ElfiePoo

I am now a little over a year postop and I've had almost constant shoulder pain since the day of surgery. It only happens when I'm lying down or riding in the passenger seat of the car (maybe because of the way the car seat back is molded) or if I try to take my arm and move it behind my back. It is not affected by eating or drinking. Everyone says it will go away. It hasn't. When I first mentioned it at the clinic, they looked at me like they had never heard of this happening and their suggestion has been to get my regular doctor to prescribe pain meds. I'm going to call my clinic tomorrow and tell them I need to see the surgeon because they either need to take the band out or fix whatever is causing this pain to continue and worsen. Taking pain meds the rest of my life is not an option. I've actually woken up in the night crying from the pain...and this is from someone who never took pain meds after the surgery. .

I am now a little over a year postop and I've had almost constant shoulder pain since the day of surgery. It only happens when I'm lying down or riding in the passenger seat of the car (maybe because of the way the car seat back is molded) or if I try to take my arm and move it behind my back. Everyone says it will go away. It hasn't. When I first mentioned it to the clinic, they looked at me like they had never heard of this happening and yet, from this thread, it is a common occurrence. I'm going to call my clinic tomorrow and tell them I need to see the surgeon because they either need to take the band out or fix whatever is causing this pain to continue and worsen. I've actually woken up in the night crying from the pain...and this is from someone who never took pain meds after the surgery. .

Nope...only see ads for Protein drinks and band ads. .

...baby spinach. Since my last fill I can eat eggs and salad...barely. I have to take small bites, chew thoroughly and then wait until it 'settles'. Yesterday, my band went tight on me. Probably because I was scheduled for a fill today. Being cautious and not wanting another overfill, I cancelled the fill. Today it's worse. My eggs at Breakfast were a no go and now my baby spinach salad is sitting here laughing at me! .

Woohoo!!! Congratulations, Christie!!! Are you going to Celebrate by buying another pair of boots? .

I'll second that. I had my surgery through Barix Clinic and my surgeon does *only* band surgery and does not require a presurgery diet. When I asked him about 'fatty liver', he said all obese patients have fatty livers. There will always be the risk of the liver cracking when they do the banding...whether you do or don't diet. He's had patients weighing 500 pounds with very fatty livers who had no problems...and patients weighing closer to 200 pounds with less fatty livers who ended up with a cracked liver. Sounds like a toss of the dice to me. The bottom line is that you do what your physician tells you or risk the consequences...or find another surgeon. I did seminars with several surgeons before choosing this one. The others had up to 6 months of special diets, classes, etc. (not required by insurance) and for which they charged extra (that insurance would not pay for). .

I can't take even the smallest pill (from experience) without getting stuck. Fortunately, I don't have regular daily medications other than insulin, which is injectable. When I get a headache, I just crush the Excedrin Migraine tablet (only thing that helps) to a powder and just pop it into my mouth along with a good dose of Water. Not pleasant but over quickly. .

Deb, Another thing to exercise...patience. Stop looking for immediate rewards. They're just a source of frustration. IMHO, less than 600 calories will, in the long term, cause you to lose more slowly and with more stalls. Perhaps bump your calories up a couple hundred and see what happens? If that doesn't work, you may have to bump them up more. I know there are people here eating 800 calories and losing, but I have to eat above 1000 calories. You'll need to work to find out what is best for you. Also, careful with the exercise (not sure what or how much you're doing). My surgeon said nothing but walking for the first month. No lifting weights...no bending or stretching that would pull at the port area...etc. because it needs time to heal. .

I'm down another 2 lbs this morning but I think I'll only change my ticker on Mondays...just to be sure it's not a water weight fluctuation. In any case, it's thrilling to see the scale going down for a change and not just standing still or gaining! I think I'm going to call what I'm doing a modified Atkins instead of the Optimal diet because I just cannot eat all the fats they require (almost twice what I eat on Atkins!) in the ratio for my height and bone structure. Even on Atkins I was always conscious of additional fats outside those found in the protein itself. So, since I know the protein has been driving up my glucose levels, I'm just watching the protein now, same as I watch the carbs...and it seems to be working. Interestingly, my daily calories are coming in at around 1200 even though I'm not counting them. When I read about other people struggling to stay on their WOE while a spouse continues the bad eating habits (junk food, carb loaded, etc.), I thank God that I have a husband willing to eat the way I do. When we got married, I weighed 210 lb and my husband weighed 160...perfect for his height and build. Over the last 20 years, he's ballooned up to 203 with almost all of it in his belly. Now that we've been eating healthier, he's become involved in a fitness program for employees at work and logging everything he eats...and dropped 10 lbs in the last month! Just makes me even more determined to continue working at losing this extra weight! .

