Julie1

I feel your pain! I was banded in Oct 07 back in the hospital Nov 07 and then again in Dec. I was on antibiotics for months and they never would culture my port site infection. Then after having the port and tubing removed I got another infection for the hospital. This time I begged for a culture...antibiotic resistant staph - MRSA. I had a visiting nurse service over a weekend and then did all the wound care myself, packing and unpacking daily. I went to work everyday... I work at a hospital but not often around patients... anyways... I now still have the band and a catheter left inside. And speaking of "left" that's where I have my pain still... every two weeks or so the catheter dislodges and I can't even breathe without horrible pain. I'm thinking about having the band taken out. I'm not self pay but I have NO confidence in my surgeons as they tried to keep the infection from me and even treated me with the wrong antibiotics even after they knew it was wrong. I ended up going to my own infectious disease dr. - still going. I'm just so frustrated and scared actually... the infection could still be deep in my belly hibernating ... and also I could have band erosion and I'm not even getting any benefit from it!!!! Anyone else?

Banded about 2 months ago I have had 2 infections. One, a month ago, port site, the second a week ago ENTIRE STOMACH. And the frightening part is that the 2nd infection started and went out of control within about 3 hours. I was given "last resort" antibiotics overnight and was told the port and tubing would be coming out the next day. Several days in the hospital later and now I'm home with 3 Drains coming out of my tummy. I am not a jolly fat girl. So I need to decide whether or not to re-port in about 8 weeks. This has really been a traumatic experience for me...as I'm sure it has to anyone who has had complications. How did you guys do after your re-porting surgery. Is it worth it? I'm really in the middle of the fence. Please help!

This is will be my first fill. I have a 10cc band and it supposedly has 4cc's in it. I can consume an average size meal. AND!!!... I'm craving sweets for the first time... I've NEVER craved sweets.. I've never even had a cavity! EVER! Even as a kid I didn't do the sweets thing. I think I've gained back a few of the pounds I lost. Please tell me it gets better.

Reading these posts makes me want to cry. I am feeling like a failure and very frustrated - not to mention hungry. I am hungry as soon as I wake up. I'm hungry almost every 2 hours! I tried to stick to three meals a day but that doesn't work for me. So, okay I have to eat more often. But I'm eating slowly and still can eat as much (maybe a little less according to my bf) as I did before being banded (10/1). I'm going in to have a fill today. God I hope they fill me... I'm actually demanding one!!! What are you guys eating that keeps you full? Protein shakes go right through me. chicken stays around for an hour or so... God I feel so hopeless!!! I think to sum it up I feel out of control and that I have even failed with a surgical procedure for fatties... like there's no hope for me... And if you knew me, you would know that this is soooooo out of character for me. I have always loved who I am and I wanted this surgery more for my body's health than for asthetics. But now I am really looking at myself as a failure for the first time. What's wrong with me!!?? (okay I'm not having a melt down but a patty melt sounds pretty good!!!) keeping my double chin up!

Julie, I'm tracking you online and rooting you on while watching the NYC Marathon. Anyone else who wants to track Julie's progress - her number is 43299 nycmarathon.org. :clap2::clap2:You are already a winner in my book!:clap2::clap2:

thanx Stacie!

THAT IS FALL DOWN FUNNY!!! "Say hello to my little Fre'nd"

Okay--- first time I have seen you on here... GEEEEESSSSS No the genes didn't skip you silly girl! I have some other funny pics from Halloween that I couldn't post. I don't know how you work around pizza all day long!

Things went very well yesterday - I'm even back at work today. :ranger: I'm moving a little slow but I'm up and going. To answer a few of the questions: I was not self pay and the surgery was handled as "medically neccesary" due to the complication. Maybe it was even a little error by the surgeon - or could have been just an "oops" caused by weight loss this month. My insurance Empire BCBS(federal employee) doesn't need precertification if I'm in the hospital for less than 24 hours. I didn't have to do the whole thing over again - just a small incision near the port to move it. I was on IV antibiotics and now just taking the pills. I'm really better and feeling fine. I think what was even worse was that I started my period yesterday as well so I had cramps and surgery:angry... I couldn't get a break ! URGH!!! :faint:I weighed this morning - shouldn't have. I am up 2.5 lbs. I hope it's fluid. But I'm not putting it in the chart below...I'm leaving it as is for a few days - I can't start charting a gain!!! Again - thanks everyone! Michael and I had a great time yesterday making stupid "port" jokes all the way to the hospital. Stuff like how imPORTant I am and getting dePORTed and taking my PORTrait. Sometimes you just have to laugh... :whoo:

ME TOOOOOOOO!!!!! My port incision is belly button height and was dome-like but it has gone down to a mere bump. But the icky part is that it oozes all the time (minor clear ooze - okay sometimes bloody ooze) nothing Steven King would write about. I'm on antibiotics now and had it slightly relocated because the port was protruding enough that it wouldn't allow the incision to heal (HOW RUDE!). I'm on the road to getting better (banded 10/1) I'm sure yours will go down and if it doesn't apparently relocating it is common as you lose weightm and may have to be done. My doc said that most docs now are trying to put the ports closer to the skin because its better for the patient when getting fills and easier to find. The down side is the lump. But frankly at this size, NO ONE is going to see my belly button, so I'm not worried. If (and when) I get close to goal I'll stress about it...until then just make sure you have a healthy dome...the rest will take care of itself in time!

