Hi I am just wanting to get people's opinions on this. I had my surgery one week ago today and it has all been going pretty well. I am concerned though cause alot of what they told me really hasn't been accurate for me. I take several medicaitons for blood pressure, acid reflux, etc. and I have no problems taking one pill after another and they said that we would have to spread them out throughout the day. I don't really seem to feel full and it doesn't bother me to sip water during my meals. I have a few friends that had the surgery the same day as mine and they struggle with a lot of these things. Why so different? I am afraid that maybe something is wrong with mine?:w00t:

I really doubt anything is wrong. I also never had problems taking pills after surgery and felt ready to eat the next day. I emailed the nutritionist to see if she would OK with me eating real food sooner because I had consumed my entire bariatric clear plate at the hospital in about 10 minutes (broth, Jello, tea, and water). Of course, she said NO! My surgeon does allow her patients to go straight to real food on Day 4 post-op, though, and I did without any real trouble at all. In fact, I had Christmas dinner w/my family just 8 days later. I was very careful to take small portions and chew chew chew, but I didn't have any real problems. The reheated turkey the next day didn't feel great going down, but I never really slimed or PB'd until a couple months out. I did get stuck on a roll about three weeks post surgery, but that is the extent of any problems I had before my first fill.

Anyway, so my only point of that long story is that it is true that everyone is really different. Some people have more of a swelling response to surgery and fills, but others have almost none. And, some people have a really sensitive gag reflex and others don't. So, at this point, I would just count yourself lucky because you are not having any problems and hopefully that is a good sign that you will tolerate your fills really well too. Since surgery, after a few fills, I've had really good restriction (very little hunger, satisfied on very little food), but could still take my pills and tolerate foods that others seem to have trouble with (chicken breast and red meat). But, I do have trouble w/bread and Pasta and have chosen not to 'go there' anymore.

Nothing's wrong with your band. You likely are not having difficulties because you don't have restriction or swelling of the stoma. People who have problems with the things you described early on usually had Fluid added to their bands at the time of installation, or have swelling of their stomas.

As you have fills, and the opening gets narrower, some of the things you've been told will likely come to pass.

I take several medications also. Even right after surgery, I had no trouble taking meds as usual. I just had my first fill and still no problem taking meds and the new horse size vitamins they gave me. We're all different, I wouldn't worry too much, just enjoy the ride.