donali

Hi Bright - I suspect that most of the "hardness" you are feeling is actually tissue swelling, in addition to the port - having just had my port revision surgery a week ago Saturday, I still have more "hardness" than what would actually be my port. Also, it shouldn't be "floating" around inside you - it should be sutured to the fascia of the muscle. Your skin will move around above the port, which can give the impression that the port itself is moving, but in reality the port is in a fixed place. Let us know what the doc says - maybe you're feeling some of the port tubing as well? But I think it's more likely swelling of some sort. So good to see you back on the boards!!!

Hi Megan - First of all, our problem with food has nothing to do with "lack of willpower" - this is a fallacy, and something we have all used to beat ourselves up. The fact that I have been gleaning from posts about the Swedish band is that it is EXTREMELY difficult and frustrating to get a good, restrictive fill. The best example of this for me is Monica, from the SoCal group. She had the Inamed lapband, got to goal, had to have her band removed in an emergency surgery due to stomach torquing after a food poisoning incident, went bandless for 6 months to heal, and was rebanded a few months ago with the Swedish band. She is very, very frustrated, and is on fill 7, or something like that (she's lost track). This is an extremely experienced bandster, and she is a huge advocate of the band. She knows, though, that it is only a matter of time before she gets to the restriction that she needs. In the meantime, she is not beating herself up - she is doing what she can on her end, and pursuing fills in a safe yet aggressive way. Please do not blame yourself, or let yourself become discouraged. As long as your band is healthy, you WILL eventually get restriction, and those numbers will start to go down. But you WILL have to be patient, safe, and aggressive. And you WILL have to find a way to be "okay" with this process emotionally. It is never too late to get professional help with the emotional part of our eating disorders - the head is the most important part in our overall health , regardless of our weight. If we are not healthy in our "head," we will not be happy with ourselves. That's just the way it is. Hang in there! Remember, the trip is more important than the destination! Start up those positive tapes - "I am exactly where I need to be today." "Everyday that passes gets me closer to my goals." "I love myself, and I am worthy of kindness and respect." "I am doing the best that I can." "I am becoming the person I want to be."

Welcome!!! Wishing you the best of luck on your journey to better health.

What a wonderful idea!! Thanks, bandgal!

There is no point in forcing yourself to take in anything if you are not hungry. There is no way you are going to starve to death before your normal hunger kicks back in. The most important thing is to get in your water. Sip it constantly throughout the day - no need to "force" that either. Have a few sips everytime you think about it. I had absolutely no hunger for 2 weeks - ah, what a blissful time! lol Then I was all healed, and I was "me" again. And of course I echo what everyone else has already said - stripped from the trappings of hunger, you now see your beast for what it truly is - emotional eating (boredom is an emotion). I needed therapy to help me with that, as I really had no idea what was going on, why I was hungry all the time, even after a meal where I was full - I still felt this drive to eat. Therapy gave me the tools to recognize emotional eating, and ways to substitue preferred actions for eating when I was not physically hungry.

Are you getting in all of your Water? .5 ounces per pound of body weight. Leo's absolutely right - once you start exercising, particularly weight training, it's more important to look at your measurements than the scale. Plateaus have a mind of their own, and we all go through them. You're doing everything right if you're doing the following: 1. getting at least 1200 calories a day (and less than what you'd need to keep your body at its current weight) or the minimum for your goal weight. 2. drinking .5 oz of water per pound of body weight a day 3. getting in at least 60 grams of Protein a day 4. exercising regularly 5. spreading your daily calories out to at least three meals a day. Many fitness gurus recommend 5-6 meals a day. I've also read that "shaking it up" is really important - that means alternating the kinds of exercise you do, occasionally spike your caloric intake. Good luck, and congrats on the 46 pounds!

Hi Tellie - You really are almost through the worst of the "hypochondriac" phase - I promise! I think most of us had those same fears - that we would be one of the minority that something really freaky happend to. As I said in my earlier post, in another week or two you will have many less unusual things going on, and you won't feel so uneasy. Oh, BTW, Welcome to Bandland!!

Hi Tellie - I had extremely painful burping as well, and that was just on real liquids (meaning broth, Water, gatorade, EAS CarbSolution Protein drinks - somehow I missed the "clear" part when I went through - lol). Anyway, I wasn't doing Jello or creamy Soups, no ice cream, etc. The painful burps went away after my second week. Now I just have lots of burps, no pain... lol Recovery is the hardest part, because you are so super tuned in to every little thing. Hang in there, and keep us posted!

Wow, Isabella, 85 pounds in less than three months is incredible. Congratulations! Okay, I've just gotta ask... So, what's your secret?

