DeLarla

Darcy, I totally understand your insurance frustration. I gave up on insurance and just applied for credit. I figure if the banks is dumb enough to give me credit that I can't pay for, then it will be THEIR fault that I can't make my monthly payment. And they can't repossess my band! If I miss a payment and they call me, I'll tell them they're harrassing me and threaten to sue them for giving someone as broke as me all that credit. I'll plead insanity. MY BAND! I paid $7500 by using my whole brand new credit card. That will pay for itself within 2 years. My fast food bill will more than cover my monthly payment. I used to spend $7-$8.00 at Taco Bell. Yesterday my order came to 80 cents. The band pays for itself. Plus, I might be able to write off the $7500 as "out-of-pocket-medical expense" on next year's taxes. I'll certainly try.

You are so right. And yesterday I was putting my spoon down and crossing my arms. But I have to do it after every couple bites like you said instead of halfway through the meal. It really does take a good 20 minutes for the food to hit the pouch. My doc said never, ever to drink with food. But I'm thinking of taking a baby sip halfway through my meal. Maybe just a tablespoon of Water to help the food go down. What's your thoughts? I'm finally in a Band! A rockin' band!

I don't want to scare anyone, but think it's important for everyone to have honest answers, and this surgery certainly wasn't "a piece of cake" for me or the other 5 that had it when I was in the hospital. It wasn't the worst surgery I've been through, but it certainly wasn't cake. My biggest advice is to give yourself a little extra time to get better. I wish I could have taken 2 full weeks off of work, but I went back to work after one week. Wearing clothing was really uncomfortable. Sitting in a chair all day was too much pressure on the port and band. Everyone heals differently, and I personally could have used a couple extra days of pain medication. I also highly recommend buying an extra large heating pad, which was my savior since my back hurt so bad right after the surgery. Then my back felt better, but 2 weeks post op the pains came back a lot worse. Everyone on this board told me to give it a full two weeks before worrying that something was wrong. I seriously thought something went wrong because I had severe lower abdominal gas and diareah for 2 full weeks - totally miserable. However, the angels here were 100% correct, because today is 2 weeks plus 2 days post-op, and I'm starting to feel pretty darn good! I'm afraid to talk about weight loss because I might jinx something, but I've lost over 20 pounds. Prior to the surgery, I'd eat anything not nailed down whether I liked it or not. Today there are things that make my face squinch up that just sound gross to me. This is a whole new world. I learned that I hate malted chocolate milk. I bought both chocolate-malt and plain chocolate Instant Breakfast for my morning shakes. The malt was so gross that I poured it out. ME, throwing away a chocolate malt Instant Breakfast? Unheard of! And prior to the surgery I had a bad coffee habit. Today I tried having my usual coffee with thick sweat creamer (Liquid Hazlenut flavor) and it was too sweet so I spilled it out. ME, spilling out flavored coffee???? So, the band surgery is no party, but worth every miserable minute!

Meanwhile, is it just me or did they remove part of my brain while implanting my new band? When I write posts they make perfect sense flying from my brain off my fingertips. But when I read them back I find all these typos and my mirds are all wixed up. What's up with that?

Kellymoos, I've been thinking about you and almost just sent you a private message to say HEY! Oh, a chiro does sound lovely, but I can't miss any more work. However, I live right by a massage school and a half-hour sesson sounds is only about $20.00. I'll go this weekend, but is it too soon to lay on my belly? I'm only 2 weeks post op.

I forgot to mention that my back is killing me, too. My doc even gave me muscle relaxers, but they don't help an ounce (except making me go nighty night. The only relief I get is from my heating pads. I have one in every room now. I even brought one to work because sitting is so painful on my back - I can't sit still at all, ouch! A couple people said it's the anesthesia, however, I discussed this with my primary doctor and she said "that's nonsense." She was the 2nd person to tell me it's probably a "table injury." She said that during surgery you get flopped around like a dead tuna on a boat. You get jerked and dropped and your guts are really traumatized during the whole ordeal. I remember your shoulder hurt really bad right after surgery. My shoulder acted the same way 5 days later. Is your better now? Is the back pain the same type of shoulder pain you had? Answers anyone?

I'm so excited to see you here! What did the fish stick do to you? How did you go from mushy to fishy? I think maybe you could have eaten the insides of the fish, yes/no???