Stacie: I think you have the perfect attitude about making sure you're doing all *you* can and here's hoping they find out what the problem is and *fix* it. Christie: I'm doing the happy dance with you! So exciting to be so close to Onderland! .

Unfortunately, yes...and all that means is...it's winter and the mice are moving into their winter housing from the fields. I have 2 cats and still have mice. I usually tuck D-con in places where the cats can't reach but if I start seeing droppings on the kitchen counters then I know it's getting really bad so I lay out the traps. A couple years ago, I put a trap under the kitchen counter, turned away and *snap*. Got one. Tossed the dead mouse, set the trap, put it under the counter...this time I actually reached the light switch...*snap*. I'm not kidding...I caught *ELEVEN* mice in the space of 10 minutes! I was freaking! The mice have either gotten smarter or that was just a freak occurrence because I've never had that again. .

Just looked this up on YouTube. Looks like fun with less complicated dance steps than Zumba. .

A 4 cc band...wow. From others, it seems like the 4cc is pickier when it comes to fine tuning it. There can be as little as a .1cc difference between sweet spot and overfill and finding it is tricky. I am so sorry you've had to go through all of this and haven't found that happy place with your band. I hope this new doctor can find some way to help you. :thumbup: .

Thanks for the clarification. My mind was heading off in the wrong direction. What are bollywood classes? I can't help but think of the Indian bollywood films. .

Interesting. Wonder why a need for antibiotics just because you have a band and I'm on regular anti-inflammatory medication so don't understand that one either. The fluid, at least for me, is no biggie. I can still chug a liter of Water. Wonder if this is another one of those things that vary according to band mfg. .

I've been thinking about you because I know you struggled with this band as I have. Just wondering where you're at now and if you've found a way to make it work? .

My .02...I'd wait. I have the opposite problem. I feel nothing for two weeks after a fill and then all of a sudden "WHAMMO". So now I wait 3-4 weeks for a fill just to make sure I don't end up overfull again. .

I just have to say that every time folks refer to their nutritionist as a 'nut', it gives me a giggle. Melody .

Bahahaha...thank you for putting this in the proper perspective for me. Oh Leigha, I am so sorry you even have to deal with this. Just remember that you are a strong woman and can handle this no matter what the decision is. {{Leigha}}

I think that's your problem right there. You should be taking small bites and chewing *well*. Count on getting stuck...and irritating the band area...if you don't. Particularly as you progress with fills. .

Sorry, Matt. No helpful advice. Just wanted to say thanks for the unintended smile. When I read "I got wind", all I could think was "put up the sails". .

I just politely say, "no thank you". If they continue to push, I will say, "no thank you". At some point, if they're rude enough to keep pushing, I will say, "what part of 'no' don't you get?" I don't feel I need to give excuses for why I don't want to eat something...and people with manners will accept the 'no' and move on. Unfortunately, our nearest and dearest don't always exercise good manners. Generally, there is something I can have at most functions...just in lesser quantity and I avoid the wasted carbs (Cookies, pies, etc.). I am taking mashed cauliflower to my in-laws this year though because I do miss the potatoes but I don't want the carbs. Fortunately, my husband's family are *very* polite people and would never comment on what I do (or do not) put on my plate. .

Kelly, Not sure how going to school for 8 hours is different than working an 8 hour a day job. One assumes there will be breaks in there somewhere. The only concession you might have to make is to carry a small insulated lunch bag around with you. My husband takes one of those to work and leaves it on his desk. You can take cheese and crackers, hard boiled eggs, salad...any number of things that would keep you eating on plan. Calories are not just calories for me but then I'm an insulin resistant diabetic so a day's worth of carbs at one meal would put me into carb overload. .

Rose hip seed oil. They did studies with women who had mastectomies with remarkable results. Rose hip seed oil actually regenerates cells. .

Pointless. .