Cat225

I'm getting my first fill tomorrow. Yay! I had my surgery 6 weeks ago. I'm not staying full for long periods anymore. I called, and they told me to come in. I know I need to be on soft foods for at least 24 hours. That's what the instructions from my clinic are. Does it feel like a radical change when you get a fill? Will I notice a difference in my appetite or how much I can eat, right away?

Does anyone here have this? Basically, it's a stomach condition related to GERD and IBS, which mimics the symptoms of an ulcer when there's no ulcer present. I have had this and GERD for over 20 years. I've had every test for it. Every time I'm told there is nothing wrong. My heartburn and related GERD symptoms have been gone since I got my lapband. This other flare up has thrown me for a loop. I just assumed that my surgery was going to cure that, too. For me, a normal flare up can go anywhere from a week or several weeks. There is no cure. I drink a lot of Gaviscon, and just wait for it to clear up. I'm just wondering if anyone here has had this before and then after they were banded.

In the past, my doctor has put me on Prevacid for a month or two. It is very painful, and doesn't feel like indigestion. I get a gnawing, drilling pain from it that lasts a while before I get any relief. I also get nauseous from it, and sometimes the only thing the relieves the pain is throwing up. This concerns me, because I'm scared to do that with the band. Fortunately, the stuff I took earlier finally worked, and I'm okay for now. I was just wondering if anyone else had this or something similar.

Yes! I was banded 4 weeks ago, and I had terrible shoulder pain for the first 6 days. It felt like someone was knifing me! It's gone now, but I still get little twinges of it sometimes after I eat.

Congratulations! I was banded on January 30th. After two weeks of having my really gross protein shakes, plain chicken broth never tasted so good. I was ecstatic on week three when I could eat a chopped up egg! Lol!

I was banded 3 weeks ago, and I'm so glad that I did not go with Slimband. I was really considering them, but then I spoke to a few people and did my research. I had an uneasy feeling about them, especially Dr. Yau. It was honestly hard to find any positive comments about him online. What happened to the lady in the National Post article was frightening. I went with SWLC in Mississauga. Everything I had read about Dr. Cobourn was very positive, and when I met him I liked him immediately. I feel sorry for the patients of Slimband, and the way they are being treated.

I'm feeling a bit better today. If it's still bugging me tomorrow I'll call them.

So, last night I started to feel a bit sick. I was getting a bad stomach ache, it's like a dull ache in the center of my stomach that sometimes radiates to my back. I was also feeling a little nauseous. I have had this stuff for over 20 years due to GERD. Every so often it flares up badly, to where I'm sick in my stomach and I sometimes barf. Anyway, I was able to go to sleep, it didn't get any worse like it usually does. I woke up today with the same sour stomach, and still a little nauseous. In the past this was not unusual, because a flare up could last a 7-10 days. It felt better after I ate something. I'm about to take some Gaviscon for it. That's what worked for me in the past. Has anyone else had this happen? I'm eating full foods now, but still making sure they are soft enough for me.

After I was banded, especially the first couple days, I had that dull ache, too. I really felt like it was my GERD, but it was just gas. I had terrible gas pains for several days. I'm sorry you're not feeling well, too, but it's so good to hear from someone that knows what I'm talking about! Most people understand the heartburn feeling caused by GERD, but the sour stomach feeling is hard to describe. I used to have both, but since my surgery I haven't had any heartburn. Heartburn was a daily pain for me. The sour stomach feeling sort of feels like an ulcer, or that's what I've been told. I've done various barium tests over the years to rule out any ulcers or H-pylori (a stomach bacteria). I've been Prilosec a few times. My doctor used to prescribe it for a couple months to heal what was wrong, and then I'd go off it. You can get prescription strength Prilosec over the counter now in 14 day sizes. I used to buy the generic one from Target. I hope you feel better soon! I have found that liquid Gaviscon is the best when I have a sour, achy stomach.

Mine growls, too, sometimes really loudly! It's somewhat of a new experience for me! Lol. Sometimes I see it as a sign that I need to eat something. Other times, I ignore it and drink some Crystal Light and it goes away.

Oh wow! I really dodged a bullet! I was considering getting my surgery here before I met Dr. Cobourn. The consultant I met with at Slimband was very nice, but she couldn't answer all my questions, and in my research I had read some bad stuff about Dr. Yau.

