TexasDy

There are 5 total. 2 on the left side. 1 on the right. 1 just under where your bra would sit. And the largest 1 about 2in below that. None near the belly button. Hope that helps.

If all you got was that my husband leads my family, you weren't listening. A marriage takes 100% from both people. 1 + 1 = 1. The lapband is an amazing thing and I'm very grateful for it. But if I disrespected my husband enough to spend that kind of money and have surgery knowing he was against it, it'd cause more problems than weightloss would solve. Communication and mutual respect are extremely important. I never once suggested the OP should not get the band nor did I say her health is more important than her marriage. I just said if he's that against it then to respect her husband enough to find out why, educate him, and make the ultimate decision TOGETHER. That's what true "joint-HOH" is about. It's another point of view than "he'll appreciate it later" that others have given. And that's why we're all here - for other bandster's opinions.

I agree and disagree. I'm so sorry you're having trouble with your husband. I don't know what I would do without my husband's full support. Saying that - if he was completely against it, there'd have to be a reason. You married him. Therefore, you rely on him, trust his opinions, and overall respect him as head of your household. So, yes, take him to the seminar and meet with the surgeon. If after all that info he's still not on board, you need to have a deeper conversation - I know I wouldn't have gone through with it if my husband felt that strongly against it.

Jemama - that's how I felt the first day. Hankfully, I slept through most of it. I wasn't awake most of my 1st 48hours...

I used a heating pad on my shoulders and neck. The gas pain was TERRIBLE. Probably could have used it on my tummy, but didn't hurt enough to need it.

Day 4 here - gas pain was the worst. Especially when it moved. Lower intestines back to diaphragm, up to shoulder, back down to diaphragm - I thought I was going to DIE!! Last night, it finally eased up a little and this morning I feel A LOT better. No real incision pain unless I jerk or twist suddenly. They itch though... And I have no idea where my port is. I don't want to mash around on my tummy and make it hurt if it doesn't need to. I haven't been paying attention to how much fluids I've been taking in. I know a lot of Water b/c I felt dehydrated and had very bad dry mouth. I just take it in very slowly and have only had trouble when I took a big gulp - which happens with everything b/c I forget.. So sorry you're feeling so bad. Hopefully today will be better.

Day 4 here - gas pain was the worst. Especially when it moved. Lower intestines back to diaphragm, up to shoulder, back down to diaphragm - I thought I was going to DIE!! Last night, it finally eased up a little and this morning I feel A LOT better. No real incision pain unless I jerk or twist suddenly. They itch though...

Day 3 for me too. The gas pressure has been KILLER!! Only a little pain around my inisions, they feel like bad bruises. I've been staying on my pain meds every 4-5 hours though. I did have quite a bit of nausea yesterday and had to take something for it. I've only been drinking b/c I know I have to. Haven't really been hungry yet b/c so uncomfortable w/ all the gas pressure. Biggest (unexpected) complaint is continued dry mouth. I can't seem to hydrate enough and there's a morning breath taste most of the day - I brush my teeth 4x a day now. Overall, I'm doing ok. Just tired A LOT. Hope you all continue getting better!!

Day 3 for me too. The gas pressure has been KILLER!! Only a little pain around my inisions, they feel like bad bruises. I've been staying on my pain meds every 4-5 hours though. I did have quite a bit of nausea yesterday and had to take something for it. I've only been drinking b/c I know I have to. Haven't really been hungry yet b/c so uncomfortable w/ all the gas pressure. Biggest (unexpected) complaint is continued dry mouth. I can't seem to hydrate enough and there's a morning breath taste most of the day - I brush my teeth 4x a day now. Overall, I'm doing ok. Just tired A LOT. Hope you all continue getting better!!

No, never felt it before. Couldn't lay down to sleep, used every pillow in the house to prop up straight in bed. Slept most of the day yesterday sitting up on couch. About 3am, I was able to toss 2 pillows and lay on my side a little bit, still mostly propped up tho. Woke up at 4am and haven't been back to sleep. A little less uncomfortable this morning. Pain is still there, just more localized than all over. Wish I could just burp!! I know it would help a lot!!

Chest, shoulder, and arm pain post-op anyone? I had surgery this morning and am so crazy uncomfortable from the gas pockets in my chest cavity...

