Jessica Wren

Hi everyone. My name is Jessica. I was banded in April of 2008 and just had my revision on last Fri (Feb 22nd). I have a question that may have already been asked but here it goes...Does anyone have problems with pain when swallowing? When I had my band in it often hurt to eat/drink and I am getting that same feeling right now. I am not sure if this is caused by swelling as I am still only 4 days post-op or if this is something that I am stuck with. One reason I wanted my band removed was due to the pain when eating. When I had saline removed I lost all restriction. Is this something that will go away once I am better healed? Has anyone had this same issue? Thank you so much! Jessica

Thank you everyone for your quick replies! My pain is in my "chest" like when my band was too tight. My throat is still sore from the tube but is getting better. I did have a hiatal hernia repair during surgery. Both this one and when I had my band placed. I feel much better knowing that this is something others have gone through. One of the girls at work had the sleeve done about 3 months ago and didn't have this type of pain. I figured it had to do with the band being removed but I thought I would check to get what others went through. I do have a pill I need to take and am a tad worried about it going done. All my docs said to take it. It is cymbalta for fibromyalgia. Hopefully it will go down ok! Thank you all again!

This happens to me too. I am a year and a half out. By the time I can start eating most people are done eating! I can take small bites and chew and chew and chew and they just don't go down well. Then after 20 minutes or longer one bite will go down fine and then I can eat. I think having my food be cold also helps sometime. I wonder why this happens!?

I would speak with your surgeon about this. I too had pains on my left side (I had them before my surgery too but they had went away) and ended up going to see my family doctor about it. She ran some tests and found nothing and then refered me to my surgeon. He ran a few tests and found I had stones in my appendix (that wasn't causing the pain though) and that my gallbladder wasn't working correctly. He said that my gallbladder might be the cause of the pain but he couldn't be 100% so I decided to go along with having it and my appendix removed. My pain was usually after I ate or when I was working out but at times happened at other times. It was a sharp pain that also would go around into my back. After the surgery the pain decreased and now I only have a pain every once and a while. I'm not sure if your pain is the same as mine but it's a least worth mentioning.

Hello, I had my gallbladder and appendix removed just shy of my 1st year anniversary to my lap band surgery. My doctor used two of the incisions from my lap band surgery and then a new one in my belly button. He also changed out my port in a lower profile because it was sticking out really bad and was bothersome. He did put the fliud back in my band but put too much in and I ended up having to go to the ER to remove it. He said he put the same amount I had in but with the new port it might have been different. The recovery was a little easier then the lap band surgery I think. I was more sore and had a harder time moving around. Although I was off longer for the gallbladder and appendix surgery. Most of my pain I had before surgery went away. (I had a horrible pain in my side almost everytime I ate or worked out) Now it just comes and goes every once and awhile. I am very glad I had everything removed. Although it did but a damper in my weight loss. I am back on track now and couldn't be more excited!

What state do you live in?

My doctor also gives B12 shots to help boast energy. I haven't had one yet because I decided to try the B12 nasal spray and I don't think I am getting enough of that in my system to do anything. So I plan on getting a shot at my appointment next week. When I had my last blood work done he said my B12 was probably around the same as a person who hadn't had surgery done. But he likes his patients to have a higher level. I'm sure it has something to do with not getting all the energy needed for your body just from food. A lot of patients at the hospital have said great things about the shots and love them. I know I could use some more energy so I'm all for it! :tongue_smilie:

When I hit my first big milestone a few weeks ago I told everyone I finally made my mini goal I set myself. Some thought my goal was to lose 50 lbs but it was really to get into onederland! i don't think you have to tell anyone exactly how much you weigh for them to be excited when you hit a milestone. I just let everyone know I set myself a personal goal (i tell them it's a mini goal) and when I get there I let them know and they are all excited for me. Let them share in your excitement! I'm sure they would love to do that and it will make you feel good too!! :tongue2:

I got my last fill almost two weeks ago and ever since then I have had a tightness in my chest every time I eat. I think I may be too tight because I am having the hardest time getting anything down no matter how much I chew or how slow I eat. I know I need to call my doctor to see about getting him taking some out. My question is however, in the future when I lose more weight and need another fill will the same pressure be in my chest as there is now? There's pressure there even when I take small sips of Water. I just don't want to get another fill to the same level I'm at now in the future and have the same pain. Thanks!

I also had a hiatal hernia and didn't find out my doc repaired it until my second fill! He should me some pic from surgery and was going through my paper work and just casually mentioned it! I can tell a huge difference from then and now. I used to get really bad heart burn and have chest pains and that all went away when the hernia was repaired. When he told me I had one everything kinda all clicked in my head! I don't believe I was charged any extra for having it fixed either. All I have to say I am glad I don't have it anymore and I am so glad I have the band!!!

Hello- I too have pcos but I have the opposite problem you have. I had slight bleeding that was almost unnoticeable for a about two weeks then when I should have had my period there was nothing. I have an appointment with my doctor to see what's going on and I really hope she doesn't tell me I'm pregnant! I have always thought it would be hard for that to happen with the pill and pcos but I know with losing weight (40lbs for me) it can make your body a little out of whack. I hope someone else can offer you more answers as my only suggestion would be to call your doctor. . Also you said you are eating very little and still not losing. Are you eating enough? Sometimes your body needs more calories then you think for you to lose weight. Do you know how many calories you have been eating a day and also what have you been eating? I know when I eat less calories my weight slows down and just eating a few more makes a huge difference! Again, I'm not an expert on this but thought I would share what works for me! Good luck!!

