10/18. I still have the shoulder "gas" pain occasionally, maybe once a day. For about 4 days now I have had a strange feeling in my upper abdomen and throat. It is very hard to describe, not a pressure, but not comfortable. I started having some minor discomfort (not intolerable pain) in the area right below my breasts in the center. I of course thought heart, but my pressure is normal and pulse is at 70 and I feel fine other than this. The feeling has traveled up to my neck area but is still in the center chest area too. It feels like something is stuck and not moving but I am eating fine and no problems keeping food down. It is less when I lie down, and if I force a burp it stops for a few seconds but then it is back. I took Gas-X which didn't help at all. I also have pain on both sides below my ribs that feels like pulling inside. It feels like my ovaries were stitched to my stomach and when I move they pull. That pain is occasional and when it occurs I am knocked down for a few minutes. I didn't call the Dr because I have an appt for a fill on Tuesday so I will discuss this with him then. I was wondering if anyone else had these pains? I did write a post a week ago asking if this was worth it. I am losing weight, but because I am STRICT with what goes into my mouth. I almost feel now like I want the band out, I just can't take these constant pains. I wonder if my insurance would be willing to pay for removal, I am not living productivly because of them, I have to be careful and not move to quickly so I don't get the pain in my lower abdomen, and I am uncomfortable all the time.

If any of you have an Aldi's near you then RUN to it. I found some of the most tasty fish I have ever had. It is by Sea Queen and comes in individual frozen portions for $.79 each. I had the lemon herb tilapia yesterday and today I had the orange ginger tilapia. The Lemon was good but a bit bland, the Orange ginger was so tasty although a bit spicier than I am used to. I am running our romorrow to buy as many as they have left, they are great for the mushie stage since they can be broken up really small, and for the regular food stage because they are just yummy 130 calories in one portion.

I know my Dr was male so he doesn't know much about female anatomy or whatever but I am going to have to set him straight. I have a small incision right at the bottom of my breasts right where the band from my bra sits. I have it covered now but it still hurts from my surgery on 9/18. I put some neosporin and a bandaid on it today since the scab finally fell off but it is red, sore and starting to itch. I just don't feel comfortable without a bra, I have tried but can't walk around without one on. I would think they could find a better spot to cut. Also, the area where the port is (right above my belly button) is red. The scab came off there too, but there are a few sutures poking through the skin and they rub on everything. the nurse told me to cut them if I feel them but I can't cut them close enough to the skin and they are driving me crazy so I covered them too. the other 3 incisions are healing ok, but still red. not inflamed but redder than I thought they should be by this point in the game. Anyone else have troubles? Is it ok to cover them at this point? I can call the Dr they are always on call, but for such a trivial question I thought you all might know more and I will call during the day tomorrow.

I told the Dr I was going to bring in my own low fat sour cream and promise margarine and he told me I am doing great and have lost more weight than he thought I would so go for what they have at the bootbooth and not worry. He said I am doing great watching what I eat and once in a while it is good to have something really rich and enjoy. He did say alot of people go off the wagon and eat beyond what they should and that is what I have to watch out for but a once in a while "cheat" is good for all of us. I do plan on going to Walt Disney World in the spring and hope by then to be at my goal. If I am I am definitly getting my favorite treat there, a margarita from the booth in Mexico!

I went to my Dr today and he told me I can skip the rest of the liquid diet and go to soft foods. I am so sick of shakes that I almost did a dance right there. I came home and boiled a boneless skinless chicken breast in water and some Mr's Dash and blended that in the food processor with two tablespoons of cottage cheese (I didn't have any low cal mayonaisse) It was yummy. Mostly it was yummy because it wasn't a shake although my sons said they couldn't watch me eat cat food. I even got permission to get a baked potato at the Main building at the Big E on Thursday. He said just mash it good and don't eat the skin. So I am going to have it with a tad of butter some cheese and sour cream, no bacon chips. I was going to have just some margarine and some low fat sour creme but he said to go for the cheese too. Yeah Doc!

I would definately check with your Dr, just a call to the receptionist will work they all get these questions regularly. My Dr's office recommended Miralax. It blends into any clear liquid without making clumps. You don't taste it at all. I took the 1 cap that they recommended 2 days in a row and I was a mess, terrible diarrhea. But I cut it down to 1/2 cap every day and things have been "working out" fine. But CHECK WITH YOUR DR, he might want you to try something else.

Not a food but my Dr and nutritionist both said GUM. they said if I swallow it I could cause a blockage that is harder to clear than food. However, I have Sjogren's syndrom, and autoimmune disease that causes dry mouth, eyes, etc... I have to chew gum to get saliva, otherwise my mouth dries out so bad that my toungue cracks. I haven't chewed anything yet because with teh sipping every 15 minutes I have been able to handle the dry mouth, but when I am cutting my liquids to normal servings instead of constantly drinking I am sure I will need gum either gum or hard candy works but I know gum is much better for me losing weight.

