abby824

My port completely flipped too. I am going in tomorrow to have my stomach opened back up and the port sewed back down. I am self pay as well. My surgeon is doing it for free. I don't know why either. It's not something that was originally part of the package. I had my surgery over a year ago.

Go get checked out... the signs of not losing weight along with reflux that you are not used to are signs that your body is saying something is wrong. I have slipped and never knew it and I ignored the reflux all those other signs you just listed off.... now it might be too late for me!

Good luck on Thursday... I just found out that my band was horizontal and there is stomach filling over the top off it! And when they went to deflate me, my port had flipped. So I am having surgery tomorrow to fix my port and get unfilled. Hopefully my band will correct itself but somehow I feel it won't! I just can't figure out how this happened. It is very frustrating! Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! Take care and good luck!

I got overfilled, and I must have eaten to fast or something to big, because my new pouch became irritated and inflamed and was swelling against the band, to the point that I would get a burning sensation from even drinking water.... all this because I didn't want to complain.... so I had to go back in and get deflated and now am trying to give my stomach time to heal, and gaining some weight back..... so complain, complain, complain....

I am 13 days post-op and I feel like I am failing already. I lost 10 lbs during my pre-op and since my surgery have only lost 3-4lbs. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong? My dr. has me on a "anything through a straw" diet and I feel like I have cut back tons. I am also back in the gym doing 45 minutes of cardio training at least 3 times a week just as I did pre-op. I can't figure out why I am not dropping at least a little bit more weight. Also, I don't get the "full" feeling I secretly hoped for. And as every day goes by I find myself able to eat a larger amount of food. I thought my stomach could hold a little less than a cup. But I swear I can put down that much and not even feel full. Is anyone else like this? Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could be doing wrong or things that would help me. I have a wound check appointment on Wednesday and I am afraid to face my surgeon without having lost more weight. I don't want to be that one person that can't even succeed after SURGERY!

My surgeon had me take my bandages off at 2 days and I have been just fine. It does feel weird to have the incisions exposed at first! Also, I am back in the tanning bed again. I put band aids over my incisions while I tan to protect them. Now I have a polka dotted stomach!

How do you even get your ticker on your page??? Everytime I try and put in the URL it tell me "invalid File" Augh!

Wow... I am on mushies too. Well, "anything that can go through a straw" and I am so tired of it. Your day sounds about like mine, cream of wheat, protien shakes and runny mashed potatoes. I don't get that "full" feeling I expected. I just stop eating because I am afraid that I am eating too much. I am so confused on what amount I should be eating. I hope it gets better after my fill!

Hi Katherine- It took me about 4 days to start feeling back to normal (mainly because of gas pain). It will probably depend on your job as to how well you will do. Things that caused me pain was lifting my two year old in and out of a crib and bending over was kind of painful at times because of swelling and the port area being so tender. I work in a hospital and even though it is a desk job I am up and down all day and my port area hits the edge of the desk alot. So I am a little sore by the time I am done with my shift. My biggest piece of advice I can give anyone... get up and move right after your surgery and get that gas out. Do all the walking and farting you can! From most people I personally know, that can make or break your recovery.

They fill your tummy up with CO2 during surgery so they have more room to work. And the only way it comes out is by slowly seeping into your intestines and coming out the old fashion way. My experience was awful. I thought the surgery was so painful until a friend of my convinced me it was just gas pain. Drinking warm liquids helped, heat moist pack on my achy parts, walking, walking, walking... and interestingly enough... My surgeon told me to lay on the floor and roll from one end of the room to another. It was so painful, but it really worked wonders!!!! Gas X doesn't really work since it won't help you release the gas that is not in your intestines yet. I found it was best to just move whether you want to or not.

The lortab elixir which is commonly prescribed for pain is great...but it doesn't agree with some patients. I handle Lortab just fine in pill form but some of the liquid medications have additives that can cause problems. I was vomiting my brains out post-op so my dr. just had me crush pill Lortabs and I was fine. It is weird how different people can react to things.

I am still trying to figure that out!

I starved my butt off during the pre-op. Everyone is different, but I wished someone had warned me that getting the band does not make hunger go away. I did not go in this blindly, I had done so much research and education that it wasn't funny. Though, I still had that secret expectation that this would cure me. The first couple days off I was not hungry and food did not entice me what-so-ever. I am 7 days post op and doing the "straw diet" as instructed by my surgeon. A few bites will fill me up to the point I can't eat anymore, but give me 1 hour and I am ravenous again. Though I am still not eating a lot therefore, I am losing weight. I am praying that my first fill will really show me the power of the lap band. But you may have a totally different experience... Good luck

I have had no problems with pills. I went to the pharmacy and bought a pill cutter/crusher. I have been able to cut all my pills in either 1/2 or 1/4's depending on the size of them. The capsules should be ok just to take whole because they dissolve quickly. I haven't had any trouble with mine!

My surgery is at 9:30 on June 5th... I am already counting down the hours. I can't sleep because my mind is racing about how everything is going to change. And then I keep worrying about the bad things... Like what if something goes wrong. What if I don't make it? I am a self pay so what if there are complications that I can't afford? What if I didn't shrink my liver down enough? I also have not told anyone except my immediate family and a few friends. So I am very worried about what people will think when they do find out. I am just really anxious right now. I suppose that is normal. I just hope I am making the right decision.

I will be praying for you... I am getting my band on June 5th, the day after you.... it is so nerve racking...