shutuplena

I know how you feel Stacyrtl, I was so worried I wouldn't wake up that I made vidoetapes for everyone telling them how much I loved them! You'll do great and congratulations.

Hi BestyJane - I was banded on 11/14 and I am not taking Phentermine, I just happened to be searching for tickers and found that sight. To be honest, I don't even know what Phentermine is? (how embarrassing!)

Very happy to hear that. Feel free to vent any time!

You did fine! Salmon is very good and 1oz is great. As long as you feel okay don't worry. You didn't mess up.

I was very nervous, anxious and excited before surgery. Everything you're feeling is normal. Don't think that you'll NEVER be able to eat the foods you love. You will, just in very small portions and not so often. Some foods might not agree with you and you will learn to deal with that. It's a whole new way of life and you just have to work your way through it. I had a couple of fries the other day for the first time and I was fine. You'll be okay. And CONGRATS on the 16th..... You're on your way to a new you!

There are no silly questions so don't worry about that. That's why we're here. To help each other. The reason you shouldn't eat breads, pasta, etc. is because they expand in your stomach and probably wouldn't leave much room for your proteins, besides the fact that bread doesn't add any nutritional value to your diet. Any carbonated beverage is a NO NO. Because the carbonation bubbles in your stomach which can run the risk of band slippage or movement. Also, a lot of people can't tolerate it because its gassy and backs up on you. Never drink during a meal. Always wait at least 30 min before you drink. If you drink with meals, it will either flush your food right down causing you to not get full or depending on what you're eating, the fluid can compact the food and get it stuck. Try picturing your new stomach as an hour glass. If you pour too much down it will not go through the hole any faster, it will just keeping building til it comes back out. I hope this helps.

I was eating chicken, chick peas, turkey meatloaf and meatballs. Soft proteins. Eggs and cheese too.

Doesn't sound that good to me. I wouldn't want something floating around my body. If you had it repaired once, I would keep a close eye on it. Perhaps your surgeon isn't doing a great job. I'm sorry you're having problems.

This is where you should be, asking all the questions you need to. I was banded on 11/14. You should be fine for your wedding. By drinking I assume you mean alcohol. I don't really drink much so it wouldn't be fair for me to give you advice on that, but good luck and don't be afraid to ask any questions. Congratulations on your wedding.

GAS-X GAS-X AND MORE GAS-X. I bought the strips that melt in your mouth and you can take them all day long. It wasn't the anesthesia, it was the carbon dioxide they pump in you. You might not have a problem with that at all, but buy some just in case. Congrats on your 5 days left and let us know how you're doing.

Sounds like you've been through the mill. I had a C-Section 18 yrs ago and mine wasn't so wonderful either. Have you spoken to your GP or a surgeon that you would be using for the lap band surgery? I would assume that your doctor would have to tell you if it's ok to have the surgery now or wait a while.

Don't worry Carebear I was starving 2 weeks postop. It took a lot of self-control to watch what I ate before I went for my first fill. Hang in there and once you get your first fill you'll feel the change already. Good luck.

Thanks Jack - it helps alot.

I was starving 2 weeks post op. You are not abnormal at all. I went for my first fill on Thursday and I feel restriction. It's almost like it was right after surgery when I didn't want to eat much of anything. I just hope it doesn't wear off next week. 1/10 is right around the corner, let us know how you do.

I think the stomach erosion relates to the band possibly eroding into the lining of the stomach. Nohing to do with GERD. The band helps GERD because it restricts your eating and people with GERD tend to overeat and eat foods that you shouldn't eat after banding. My doctor requires an endo as part of my workup before surgery anyway. Have you been diagnosed with GERD? The endo would tell if you have GERD or maybe an ulcer. That should be resolved before surgery. You shouldn't get the GERD back after banding so long as you continue to eat properly. That doesn't mean that you won't get hearburn from time to time. Don't worry too much about all that anyway. It's an exciting journey.

I was too nervous to swallow whole pills after the surgery so I took Gas-X strips too. The 2nd day after surgery my gas was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack. I took almost a whole box of strips that day (doctor said I could) and it really helped along with walking. Dr explained that the gas was from the carbon dioxide they pump into you and maybe caused by the anesthesia too. The gas, I also think, is worse after surgery because you're sore and it's painful to push anything out so it gets trapped. Just stock up before the surgery. Good luck.

Hi everyone, I had my first fill (3cc) on Thursday and thankfully so far I have restriction. Does anyone at some point after fills get depressed? I feel like I really miss being able to eat (like I used to.) It's so hard realizing that food was the center of my life and I guess I feel like I've lost my best friend. I'm sooo happy I have my band but I have to learn how to deal with it. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance.

Hi Jamie My fill went great. It only hurt for a second but it's working. I feel the same as when I got out of surgery and couldn't eat much of anything for awhile. I don't think I really had sleep apnea either but I think they "found" a way for me to have it slightly. You don't have any other co-morbidities? Like achey joints, stress incontenence, have trouble breathing when walking? Those would all be co-morbidities. I don't think asthma is one but why don't you email Dr. Garber and ask him. He's very good at answering emails. I had my first consult with him on 7/29 and had my surgery 11/14. I could've had it in October but I put it off til November. Don't give up hope yet. How much overweight are you? Quite frankly for a year or more I was told by other doctors that I wasn't heavy enough. So honestly I kept gaining more weight til Dr. Garber told me I was a candidate. Before I went to him though I emailed and told him my weigh, height, etc and asked if I was a candidate before I wasted my time coming in to meet with him. He said "make an appt." Like I said, don't give up...maybe they or you can find "something." Let me know.

It's very normal to be anxious. I was a wreck. But funny as it sounds, the morning of the surgery I was fine. I was so excited and just wanted to get it over with. GOOD LUCK on Monday and let us know how you're doing!

My doctor and nutritionist said the same thing. I find that very hard to do but I keep trying. I do eat small meals throughout the day if it becomes too much for me to deal with.

Do you still have your gallbladder? If you do, that might be a possibility. I had my gallbladder removed while they did my band and the symptoms you describe are very similar to the pains I had. Burritos can cause an attack. You should have that checked out. My pains were in my chest, my arm right up to my neck and I thought I was having a heart attack. I also had a constant pain in my mid back which always felt like a pulled muscle or something. Let us know what happens. Good Luck.

Hi Jamie, I was just wondering how your appt went with Dr. Garber. I had my first fill today and I was thinking about you. I hope all went well. Happy New Year.

Could it be what you are eating? I know that everyone loses weight at different paces, and as long as you're making the right food choices then don't worry. If you feel you need another fill, talk to your doctor. Many say it takes until the 3rd fill to feel good restriction.

There's no reason to think that you'll have the same reaction as your mom. Unless you've had any kind of reaction before? Talk to your surgeon about your fears and see what he says. Pain killers didn't agree with me after the surgery, made me very nauseous, but I didn't really need them. I had no adverse reaction to the anesthesia but I suggest you talk to the surgeon who can speak with the anesthesiologist and you'll work things out. Hang in there! You'll be fine.

I am so excited that I had my first fill today and it went fine. Doctor put 3 cc in 10 cc band (I felt the saline a little bit-weird), didn't get any lidocane, didn't need it and it didn't really hurt at all. Stayed there to sip a cup of water to make sure there was no blockage and then off I went to work. I do feel restriction, like if I eat to fast I feel it in my throat. I have to be on mushies for a day. Thanks to everyone for your support while I was anxious about getting my first fill.