paula

Oh yeah! I remember the staples. Like you, mine stayed itchy and red - and irritated the heck out of me. I was supposed to leave them until my 1 week check up... HA! We must have some type of sensitivity to them - because most people never really "notice" them. Dabbing vit. E oil on them may help. Oh - and welcome to Bandland!

Jenna, You get a round of applause for having the courage to show these pics. and in all honesty, I have no idea what my BMI was when I had my band.

Got my pedometer! So come on Crystal, since you and I seem to be late gettin goin - lets kick their butts here! :devious Zoe, how are you and Jonathan doing with the >99 challenge?

Hi Trish! Hows the leg pain? Any better yet?

Everyone's experience in getting a fill is different. For me, Ive had 2 and didnt feel a thing. As for as post fill instructions, each surgeon is a little different. Most require us to have liquids for at least 24 hours, then 24 hours of mushy, back to regular eating on day 3... something like this.

Hi Pamela! Welcome to LBT! You will probably get lots on answers on this one, since the process for getting a fill is a little diffrent with each surgeon. Each doctor has his own protocol for this small procedure. You may want to ask your surgeons office (or someone who uses this doctor) this question, this way you will have accurate information. For me, I have recieved 2 fills only. Both times my surgeon accessed my port on the first try. Neither time did I feel it. Its a very small office visit/procedure, probably takes less then 5 minutes once the doctor enters the room. My doctor does not use fluro for fills, nor does he give a anesthetic shot before the fill. Some doctors do, and this would require a little longer time in the office (maybe 30 minutes - 1 hour). After the adjustment, my doctor requires us to sit in the waiting area and drink a little Water to make sure we are not over filled. If everything goes down fine - we are free to leave. This is my experience only! Hope this helps.

Hi Mary. Youve got us worried. Please let us know something about this ASAP!

Hi teach. Yikes! you are at the hardest part of our pre-fill phase... weeks 4-6. This is when it gets really tough to stick to the recommened food list. But stay strong! Sometimes doc's prescribe diet pills to help the patient "get through" this part. Just try maintaining your current weightloss untill you get that fill! Remember: high protien foods help the hunger. And yes, I can feel my port in the area where the biggest scar is. By the way... Welcome to LBT!!!

Jenna, we are moving exactly 1 mile east. Thats it. And the weird thing is that the first home we owned is on the next street over. So not only is this neighborhood "Meme & Pop's " neighbors that have seen my kids since birth, but its also the neighborhood my oldest child spent his first 7 years in. This all seems like a no-brainer, but there are a lot of pro's and con's to this... the house we currently live in (but in the process of selling) is in a very quiet, older/retired, beautiful, very safe neighborhood and its located on a dead end. So there is very little traffic, NO crime, perfect place for anyone, but mostly small children. Now, mom & dad's old house is not this way. The street is MUCH busier, and crime is definately an issue. The home is older and so are the other houses, which means neighborhood isnt nearly as nice... anyway, like i said, there are 2 side to this. So I keep remembering the no mortgage thing and trying to stay upbeat for the kids. Thanks again

kathy... you are killing me... Your hubby & the zantac... OMG! I bought some aloe vera yesterday - and folks, mine taste like water! NO taste at all. Probably different brands. I bought mine at a Vitamin store & the owner told me that this stuff really does work for ALL stomach trouble - including reflux. She said it worked from the mouth to the butt! Anyway, its not quantity - but consistancy that makes it work (according to the owner of the store). So, if we drink the whole bottle in 2 days, it will probably do nothing but give us the toots. But taking a swig (approx. 2oz's) 3 x's a day for a couple of weeks is the way to go! Kathy, its probably wise for you to inform your pcp about you having the band. If anything - just for your records! In my 10 months banded life, Ive had to call my pcp around 3 times for different prescriptions. He doesnt mess with me - doesnt even ask to see me - and usually gives me what Im asking for.

Thanks everyone for all this wonderful insight! I am truly grateful that I have all of you I agree - this really is a good thing. But I still have to keep reminding myself.... ***No Mortgage***

You get a high-five for the big guts it took for you to do this! WTG! Dont know why, but I was thinking of you as a blonde... hmmm! You are so pretty!!!

Omg you are gorgeous! My God!!! I actually had to do a double take when I scrolled down to the collage of pictures... I can NOT believe how awesome you look. Who the hell cares if you are portless - you are one hot looking gal! wooohoooo! Congratulations on your first *of many* banded years!! you deserve a standing ovation!

You guys are so awesome! Since my 9yr old goes to a magnet school, there will be no school change. And since there is NO mortgage, we could afford private schooling if needed. YES! YES! YES! We already have our savings lined up - but living on a single income, its gonna be really hard not to dip into that periodically. This home is older and in need of updating! So we have alot of work ahead. Alex, I had to use that on my Anne last night, "This is the house where Momma grew up. When I was a little girl, this was my bedroom, and now its gonna be your bedroom." And weve already started planning what colors they want their new rooms to be. *NO MORTGAGE* I just keep reminding myself.

Hi Kel... Congrad's to you! The restriction you are feeling right now *may be* your stomach a little swollen from the adjustment. This may go away and you will loosen up - OR - this may be your new restriction! Who knows?!?!? I felt a little restriction right after my fill, but 4-6 weeks later, I gained more. Are you having liquids for a day or two? Good luck!

LMBO.... I love it - Thank you so very much. I just needed some reassurance. My 9yr old isnt very upset over this - since most of our neighbors are retired, there are very few kids around here - so they have NO neighborhood friends. Oh, and we have our own "wolf" tales... (sigh)

Melissa, Yes, this is normal. I had to wait 4 weeks. Most surgeons allow a first fill anywhere between 4-6 weeks after the surgery. oh, and dont forget to ask your surgeons office about post-fill eating instructions. Thats another thing that varies between surgeons.

One more thing, you may want to try cold instead of heat. Just see is this helps. Seems like the ice pack on my butt cheek/hip made things better then the heating pad. ...oh, and walking helped too!

Trish, before i read Leatha's post, I was going to guess your leg pain be contributed to the sciatic nerve - most likely irritated from the surgery. I remember getting alot of this discomfort during pregnancy - when my baby would sit on this nerve. My doctor suggested that I lay or stand - NOT sit. Sitting seemed to aggravate it. I dunno, just trying to give 2 cents! What a horrible pain to have - especially when you are trying to recover from surgery. ((hugs))

Mary, did you get your barium swallow today?

German Spitz active, intelligent an alert this dog is also a devoted family pet. They can adapt to life in town or the country, but if left unchecked it has a tendency to yap, which can drive the neighbors insane. Now, let me see what hubby would be....

oops! Sorry about that!

Yeah Babs... you can do this! ((hugs))

Babs, youve lost 3 and a half pounds in O N E week. H E L L OOooooo!

Blue bell has changed its name in my home... now the "demonic concoction" is called Blue Bunny. Evil. Pure evil!