Sun Rae

Where is your port? So far, when I see people post about their port site, it seems that everybody's is in the abdominal area. Mine is in the left front shoulder/chest area. My incision is in the left under arm area. I have had absolutely no pain in my port area sinnce surgery, which I am very thankful for. I guess most doctors place the port in the abdomen?

Any time that I've had anesthesia and even when I had both of my babies, my skin gets very dry and my hair falls out for a couple of months. I was banded on Oct 19th, and I am steadily losing hair. Luckily, I have very thick hair, so at the most, it thins out to what most people have. My hair dresser is always amazed. I just have to really condition my hair and be sure to use lotion after showering. After about 8 weeks, it usually subsides.

I hope you feel better soon. :rolleyes2: I've been banded since October 19th and cannot even begin my body being able to tolerate rice. I had to do clear liquids the first week after surgery, full liquids at 2 weeks and now "mushies". Let us know how you're doing.

Congratulations! I'm sure that made you feel great. :rolleyes2:

I will have my first fill on November 30th and can still eat eggs, but I have seen so many people post about not being able to eat them. I so enjoy my scrambled egg every morning. Why do people have such a hard time with eggs? it just seems like that would be one of the easier things to eat.

Oh my gosh, that is flippin' amazing! Congratulations!

Any Bagnato Bandsters out there? I was banded on October 19th by Dr. John Bagnato and was just trying to connect with some of his Bandsters. He and his staff have been so great and I am doing so well. Would love to hear your stories.

I forgot to mention that a heating pad worked wonders for me.

Congratulations, that's great! I cannot wait to get there. Do something extra special for yourself!

I'm 3 weeks post op and the gas stayed with me for about 2 weeks. I found that walking made mine better and I used lots of Gas-X strips. Friday night I had terrible gas pains - not sure what brought it on again. When I was having it really bad though, laying down was the worst for me. I felt like I had something sitting on my chest.

I'm newly banded (about 3 weeks) and I had been losing steadily until last week. I had bronchitis and was eating very little because I was so sick. I think I wasn't getting enough food. Maybe you're not eating enough?

I don't have any fluid in my band yet, but going back to the previous stage just made sense to me. I think I am going to stick with liquids for the rest of the day and give them a call tomorrow. When you think about it...I'm sure the chicken and green beans, even though pureed, were quite a shock to my body. Thanks for your advice.

Congratulations! Doing the happy dance for you!!!! I have about 50 to go before I get there, but I get so encouraged when I hear the success stories of others. That's what I love about this site! Keep up the good work!

I started Phase 3 of my post-op diet, which is the pureed phase. I was so glad to be able to eat something a little more substantial, especially since being sick with bronchitis. On Friday night, I pureed some chicken and some green beens, which are both allowed. I had 1 oz of each (took small bites and ate very slowly) and thought it was the best thing I've ever put in my mouth - that is until I woke up around 3:00 AM. Since then, I feel like I have so much gas in my chest and abdominal area. My abdomen even seems a little swollen/bloated. I keep using the Gas-X strips, but it hasn't helped alot. Yesterday I stuck to liquids, but had part of a sweet potato today and my chest is hurting again. My question is: Since I don't seem to be tolerating this very well, should I move back to a liquid diet for a few more days? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.:smile2:

Oh, I'm so sorry. Do you know when you will be going back to have it fixed? Let us know. Also, from what I've been reading it looks the abdominal area is the common placementarea for the port. Is this correct? My surgeon places the port in the front part of the shoulder/chest area. My incision for my port is in my underarm area. I was banded on 10/19 and have had zero pain in my port area. Does anyone else have theirs here? Just curious.

I would very much like to have a Buddy/Mentor to help me through this new journey in my life. I live in a very small town in SW Georgia; I'm married with 2 sons (24 yr old who is a Marine, 20 yr old college student); I am a Shipping Coordinator for a large Corporation; Hobbies include photography, boating, a little fishing, reading, just being outside. I am so proud of this life changing decision that I made for myself and look forward to finally living my life to the fullest. Banded October 19, 2010 Heaviest - 310 lbs Pre-Op Diet start weight - 297 lbs Surgery day weight on 10/19 - 274 lbs Weight recorded by PCP on 11/1 - 254

Hi Mona. I am writing to you as I am watching you on "What's Eating You?". I just wanted you to know that you are a very strong, courageous, beautiful, amazing woman. I wish you the best!

I'm watching it on E right now. Amazing lady!

I had my surgery on Tuesday and went back to work the following Wednesday. My 1 week follow up appt was on the Tuesday before I went back on Wednesday and my company requires a Dr.'s release before they will let you come back to work. I felt ok when I went back, but really got kind of weak about mid day - and I have an office job. Personally, I think less than a week is too soon.

I'll let one of the more experienced Bandsters try to answer this for you, but I wanted to share an experience with you that I had one time... I had a cast on my hand and shortly after getting it, I had to fly to NJ for business. By the time I landed in Newark, my hand was so swelled that I thought it was going to burst the cast and it hurt something terrible. Luckily, I had pain meds with me and the swelling subsided after a couple of days. After I returned home, I contacted my orthopedic Dr and he told me that had he known I would be flying, he would have put a different type of cast on me due to the swelling that would happen at that kind of altitude. So yeah, I could kind of see something like that happening. Hope you feel better.

Thanks CheckYes. I will definitely try the tea. I am willing to try anything right now just to get my appetite back. I know this sounds insane, but I feel like I am already failing my band.:eek:

I had such grand plans of being able to start on some type structured exercise program after surgery, but I have been so sick with Bronchitis the last week and a half. I went into surgery on 10/19 at 276 lbs and when I was weighed on 11/1 by the nurse at my PCP's office I was down to 254 - which I think is great. But I am afraid that if I can't start exercising soon and get my appetite back, that my weight will hit a plateau or I'll just start losing muscle instead of fat. Because I feel so bad, every sip of protein shake and every bite of food nearly makes me gag. I'm on an antibiotic and cough syrup (both are yucky), but I was wondering if anybody could recommend a hot tea or anything that will help me get my appetite back. I want to be healthy and I want to at least start walking. Also, I don't want to sound whinney, but I need a little encouragement. :eek: Thanks everybody!

Congratulations! Can't wait until I can say, "I lost Snooki!!":biggrin:

Wishing you the best. You'll do great! The gas really is the worst part. Just walk, walk, walk, get a heating pad and some Gas-X strips. You're going to love how you feel once you are healed. I am 3 weeks post-op and doing great!

Wow, that's great! I can't wait to do something like that. I feel like I am so behind with everything. I am 3 weeks post-op, but I have been sick with bronchitis for over a week. I'm hoping tommorow that I feel like going for a short walk. Let us know how it goes.