NWgirl

Chest pain all the time, or when you are eating? If I do not eat properly, I get "chest" pains but they go away once things have settled. If you are having constant pains, you should contact your surgeon.

I personally would elect to have the surgery at the hospital closer to school. You could drive up for the surgery and then drive back home. This way, you are always near your surgeon and don't have to worry about any mishaps. It seems that you can find other Dr's to care for you after, but sometimes they want you to get some tests done to verify that your band is in good condition/placement before they will take you on. It is also a plus to get your surgery at a center of excellence, as they must meet rigid standards to be branded as such.

I personally would elect to have the surgery at the hospital closer to school. You could drive up for the surgery and then drive back home. This way, you are always near your surgeon and don't have to worry about any mishaps. It seems that you can find other Dr's to care for you after, but sometimes they want you to get some tests done to verify that your band is in good condition/placement before they will take you on. It is also a plus to get your surgery at a center of excellence, as they must meet rigid standards to be branded as such.

If you are having problems with traditional protein shake flavors, go to Walmart and buy the protein shots. They are a fruity flavored protein stick with about 40g protein per tube. It's really important for healing and weight loss to get the protein in.

The shoulder pain is from the gas used to inflate the belly during surgery- it will dissipate in time. I was able to burp fine, but others do report they have a hard time burping post op.

My nutritionist is more about a lifestyle change and not cutting out certain groups. I can have any food I can tolerate. If I want something that is not as good of a food choice, I will have it in very small quantity and not often. Since surgery, I have had banana, apple, strawberry, and fruit mix blended into a smoothie. It has all gone down fine.

Honestly, we all make mistakes, even our surgeon's. I would wonder why it took so long to find out about the size difference. I would also like to know why they told you that at 8cc it was too full for a 10cc band... Honestly, I would be relieved to know that I hadn't "failed" the band and that there is still vasts amount of hope for me now that I know the truth.

I think that after the initial gas is gone, (most) everyone feels hungry. As you transition back to real foods, you will feel more satisfied. I would recommend more protein until then so you aren't tempted to make bad food choices.

the band has a very specific set of rules. I saw that Jean recently posted an article on the magazine section called "How to eat like you're banded." I would recommend looking over her article and then start to diligently track your caloric intake/breakdown for a few days to see where you are. Also, you did not mention if you felt restriction or not? If you do not feel restriction, make an appointment with your surgeon and start the fills. It also sounds like you need to work on the head vs real hunger. If you overeat even when you know you're not hungry, it is unlikely you will see the results you want.

Not consuming enough protein means that you are more likely to lose muscle mass than fat. If necessary in the healing stages, drink milk. You'll have to drink more than you would drink of shakes, but if you cannot find a shake you'll actually drink, you need to.

I personally purchased one of those mini pillowpets- perfect square size and I used it for the first week for getting up/down, laying in bed, bending over, sitting on the toilet, and just as support when walking if I felt sore. Of all the advice, I would say that is the number one thing to get.

just have a firm pillow to hold against your stomach when bending down and such and you will be fine

I just got my second fill to 4cc and have found that cheap, doughy breads are out. I had some yesterday and had a minor stuck episode as well as the slow going down pain. I was excited to know the band was working

vanilla is worse. Try adding sugar free syrups for a different taste.

I don't know that the Dr is liable for anything, and I'm guessing he sent you to a hospital that could work with bands in emergencies. What did they do for you at the hospital? Is it something he could have done himself? Some people's bodies just have a negative reaction to start and its not the fault of medical personnel. would you have been covered at another hospital?

another thing is that your insurance may have required you go to a center of excellence and he may not be one. If that's the case, you would be liable for the bill. Did you contact insurance prior to the surgery to find their policy?

I would buy butterfly strips or steristrips and pull the skin together until you get to see your Dr.

my insurance was billed for about 20k and paid about 16k total due to contract pricing. Sounds like your Dr is scamming.

I am not signing up for that particular one, but will be signing up for a half marathon in the area for September or so.

I went to a center of excellence and did not pay any extras.

each time I have tried a carbonated beverage, I get a mad case of the burps.

Yes, the pressure is the gas. I was super burpy for the first few weeks and had a lot of gas in my stomach for a week or two. I also had delayed gas pains in my shoulder, but did not get any gas chest pains.

If they are charging a program fee, she has to pay for all of the things listed plus the fee. It's a way for facilities to make more money off of people.

Some places have "program fees" that you pay.

YES IT IS NORMAL! Don't get worried, many people experience slight weight gain after the transition because there is actually real food for the body to process/digest. I even remember reading that B52 (who is now at goal) gained some weight the first few months. Just watch your portion sizes and try to make the best choices possible.