nightingale2u

Debra... you look awesome! WTG!!! Darcy

Hi Trish... Welcome! It sounds like you are having great success with your band. I too have a lot of restriction without a fill... I plan on approaching my first fill veeeery carefully. Wishing you continued success! Darcy

WHo's pregnant???? If I'm pregnant... then I am gonna be single for sure! My hubby shoots blanks... no mo babies! Awww... Donali... can't you just see the cute wittle baby port????

LOL... I think it would still be possible for those muscles to still be irritated from having a port stitched into them... and ...let's face it girl... you don't heal as well as the average Joe! BUT... perhaps the old port laid eggs and a new one hatched???? Hmmmm... something to think about.... Darcy

Internal Massage... hmmmm... well... if breathing didn't hurt... I might give it a try... BUT... am thinking that the whole massage thing would get going and then... the heavy breathing... and then the worldwide "turn" on phase... "OUCH THAT HURTS!" Lisa... you are a giver of mental images... an arteeest of the mind! Sitting here sipping warm tea an reminding myself... no pain... no gain. I feel like somebody has a grip on my stomach and is trying to squeeze out lemonade. If I drink ... no IV... if I drink... no IV... and waiting once again for a return call. It's like being on the dating scene all over again.

Miss Janie, I would be VERY upset if you didn't share a concern or a need for support just because I am having some problems... No...No...No... This is a suport venue for everyone at anytime! It looks like you learned a very valuable lesson about yourself and how eating certain foods makes you feel... that's what is so wonderful about the band... it allows us to learn about our eating habits and helps us to make the changes for a healthier and happier life! You took what could have been a negative situation and turned it into a positive... be proud of yourself! (((hugs))) Darcy

OMIGOD... I am laughing through my tears! Lisa... I would think that a spirited romp in the hay might just cause irritation to the former port site. (was your port on the left?) Perhaps you could try letting Chris do all of the work... you just sit back and enjoy. He's gotta A LOT of work to do to make up for his faux pas! Ryan... do ya think we were all born yesterday???? I think we will need confirmation from the wifiepoo on the ole make-up sex topic. I think I will stick to Protein powder for now and actually sleeping while in bed. Darcy

Awww.... that's wonderful Alex! I'm so glad your uncle took the time to put his positive thoughts into spoken words! We all need to hear kudos... the affirmations from the people around us can make success so much more real! (((hugs))) Darcy

Oh... and don't use straws when you drink fluids... you get more air in your belly... sip... sip... sip...walk... walk... walk...

I agree with Leatha Jenni.... Walk... Walk...Walk...

Hi Jenni, I found unjury Protein powder to the be the best. they have a website... http://www.unjury.com I have the chocolate and the unflavored. It disolves really well and doesn't have the horrid smell and taste. Hang in there... the ups and downs are really normal... I would feel great one day and then be a crying mess the next! Everyone here helped me through those times... and I know they will do the same for you! Take care... sending healing vibes... Darcy

Hi Debra! Congratulations on your success!!! I love seeing the positive outcomes that others have with the band and it gives me great hope for my banded future! Thanks so much for sharing your story! Darcy

Thanks Alex! I am already taking Aciphex twice a day... Dr. Rudic put me on that when I went in for my 1 week post-op check. I'll keep taking that and alter my diet and hopefully this will all pass! Everything was going so well before this! I have to say... it was a wierd feeling to see the band on the xray... the tech looked at my port and said... OOOHHH there's your band! I said... nope... that's the port... up here... on the stomach... that's my beloved band. Soooo... guess it really is in there!

Well... spent the night wondering why I am such a goof head when I have to get medical care. I am so uncomfortable being a patient that I don't ask questions that I should. They took blood... but never mentioned anything... so I assumed the results must have been within normal limits. I don't feel that I am dehydrated... prior to yesterday I was getting plenty of fluids... it just caused pain when I did drink... yesterday morning... I downed an entire glass of ice-Water before the cramping and bloating and sharp pains started. So... I am assuming... I just need to drink regardless of the pain. Also... I know the ER Doc didn't know squat about the band... how would he know if it was positioned correctly in the xray??? I am going to call Dr. Chua's office today and hopefully be able to talk further. I do not want barium studies until I know for sure that the band is positioned correctly. I don't know if Dr. Chua asked for the xrays or not. If there is nothing obvious on the xrays... then I would like to try a bland diet for a couple of days and see if it is just gastritis. Nancy- I am assuming they felt I was hydrated... I told them that I felt that I was not dehydrated yet but was concerned that I would get dehydrated if the pain continued to worsen. Thanks for the healing energy... I think I need it! Neicy- You're a sweetie... your caring words are more helpful than you know! Marie- My surgeon is so far away that I feel he is out of town everyday. I also feel that there was a definite language barrier over the phone... Don't worry... I do not want to continue having pain everytime I eat or drink... I will follow-up... just not sure it is time to blast me off to a GI doctor??? Lisa- Unless my female parts have moved to an area approximately 2 inches above my belly button... they are probably innocent of all charges. The pain starts within minutes after eating or drinking. I really do feel that the lining of my stomach is proabably irritated and inflammed do to something that I ate on my newly started REG diet. THe intermittant diarrhea and cramping type of pain strike me as fitting that particular problem. I would like to think it is just something simple like this... yep... I like simple! (((hugs))) Oh... I'm not nice... honest... I'm a big hairy pain in the butt! Donali- Damn... wish I could blame it on wild monkey sex! I've been a little hesitant to hop on pop of late.... of course.... his diagnosis for my stomach pain is severe acute lackonookie. I'm going with gastritis and calling my surgeon today to let him know. I am also going to call my primary care M.D. I was under the assumption that Dr. Chua would follow-up on any problems associated with my band placement????? Honestly.... my primary care MD didn't put it in... why would he treat any of the complications???? Anyhoo... thanks so much and I'll do a little "toast" to you before I swig back the pepto! ((((hugs)))) Darcy

