Bunny Bandsters - April '09, MASTER THREAD #1

[AngieB2009 0]

If it were me, I would go in to get it checked. Not feeling the port in the same area would be cause for concern on my part. With the added sorness, it sounds like something has happened.

That being said, when I lay down, my port feels lower than it does if I am upright.

Hi everyone

I'm one of the 09 Bunny Bandsters and I have been having a wonderful time loosing weight feeling fantastic about myself and having so much more energy.

But last night I felt that my port was a bit sore - a bruised feeling and then I felt it and it seems like it has moved from where it was, ie above the scar instead of below. Is this normal? Has anyone else had this bruised feeling this far into the banding? Should I go and see my doctor - there is an appointment booked for 4 weeks time, but just thought I would put it out there to see if this is a common thing or not.

Thanks - love reading about how you are all going as well.

Well done everyone!

Lou xox

[BeefromCalie 0]

4 weeks seems like a long time to wait for something that seems urgent. I would call the doctor's office back and tell them I need an urgent appt.

[Band_Groupie 3]

loulou- I agree with the above. You need to at least call and talk to your doc or a nurse there.

That said, when I was researching where I wanted my port I ran into several people who's ports had moved. This can happen from one or more stitches (or clamps if you have a Realize) coming undone. The other thing that is common is that people think their port has moved, but really it's your layer above that moves as you lose weight (the port is attached to the abdominal wall and as you lose weight your scar above it may be in a different place as your stomach shrinks).

I've bumped my port twice now and made it sore (well, once was boogie boarding for a week on it at the beach). But if you haven't done anything you can remember, then I would call. You don't want to find out you port has come undone or flipped and now it's had 4 weeks for more scar tissue to form around it. Best wishes -BG

[jerseygirl518 3]

loulou- The other thing that is common is that people think their port has moved, but really it's your layer above that moves as you lose weight (the port is attached to the abdominal wall and as you lose weight your scar above it may be in a different place as your stomach shrinks).

This is what I feel happened to me. Now I feel it directly under my left breast and the incision is about 4 inches lower.

[vcatalina1 0]

Ok, update time. Monday I got another fill and one of two things happened. I am either at the sweet spot or a little bit too much. With that said I am back to my delicious post-surgery shakes and thought I would share my recipe with you. Caution: Only use this when you can't get much food in your body. I can only eat like1 1/2 cups total for the day so my calorie intake and Protein intake is minimal. Here is the recipe:

1 scoop Body Fortress chocolate Protein Powder, 6 oz. light yogurt, 8oz. milk (I drink 2% milk, so if you drink skim the calories will be less.),2 tablespoons Peanut Butter, and a handful of fruit. Calorie count- 540 Protein count- 43 grams. You can pump up the calories and protein by adding 2 scoops of protein powder. Calories- 770 Protein- 69 grams.

Another note: I very seldom drink milk.

Edited September 27, 2009 by vcatalina1

[JayTee562 1]

Ok, update time. Monday I got another fill and one of two things happened. I am either at the sweet spot or a little bit too much. With that said I am back to my delicious post-surgery shakes and thought I would share my recipe with you. Caution: Only use this when you can't get much food in your body. I can only eat like1 1/2 cups total for the day so my calorie intake and Protein intake is minimal. Here is the recipe:

1 scoop Body Fortress chocolate Protein Powder, 6 oz. light yogurt, 8oz. milk (I drink 2% milk, so if you drink skim the calories will be less.),2 tablespoons Peanut Butter, and a handful of fruit. Calorie count- 540 Protein count- 43 grams. You can pump up the calories and protein by adding 2 scoops of protein powder. Calories- 770 Protein- 69 grams.

Another note: I very seldom drink milk.

This sounds really good I'm doing about 2 shakes a day Breakfast, I can't seem to eat actual food before going to work just doesn't go down well, and evening. What I've had a taste for lately is a banana, reduced fat peanut butter, 8 oz of skim milk, scoop of vanilla protein powder. Not sure of the calorie count but it's really good some times I do strawberries (frozen) instead of banana. I've been finding myself drinking a lot of milk lately going through about a gallon every 2 days.

[doodlebug11 0]

Ok, update time. Monday I got another fill and one of two things happened. I am either at the sweet spot or a little bit too much. With that said I am back to my delicious post-surgery shakes and thought I would share my recipe with you. Caution: Only use this when you can't get much food in your body. I can only eat like1 1/2 cups total for the day so my calorie intake and Protein intake is minimal. Here is the recipe:

1 scoop Body Fortress chocolate Protein Powder, 6 oz. light yogurt, 8oz. milk (I drink 2% milk, so if you drink skim the calories will be less.),2 tablespoons Peanut Butter, and a handful of fruit. Calorie count- 540 Protein count- 43 grams. You can pump up the calories and protein by adding 2 scoops of protein powder. Calories- 770 Protein- 69 grams.

Another note: I very seldom drink milk.

This sounds really good I'm doing about 2 shakes a day breakfast, I can't seem to eat actual food before going to work just doesn't go down well, and evening. What I've had a taste for lately is a banana, reduced fat peanut butter, 8 oz of skim milk, scoop of vanilla protein powder. Not sure of the calorie count but it's really good some times I do strawberries (frozen) instead of banana. I've been finding myself drinking a lot of milk lately going through about a gallon every 2 days.