I have to "second" the advice on pampering yourself. A good percentage of overweight women are givers and doers. I'm one of them, and I thought I'd be Superwoman and go back to work 4 days after surgery. I only stayed 4 hours the first day back, then took one extra day. During that time, I decided that it was MY time. I hired 3 neighbor kids for the day. They cleaned and catered to me till hubby came home. They even took my dogs for a walk and let me take a nap. Pamper yourself!

I'm the Queen of Leaking! Also known as "weeping wound." It sucks, but it eventually stops. No, I don't think everybody's incisions weep. When my port incision started leaking, I totally freaked out. I nearly had a panic attack, but I learned that it's completely normal. The liquid that comes out should be clear with a little orange/pinkish tint. If the liquid is infected, then you need to contact your doctor. Some leak a little - I leaked like a faucet. I like to believe that the Fluid contains some fat, so I let it leak freely when I was at home. Just kept using tissue or gauze to dab it up every minute. So while weeping is really annoying, it's something coming OUT of your body. Anything coming out of your body has weight to it, right? But I was a real DUMB BUNNY this morning. Yesterday my leaking finally stopped! I was thrilled because my incision finally dried up on the way to recovery. The dumb ass me took an extra long hot shower this morning, thereby soaking my dry wound. I got out of the shower and smacked myself upside the head as I noticed that my incision was all fresh and open again. DOH! So here I am at work, with my panty liner stuck to the inside of my shirt again. Darn! And don't be nervous - be exicited!

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my surgery, and my incision is still leaking. I know this is normal - my doctor even said it's normal. But can anybody tell me about how long it can go on? It's driving me nuts. Nothing stops the leaking. I've tried everything. I tried liquid-bandages last night but it seeps through. I tried laying in the sun to bake it and even tried blow-drying it for 1/2 hour. I've tried letting it run itself dry. But now I'm at work so I've got it covered with bandages, but it seeps out of the bandages. I can't focus on work because I'm constantly changing my dressings and dabbing up liquid. The worst part is that it's such a tiny little leak, but it's F-ing persistent enough to seep through bandages! Anybody?

Donali, I was thinking about you last night - about that cumberbund you mentioned. Giggling, cuz it's kind of a weird thing for a girl to have laying around. I atually have a cumberbund, because about 15 years ago I was a bridesmaid, and I must have slept with one of the grooms because I ended up with a cumberbund and bowtie that matches my dress! Now why do you own a cumberbund?

I guess the glue is old, but Dr. Lopez was still using sutures 6 months ago because Lopez used stitches on my friend on 10/25/03. I wonder if he uses glue on some and stitches on others???

Thanks for the info. Good info, too!

Kiera, I had that same awful problem with a marguerita before my surgery! I have a hiatal hernia (maybe that's why) but it was the most horrible, painful minute of my life! Speaking of my hernia, Dr. Lopez said I no longer have it. I didn't understand his explanation, but I think the band went above the hernia and pushed it down? Can anyone explain?

Donali & Tangerine, the "fat" part of our brains are all from the same mold. I'm extremly serious about "protecting my food." I didn't realize anyone else felt like this. I know how/when/where my problem started, so I thought I was the only one constantly Police-ing my food. My mother is clinically insane. She should never have had children - bygones. But when we were little (me, bro & sis) she'd never keep edible food in the house, so we'd steal money from her or eat at friends'. Once a month she'd buy a half gallon ice cream. We 3 would stand in a circle like a pack of starving wolves as my mother used a knife to cut through the ice cream, container and all, to make sure she got exactly 1/4 portions. Then she'd slap it on a plate, cardboard and all, and we'd all scamper to separate corners with our ice cream. As far as wasting food, I was raised as "death to those who waste food." We'd get beaten at 3:00 a.m. if my mom found a half a bean in the trash. Gee, thanks for really f**cking me up, Mom. Today is 2 weeks postop, and I know I'm going to have to let go of a lot of mental baggage. I don't only police my own portions, but I've constantly got my eye on other people's plates. If someone takes a big portion, then doesn't finish their plate, I get really flipping pissed off. I catch myself staring at people in restaurants who just pick at their food then throw the rest away. Thank God for you guys.

Did I forget to mention in my original post that I never had stitches? Dr. Lopez doesn't use sutures any more. He uses some kind of clear glue that keeps the incisions shut. I guess it's some big medical advancement. When I got out of surgery, my incisions were closed off with some kind of invisible surgical glue.

