LeeInDe.

Hi, and welcome. I am new too, was banded on the 14th. Good luck to you, and yes, it was quite a decision, one that I am glad that I made. Hopefullly you will be glad too!

First welcome to you, I am new here too, was banded on the 14th. Oh Wow, you are describing my pain, too! It is caused by either gas or air from the surgery, and is rubbing against the nerve that runs up into your neck. It is very painful. Taking a breath, moving, etc. makes the pain worse. I finally called the nurse at my surgeon's office, last night, (who had given me a number to call anytime), and she confirmed the pain. Others here have had it too. At least she understood, and told me to get back on the pain meds, and they will also renew my prescription for the meds. If you still have pain meds, maybe they may work. A heating pad gave me some minimal relief last night. I am sorry your doctor is being ignorant. Everyone here knows what it is about, as I am sure you will hear and read more about it. Good luck to you.

I am in the same boat as you! Been trying hard. My problem is that I begin to hate the liquids soon after I hate them. I can not even look at jello, broth, puddings, etc. I am at this point searching the forum looking for new ideas, and did find some as in the Campbells selects, and a few other things. Right now I am having such severe left shoulder and pain under the left rib cage, that for once food is the last tihing on my mind!

I found this site while searching various lap band sites, Even though I am in the health care profession, I found this to be disturbing to think that I was possibly splayed on an OR table in this position! I did not understand all of the technical jargon, but it is interesting if you really want to see what is done in a diagram type view.........:paranoid. Here is the link: click on lap band technique. http://[url="http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/tecmain.html"]www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/tecmain.html[/url]

Let me try that link again.......... http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/tecmain.html

Thanks Barbara, I need to hear that! I am greatful for all of your thoughts and advice.

Hi Rosie, Boy, you have just described me! I hate the liquid diet, and although the full liquids are somewhat better than clears, I still hate it. I have been hungry since my first post op day, and I have never noticed that I was full after sipping quite a bit. I still am hungry, and have cheated with a very soft egg, one day, some Healthy Request noodle soup, with very few noodles in it, and one bite of a hot dog. Afterwards I feel guilty, but that doesn't help any. I then become afraid that I will have slippage, erosion, whatever, and feel more guilty. I told myself today that I would behave, but it is early yet. Good luck to you. We are lucky that this group here understands, and is willing to help and support us!

Boy, do I understand what you all are saying! I have run into those people too, how self righteous can someone be? There are a few in my doctor's office, too. My nutrionist, even though she was super slim, was at least encouraging. Although she did tell me to quit Diet Coke. I was floored with that one, and really feeling sorry for myself. She went on to tell me that Diet Coke, among other things has proven to be relavent in osteoprosis in women. I had heard that too, so before surgery I really cut back, and of course have not had any since surgery.

All of that makes much more sense than what I had learned so far. Thanks so much for your help, I was so afraid I would not be able to figure it out. I find if I understand it, I am more able to follow the rules!

I have been reading some posts, and have a few questions that I have not seen any answers to. 1. Clear liquids for four days, then full liquids. Why clears for four days, then full? I can understand a day or two of clears, but what really is the difference as far as healing time? 2. I read that not following the diet can cause band slippage, and erosion. How? I can see that a full diet may cause slippage, but how can full liquids do that? And erosion? How could that occur? The food is not hitting the band itself, so how could it erode? 3. Why also does it take so long to to advance to the modified diet that you will be on for life? It seems that as a "foodaholic", many weeks of eating liquids only may be very hard to do. This may sound dumb, but I am not getting it. If anyone has any insight to this, please let me know!

Hi, I am from Delaware, but from the south end. Had my surgery in MD, which is just a few miles from here.

I am a paramedic, and have been on the job for the past 17 years. Hope to retire some day to Florida. Was a nurse for years prior to finding the job I will stay with until retirement.

I hope someday I have the spirit and energy about this change of life as you all do. I really admire it, and want to achieve that goal. As of right now, I am 5 days post op, have hunger and cravings, and generally feeling sorry for myself. That is why I have been reading as much of the posts as possible, hoping to get into the swing of things.............

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who feels lousy. Very tired, no energy, abdomen stiff, and to boot, very hungry. Sounds like it shall pass, and for that I am still glad I went through with it.

Thank you so much for the great answers! That sure does make a lot more sense than I have been making of it. Maybe with that inspiration, I will too be able to make it. Seems as though I may be making some valuable friends!

My surgery was on 2/14/07. I have posted some questions on the pre-op and post-op board, and hope someone will be able to help me find answers. Good luck to all!:nervous

My port was placed in my upper right quad, during the surgery. My surgery was 2/14, and everyday, it seems I am more aware of the port. It feels as though there is no room in my abdomen for it, and when I cough or sneeze, it feels as though it wants to pop out, (which I know it won't of course). Is that normal? Also, even though I have lost 8 lbs. already, my abdomen feels very distended, and the jeans I was able to wear pre-op, I no longer can not even get zipped half way up. Is that also normal, and did anyone else notice that, too. I don't see the doctor until Thursday, and am thinking this may be normal, just hoping for some reassurance! :help:

Thanks for all of the support. I feel so much better knowing that I am not the only one who has noted this aspect. For all of my reading up on the surgery, there are quite a things that are not expained well. It does help to have support, or is it; misery loves company?!:tired

I was banded on 2/14, and proudly went around telling everyone who would listen that I knew I would breeze through this surgery. The reason for this was the fact that I had a laproscopic choleycystectomy in November and it went amazingly well. Very little post op pain, no gas pain, able to move around as though I had no surgery. While other people I talked to had pain, gas, and a very sore abdomen. Since in my mind, I felt that this must be not as invasive as the choley, I was smacked with discomfort ever since surgery. Now, the pain is not a screaming pain on the one to ten scale, but I did feel as though I was kicked in the abdomen by a few mules! Never considered that I would have trouble moving in bed at night, and sitting up was rough. The gas pain remains, and at times, it shoots right up into my shoulder, making evey breath uncomfortable. My abdomen is very swollen, to the point of not being able to zip my pre surgery jeans, and I am very aware of the port. To top it all off, I am hungry, and do not like the protien shakes. I have no energy, and am depressed about being so hungry. My only hope is that one day, this too shall pass, and I need to stick with the proper diet to achieve my goals. I am hoping that with the support of all the banders here, that I will find some of the strength I need! So, good luck to you, I totally understand! :hungry:

Hello, I am glad I found this forum. The first one I found seemed to be mainly for the folks that go to Tijuana, and this one seems to be for those of us who have had the surgery other places. I thought this was going to be very easy, and it sure is not quite as easy as I anticated, but hope to find support and answers to the questions that seem to be popping up daily. I had my surgery in Salisbury, Md. on 2/14. I am glad I may have found some new friends that I have something in common with. Thanks, Lee