Yeah, I was there last week, and Debbie told me to wait until I'm 6 weeks out. I obviously feel some difference, because I am getting satisfied with much less food, but it's not as little as it should be. She said they will give me a fill when I am no longer satisfied with my portions and my weight loss stops. I lost 3 pounds this week, so I guess I'll have to wait.

Jennybean, quick question for you! When did you get your first fill? How long did they make you wait? I am 3 weeks in, and think I'm ready already!

Hmmm, maybe I am mistaken? I just remember being told to go slow and small with everything. Maybe they didn't mean water, too? It's hard to quench your thirst with small sips!

I have trouble not gulping water! Sometimes I want to just down the whole bottle, but the nurse told me to only take small sips, which is very hard for me. The only time I've had a problem is when I've had a drink too soon after eating. A couple times it got stuck.

Congratulations to you!

Hi, I'm new here and looking to have the Lapband done in the new year. I met with a very nice person from Slimband last week, but I'm concerned about some of the stuff I've heard and read about that place. I have an appointment with Smart Shape (SWLC) in Mississauga on Wed. Has anyone been to either of these clients? Which one is better/has the better reputation? Thanks in advance!!

Thanks Lynn! I think so, too. I start my first webinars on Monday. I'm so glad I didn't go anywhere else!

It's been two weeks since I got my band! I went in today for my two week folllow up appointment, and had my incisions checked. My port is right in the middle above my belly button. I don't know why I thought it was originally on my left side. I found out that my band was inflated 3 or 4 ccs during the surgery. That expains a lot. I thought it was deflated, because I feel nothing when I eat, like there is nothing inside of me. Ocassionally, if I gulp something by mistake or swallow something a little too big, I've been feeling it take a little longer to get down. I've got to take my time and really watch how I eat. I'm on soft foods now. it's weird, because I find that I sometimes feel hungry and want to eat, but at the same time I have no appetite. The nurse gave me suggestions of proteins I could eat now, but it was all unappealing to me. She said I should be able to go 4 or 5 hours inbetween meals, and my weight loss plateau, before I need a fill. Has anyone been at 3 or 4ccs and been in the green zone?

One of the reasons I haven't told anyone except my husband is because I know some people wouldn't be supportive. I also started dieting early, 7 years old. My mom and I were always "diet buddles." We went on a bunch of crazy diets together, and I ended up like this. Obviously, what I was doing wasn't working. I grew up always being told, "You have such a pretty face. If you would only lose 30 pounds...." My weight was always fair game for our entire family. Even into my late twenties, my 90 year old grandfather was still pestering me about losing weight. I think in relationships, people who are insecure define thmeselves through other people. What I mean is maybe your boss doesn't want you to lose weight, because then she will have to look at herself and make changes she isn't comfortable with. i know that once I start losing enough where I wearing normal size clothes again, my sister is going to feel threatened. She has always been the "thin one", and I've always been the "fat one". My mom might feel a bit threatened, too. I don't care. Stop discussing your personal life at work. These people aren't your friends. You are going to lose weight and be successful. That's the best thing you can do!

Congratulations! You'll get through this part!

Last summer was absolutely miserable for me! It was an effort just to go out in the backyard with my son, let alone go to the neighborhood park. Going for a family walk at sunset was painful and exhausting.This summer I want to get out and do things in my community! I want to take my son berry picking, swimming, and spend lots of time outside playing with him! There's so much to do around here in the summer, and this year I want to be a part of everything!

The couple months before I made up my mind to have the lap band, and then got my surgery date, I had basically given up on myself. Several personal problems and losses had occurred over the last few years, and was too exhausted to try anymore. I am embarrassed to say that I indulged in over a month of last meals, last Snacks, last binges, and it showed on the scale. I gained an extra 12 pounds! My eating was so out of control that when I had my blood work done 3 days before I started my pre-op diet my blood sugar was so high my doctor put me on Metformin immediately! It was definitely a defining moment for me. So, instead of going out for one more last meal, like I had planned, I fell asleep in my clothes right after I put my son to bed! There's nothing wrong with going out and enjoying yourself one more time. You'll never eat like that again, and as several posters have already said, you'll never want to! Once you start your pre-op diet you will become a different person.

sushi is one of my favorite foods as well. if rice become a problem, eat sashimi instead. if it's really fresh, it's better without the rice anyway. It's good to know you can still eat sushi/sashimi! Sushi is one of my favorite foods! Eventually, (many months from now!) when I do go out for sushi again, I'll probably stick with mostly sashimi.

Congratulations!