I have been experiencing some odd pains. Almost like an empty stomach, extreamly hungry pain. I am not hungry during those times, however, I feel like I have to eat something to soothe the pain. I get it the worst in the middle of the night. SO I drink Water, but that doesn't help. I thought maybe gas, but I take milk of magnesea and that helps the gas problems and constipation. My stomach growls like I haven't ate for days. Any ideas what it could be?

And I am also going in tomarrow to see the Dr. I think my port has moved. My doctor showed me where it should be at my 2 week post opp appointment. It isn't there, it's like way above where he said, and it still pinches a lot. My band was put in on 2/16/05.

Although I have come to terms with the band, I feel at this point that if the Doc has to go in to fix something, I am just going to say, "remove it." These pains have been with me since day one, and I thought would go away, and the gas is terrible. I can't even go from one isle in the grocery store to the next without sneaking out a fart. It's embarrasing. And if I try to keep it in, it's worse.

I don't know what to do.

Norma, what is an average day's menu for you? Are you eating solids now? Are you doing non-food related activities with your time now? Have you thought about seeking counseling for living w/your band? You have really had a struggle and that might be very beneficial to you. There's a lot of mental work to do along w/the physical part of living w/ our band and our new life style changes. Best of luck to you in your decisions.

Norma, I'm feeling the same lately. I feel like I've been through too much with the Band, and I'm on the verge of having it taken out because I'm starting to experience new sensations. I'm always worried, but only because there's no doctor close by. I'm walking around with a foreign object and the closest help is 6 hours away.

Please let me know what your doctor says. Don't give up on your band though because even though I feel creepy, I'm fighting it till someone forces it out of me.

It has been a stuggle, but it has been much easier lately. The mental part anyway. I did have a counceling session scheduled last week and was so stupid, I thought the 14th was a tuesday and found out monday evening that I missed my appointment. Anyway, my menu.....I am on solids. breakfast: sometimes a cheese omlet or a piece of toast with peanut butter on it. For lunch: potatoe or some pasta, and for dinner: some chili from wendy's or some soup. I don't feel the pain while I am eating or even soon after. It's more like when 4 or 5 hours have pasted and I could eat something but I am not really hungry. And at night, it is torture.

Delarla,

I worried a lot at first about something possibly going wrong, even death. I don't know why I felt so paranoid, but my doctor assured me that I have more risk of dying from being overweight than having the band in me. I felt a little better. But, from this experience and all the changes in my body, I am determined to lose weight with or without the band. I know most people say it's easier said than done, but the average person hasn't experience what we have. I am kinda hopeing the port is misplaced so that the doctor has a reason to go in and take it out. I know that sounds so bad, but even though I am 5'2" and 220, I now feel the will power to do it on my own. I will keep you posted on my appointment tomorrow.

***WARNING**** Tough love ahead...read with caution if you are sensitive...

Norma...

What you are going through is normal. If you are just a few weeks out of surgery you are in the WORST part...it gets easier after this. The farting goes away...you get used to those stomach noises and actually enjoy them because although it is growling, you don't feel hungry. You know that when you hear those noises, your body is burning fat for fuel. You can hear yourself losing weight.

You need to buck up and toughen up sister. I know you are struggling and scared and feel all weird...but this is truly your chance to find out what you are made of. I'm afraid that with your current attitude, if you have your band removed you'll feel like an even bigger failure and eat your way up the scale.

I'm a year and a half out. I have to struggle to remember the hard times because they don't last very long, and losing weight feels so good.

So...there's my tough love for the evening. You can do this...it's worth the pain and the farts and the discomfort. Those things are fleeting...the weightloss is not.

Megan

Megan's right, Norma. It's important to let your body adjust to its new part, and once this hard part is over you will feel perfectly normal.

If you really can't handle the restriction the band gives, then you don't have to have it adjusted. Once your healing period is completely over your body will feel totally normal and you'll be able to eat pretty much as you want. If the band is not tightened, there's often very little to no restriction. And the amount of the tightening is totally up to you!