Hi Zhanna - Up at the top of the screen there is a blue button next to "home" that says "search" - if you click on that, a screen comes up. You can search by "keyword" (minimum 3 letters), or by poster screen name. Hope that helps!

Hi Alexandra - I am not arguing for or against for you, and believe everyone needs to make their own decision based on their lives. I'm just handing out info, since we got the "talk" on Wednesday, so the topic is fresh in my mind. According to the doc, there is absolutely, positively NO WAY for anyone to contract the flu from the vaccination - the virus in the vaccination is DEAD. It does take 1-2 weeks for the vaccination to achieve effectiveness, so there are those who contract the flu in that time period. Also, the vaccination is not 100% effective - it tends to be about 80% effective. There are no contra-indications for getting the flu vaccination EXCEPT if you are allergic to eggs. For anyone interested in more info, here's an interesting link: http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa011303a.htm

What Sue said - I've heard of people who have had problems from extreme coughing - I know of people who have broken ribs from coughing too hard. I have coughed so hard that I have gagged/vomitted. Even though the flu does not have diarrhea/vomitting as a symptom (according to this doctor's handout), any time we are ill our defenses are down and we are that much more vulnerable to catching something else. Those 20,000 deaths (in the U.S., by the way) were not just the young children/elderly. The flu is not something to "sneeze" at, so to speak.

Yes, Sue! Great reminder! The doc who gave our company flu shots on Wednesday said 20,000 people died of the flu last year.... Some info from the handout we were given: The following are the symptoms of the flu: - Fever, usually higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, at any time during a 24 hour period (most often in the evening) - Cough - Sore throat - Muscle aches in several different areas of the body - Sweating and chills - Fatigue - Sudden onset of symptoms within 24-48 hours Diarrhea and vomitting are NOT symptoms of the flu. (The incorrectly termed "stomach flu" is not the flu at all) NOTE: Many of the above symptoms occur with lots of other viruses and bacteria, but HIGH FEVER is the important distinguishing symptom of the flu. The good news is, even though the flu is a virus, they now have treatment for it, so if you are symptomatic you definitely need to get in to your health care provider for the swab test that will quickly diagnose if it's the flu, and for the available treatment, which is most effective when given within 24-48 hours of the fever.

Karen - I hope this fill helps you as well. But, if it doesn't, you will keep going back until you get to the level that works for you. I DO understand the disappointment of not making goals (I wanted to lose 100 pounds this year before my boyfriend's visit in January, but it just ain't going to happen - sigh. I have to remind myself that SOMEDAY I will be where I want to be, and missing this milestone is no big deal in the big scheme of things. ) Leo - I'm sorry you are PBing frequently - I just cannot stress enough to anyone that PBing cannot become the "norm" in our lives. If we are unwilling/unable to chew enough and eat slowly enough, or avoid the foods we have problems with to stop PBing, then we are too tight. I have not met that many bandsters personally, but of the handful I have met 3 have had to have their bands emptied for 2-3 months to heal esophogitis from PBing. One gal was on her second unfill, and had regained 30 pounds during her healing phase. Being too tight and losing more quickly through frequent PBing will likely backfire on you in the long run. Okay, "mother" mode off! Be safe and happy out there!

Hi Karen - I don't know how serious you were when you said "I really don't care if I throw up after eating!" - this is a very dangerous mind set. I caution everyone who "kind of" agrees with Karen's statement to re-evaluate your expectations. The few horror stories I have read mostly involve this kind of attitude. It is natural for us to have expectations, and to set goals - however, it is imperative that our ideals remain flexible and keep in sync with reality. Goals are something to work towards, not something to set us up for failure. I would hope our goals would ALWAYS include the caveat "in a safe and healthy manner." Experiencing pain and PBing/vomiting is neither safe, nor healthy, and is UNACCEPTABLE . Seriously. We do NOT have to be suffering in some way to be "doing our best." We are so used to resorting to "drastic" measures that we have come to believe if it's easy, or painless, we are not "trying hard enough." These are FALSE beliefs, and I challenge you all to reject this dangerous, crippling, and punishing mindset.

Hi Kathy - If you are adhering strictly to a high protein/low carb diet, you could be in ketosis, which is supposed to give you bad breath. However, I never noticed any taste change. It sounds more likely to me that you have a decaying tooth that doesn't hurt yet. Flossing may help you determine which one, but my initial suggestion would be to see your dentist.

