Danielle2649

Hi Guys! I don't know if I experienced the same pain, but a couple of weeks out from my surgery, even past the 1 month mark, I had a pain on my left side from time to time. It felt like a muscle pain or cramp. I asked my doctor and he said that it was from the surgery. He said that they have to put the scope in on that side and up under your ribs and that takes a long time to heal up internally. I would use a heating pad sometimes and try not to bend too much on that side. It doesn't bother me anymore, 4 months out. Always ask your doctor if its exterme pain, but I would bet its probably from the scope they use during the surgery. Hope this helps!

Yeah, like Tonks said, I don't really know how many bites or oz. I eat at a time. When I was really restricted this last time I could only eat about 1/2 of a chicken breast and then it would start "coming back up!" Then I could only eat about 1/2 of a microwave meal and it would do the same thing. Now that I had a little taken out I can eat a whole microwave meal, like a lean cuisine and be full. So, I am eating a little more per meal, but I feel much better! The best advice is to eat slowly and chew really well. Sometimes I chew so much my jaw hurts! I always wait a minute or so after my first bite so the food can move down slowly and doesn't get stuck or anything... You'll really just lean by experience, its so different for everyone! I am still learning what works and what doesn't.

Hi Mrs! When I first started eating "normal" foods after my post-op stages, I had a really hard time making my husband understand what I could and couldn't have anymore. We still have a hard time planning our dinners out because 1. I can't eat as much as I used too, so don't make the WHOLE box of pasta or whatever, and 2. I can't eat a lot of breads, its amazing how much we ate bread before! My husband slips up too, but I don't think its sabotage... Its probably not what your husbands trying to do either. Its just hard to change our habits. Keep pounding it in his brain! Refuse to eat what he eats if its not good for you! I hope he will understand and be more aware of how his actions are affecting you!

:nervoussorry, I noticed that you have already had some fills... here I am preaching about healing... But, you probably know it takes some time for you to find the right fill. I have had 3 fills and 2 slight un-fills, the last one I had about a week ago. I was having trouble eating ENOUGH and trouble sliming and etc. Anywho, just wanted to let you know I re-read your post and felt silly that I jumped to conclusions that you were just post-op!

Hi Kim! We've all been there before! Don't be too hard on yourself, you didn't get fat overnight, so your not going to loose it overnight either! The one thing I realised was that it took me 27 years to develop the bad eating habits I had, so I am not going to beat them overnight either! Most importantly is that you heal properly so your ready for your fills. Thats where the restriction will happen, and when its right, its like night and day! Make sure your getting your Vitamins and enough nutrients so your body stays strong, and Water is very important too! I had a hard time getting all my water in too, it just started happening over time... I don't mean to go too easy on you, some people around here need tough love, but I just know how you feel and it gets better every single day!

Hows this for another fast reply! I am on my lunch break and decided to do some "chatting." I don't really reply a lot on these boards, but I am having a really good day and I thought I could show some support to my fellow bandsters! I have lost a total of 55lbs since May. I weighed 248lbs (still can't believe that!) and I am now in what we call around here "onederland!" I am under that horrible 200lbs! I am now 193, last I checked. I have had a pretty good recovery since my surgery in June. I went back to work after a week, which was very easy. I lost 15lbs on my pre-op diet and have lost 1-2lbs on average since my surgery. I had my 1st fill, then had a littlen take out cause I was too tight. Then had another small fill a couple weeks after that, then another small one and I think I was up to 6cc in a 10cc band. But the last six weeks since that fill I had trouble eating very much and had trouble with PBing and Sliming (PB= productive burp, where you "burp" or spit up something that you didn't chew up good enough. Sliming= is when your mouth produces lots of spit to try and get food down) (I can tell you more about that later if you need more info! Its REALLY not as scarey as it sounds!) ANYWAY... I had 1/2cc taken out and it has been HEAVEN this past week! I still feel restriction, but I can actually eat a meal, not just two bites and spit it back up... So, here I am 55lbs later! I would still like to loose another 45-50lbs or so, but right now I am really enjoying being at this mid point! I have to keep focused so I don't start slowly gaining. With the holidays coming I know that junk food will be abound and that goes right through the band and just adds to your calories! Oh, and exercising is really important, I am sure you have heard. But, to me totally honest, I don't really do a whole lot... I try and walk around my work parking lot at lunch when I can and get on the treadmill at home when I have time. I am sure that my weight would be coming off even faster if I kicked it up a notch, but I have done this good so far! But, like I said, since I had that un-fill I know I am going to need to pay better attention to what I eat and get more exercise! I am sorry I wrote a small novel here... Like I said I am having a great band day and wanted to let everyone know! Hope my info helps! Let's keep in touch!

