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I was banded 12/20 by Dr. B too! I also had the same sharp pain you are experiencing for the first two or three weeks then it went away. It's worrying I know, especially since the locus of the pain is nowhere near any of the incisions or the port!

I was going to use "Knob", but that's an even less well known term for it in the U.S. than "plonker". Anyway, Knob, Plonker, John Thomas or what have you, the point is that losing weight definitely improves one's sex life and helps your partner have the kind of sex she/he deserves.

It's almost been two months now since I was banded. Although I have hit a plateau, I am pleased to report that my wife thinks my plonker feels larger. Longer to be precise. I'm not really a tape measure kind of a guy so I can't validate this. However, the sex is much better and I am able to perform longer. I can tell that my wife definitely feels more satisfied too. This side effect of the operation is well worth the $15K out of pocket expense and two weeks eating broth by itself! One could say that the forty something pounds I have lost has now taken on peripheral importance as I am so focussed on sex again.

I was told my port was turned around when nurses attempted to do my first fill two weeks ago. A clanging of metal (needle) against metal (back side of port) is what alerted them to this. However, a few minutes later when they tried under Fluoro, they were able to go straight in without any problems. It's the most preposterous thing I've ever experienced - I mean one minute the port's upside down, the next it's back in place.

My first fill experience was bad. I won't name the place but my experience should give those who have not had a fill yet the opportunity to ask some questions up front so that they can avoid what I went through. I go for my first fill. I am weighed (20 lbs down from surgery date) and we discussed what I am eating. The nurse seems happy. When she asked me to lay down with my belly up in the air, I asked her where the Fluoroscope was. She told me they didnt have one and proceeded to assure me that she has never missed a port before. Ten minutes and two sticks later, after the needle had pulled, poked and sheared through my skin, she called another nurse to try. The new nurse assured me that she would be able to hit the port first time and that she had never missed either. She hit it alright, but but all we could hear was the needle hitting metal. (Not good; she thought the port had flipped). She was concerned and took me downstairs to the fill center, where they had a fluoroscope. If I had known about one side of the office being without fluoro and the other side have fluoro, I would have gone straight for the fluoro in the first place. Under fluoro, I hardly felt the topical anesthetic jab and when it was time to do the fill, the nurse hit the port the first time without any problems. So please, make sure that at least your first fill is done under fluoro. The port was not flipped over, so I am mystified about the sound of the needle hitting metal.

Dr. Benavides is an excellent surgeon. However, his office staff are o.k., (None are Nurses).

Poodles, Would you mind sharing what specifically caused your pouch to stretch? When was it in relation to your banding that this happened? Can the pouch be "right-sized" by unfilling and refilling the band? I would like to know because I just started eating mushy foods this week and I too feel like I could eat much more than I do. I am afraid I might stretch my pouch too. My first check-up/fill isnt scheduled till late January. I do begin to "feel" full after a small piece of fish (the size of two fingers) mashed to a pasty consistency or after a very small bowl of runny oatmeal but could eat more if I wanted to. Somehow I am able to control myself (If I could do that before banding, I would be $15,000 richer!) Thanks.

Dr. Benavides is an excellent surgeon (even though his staff are a bit trying to deal with at times). I am sure I have heard him answer in the affirmative when someone asked if he would band someone with a BMI under 40.

I am at day 13 but decided to graduate from liquids to mushies a day ahead of schedule. I started the morning with half a soft boiled egg, mushed with a fork. By noon, my constipation problem was resolved. In the afternoon I still had 3 oz of myocel Protein shake. At tea time I had 4 oz of tea (with milk) and a small piece of Rusk, which I dipped in the tea before taking small bites. This evening I had a small piece of salmon (less than palm sized) mixed with a tablespoon of home made oil-free curry sauce and about a tablespoon of rice. Mushed it thoroughly with a fork before chewing really well. I ate about 2/3 of the meal (about 14 small fork fulls) before I felt full. Based on what I was able to eat before feeling full, it feels like the band is loosening up a bit. However, I was not hungry at any time today and felt satiated the whole day. Any comments on my food quantities/choices from the more experienced?

It's not great but if one is in the first post-op month and has terrible cravings, I think it's better to do this than actually bite into it.

They are all nasty. There is no getting around it. I am at post-op day 13 so I have been drinking them for almost a month now. My wife has tried making them interesting by adding various berries and mango but ultimately its still nasty and one has to just grin and bear it.

You are in good company... I went twice on day 5 and havent been since! (I am now on day 10 and planning on going tommorrow).

I have always been attracted to larger women, always!. However, larger women have never seemed to notice me. LOL.