Thanks for the recipies!!! Gonna have to try them!! I have been really bad this wkend and now I'm going to have to watch what I put in my mouth this wk!!!!! :smile2: STRESS!!! :frown2: I hate it!!!!! But that was yesterday, today is new day!! :smile2: Sharon

[AngieB2009 0]

Hey guys. I went in for a fill this past Friday! Wow! What a difference it has made!!!! I am loving this restriciton! At weeks end....say at weigh in, I will let you know if what I suspect is true....could it be....could I be at my "Sweet Spot?" Oh my goodness. I sure hope so!!!!! They gave me a bump to 2 cc's total in my 4 cc band! I spent the weekend on liquids and mushies. The scale read 243 ish this morning. Today I am back on solids, so we shall see if the scale goes down or steady's itself. What ever happens, I am very pleased to see some movement!!!!!

[jerseygirl518 3]

Hi Yall. I'm up .5. I'm scheduled for my second fill on Thursday and I'm on the fence. Sometimes I feel I can eat way too much and other times two bites and I'm sick. The Dr. wouldn't give me a fill in August because I was still losing. I don't get in all my calories daily but find I'm always over in my carbs. I was told to do 70 Protein, 30 fat and 50 carbs a day. Any suggestions?

[AngieB2009 0]

Hi Yall. I'm up .5. I'm scheduled for my second fill on Thursday and I'm on the fence. Sometimes I feel I can eat way too much and other times two bites and I'm sick. The Dr. wouldn't give me a fill in August because I was still losing. I don't get in all my calories daily but find I'm always over in my carbs. I was told to do 70 Protein, 30 fat and 50 carbs a day. Any suggestions?

The only thing I pay attention to is getting my protein in. Otherwise I do what I want....bad I know. Oh, and I make sure to drink 60 oz of zero calorie Vitamin Water.

Sounds like a fill is in order, but chew chew chew....

[hopeful41411 0]

Hey friends! It has been awhile. Sorry I have been MIA. School is in full swing. Things are going ok. Having another fill tomorrow. I have been doing well, but still not at my "sweet spot." Hopefully after tomorrow I'll have 8.5 in my 10cc band.

[vayiayia 1]

Hi All,

I was bandd on 4/16/09. When I started the pre-op LapBand process last December I weighed 232. On the day of surgery I was 206. I am now 177, so I've lost 55 pound total, but only 30 since the surgery. I expected to lose more than I have post-op.

It's been a rough ride. My doc said he started me out with a 2cc at surgery. I've had only one 1cc fill, which was on May 29th.

Since the surgery and my fill, I vomit up more than I keep down. It not a particular food, but seems to be a day by day thing, but I'd say 5 out of 7 days, I have issues. I didn't go back to my LapBand doc until the end of Sept. because I didn't think I was ready for another fill.

The week before I saw my band surgeon, I went to an ENT doc because I always have phlegm in my throat. I thought it was a throat/nose issue. The ENT numbed me up and put a camera up my nose and down into my throat. He said my esophagus was swollen due to reflux and told me to stop Nexium and prescribed Kapidex. Personally, I think the swelling is from all of my vomiting. Having a swollen esophagus doesn't help with the food going down.

So when I relayed all of this to my Band doc, her refused to give me a fill and sent me for an upper GI. Turns out I have a hiatal hernia. The LapBand surgical report stated no hiatal hernia at the time of my banding.

So, I have been taking the Kapidex and am still having problems. I reun to my Band surgeon in two weeks. Don't know if he'll give me a fill under these circumstances. I will probably have the ENT scope me again as it seems simpler that having an endoscopy.

So here I am at a weight loss plateau and not knowing what the next step will be.

Anyone else have any of these issues?

Thanks!

[Jenfs5 19]

Wow, that sucks. But I am curious, why didnt you go back to your band doctor much sooner if you were vomiting? Vomiting with the band means you are having trouble and need to be seen.

As for the 55 pounds I think that is great. I am a slow loser and have only lost 46 pounds. But 8 of that has been in the last 5 weeks so I think I am at a good point with my fill level now.

Hope you get everything straightened out. Good Luck

Jen

[Band_Groupie 3]

I'll have to ditto what Jenn said...I don't want to lecture on something after the fact, but for anyone else reading I'm wondering why you didn't go to your doc sooner both for the vomiting and the continued reflux? I'm sure they told you that those are both, individually even, signs of a band that is too tight. I've had a small amount of reflux just a few times and usually when I've eaten or drank a large amount of Water right before bedtime and even those few times worried me.

I'm glad they've found out what's wrong and now they can hopefully fix it for you. Congratulations on the WL and best wishes! -BG

[AngieB2009 0]

I just threw up. Not PB’d but the full deal. My stomach rolled and my brussel sprouts and tine bits of turkey reappeared. I actually had 3 stomach rolling episodes. Now I am concerned. Normally if I have an “operator error” I PB, at which time I lean over, open my mouth and a glob of slim reappears with food particles. That is what it is like for me when I PB. This was not a like that at all, I had 3 full heaves. I apologize for being graphic here. What strikes me as odd is the full meal did not come up.

My lunch was a turkey burger patty. I had eaten ¼ of the patty. I prepared 5 brussel sprouts and had consumed 2 at most. While eating I was listening to my body, and before this episode, I had stopped eating. Put the remaining lunch I had left in a container.

I plan to have liquids the rest of the day. My stomach does not feel sore. I don’t feel the full satisfied feeling either….guess I am baffled as to why I tossed my Cookies.

TMI – since I eat lunch as my desk I tossed the cookies in a water bottle. Because I am a gross person, I looked the contents over good. Bits! Small tiny bits I tell you! I don’t understand it?

It’s not like I was chewing away and swallowed prematurely. Anyone have this sort of episode happen to them?

On a side note, I am ill with a sinus cold or virus. Could this have anything to do with it?