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My doctor told me I had to take this medication called Actigall starting 3 months post op and I would take it for 6 months twice a day. The purpose apparently is to keep you from developing gallstones which can result from rapid weight loss. So I compliantly took the medication only to start suffering severe joint and muscle pain. I called my PCP who said this is a MAJOR side effect and to stop the medication immediately. Apparently this side effect is the medication not being absorbed through the liver like it should be and is being absorbed into the muscle/tissue which can cause permanent muscle damage. Now, if anyone has followed any of my other posts you know I have had NOTHING but bad luck and issue after issue. When this happened I actually started to laugh because it would just figure I would suffer a major side effect from medication that is supposed to help you. Just wondering if anyone else was instructed to take this medication. Obviously, I am no longer taking it. I would rather take my chances of developing gall stones...which at this point....would not be far fetched given everything else I have had happen!

I am a self confessed every day weigher. I think it keeps me more accountable. If I gain an pound or two, then I know to make smarter choices the next day. Add more protien.

What has been your weight loss? I went in for my appointment, and they wouldn't fill me because they said I was doing well with my weight loss. I was banded on 7/9 and have lost 55 lbs so far. My hair is falling out and I was told by my doctor that is from rapid weight loss. She said my wt loss is what she would expect to see at the one year mark for someone who had gastric bypass, not 4 months after a band. I have worked really hard for those 55 lbs. I want to see more! Does this seems excessive to anyone else in too short a period of time?

Count me as a MAYBE....and here is why. I understood that with lap band there are risks as with any surgery, however my reason for choosing lap band over gastric bypass was the risks seemed to be fewer and less severe. With that being said, I had complication after complication. Starting with an incisional hematoma in my belly button....to a non healing wound....to 40 days of packing that wound twice a day....to finally having a second surgery to replace and reposition the port so that the wound would eventually heal....to the surgeon leaving a gauze sponge in my surgical site that stuck to the inside of the wound...honestly I could go on all day. I am almost 3 months out now I am stuck at 45 lbs and I can tell you that I know I am eating more than I should be able to. I know I need a fill but still have to wait 3 more weeks because of the second surgery. At this point I only have 3 cc's (I think) in my band. Am I pleased with the weight loss? Absolutely. Do I wish I could eat less? Absolutely. But perhaps when I can finally get a fill, I will feel like this is working better and everything I went through will be worth it in the end. I realize that this is hard work for everyone who chooses lap band, but in all fairness I think those who answered with YES! probably didn't experience the complications that other people had. It is my hope that someday I will feel a resounding YES! SO glad I did this, after all, I did this to improve my health for my children and so far all it has done is made me less able to play and do things with them.

Just responding to those who asked if I was better now...well, not exactly. I packed that intial wound for 27 days and was probably only a few days away from it being closed when I went in for my first fill. They couldn't access my port, so they looked at it under fluroscopy in radiology only to find that the port was flipped. So...that meant I went back to surgery 2 days later. I came out of surgery with the port being repositioned to a new area and a new incision in my belly button that was even bigger than the first. So we (my wonderful husband and I) are back to packing this thing twice a day and are on day....37 or 38. I am sure this doesn't happen to a lot of people, this honestly speaks for my luck. We joke that if it weren't for my bad luck, I wouldn't have any at all. But I can tell you that I have lost 42 lbs so far...so that much of it has been worth it. Good luck to all of you in your journey's!

@ Zenaida...My port was located just above my belly button. 4 wks post op, I developed an incisional hematoma that caused me to have blood pouring out of my belly button. It was drained in the ER and left me with a large incision in my belly button. So large they could see my port from it. My surgeon said the hematoma caused damage to the tissue and caused the port to come undone (even though it was stitched) and it flipped over. I however, believe a lot of this is the surgeons fault. I had such a large wound and complained of pain and they never ONCE checked the stability of the port until they couldn't access it to do my first fill. Now that it is relocated, they swear it is REALLY stitched into place....we'll see.......

@layla's grandma....I am actually STILL packing my wound. I THINK I am on day 35 or 36...I have lost track. But I was probably a day or two away from being closed when I had my second surgery to relocate the port. My surgeon promised she would stitch it shut so I would be done packing, and well...that didn't happen. I actually ended up with an even larger incision that I had originally started with. I went from using 1/4 inch packing to 2 inch packing. So I jokingly say I am not back at square one, I am like negative 25 steps back! Glad to hear you are doing well and that your incision is healed. I am sure you feel alot better now! Best of luck to you!

Okay, I am not looking to eat sweets on a regular basis...I completely understand that this about a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. BUT, is it possible to eat a small slice of cake at a birthday party ever again? Or if you have a major sweet craving..could you have a smart ones dessert? Just wondering if this is possble or something that is off limits forever? Actually I was afraid to ask...I don't want anyone lecturing me on sweets! LOL :biggrin:

I can't answer about how long it takes for your fill to set in, but the reason I responded was I am glad to see I am not the only one who has had to have their port redone. I went in for my fill and they couldn't access the port and looked under fluroscopy to find it was rotated. I had 4cc put in but seem to be able to eat more than I could BEFORE the fill...which doesn't really make sense to me. Wishing you luck!

I had my lap band on 7/9, and despite some VERY major set backs (trip to ER for incisional hematoma that caused me to have blood pouring out of my belly button....to another surgery for Port rotation and needing to have it repositioned....to 34 days of packing a wound.....I have FINALLY broken the 40lb mark. 42lbs to be exact! One would think with that amount of weight loss I would notice a big difference in how my clothes fit...but I honestly don't. That's okay though...my back doesn't hurt, my feet don't hurt and I am not out of breath walking up a flight of stairs. I am FINALLY starting to see the good in this. Now...if only I could quit having set backs! LOL :biggrin:

With the exception of my weight loss (35 lbs since 7/9) having lap band was the biggest mistake of my life!! 4 weeks after surgery, I woke up in a pool of blood. I had a hematoma in my belly button that had to be cut open and drained. I have been packing that wound twice a day now for 24 days. So as if that wasn't bad enough, I went in for my first fill today and they couldn't access my port. Took me to radiology to look under fluoro only to find that the giant hematoma I had twisted the port. So now as if enough wasn't already wrong, I get to go back to surgery on Friday to have the port moved to a new location. Really??!! I am just about ready to throw in the towel. Just doesn't seem worth all of this for 35 lbs. Not really sure I can take any more set backs.

First I am sorry you are having such a bad experience. But I too have had a really bad time and fully understand what you are talking about. I too am regretting my decision having this done. I also contemplated this for over 2 years and finally was ok with having it done. Well yesterday morning (I am 3 1/2 wks post op) i woke up only to find I was covered in blood. I walked to the bathroom only to see blood pouring out of my belly button. I went to the ER where they said I had a hematoma and found it very odd I was having complications this far out. Long story short, I now have a 'tunnel' that has to be packed and changed two times a day for the next several weeks. This is more painful than both of my c-sections. I am really down and have also considered just throwing in the towel and saying enough is enough. Let us know what you decide, but for your sake I hope things get better.