You may think I'm a little crazy for wondering about this but.....

Since I'm very new to the band (one week post -op) I have been wondering about some things......

What happens when you get sick?, for example a virus. If you eat and the food passes through the stoma, can it get back up if your body needs to vomit?....for example if u get food poisoning????

Also, as far as erosion and perforating the abdomen, are there any movements I should avoid....like stomach crunches or any positions?

And one more thing.....did anyone else feel a little freaked out in the beginning that you actually did go through with this and this band is really on your stomach????? Every once in a while the reality runs deep and I just can't beleive I did this.

Thanks for all the advice...u guys are always great.

I think everyone is more than a little freaked out in the beginning. When my husband was first banded he wanted me to feel his port, but ICK! Heck, I didn't even want to feel my own port .... why would I want to feel his? (he was banded almost 2 years before I was....

I do lots of crunches and ab stuff, no problems. Some want you to wait several weeks before you work out or lift anything, but other docs have no problems.

I was horsebackriding 3 weeks after my banding.

I've been wondering about these things too... Glad someone asked (I'm still pre-band). Can I add one question... Are you always aware of your band and port (physically I mean)? Or, does it become just like a part of you overtime...not thinking about it much? Just curious.

Hi Daniela,

Congratulations on getting banded

Regarding vomiting, yes, the food can get back up. That said, it is best not to vomit, if at all possible, as it can eventually cause the band to slip. Alot of people keep fenagrin (sp?) suppositories in their medicine cabinet for stuff like the flu, or food poisoning, etc, as it helps to keep away nausea. Ask your doctor if he (or she) thinks this is something you should do.

I started working out again about two months post op. While doing ab exercises really hurt at first, this was just because I'd had something stitched into my muscle (the port). I've now built the strength back up in that muscle and have no problems at all doing any ab workout.

I think we're all a bit freaked about having a piece of silicon put in our bodies at first. You get used to it. I only really felt it (the port, I never felt the band itself) for about the first month and that was only when moving certain ways. Six months post op, I don't even remember it's there most of the time...

Hey, just read the post, If I can get used to having 2 metal rods, screws, and 2 metal cages in my body, I think I can get used to having a band around my stomach. Edna

You said what I was thinking Daniela.......I can't stop thinking about the fact that this thing is in me.......very strange.....I still feel the soreness of the surgery when I lay on my side. I am hoping that after some time, I won't be as aware all the time of the presence of the band.

Thanks for bumping Steve.

As for your question about food poisoning, it's a very good idea to have a current prescription of phenegren to deal with the nausia an vomiting.