Had my procedure on Friday 9/21/07 and feeling quite well. The only thing I notice is that when I go to "sip" liquids, I feel a pressure going down and it takes me quite awhile to get the required 3-4 ozs down. Is this normal.:car:...I didn't expect that type of pressure. Thanks for any info out there !

SuzyGayle

Date of Prodedure: Friday 9/21/07

Place of Procedure: GBMC, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Doctor: Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki

Yep. Totally normal. You're going to feel a full feeling and a little discomfort when things go down for probably for about a week. Then it will go away.

My surgery was the 21st also and the pressure is the same with me. I still haven't had anything but liquids until tomorrow. Feeling great!

Thanks Kacee...,.I think I read too much about the slippage and banding too high and assume that's me ! Normal I can deal with...I guess I just wasn't expecting it....looking forward to my 1st weigh-in...

SuzyGayle

I too had surgery on the 21st and I thought I would be feeling better. The heating pad is definitely my friend for the gas pains in my chest and shoulders. I am having a very difficult time getting all of my liquids down. I have no desire to eat anything, which is soo unusual!

Congratulations everyone!

The first week it would take me 30 minutes to get 1 ounce down. It's mostly due to the amount of swelling you have. Trust me it gets easier to drink Water. In the beginning my liquid acetaminafin felt really thick, almost like pudding, LOL. Now it just slides right down 1 tbsp at a time.

It does get easier to sip water.

-Leena

Update to the swallowing problem....

2 days post op had hard time getting liquids down, so next day called my surgeon....he had me come in that pm and get another post-op "swallow" test which showed the liquids sitting in my esophogus.....my esophagus was swollen and the liquids were very, very slowly moving down the esophagus, but my surgeon immediately had me admitted and hooked up to IVs to prevent dehydration, also had me on steroids to reduce the swelling...just released today and am doing much better.

Back on track with the liquid diet as before...but I did find out at the doctors' office I lost 11 lbs and I'm thrilled.

My goal is not to get "thin" but to get healthy. I'm already off one diabetes medication (was maxed out on Metformin, but have 4 other diabetes Meds to get off..,.,my diabetes doctor has 12 patients who have had the lap band and all 12 are off ALL medications for diabetes, cholestral, high blood pressure, etc.

SuzyGayle

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. I had decided to get the lap band, and now am having second thoughts. What scares me the most, I guess, is erosion. I know about the risks with the proceedure, but it seems the more I read, the more concerned I get with how long the band will last, and erosion an eventuallity if you keep it long enough. Is there any good data on patients 10 years out, for example, and how many have had problems?

Thanks, Jmarie

For every two people who have had slippage or erosion you will have ten who have not. Look at it this way. If you are morbidly obese now, where will you be in 10 years? Will you even be alive? If by some fluke you get the band and it erodes in 10 years....you will most likely be a healthy individual entering their 50's and if anything needs to be done with it, you'll be in good shape to get it done. The thought of erosion wouldn't have stopped me for a heartbeat!

Suzy,

Your band will expand as the band works like a balloon. As you consume liquids over the weeks you will require a fill as you feel things are easier to swallow. This means the band is expanding. It might take some minor adjustments ( fills and de-fills) at the start for you to feel comfortable. At this point you have total control over how much or how little your allowed to eat by the about of fills you’re receiving. I would be worried if you were not able to eat at all. I hope everything turns out well for you.