mattinfll

My doctor explained it to me today - the nerve in that area of the diaphragm runs in such a way that pain is reflected/referred up into the left shoulder. He siad it goes away over time. I have only had some light pain a few times since the second week, but everyone is different of course.

Just had my follow up with my US doctor. He said they would have just stitched it up. You cannot do the NF repair and then place a band. He said if someone had an NF repair eariler, they would have to undo the "wrap" to place the band. He said the greatest danger to affecting the repair over time is from not taking care of your band - as in overeating and stretching out the stoma, which will add presure to the diaphragm. I had been worried about physical activity or even going to the bathroom causing problems, and he said not to worry about that at all. When he looked at my post-op xray, he said he saw no evidence of mesh repair, so he was even more sure it was just a stitch up repair. Thankfully he also said I had a good band placement.

I have been doing research on this and found this post, and maybe someone new can weigh in on this (no pun intended). I woke up from surgery (4 weeks ago) and was told they repaired a very large hiatal hernia (never knew I had one). So I have been wondering exactly how it was repaired. (my surgery was in Mexico) The NF technique is talked about a lot, but I don't see how you could wrap the stomach AND place a band effectively, so I am guessing they just stitched up the loose opening. But I keep wondering if those stitches can open up again and then what? Wouldn't my new little pouch end up being the part that goes through again? I have my first follow-up appointment with a local bariatric surgeon who has agreed to do my fills next week, so I guess I will be asking.

Finally - now I know why I am still having the shoulder pain 4 weeks out. I had a HUGE (as they put it) hiatal hernia repaired during surgery. Never knew I had one, and did not have symptoms. It has made recovery longer, but I thought it was really strange that I was still having shoulder pain now. Thanks to all of you, I get it now, and I will stop worrying about it. Mine has only been intense a few times - usually it is fairly low level and comes and goes, coming on when I have eaten something that is causing me a little distress.

I woke up from surgery to find out I had a very large hiatal hernia that they repaired. They said it was huge. I swear I never knew, and frankly I don't think I ever had any symptoms. Sure, every once in a *great* while I would get heartburn, but it seemed normal since it was after really over indulging or eating something really spicy. But if I got hearburn once a year, that was a lot. Anyway, I guess I am glad it is repaired but it has made my recovery from surgery (4 weeks now) harder, and I have more heartburn and reflux since surgery. Although that is starting to get better. On the upside, I haven't wanted to eat much so my initial weight loss has been very good with 30 pounds gone since I started my pre-op diet.

Thanks for all the comments. I am actually going to have my first orientation appointment with my doctor this coming week, and still wait to have my first fill in week 6, which is two weeks from now. Since this doctor is not the doctor who did my lap band (I was banded in Mexico), I want him to look at my x-ray and chat with him and then we can decide if I am going to need fluoro for the first fill or not. Plus I can get a US doctor's take on the post-op process. I think I will be fine either way with or without the fluoro, but want to feel comfortable about it. My main concern is not the amount of the fill but the doctor not "missing" the port and accidentally causing a leak in the tubing.

So am I the only person who has had a problem with Peanut Butter? I tried some on my third weekend after surgery and was very careful to have only a small amount and made sure it was the stirrable extra creamy kind, and some got stuck. But it did not come back up, it just stayed there and I had pain for a good 24 hours from irritating everything. Since then I have read lots of post-op food "don'ts" and it seems peanut butter is on a lot of "don't" lists. But I guess everyone is different.

I have searched before posting and am not finding anything on point - so had my band done in Mexico three weeks ago. I have lost 18 pounds since surgery, although most of that was the first 10 days when I felt just awful and nauseous. I am still eating mushy foods and liquids and have not tried solids yet. I have found a doctor with good reviews who will do my fills at a reasonable price near my house. But they do not do fluoro unless there is some extenuating circumstance. Or I can drive 4 hours to a Fills Center USA that has fluoro. I hear several people say you don't really need fluoro. I have a chest x-ray of my barium swallow the day after surgery showing my band and port placement. My best friend has had 4 fills and never even knew there was a fluro option and has had no problems. Any advice? Thanks, Matt

Hi there - I was banded July 3rd in Cancun Mexico by dr. verboonen. The first week was hell, because they also had to repair a hiatal hernia I never knew I had, which caused more nausea and reflux. Now I am settling in to it. I've lost 28 pounds since I started my pre-op diet 10 days before the surgery. Now I am trying to figure out where to do my first fill (in August). Dr Perez in Fort lauderdale has reasonable prices, but they do not do fluroscopy. To get fluoroscopy, I have to go to Fills Center USA in St. Petersburg... Anyway, any info on fills doctors is appreciated. I am somewhat limited since many of them will not take Mexico patients. Matt Fort Lauderdale

Thanks. My mother in law is bringing me some broth this afternoon. Hopefully I will have good luck with it. It does feel like some of this is from being hungry. Although I do not want to eat anything and I have lost 22 pounds since I started my preop diet.

Thanks hummingbird. Trying Jello today and so far it seems to be helping. Any other thoughts out there?

I should also add that I had a large hiatal hernia that was repaired.

Got banded on saturday, July 3rd. Water is generally OK, as is Gatorade in small amounts or popsicles. But every time I try some Protein, like in a really thin Protein Drink, or some powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury powder very diluted in water...about an hour or so later I have awful nausea. One bandster friend thinks I may be dehydrated because I am not drinking enough water (which is true)... but generally just not interested in putting anything in me. I have kept from vomiting, but have to get past this nausea and have to figure out how to get some protein in me. Popsicles are about the only thing I am enjoying. I am having the sugar ones, as sugar has not ever made me jittery. Any advice is welcome. Thanks! Matt Florida

Well, I found out some doctors in Mexico will use the AP model if you request it, but it does cost a little more. I think I would prefer to have the latest model if possible. But input on this is still welcome.

I am 99% sure I am going with Dr. verboonen. His coordinator gave me a couple of recent patients to talk to, and I was satisfied. Plus, he will do the newest model of the Lap Band if you want (but costs a little more). Dr Ceron's office only seems to do the older model. Also hear Galenia hospital is spotless.

Hi there - I am thinking about Dr. Verboonen too - or Dr. Ceron - any information would be great.

I hear that in Mexico you can only get the "old model" of lap band, instead of the LapBand AP. Is this true? And if it is, does anyone know if it really matters? Whatever they improved may not make much of a practical difference. Thanks for any help!