Ses - I'm really surprised that your doc would want to fill you every two weeks! My doc and all others I've heard about have to be nearly begged to fill after a month or so. That may be something you need to consider. Doing it too fast doesn't give it time to heal from the previous fill. Also sounds like your doc has the typical bedside manner of troll. Good luck sweetie and we are all here for ya!

I wanted to share something with you guys .... I was banded on Oct 1st so tomorrow marks a month. I have been having problems with my port cite incision. It looks healed and then looks very angry the next day. After showering it oozes a little... it's placed right at belly button height so my pants seem to rub against it. I wasn't too worried since it wasn't hot and I wasn't running a fever... low and behold... TODAY it looked really angry so I decided to take a digital photo (or two) and email them to my doc. I didn't want to be one of those chics that keeps calling the office ever 5 secs saying "is this normal"??? and bothering the busy office with petty problems. I had also been on here, and asked fellow bandsters about port problems and was encouraged to get it checked out. So, I get an immediate phone call back from the NP in my surgeon's office. It turns out that the port is too superficial since I've lost 19.5 lbs this month. And it's kinda wanting to bust through and not letting my incision heal... I'm no booked for emergency surgery tomorrow to be "re-ported" does that make me a "reporter"??? LOL I was also started on antibiotics today as well. Anyway, I just wanted to share just in case anyone else was going through something that they didn't want to make a "big fuss" over. I'm sure it would have been the same outcome even if I had spoke up earlier, but sometimes you never know. Thanks for everyone who pushed me to not be such a slacker and get it checked out. I honestly thought it would get better soon... but my soon never came.

I wanted to share something with you guys .... I was banded on Oct 1st so tomorrow marks a month. I have been having problems with my port cite incision. It looks healed and then looks very angry the next day. After showering it oozes a little... it's placed right at belly button height so my pants seem to rub against it. I wasn't too worried since it wasn't hot and I wasn't running a fever... low and behold... TODAY it looked really angry so I decided to take a digital photo (or two) and email them to my doc. I didn't want to be one of those chics that keeps calling the office ever 5 secs saying "is this normal"??? and bothering the busy office with petty problems. I had also been on here, and asked fellow bandsters about port problems and was encouraged to get it checked out. So, I get an immediate phone call back from the NP in my surgeon's office. It turns out that the port is too superficial since I've lost 19.5 lbs this month. And it's kinda wanting to bust through and not letting my incision heal... I'm no booked for emergency surgery tomorrow to be "re-ported" does that make me a "reporter"??? LOL I was also started on antibiotics today as well. Anyway, I just wanted to share just in case anyone else was going through something that they didn't want to make a "big fuss" over. I'm sure it would have been the same outcome even if I had spoke up earlier, but sometimes you never know. Thanks for everyone who pushed me to not be such a slacker and get it checked out. I honestly thought it would get better soon... but my soon never came.

I wanted to share something with you guys .... I was banded on Oct 1st so tomorrow marks a month. I have been having problems with my port cite incision. It looks healed and then looks very angry the next day. After showering it oozes a little... it's placed right at belly button height so my pants seem to rub against it. I wasn't too worried since it wasn't hot and I wasn't running a fever... low and behold... TODAY it looked really angry so I decided to take a digital photo (or two) and email them to my doc. I didn't want to be one of those chics that keeps calling the office ever 5 secs saying "is this normal"??? and bothering the busy office with petty problems. I had also been on here, and asked fellow bandsters about port problems and was encouraged to get it checked out. So, I get an immediate phone call back from the NP in my surgeon's office. It turns out that the port is too superficial since I've lost 19.5 lbs this month. And it's kinda wanting to bust through and not letting my incision heal... I'm no booked for emergency surgery tomorrow to be "re-ported" does that make me a "reporter"??? LOL I was also started on antibiotics today as well. Anyway, I just wanted to share just in case anyone else was going through something that they didn't want to make a "big fuss" over. I'm sure it would have been the same outcome even if I had spoke up earlier, but sometimes you never know. Thanks for everyone who pushed me to not be such a slacker and get it checked out. I honestly thought it would get better soon... but my soon never came.