Are you allowed to drink that much at once? I am restricted to 1-2 oz per 15 minutes so I haven't yet gotten to feeling "full" Last week, 1st week post op, I was restricted to 1 oz per 15 min. Next week on pureed we are to start with the 3 meals a day restriction and lots of SF fluids in between. At that point we are restricted to 1/2 cup of food. We keep that amount during week 4 of soft foods. During week 5 is when we are supposed to eat meals of 1 cup of regular foods. I can't wait to have a piece of chicken that I CHEW!!! I just paid over $6,000 for new crowns, and fillings, I want to see if these suckers work.

I have had problems with constipated for most of my life. i remember when I was young my mother would give me molassas enemas. I still relate the smell of molassas to poop. I had a problem with not going for 5 days after surgery and the DR recommended Miralax. It is great, mixes in with liquids and you can't taste it at all. I have always used metamucil and hated the orange taste. But I have to work a bit at the Miralax amount. I used it for two days and today I have been in the bathroom almost all day running liquid. I am thinking of starting with 1/2 dose tomorrow and seeing if that will work for me.

I had my band placed on 9/18. I have had pain in my shoulder since the surgery, and haven't been able to go a full day without the codeine, the over the counter just doesn't work to cover the pain. My stomach hurts like someone has hooked up wires and is pulling them, maybe the stitches inside are tight, but I have glue on my belly so that can't be it. When I swallow a small amount of my broth or isopure I have pain until I force a burp when it almost feels like the liquid has passed, but the mild pain continues. and my shoulder and abdomen hurt when I burp, or hiccup. I also had a hernia so he repaired that and I feel like I can't take a deep breath because of the muscle pain. When I do try I get the worst pains in my shoulder and abdomen. I had less pain when I had my mastectomy in 2004, I remember I used the meds for only 3 days after. Today my entire abdomen hurts and my belly is bloated, and it hurts on both shoulders like I am trying to lift a couch, that pulling pain, in addition to the "gas" pain. I have lost alot of weight already since I did the pre-op shakes for almost 4 weeks instead of 2. Now being on the clears I am dropping about a lb a day still. Please tell me that this is normal and I will feel better soon. I really hurt and usually am not a baby about pain, but this is not what I expected. I am walking a 3 block radius 4 times a day which does help for a bit but then I am out of breath and can't take deep breaths. I called the Dr yesterday to ask about Miralax because I have gone 5 days without a BM and they said use that but of course, one dose and now diarrhea. I just can't cut a break.

My nutritionist told me that when I feel a food getting stuck I should take 2 papaya enzyme chewable tablets or 1 tsp meat tenderizer mixed with hot water and lemon juice. the papaya enzyme is in meat tenderizer too. I haven't gotten to foods yet, just banded and on clears for a week, won't be eating solids for another 4 weeks. My sister had GBP and she always has problems and forcefully vomits. I had her try the papaya enzyme when I was visiting and she kept the food down without problems. It really works to break down the food and get it through.

My port is on the right. anyone else? I had a right mastectomy with a Tram flap where they use the right stomach muscle to rebuild the breast so I guess he had more room on the right side. But I can fell it and see it through my skin. Banded on Friday, still having some pain, enough for the tylenol with codeine every 4-6 hours. Took MOM to help pass gas and it really made the pressure feel so much better. I just wish I could do something about the pain in my left shoulder. I am assuming it is a gas bubble, but OUCH!

I had a low BMI but did this for health reasons. My weight was 205 at 5'5" so my BMI was just at 35-36. I did the liquid diet for 4 weeks to really shrink the liver that I had been told was fatty and I lost 18 lbs. I was banded on Friday and right now I am down to 184, my goal is 145 but that is a high goal, once I reach that I will change it I am sure. I am very sore today and have a gas bubble in my right shoulder that won't move, but I feel like it was a good idea now even though I was questioning myself Thursday night.

I got some of my shakes from Trader Joes but they didn't have all the flavors. They have the best flavors (strawberry and banana) at vitamen shoppe along with the other flavors. They are cheaper if you buy them by the case. Check with your Dr on protein powders. My Dr told me no powders after surgery until I am advanced to soft foods because the powders tend to stick together at the band and block it. I would try and get some pre-mixed. I liked the Worldwide mainly because the protein was 35 mg per shake. EAS and others were in the 20's and then you have to drink more of them to get what you need. I am glad I avoided the protein drinks like Isopure during the shake times becuse the clear liquids just didn't fill me enough and I wouldn't have done so well.