I too has a hiatal hernia. Before surgery I had a lot of heartburn and chest pain but really had no idea what was causing it. After surgery that all stopped and never really thought about it again. Then one day at my doctors appointment my doc was going through my chart and said "oh, we repaired a hiatal hernia in surgery for you" The light in my head went on! That's why I haven't been having heartburn or chest pain anymore! I never had to have a upper GI so that's why my was found in surgery.

I was told by my doctor that I had to get off my birth control a month before and two months after! I was worried about this for many reasons (getting pregnant or having my body be thrown out of whack) but was told by my surgeon that it would be ok if I stayed on because I was at a low risk for blood clots. Well, my other doctor came and saw me in the hospital and reamed me out. She made me stop taking them that day and told me not to take them again for two months. But when I saw her a month later she told me I could continue with my pills. I too have PCOS so I know what's it like to be told you have to stop taking the one thing that has your body functioning the way it should. But remember it's only for a short time and before you know it everything will be back to normal! So hang in there, it won't be that bad I promise! Good luck!

I think you might be talking about the book that I have. It's "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" by Robert Sewell and Linda Rohrbough. I loved this booked! It has a lot of great stories in it and tons of helpful information. Not sure if you can get it in the book stores or not. I ordered mine off amazon. It wasn't that expensive either!!

This may seem like a silly question but I just wondering how you are going to know if you are at your sweet spot if you are taking diet pills that suppress your hunger? Or are you just using them until you get used to the band way of life? Just curious :redface:

I was also approved for out patient with my insurance but was told at the hospital you can stay overnight as long as you are there less then 24 hours. Personally i was there a little longer then that but was told it was ok. At first I was upset that I had to stay over night (my dr was just starting with the band and just wanted to make sure everything was going to be ok) but in the end I'm glad I did. I was really nausea so being in the hospital relaxing and being able to take their meds really helped me. I know a lot of people don't have to stay overnight and are happy to do that. I guess it just all depends on the person! Good luck with your surgery and congrats for the approval!!

I really don't know much info about the realize band so I really can't comment on that but I know my doctor put in 2cc's when I had my lap band surgery. With the lap band I think there's many factors involved in deciding if any fill is going to be added in during surgery. Plus I think it may depend on the doctor. My surgeon said he likes to put something in the band so it's inflated a bit. I am curious to see what other docs do!

The hospital I had my surgery at likes their patients to attend a support group once a week at the hospital for 12 weeks after surgery. Then you can attend monthly meetings or continue on with the once a week meeting. I have gone to all the meeting since I was banded in April. I think they are really helpful not only for yourself but for other people. Your ideas or what you are doing may just help someone else. My question is how many people have the opportunity to attend a support group? If you do go why do you go and if you don't why don't you go? Another question I have for people who don't attend is what could be done, if anything, for you to attend the groups. I am trying to help out the nurse at the hospital so any help would be great!

I was banded on April 15th and had my first fill on May 28th. My surgeon didn't use any numbing agent because he said the incisions should still be numb from surgery. He inserted the needle in the incision that was closest to the port and I didn't feel a thing! I was very worried about my first and now I'm not worried at all after my experience! And I agree try not to stress out too much...they aren't bad at all!!

I too had to do the lovenex shots. My doctors are really big on preventing blood clots. I don't have a history of having them but they just wanted to make sure they did everything to prevent any. My also cost 800 and something with my insurance covering most of it. I think I had to pay $40 or $60-can't remember which one. I would talk to him again about it and see what he says. I would have to agree with Tess-if you don't have a history of clots and you do other things to help prevent them then you will probably be fine. I know some people at my doctors office who couldn't take the shots because they made them sick so my surgeon made them stop. Good luck with your surgery!!

I too get that burning feeling. I was going to post something on here asking about it too. I am really nervous about doing something wrong and causing problems so I hope it's just part of the healing process!!

I wear under wire bras with no problem. I had my surgery on April 15th. I guess depending on where the incisions are depends on if the under wire bra would bother you or not. I would think that if that was the case once everything heals you wouldn't have a problem. But I'm not 100% sure of that because my my incisions are low enough not to be bothered by my bra. I never said anything to my surgeon but it concerns you I would bring it up!

I know how you all feel! I am also very hungry! I got my band on Arpil 15th. I take walks when my hungry gets too intense. Can you take walks or did your doc say no to that too? I always thought they wanted us to walk after surgery. I know my doc and nurses pushed that! And I think it really does help!

I also had some discomfort when taking deep breaths after surgery. The hospital gave me a breathing instrument to use when I got home and it really seemed to help. I also had some gunk leftover from the anesthesia in my lungs that I just had to cough up. The discomfort didn’t last too long. I would say about for me too. I think it’s pretty normal but if you have concerns I would give your doctor a call. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p> And I also didn’t think your response was sarcastic! Congrats on your surgery and good luck!! :wink2:

I am officially a bandster! I had my surgery yesterday and come home from the hospital today. I am feeling a little sore at the moment. I didn’t take any pain meds today for fear of them making me nauseous! I don’t have anti-nausea meds at home like they do in the hospital. It’s fine though. I think I am mange without the pain meds. I do, however, have to give myself a shot today. Haven’t done that yet so it could be interesting! It’s still hard to take deep breaths and I am using my little tool they gave me for that. (Can’t for the life of me remember it’s name now) I seem to be getting better at it so I guess that means things are looking up! I don’t have any gas pains but from reading everyone’s posts that seems to hit a lot on the 3rd day which will be tomorrow. I am hoping I won’t have to deal with that though!