Hi Lillysmom! Best of luck with your insurance approval! I am just over 4 months out from my surgery and I am really happy with my choice! I have lost 55 lbs since I was in your shoes and I couldn't believe back then it was possible! My best advice while waiting for that approval is to do lots of research. Do you have a doctor already? Is he/she going to be the same one that gives you fills? I would make lots of lists (Im a list person!) of questions you have for your doctor and lists of things to get for your recovery period. Also, take some pictures of yourself before you have to do any pre-op diets. (That is one thing I wish I had was a true starting point picture, I lost 15lbs on my pre-op diet so I don't have that comparison from when I was at my heighest weight.) Best of luck and keep in touch!

Congratulations Sunshine! I have been banded for just over 4 months and it is really the best thing I have ever done! I know everyone says that, but it truely is! Best of luck and keep the boards updated on your progress!

Hi Cherry! Welcome to Lapband Land! Congrats on the surgery! I had mine just a little over 4 months ago and I thought I would write you to calm your nerves a bit, we've all been right where you are now! I, personally, have never head of anyone not waking up from anethesia, but I am almost positive it is a very rare occurance! I was scared too, but just don't think about it too much and before you know it your on the table and they put that mask on you and then *boom* your awake in recovery! I didn't even have to count backwards while the administered it or anything! So, don't worry a bit about that, just get yourself prepared for recovery and that will take your mind off it! As for feeling the band, I wondered the same thing!!! I though for SURE I would feel it around my stomach, but I can't one bit! Well, I take that back, when I drink something cold first thing in the morning I can feel it tighten up down in my chest, not a bad feeling at all, kinda cool! And the best time you can feel the band is when its doing its job and you have good restriction and it tells you your full! As far as the sexual intercourse goes, the band hasn't affected mine what so ever! (Of course, this is after you are properly healed!) In fact, I think the band is the best thing for my sex life! I feel so much better about myself with my clothes off and my husband is pretty happy too! So, good luck! Best wishes for a speedy recovery! I hope I put your mind at ease! -Danielle

:girl_hug:Aww, no one has replied to you yet? I am a reader, but I don't reply much. But after I saw you posted this earlier and no one had written you back, I felt like I should speak up! I hope your port is feeling better! I know that when I first got filled I had pain issues too, but nothing that I had to take meds for, it was just a muscle ache feeling. I wouldn't worry, its probably just your sore there. I think you would only really need to worry if it was like a sharp, burning,makes you double over in agony pain, or if there is external bleeding or anything. But, the best thing to do is call your doctor or nurse and ask. Its so much better to be safe than sorry! Best wishes!

Thats a great site! I enjoy seeing stuff like that, it makes you think! Another great site you can check daily (and look at past postings) is FOUND Magazine | Find of the Day. They post a new thing every day that was found somewhere, like pictures, notes, etc. Its neat to see what treasures people find and it makes you take a closer look at stuff you might come across. They also have books available too, my friend has one and its so interesting to look at.

Glad Im not alone Mrs. Husker! I guess it will change over time and as more pounds fall off...

I mentioned on another thread that I have the exact opposite of this problem! I have never really felt like a fat person and when I look in the mirror I don't think I look that heavy (and now that I have lost 50lbs I think I am a hottie!), but when I see pictures of myself I look like a big heffalump!

Good for you Amy! I know exactly how you feel, wait till you get to 50lbs! I almost can't believe it when I look at the scales! I am half way to my goal, I would like to loose another 50lbs. Its such a great feeling! It makes any of the difficulty that comes with being banded totally worth it!