Well... that was a truckload of fun! It was a very nice ER... however... none of them knew anything about the Lap Band. The took xrays... my band is very attractive on film! THe ER doc couldn't see anything strange causing havoc in my stomach... so... he called my surgeon... and they sent me home. They told me to call the GI doc in the morning and make an appointment for a consult and mentioned a barium study. My question is this... why can't my surgeon order the barium study... and what am I supposed to do to get enough fluids in in the meantime???? Nobody gave me a single clue as to what this might be... and basically told me the do the best I can to get fluids in and have a nice day. You are all coming with me next time! So... gals... here I sit... hoping it will all go away by the morning and that I can go back to an uneventful recovery. I've never taken xanax but am thinking this would be an awesome time to try it! Darcy

BUT... BUT...BUT... I was hungry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought MAYBE... since I would be eating the popsicle slower than the Water it might be okay... *sigh*... My primary care M.D. will be gone for the day... and I just called my surgeon's office... their phones are to the answering service... so now... I sit here with stabbing pains through my gut everytime I move or breath... Okay... just sent another call through to my surgeon through the answering service... if they don't call me back I am going to immediate care .. Called me back... I have to go to the ER... Dammit... can't you all come with me???? Darcy

But...But... but... My surgeon must think it's nothing to worry about... still hasn't called me back. I am trying really hard not to be scared about this... and then Donali... one short sentence and I am freaking out again... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I just tried to eat a SF popsicle... mistake... imagining my band eroding into my stomach as we speak. I feel like the appropriate Doc to call is my surgeon... I did that... and they are letting me sit here to wonder and worry. Seriously... I have to go cry now... feel like my primary care M.D. will naturally want me to see the surgeon regarding this. :think Normally I would turn to food at a time like this... and I cut off all of my hair... so can't even twirl that nervously... back to pacing... Lisa... could you send me a couple of those happy pills of yours??? Darcy

I love you guys This has been going on for a few days ... I'm going to try a bland diet and fluids for today and if the pain has not improved... or if it gets worse... I promise I will call my primary care M.D. I don't have a gallbladder... and if my pancreas was involved I'd probably be writhing on the floor in pain and barfing my guts out. The discomfort is less this afternoon after avoiding food... so... as long as I can completely avoid eating or drinking... everything should be JUST fine! Seriously... I hate pain... I will have this attended to if it continues even with my poor attempts at self-treatment. I love my primary care M.D. and his staff... so it would be a total pleasure to go there instead of to my surgeon's office. Right now... I am just enjoying that my stomach seems to have settled down for the time being. I'm starving... but when I weigh avoiding pain against calming hunger... I'll stick to avoiding pain. THis site rocks... I can't tell you how being able to come here and post and get caring replies helped me to calm myself down and problem solve. (((hugs)))

Thanks Girls, I am still waiting for the return call from the P.A. ... not surprised. In the meantime have been doing a little research and am thinking this might be gastritis??? The sypmtoms I am having seem to fit... so... am going to stick to warm liquids and bland foods for a few days and see what happens. I was in complete misery after drinking ice-Water... so guess that's out as far as fluids go. I'm also going to cut out the morning coffee for a couple of days as well. I also had a glass of wine the other night... that combined with my coffee might really have ticked off a stomach with gastritis. Anyhoo... done freaking... and done waiting for a return call. I'll self diagnose and self treat and send Dr. Chua's office the bill. Thanks so much... Darcy

I have a call into the office. They will apparently call me back sometime today. In the meantime... when I drink water... I can feel it go all of the way through but get sharp pains and tons of gurgling and cramping when I do. I'm honestly just a wee bit freaked out. I tried cottage cheese early this morning and that didn't go well either. I am hungry and thirsty... but too afraid to put anything else in my stomach. I think I'll just go curl up in a ball on my bed and wait for the return call...

Weekly weigh-in.... 232. I wish I was feeling better so I could jump up and down for joy... but know that I am tickled with the continued loss! See y'all next Monday! Darcy

Hi Janie... No... I don't have to give myself shots in the belly. I'd gladly give myself one if it would make this pain go away. I was feeling so great... was feeling thinner and more energetic... ready to face the world. Now... is morning... I wake up feeling the pain... and know if I even put Water in my tummy it will start this whole bloating and cramping thing. Hi Marie... Nope... my port is on the left and this is right smack dab in the middle of my abdomen. It's not located near an incision either. I am so bummed... the last thing I want to do is call my surgeon's office... I am so intimidated by his staff... I get sick to my stomach before every appointment. Needless to say... they haven't heard a peep from me since my surgery. *sigh* Darcy

If you are happy Lisa... that is what really matters. Life is very short and I can't think of a single reason to spend it being miserable. Good Luck! Darcy

WOW... You look fantabulous Alex!!!! What a beautiful family! Darcy

(((hugs))) Ellen... I sure hope that things get better soon! Good luck with your move and your new job! Darcy