I wanted to share something with you guys .... I was banded on Oct 1st so tomorrow marks a month. I have been having problems with my port cite incision. It looks healed and then looks very angry the next day. After showering it oozes a little... it's placed right at belly button height so my pants seem to rub against it. I wasn't too worried since it wasn't hot and I wasn't running a fever... low and behold... TODAY it looked really angry so I decided to take a digital photo (or two) and email them to my doc. I didn't want to be one of those chics that keeps calling the office ever 5 secs saying "is this normal"??? and bothering the busy office with petty problems. I had also been on here, and asked fellow bandsters about port problems and was encouraged to get it checked out. So, I get an immediate phone call back from the NP in my surgeon's office. It turns out that the port is too superficial since I've lost 19.5 lbs this month. And it's kinda wanting to bust through and not letting my incision heal... I'm no booked for emergency surgery tomorrow to be "re-ported" does that make me a "reporter"??? LOL I was also started on antibiotics today as well. Anyway, I just wanted to share just in case anyone else was going through something that they didn't want to make a "big fuss" over. I'm sure it would have been the same outcome even if I had spoke up earlier, but sometimes you never know. Thanks for everyone who pushed me to not be such a slacker and get it checked out. I honestly thought it would get better soon... but my soon never came.

:clap2:I'm glad everything went well for you and it sounds like sending you home with antibiotics was a good idea. I had mine done at Sound Shore in NY. ONe of my incisions is still givning me problems. (they put the port close to my belly button) My pants rub it and it's a pain! Julie

Julie, First of all Happy Birthday (saw you on the list). Secondly I live in Montrose, just a little north of you in westchester. I was banded in New rochelle on Oct 1st and I am having the same problem. Are you lsoing weight now? I know your last post was a while ago. I am really getting discouraged. I lose 13 pounds in the first week. Now - nothing. I'm eating about a cup of food three times a day. What am I doing wrong?

I had my surgery at Sound Shore on Oct 1st. I have mixed feelings... how was your experience?

Hey Guys! I have Empire BCBS and in the middle of being approved they changed requirements. My surgery date was Oct 1st. I had my surgery at Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle. BCBS considers them a Bariatric Center of Excellence. To make a long story short I was told that if I had a less than 23 hour hospital stay that the surgery did not need to be pre-approved (This was after I went through the whole process). My surgery was at 8am I was out by 5pm that day. I have to check into the bill I just recieved for 1200 bucks. It says it's my co-pay for the actual band itself. YIKES. No one told about that.

Misty, You aren't losing your mind... or maybe we both are but I still have the same problem... banded Oct 1st. I can feel the area over my port but I have an area that goes from around the bottom of my sternum to around my belly button that was numb and has just recently changed to a different sensation. It feels like the nerve endings are reconnecting gradually and now it very sore to the touch. Not like a bruise, though. More when a numb foot is waking up. So I was numb for about 2 1/2 weeks and now waiting for this other sensation to pass. I brought it up to my surgeon who said it should be gone within a month... so I guess I will wait. Good Luck and don't feel like you are alone!

For post op diet I had the regular chichken broth and flavored water/green tea and I also had slimfast low carb shakes. They are hard to find now but you can order them on line. Also the sugar free jello cups. That was for about 5 days... then I was SOME KINDA HUNGRY!!! My salvation was and is soft scrambled eggs. I top them with cheese and pureed ham or chicken that that's what I have for breakfast. For Lunch I have ground chicken and either a few canned greenbeans (b/c they are soft and easy to mush in your mouth that way you get the sensation of chewing). I also LOVE brussel sprouts so I ground those up too frozen, sauteed in a pan and added a tad of butter and lemon juice. WOW YUM-MMMMY! I also live ion small curd cottage cheese and lite and free yogurt - vanilla - no fruit. I also sneak a sugar free cookie now and them from the girlscouts.

I'm doing okay. Weight loss is slower than I thought but then again I was only on liquids for 5 days then went to mushy foods. Now 17 days out I have had a few sugar free cookies, and am having soft foods. I still make my meat mechanically soft but not pureed. I just started walking yesterday, I did a mile and 1/2. That's good for me. I was very nervous about 3 days before. But just know that the first 2-3 days post surgery are not going to be pleasant. After that it got a little easier. And don't worry if you are hungry...evidently that's normal... I WAS SOOOOO hungry!!! And I even had a 3cc fill on the operating table! I am better now and I have not thrown up at all. There are foods that are touch and go and everyone is different as to what they can tolerate. I'm still taking chewable vitamins but I do take other meds that I don't split to swallow and have had no problem. But I recommend taking all your vitamins!!!! They gave me the needed energy that I wasn't getting from food. Good Luck Girl! I'm praying for you!

Julie1 OCT 1st Julie