Hi Julie - I am the super pain weenie. Right after surgery, I'd say I was at 8-9. Everything was extremely uncomfortable, I was hot, my throat was dry, I felt big as a house. Moving me into my hospital bed was not fun. I was on oxygen, and hated it. I finally took the mask off myself after an hour or two - I just couldn't take it anymore. Then, just laying still, I'd say the pain was at a 6 the first night. Throughout the night it continued to drop as long as I stayed still. They administered pain meds through the night on a schedule - I never asked for it. I took all the pain meds they gave me when I got home. Throughout the first 12 days, I had painful burping. Day 1 - 8-9 - surgery day Day 2 - 4 (when still), 6-7 when trying to move. Lived on couch. Day 3 - 1 (when still), 6 when trying to move. Lived on couch. Day 4 - 1 (when still), 6 when trying to move. Lived on couch. Day 5 - 1 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 3 sitting for 8 hours at work, 5 getting up and walking Day 6 - 1 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 3 sitting for 8 hours at work, 5 getting up and walking Day 7 - 1 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 2 sitting for 8 hours at work, 4 getting up and walking Day 8 - 1 (when still), 7 getting into/out of the car, 2 sitting for 8 hours at work, 4 getting up and walking Day 8's BIG MISTAKE - went to choir practice - 2.5 hours of deep breathing, sustained support Day 9 - 3 (when still), 8 getting into/out of the car, 4 sitting for 6 hours at work, 6 getting up and walking. Left work early. Crashed on couch. Sick as a dog, thought I was going to die. Lots of waves of nausea, no actual throwing up. Day 10 - 4 when still, 6 getting up. Sick as a dog, thought I was going to die. Lots of waves of nausea, no actual throwing up. Lived on couch. Day 11 - 4 when still, 6 getting up. Sick as a dog, thought I was going to die. Lots of waves of nausea, no actual throwing up. Lived on couch. By 6pm I decided to go to the grocery store and get more supplies. Two severe waves of nausea while shopping, still did not throw up. Day 12 - 0 when still, 2 when moving (back to work) Day 13 - 0 when still, 2 when moving Day 14 - 0 when still, 2 when moving Day 15 - 0 when still, 1 when moving Day 16 - 0 when still, 1 when moving Day 17 - 0 when still, 1when moving Day 18 - first day getting in/out of car pain free - whoo hoo!

I am so glad you pursued this, and that you are on the mend. What a terrible thing to have happen! I'll take this as another reminder that severe pain and vomiting are NOT normal, and even if the cause is beyond anyone's experience, even the dr.'s, it is imperative to pursue a course of action until the problem is resolved. I'm sure you are aware that there would have been dire consequences if the cause of your pain had not been diagnosed and corrected - an obstructed/perforated bowel is a critical condition. Again, I am so grateful you are okay - please keep us posted!

We'll be thinking about you!! Let us know how it goes as soon as you're up to it!

lol A diabetic friend told me Sunday that it only takes 15 calories to raise your blood sugar. I don't know if that is true or not. lol My argument to your excitable Mexican dr (actually, I wouldn't bother telling him, personally - it's not worth arguing about, in my opinion) - is that high QUALITY liquids that are not high in calories, once a day, is NOT going to sabotage my weight loss. And since metabolism is the #1 element in aiding weight loss, anything I do to enhance its effectiveness is a GOOD thing, not a bad thing. If you add 120 calories a day to your eating regimen in the form of a lowfat/sugar-free yoghurt, or a high Protein low-carb shake to be taken first thing in the morning to boost your metabolilsm, there is no way you are going to sabotage your success. I am constantly disappointed to hear the lap-band drs repeat the "rules" of three meals a day, no snacking inbetween. I just tune that stuff out. It didn't help me when I was "dieting", and it's not going to help me now. I usually do have 3 meals a day with no snacking in between, but that just happens, it is not a rule to me. I personally have been convinced that the same number of calories divided into 6 meals a day is a better way to go - I just can't get my act together to do it that way. Someday!!

Hi Mary - Since you've said the port pain seems to be getting better, and you've had no further problems keeping foods down, this is my guess - because the port is attached to the tubing, which is attached to the band, you pb's would have made your stomach move up and down, hence the band would move with it, in turn affecting the tubing and then the port. I know that when I'm full, my port tends to ache a little bit, and my only logical explanation for that is that the pressure of my full stoma pushes back against the restriction of the band, which forces saline towards the port and the tubing tries to straighten (like a garden hose when the water is turned on full). I realize this could only be a tiny bit of movement, but that may be all it takes to tweak those nerves around the port. Again, this is just my theory. As long as you are getting better and keeping food down, I would not worry.