Hey everyone! My weeping wound has been an entire saga on its own. I tried everything. At night I'd let the liquid run for five hours till bedtime while "mopping" it up (ha ha, a good one.) Then I'd go to bed with a loose clean t-shirt and just let it absorb the Fluid. Then I tried applying pressure and keeping the wound covered with huge non-stick pads. Then I'd used Bandaids. Nothing stopped it. I even tried "expressing" or "milking" the liquid by massaging my belly to try to get all the liquid to one area. My big mistake was liquid-bandage, which only shriveled up the skin around the wound, but it still leaked. When I peeled the liquid-bandage off, my wound opened more. Today I have a panty liner taped to the inside of my shirt. Brilliant! Now my wound isn't coverd and is getting the air it needs. I have no red, allergic marks from Bandaids or tape, and my shirt is staying clean. The liquid gets dabbed-up by the pad, and everyone is happy. Everyone be very quiet.... the volcano is actually silent for the first time in a week! There's barely any liquid on the panty-liner... could it be, is it possible... am I healing? SHHHH... not to jinx it!

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks post op. In addition to my leaking incision, I don't think I'm doing very well. Yesterday I ran to my local doctor because my constant diareah and belly gurgling were really making me ill. My lap-band doc (Lopez) said this isn't related to the band, so my local doc is running a bunch of lab tests to rule out bacterial infections. Now I'm running a low fever. My incision isn't infected, and I don't feel horribly sick. Could this fever be my body fighting to recover? Was anyone else really slow going after surgery? How was everyone feeling at this stage? Please give me some words of encouragement to help me stop worrying. Also, I tried making an appointment with a local lap band doctor, who refuses to see other patients. It would be nice to have a local doctor for follow up. I was told Dr. Tang is a doc in Las Vegas who takes other patients, but I can't find a listing for him. Can anyone help? Thanks, Lisa.

What's the story with carbonated drinks? I read somewhere that Gingerale is okay as a clear liquid. And I heard of a guy who enjoys his beer. My nutrional guidlines provided by my doctor don't mention carbonation. It says to avoid alcohol and beer for caloric reasons, but nothing about carbonation. However, other people say you can never have carbonation again. Please 'splain.

Thanks for the tip. I've got red marks all over my abdomen from the darn tape and bandaids. It's making the whole area uglier. My husband told me to use a Kotex. He said he'd bind me up but good with a nice panty liner when I get home tonight. The liquid bandages didn't work anyway and let all sorts of air in and leaking out. Ya know, I think that this slow-healing incision is subliminally making my internal healing slower. I bet if my wound would heal, I'd start feeling better all over. Just a hunch.

I'm glad I'm not the only popcorn nut. I actually go to the movies just for the popcorn. I've seen some pretty lousy movies because I'll go to the theater without checking movies or times - when I get a hankerin' for movie popcorn, I just go to the closest theater and see whatever's playing. I hope my band grows to love me and doesn't reject my body. I can't wait to order my first "small." I'm not even sure that word has the capability of rolling off my tongue.

A cumberbund? Maybe constant pressure is the key to stopping it. I'm going to wrap myself tight in an Ace bandage for a few days. I'll try anything at this point!

I didn't eat anything in Mexico. I brought my own bottled Water and Gatorade. I did drink their tea, apple juice, and a couple bites of Jello. But there are signs in the hospital bathrooms saying "don't drink the water" so I doubt they'd use tap water to make their tea and jello... then again, who knows? Let's just hope they find some creepy crawly things in my stool samples that can be cured with American antibiotics!

Thanks guys! Yes, she (my doc) did request stool samples. I collected the samples at 4:00 and actually gagged - I've never had kids and I'm really bad at that sort of thing. But when I turned them into the lab, they gave me like 6 new vials that they want me to put some poop in, so I guess my doc is being really thorough. As far as keeping the incision dry, well that's impossible, which is my whole problem. The constant leaking keeps it wet. I have to cover it while at work, but when I get home, I shower & wash it really well. Then I keep it uncovered till I got to bed while constantly dabbing at it as it slides down my belly. I put on a clean t-shirt when I go to bed, and it's all gross and wet in the morning. Then I shower again and cover it for work. I change it several times at work. Last night I bought some liquid bandage, and I put 3 coats on. It sealed it really nice till I stood up, then it started leaking again.

Fabulous! Movie popcorn was going to be my biggest problem. I'm still healing from surgery and my recovery isn't going so well, but I sure look forward to the day when I can enjoy a movie and a lil' popcorn!