So think about going that route. You've already had one surgery and it makes no sense to consider another one when there's no medical reason for it. And this way, if you do decide you need help down the line with your weight, you can have the band tightened again. That's the beauty of it!

Norma - Sometimes bansters have problems with eggs, bread, potatoes and pasta. You might want to try to stick with protein and veggies for a while, and see if that won't help a little bit. Eat your protein first and chew slowly and then some veggies if you have room. It's worth a try!

Everytime I've taken a bite of a french fry or real mashed potatoes it's caused a problem, eggs I do fine with, love omlets, but then again most people are tight in the AM, I'm wide open in the AM and tight at night. We're all different, good luck. Like Betty said, eat the protein first. My favorite was and still is chili. I have found that to be my protein, fiber. and comfort food, except when I had too much fill, then only water went down and stayed down. Please reconsider removing the band, give it a little longer to be your best friend, I think you'll be glad you did in the long run.

Norma my band piched alot too for the first 3 months, I had it checked under fluoro and it was fine, I hope thisis the case for you too

*******More Tough Love*********

What Megan said...buck up and toughen up sister...

And what Alex said, the amount of restriction is totally up to you.

I know you said you got your band and feel you were totally unprepared, and wish you had better counseling and research before your surgery. But you went and impulsively had band surgery. Now don't just go and impulsively have it removed.

Yes, I know you have been really trying and working with it, and your attitude is better about your band. I LOVE the misgivings you have posted here and it's a great perspective for those researching, so your experiences are really invaluable.

Get an unfill, take away all the restriction you can, and get "back to normal" as best as possible without removing the band. Then, go to town! Diet and use all that willpower and "do it on your own". You can do it!! Get all your extra weight off with NO FILL. Prove to yourself you can do it and if you are still unhappy with the band, then have it removed.

You are barely out of the gate here. I totally understand your frustration with the gas and the changes in eating, all of it. Do your best to work around it. You can do this.

And, take the typical nutritionist advice and eat 6 small meals a day, make sure you get lots of veggies and Protein...avoid foods that cause gas, use all that diet knowledge you have, just chew better.

I'd be so happy for you if you can do it without the band. I wish I could. But here you are, with the band, so make the best of it. Get your body back to as close as you can to being bandless, and go from there. And give it at least 6 months before you decide to have it removed.

That's my 2 cents, from someone who covets what you have and the fact that your insurance paid for it. All said with Love and Understanding.

"my doctor assured me that I have more risk of dying from being overweight than having the band in me."

Norma, thank you for saying this! My worries would be resolved if I had local aftercare considering all my problems, but I really needed that line today. I don't want to lose my band, I'm just paranoid because I've been through so much more than anyone else so far without actually losing the Band itself. It's like, what else can go wrong, and how the heck can my Band actually be safe after all this?

But it's safer than morbid obesity. Thanks for that reminder.

Thanks you guys! I have my appointment today to see what all the problems are if any. I agree, I did make an impulsive desision to have the band, and maybe doing the same to take it out. I will try hard to give it a try. However, If I find out that their is somthing wrong and they have to go in anyway---then I will take it out. I don't take any of this for granted. I learned a great deal about myself and feel very confident now that I can do this on my own. But if everything is fine, then I will work with the band and just keep talking to you all. I am glad you're all here for support. Thanks!

Yay Norma! You go girl...thanks for taking all the tough love on the chin like a big girl...you are cool! Please post something as soon as you know...wer'e thinking of you!

The pain you are describing sounds very similiar to the ulcer pain I had about a year ago. I had a peptic ulcer in my stomach and when my stomach was empty it hurt after I ate It would temporaraily feel better. I would suggest getting your PCP to do a h. Pylori breath test(culprit for ulcers). You may also want to start taking Pepcid or Prilosec which are both Over the Counter now for relief until you see your Dr.

Yay Norma! You go girl...thanks for taking all the tough love on the chin like a big girl...you are cool! Please post something as soon as you know...wer'e thinking of you!

I was going to say exactly the same thing. Norma, you're inspiring me with your attitude.