Hi Sue! I certainly understand your quandry, as I am also one of the many who is very restricted in the am's, and don't really "eat" until I've finished 1 quart of Water, and am at work, usually about 2-3 hours after I've gotten up. However, I don't think we need to take the word "eat" quite so literally. If you had a Protein shake first thing in the am instead of your coffee, you would get the needed benefits of a first "meal." Your blood sugar and metabolism would get the needed boost to end your fast. Chances are you would still be hungry at your current "regular" breakfast time. There is no harm in having something to eat to tide you over til lunch, particularly if it was 1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese and a couple slices of watermelon (my current fad - lol). Still have not gotten stuck on watermelon, but the cottage cheese is occasionally challenging. I would present this compromise to your counselor, and explain why. I'll bet she'll agree that it's workable - certainly better than your current "coffee" breakfast. Let us know what happens!

Hi Lace - You do have a lot on your plate right now, and it is normal to be having second thoughts. There is a reason you chose to have WLS - do you remember why you came to this decision? It is good that you have read about possible complications - you need to know before going in what COULD happen. The odds are in your favor that you will be complication free, but nothing is guaranteed. You also need to accept and understand that you have to be an active participant in your banding journey. You have to be ready for a lifetime change, a lifetime commitment. I went into this with my eyes wide open. My sister had the RNY a few years back, and I have watched her lose and regain her weight. I knew there was a chance I might be unsuccessful, but not taking this opportunity to try was not an option for me. My Mom was freaked that I was going to Mexico. She was hesitantly supportive because of my sister's poor results with her more dramatic surgery. I understood, but I didn't care. I HAD to have this tool. My thought going in was "If I die in surgery, then GOOD - this struggle will finally be over." The truth is I knew the likelihood of not coming out of surgery was smaller than the likelihood that I would be in a car accident. I have been a slow loser, but I do not diet or practice a strict exercise regimen. I choose mostly nutritious foods, and walk the mall occasionally when I feel like it. I did flip my port, and just had that surgically repaired on Saturday. A year before my surgery, I have had 6 months of counseling to help me with my eating addiction. I feel that the combination of the counseling and the band has been the perfect pairing of tools for me and my outlook on life. Would I do this again, knowing what I know now? In a heartbeat. If my band slips or erodes, will I get rebanded? If there's nothing better at that time, absolutely. The band has given me back my hope for a healthier life. I love my band. Take a deep breath, and consider your alternatives. The vast majority of people succeed with the band. Best of luck, and keep us posted!

Hi All - For those of you who are new or don't remember, I tore one of my port sutures at the end of July. I was stretching for something that was just out of reach, and kind-of did a lunge. I immediately felt a sharp sting, and as the next couple of days went by I was in severe pain. Of course, I was on vacation... lol Far, far from my band doc, so I toughed it out with liquid Tylenol. Did you know that stuff was made by saints? lol Anyway, after two weeks the pain was bearable, but I was uncomfortable and I had a big bulge where my port was. When I went in for my last fill, the doc manually turned the port back upside right, and I was able to get a successful fill, but unfortunately the corrected position did not last. Saturday I finally went in to have it battened back down. I was put under full anesthesia (it had been my understanding that this would be a quick/simple fix done with a local, but whatever). Dr. Lopez used the same port incision from before. Apparently of the four possible places on the port to use to suture, it is his practice to only do two sutures. So I had indeed torn one free, but the port was still attached on the other suture. He removed that suture as well, and reattached the port with two new sutures. He assures me it is now in the "perfect" position. So far I feel like I am able to breathe deeply without any pulling, which was not the case prior to my tearing the suture, so I am happy. A little sore, but happy. I have a big dent under where the port incision is (that was there before the repair), which looks kind of weird. I don't know if that will eventually level out or not. I am still numb in the area, so don't know if the feeling will return - I don't recall being numb anywhere after my first surgery. I am much more comfortable now than I was when my port was turned. My shoulders, neck and jaw are extremely stiff and sore, but that seems to be working out and lessening each day. So the fix was a bigger deal than I expected (all together I spent about 6 hours there for the 25 minute surgery), but pain-wise not terrible. The worst part was the expense - $1821. OUCH! But worth it to once again be pain-free. Moral of the story: Don't tear your port sutures! lol

Hey Terri! Good to see you here! It is hard to overcome the prejudice of people on both fronts - WLS, and sugery in Mexico. Just remember that it is not your job or duty to convince anyone - you are an adult, and in charge of your own self, so whatever you decide is best for you goes! So glad your husband is supportive - that really does help. Best of luck in your research! P.S. - the $1800 was just to reposition the port, not replace it. It was supposed to be $1700 USD, but the amount that got charged was in pesos, and the resulting amount "held" on my account was $1821, so I am waiting to see the final number.