Corrigan

I don't know how long since your surgery, but if it was recent, I'd get to medical help as soon as possible. It could be flu or most anything, but don't take a chance.

Wait until you lose some weight, I'll be right even with the rest of your stomach.

If you had a slipped band you'd have reflux and real pain. just to be safe, contact your surgeon's office ASAP.<br />If it really is a slipped band you need to have it corrected immediately. It really sounds like a swollen stoma (the bottom band opening)<br />and if that's the case, you need a day or two of liquids to allow it to heal. You shouldn't be eating that stuff anyway. This whole thing is about losing weight and starches certainly won't help.

They seem to. Another excercise is to lift your arms over your head or windmill your arms. I hope this is for help with something stuck. Some folks get relief by bending at the waist. Whatever works for you is the right way.

You're going to have a couple weeks of it. My nutritionist said to take vitamin B12 in case we were low. Try to relax and don't do too much for a week or two (probably easier said than done), It's perfectly normal, after effects of surgery and anesthesia.

Almost everyone has that. I tell my grandchildren it's just food going down the drain.

That port stuck in the middle of your stomach muscle is pretty big lump. just think how much a splinter in your finger feels. A Little pain and swelling is perfectly normal. If it gets hot and swells a lot or seeps pus or any other fluid, get to your doctor ASAP. Sorry you had so much pain.

Most surgeons won't get too excited about one 6 oz cup of coffee. The problem with coffee is that it's a diuretic and causes water loss and they want you to be as hydrated as possible.

I don't know what you feel is adequate weight loss, but most doctors say 11/2 to 2 lbs is enough. Much more and you run the risk of muscle loss. Water won't help weight loss directly, but it does help with bowel movements, and keeping hydrated helps all other bodily functions. Follow your surgeon and nutritionist's instructions and watch your calories and you can't help but lose.

If this has you really freaked out, I'd call your surgeons office now and see what they say. You paid $17000 or so and have a right to adequate aftercare. My port goes up and down, but I've never noticed any lateral movement. Your port is anchored in your stomach muscle and shouldn't move. Someone's doctor said to put a dot in the center of the port with a Sharpie and check to see if it really moves under your skin. FWIW Good luck.

Many people have a period of depression after surgery. It's not an easy period, and I don't know anything to say to make it easier. All you can do is to follow what you know is right, eat the way you're supposed to and wait for your fills. Thousands before you have done it, and you can too. Try to lose one pound, then see if you can work from there. It's no fun, but it'll be worth it.

Congratulations Rose! We'll be watching your progress and be here to give any help we can.

Betty, I'm a few years older than you and I had the easiest surgery possible. To dateI've lost 50 lbs in a little over 2 months. Believe me, age has very little to do with it, its all attitude.

I don't know you, but we've had a few posters from the "web site whose name must not be spoken", and at first, I suspected you might be one. I guess not. It's pretty clear you got screwed by a bunch of quacks and I'm surprised you're not going after them if your account is accurate. This is exactly why I recommend Centers of Excellence. Many people think they can't afford them, but how do you know if you don't ask? Band surgery is quite profitable if the surgeon doesn't provide any support other than anesthesia. Fills are a very simple procedure, the actual fill takes 2 minutes. You can go to any of a hundred clinics to get one. As far as the band itself, I can provide reliable statistics that the band is easier and more reliable and dependable than any other WLS provided it's done by a qualified surgeon. I don't want to make an enemy of you, even when you introduce yourself the way you did, and if there is any help (other than financial) I can give you, I'll be happy to.

My surgeon told me that one of the quickest ways to sabotage a band was to eat solid food too soon. It makes me think of all the people who have the band and complain that they can't lose weight on three Big Macs and a dozen donuts a day.

My son has a friend who is banded and dives all the time. If you're concerned, give your doctor a call.

There are several Costco stores in Korea, and there is a lady who had WLS, in Korea, on this site occasionally.

Medicare is my primary and I have a secondary. The way it works in CA is you have the surgery and then you find out if medicare will pay. In my case they did and with my secondary I think I'm home free. I went to a Center of Excellence and they did all the billing and so far so good. I called Medicare beforehand and the first time they said no, the second time they said yes, so I went ahead and had the surgery, figuring I'd pay if they wouldn't. I wish I could give you a better answer, but that's all I've got. I had diabetes an sleep apnea so that made it a little easier.

I think what you're feeling means you're full. When you get that feeling, stop eating. Nothing to worry about. Just take it easy. You're not completely healed for about 6 weeks.

Here's an article that might help ease your frustration: Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this helps.

I had a very boring recovery, no pain, no gas, walked two miles the next day. Couldn't have been better and I attrubute it to going to a Center of Excellence. I know I say this a lot, but I believe it is a certain way to a successful WLS surgery.

You are the only one who has to live with your body,skinny or fat, and the health consequences you'll have. If we have to ask a committee to approve everything we do, not much would get done. The only thing to really be careful of, is to pick a good surgeon and hospital. If there is any way you can go to a Center of Excellence, by all means do so. Many of the problems you read about here have been done by other than well trained surgeons. They may be cheaper, but this is something you'll have for the rest of your life, and you want to have it done well. I hope you get what you want.

This is an article that helps explain a cause of stalls: Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this helps.

Well done,Trish. There's nothing easy about it, keep up the good work.

If a living will gives you peace of mind, why not. I'm sure you know the odds of a fatality in band surgery are about like winning the lottery, it just doesn't happen (assuming you choose a competent hospital and surgeon). This is a very safe surgery with very few complications.