All done! I am very sore. I had a hiatal hernia that the Dr said was "Huge" that he repaired. I also had some problems with sleep apnea and my heart rate dropped down to 48 and the alarms woke me. They sent me home today with suggestions to see my cardiologist for a holter monitor. I am nervous about sleeping because I don't have alarms here to wake me tonight. the meds do work a little but I am so tired I can't get my liquids in. Not sure how I will anyhow, they want me to drink 64 oz of liquids and full bottle of Isopure but they restricted me to 1 oz every 15 minutes. That means I have to drink something every 15 minutes for 21 hours straight to get in the full 84 oz. When do they expect me to sleep? I have 4 tiny holes and a large one from where they repaired the hernia. No bikinis for me.

I am not on the list either and I posted on the first page. Oh well... Had my surgery yesterday and came home today. Had some problems with the sleep apnea last night, my o2 SAT went down to 82 and my pulse dropped to 48. Couldn't sleep much after that, but no one else seemed worried. I had an exam by a pulmonologist today and was told to call my cardiologist for a holter moniter on Monday. But they sent me home. I had from what the Dr said "huge hiatial hernia" which he repaired. Because of that my muscles are more sore than they should be. I did have some gas problems but the gas_X melts really worked great. I was given tylenol with codeine by mouth every 4 hours and Tordol in my IV in the hospital and have the Tylenol with codeine for home too. Worked pretty good but tonight will be the test. Climbing stairs sitting and sitting are tough, but lying down is ok. there were 4 others who had the surgery at my hospital floor last night and I was the only one who walked. I just wanted to go and drag them out of bed and tell them to stop thinking the surgery would do it all for them.

Everyone think of me tomorrow, I have to be in the hospital at 7:30 for surgery at 8:30. Talk to you all when I get out.

Dratdee, My surgery is in the morning and I am also starving. I have to be at the hospital at 7:30 and I can't sleep, my stomach is growling. It didn't growl for the 4 weeks I did the shake diet, they weren't great but they satisfied my hunger. This clear liquid is tough. I watched the re-runs of Grey's anatomy and Private Practice and each food commercial was like water torture. I really want that rack of ribs from Appkebee's and I don't even like ribs. But they looked so tender and juicy...... I had to get away from the TV. Good luck to you tomorrow. I dread the 1 week of liquids after the surgery if this is how I feel now.

Well. tomorrow is my day. I go into the hospital at 7:30 am and should be banded by about 10 if all goes well with the surgery before mine. I am doing great on the clears today, yesterday was tough, those shakes fill you up but broth and jello just don't cut it. Lost alot already and looking forward to eating real food again in lesser portions and losing the rest of what I need to feel and be healthy. I am a little nervous, as everyone is before surgery, but this group only does lap band, and the hospital is one of the best. They even have their own floor that we will be on, not with other ill patients.

Illuminations is my favorite! I sent you a PM.

YAY! Im so happy for you! My surgery is friday to and I am sooooo excited!! I have had 2 weeks of liquid but have only lost 8 pounds. Dratdee, I have been doing the shakes for 4 weeks. I did have 4 dinners during the first 2 weeks but I have a fatty liver and wanted to make sure it was shrunk enough so I started earlier. Right now I really want to chew something, 4 weeks is definately too long, and now I have 1 week of clears and 1 week of shakes again after surgery before I can have something even close to a solid.

I love brerad so not having bread will be very difficult for me. I hope I am one of those who can eat bread. At least once in a while when I go to Olive Garden or Lone Star. that is maybe once a year, but almost the best part of the meal

Tren, If you are logged into this site then go to my ticker and double click on it. That will bring you into the ticker site. Put in a private pin # for you and all the information you want, then at the bottom click on the done or submit, not sure which the site has right now. The hardest part was going through the 10 or more pages of tickers and little things to decide which I wanted. I was lucky to find things that reminded me on my best bud, Mickey. Hope that helps, I clicked on it from someone else to get mine.

Loise, Is that Derby Hospital in CT? I used to live in Derby, a long time ago, in 5-7th grade, way back in 1965-1967. Oh well, I don't know the answer to your question but I would call the Dr and ask them, or if you saw a nutritionist call their office. It seems like everyone has something different, I had 12 days of shakes and now am on 2 days of clear liquids for my surgery on Friday. But I also have to do a mild prep of Milk of Magnesia on Thursday so you might want to ask about that too.

Thanks for all the replies. The EKG was not read by a person, it was read by the machine and it showed a mild infarction in the past. I called my cardiologist and she got me in during her lunch hour and re-did the EKG and compared it with the one she had from last year. They both were the same. It seems I have a short high spiked "S" wave which makes my dropped "T" wave look lower than they normally do which to a machine looks like a heart attack. My cardiologist told me she wouldn't have time to dictate a letter and get it mailed to the surgeon so I hand delivered the note on her perscription pad right to their office. All set for Friday. I was starving this am after 1/2 pack of SF jello before I knew the results. I am drinking my lunch now, chicken broth, and half a cup is filling me up. I guess I have and always will be a stress eater. But on Friday I will have my weapon against that!