I've been on atkins for 2 weeks. Surgery is tomorrow. For 2 days, I've really wanted a Dr Pepper. I don't usually drink sodas but for some reason, that's all I want. I just found out that Diet has NO carbs!!! So freakin excited!!! Since sodas aren't really possible with the band, this totally made my day =) LOL

I've been on atkins for 2 weeks. Surgery is tomorrow. For 2 days, I've really wanted a Dr Pepper. I don't usually drink sodas but for some reason, that's all I want. I just found out that Diet has NO carbs!!! So freakin excited!!! Since sodas aren't really possible with the band, this totally made my day =) LOL

Hi there! I'm in Austin, surgery is June 22. Pre-op started June 10 (supposed to be 6/8, but I was at a motorcycle rally that weekend. My nutritionist gave me the ok to start when I got home). It's the first phase of atkins. The first few days were MISERABLE. Then I had a meeting with the surgeon and he explained the why and what could happen if I didn't stick with it... Now I'm scared out of my mind and don't even allow myself the 20g of carbs I can have!! My husband and parents know. And one friend from church. She had the bypass in 2000 and is a big support!! I'm not hiding it from anyone, just don't want to be open about it during the hard parts - in a month, when I can eat solids, I'll probably start telling people.

My husband has been kind of the same lately. I'm in the middle of my 2wk pre-op atkins diet. He originally said he would try to do the atkins with me b/c it's such a pain in the butt - instead, he eats crakers, etc for Snacks right in front of me... My advice is talk to your man. Not while he's eating. But in a soft, respectful way so it doesn't come across as nagging. That's what I did. My husband said he thought he was helping by getting it out of the house... /shrug I know I'm a nagger, it's caused a lot of communication issues in my marriage and I have to fight it all the time. Making sure my approach and tone are respectful (that's what men want) goes a loooong way - even if I'm nagging about something =)

WHAT A MOTIVATION!!! I'm 7 days pre-op. My surgeon requires 2wks atkins for pre-op diet. My husband and I went to a movie last night. I got a Water and a hotdog, threw away the bun. He got popcorn, nachos, and a cherry coke. Part of me wanted a little popcorn, but I knew if I had some, I'd want a LOT and I don't want to take the chance of something going wrong in the operating room. Watching him eat all of that in one sitting, I was proud of myself more than the feeling of loss!! It felt good! We're planning to go see Brave after surgery next Friday. I wonder what my movie-food experience will be then, when I can only have liquids... Thanks for sharing, Brebre. I'm going to be more aware of my feelings and fight them post-op. Good luck to you and God bless!

My husband and parents know. My work knows of the hernia repair, and I'm not shy about that part. They're all cranky and judgemntal and I don't want to deal with their comments. In a few months, I'll tell them (maybe) just not now. Other friends/family, I'll tell them if it comes up post-op.

Someone else posted about an ignorant person making comments about her weight pre-band to her fiance. I decided it's time to share my similar experience. This happened the night before my very first consultation. What a coincidence, right? I was picking my husband up from work. He's retail security, so I was walking around the store waiting for his shift to end. I saw one of his coworkers (that I'd met more than once) and said 'hey how's it going'. He said fine and treated me like I was invisible. Whatever right. My husband has told me dozens of times that he's not a good person and has a very low opinion of women (he has said any woman over 100lbs is fat). So I didn't think anything of it that he didn't recognize me or say hello. When he got back to the office, where my husband was, he said "dude, this fat chick just hit on me. She looked at me like I was food!" Then turned the security camera to where I was standing (just outside their office at this point) and said "there she is!" It took every ounce of self control my husband has not to lay him out right there. He knew he would lose his job. He told the guy I was his wife and walked out. I'm very proud of him for being the bigger man. It showed more respect for me to have self control than for him to do anything macho. I've been good at not letting it drag me down. And it helps that the guy almost got fired over it. (He's working nights only now, so at most my husband only works with him 3-4 hours a week) But sometimes it's hard to remember that I'm taking control of my weight FOR ME and not some comment that was made. So to all of you Newbies, Recently Banded, and Long Term Successes - Remember you're not alone. You are valuable. You are beautiful on the outside too, no matter what our culture tells us. Good luck to all of you!!

my doctor, the endo was to see if i have a hiatal hernia. i didn't have to do an upper gi or the barium swallow. the hernia check was more for insurance purposes b/c if you have a hernia they fix it while they're placing the band any way.

My husband and parents know, and 2 friends that have had WLS. At work, I told them I have to have surgery to repair a hernia (true) and that the Dr told me to get to a healthy weight or it would come back. That explained the time needed off and the change in eating habits. I'll probably be open with it later, just not with my coworkers - most are pretty judgmental and I don't want to deal with that.

June 22!!

It is just a tool! That's my favorite part about it! Bc I know that if I lose the weight on my own, it will eventually come back. With the band, it won't come back!! =)