trinity2008

Don't panic just yet! My primary care doc detected an abnormal EKG on me as well and sent me to a cardiologist. I went through the same emotions as you and scared out of my mind. My health was spiraling downhill as the weight came on and my bloods work was all crazy! After a year of my endo trying to convince me to have weight loss surgery, I had finally came to terms with this and then hearing that was just another roadblock for me. Sooo... I went to the cardiologist where they did a sonogram of my heart and learned that my heart was a bit on the weak side and slightly enlarged. He put me on blood pressure medicine and said that my heart should go back to normal as the weight comes off. The blood pressure meds are given to me to help ease the pressure of the heart working harder. Sooooo, just relax and don't worry too much. I am hoping that this is the case for you. But like the others wrote: just be glad that they detected it.

I lost 25 pounds during my first month after surgery. Towards the end of the post-op, my hunger increased, which, according to my doctor, is normal because in the initial beginning you have swelling and the healing going on in the stomach thus making the band a bit tight. Now that the majority of the swelling should have gone down, you will experience increased hunger. Enjoy it while you can! As you have your fills and less restriction, you won't be able to eat alot of the things your eating now. Good Luck!

Hi Michelle, How did you found out that your stomach prolapsed? Did you have any symptoms that lead to this discovery? I am experiencing problems of my own and am scared to death. I had my 2nd fill 2 1/2 weeks ago and haven't been able to eat solids. two nights ago I woke up around 4:15 am with pain in the middle of my back and belly around. Everytime I tried to swallow saliva I would feel a pulling burning sensation in my back. I went to the doc when the office opened and they did an unfill and I am scheduled for an upper GI. Now I am scared that something bad may have happened and I now have stomach aches. Please share with me on any symptoms you've had and how you found out. I am sorry that I am unable to relate to you right now and provide any advice, but I am hoping that your experience will give me some insight. I would appreciate it.

Also, I have lost over 40 something pounds in 3 1/2 months. I thought it was a bit too much too. But talking to other bandsters who have had surgery close to my surgery date, we all seem to be losing the same amount of weight. Keep your head up!

Hey Cal, You know, I have been wondering the same thing for the last few weeks until now. My ailments: I had my 2nd fill on July 27th. For the last few weeks I have struggled with solids and thought it was because my body was getting use to the restriction. How was I able to tell the difference since I never felt restriction until then?? I have only been able to drink my Protein shakes and liquidfy Cream of Wheat all this time. Eventually, over time, any attempt with solids, very small bites, would get stuck. This is where I have leard what stuck feels like. Taking advice from other bandsters, I would drink warm/hot tea in hopes to get it to go down. Helps a little bit. It wasn't until this weekend when I decided to try a solid again, only to have it stuck once again and then I experienced my first vomit episode. It got to the point where eventually anything I would eat, even yogurt, would come back up. It continued till Monday and then I just resorted to liquids again. This morning at 4:15 am I woke up to a horrible pain in the middle of my back and when I turned on my side my stomach hurt (where band is located). I sat up immediately in distress and hubby tried everything to make me confortable. It got to a point where swallowing saliva hurt like hell. The pain I experienced when swallowing was a burning and pulling pain when it passed through the band. Thats when I called the call center to have the doc on call contact me. I met with the doc this morning and had to have my band deflated. He suspects there is edema due to an overfill. I have to have an upper GI done to ensure that the band is ok. Alot of what I was experiencing I thought was normal. Band is definately tighter in mornings, and I thought that I was eating too fast at times. But when it gets to a point where the first bite just hurts like hell going down, and your in distress to get it to pass, or you vomit, then you need to see your doctor as soon as possible to avoid injury. I hope everything goes well for you.

I am was in a very similar situation as you and the only thing I could tolerate was liquidify Cream of Wheat and my Myoplex Protein drinks for the last couple of weeks and I've dropped more weight. I am now a pound from entering into the 230's. I had my 2nd fill on July 27th and have struggled with solids since then. Being that it was only my 2nd fill (4cc) I really didn't know what was normal and what's not until now. Everyone told me after the fill to just give it time and let your body adapt. Well finally I had my first episode of Pb'ing Saturday night, then another on Sunday and Monday. Even a bite of an omlete (spelling ??) made me Pb. So at 4:15 this morning I woke up with pain in my belly, radiating to the middle of my back. Swallowing saliva gave me this pulling, burning sensation in my back. I called the call center for the doc on call in distress and was told to come into the office this morning. He did an unfill and now I have to have an upper GI done just to make sure the band is ok. But despite the distress I had these past few weeks, people have noticed my drastic weight loss as well. Though this is very encouraging for me, I admit that once the unfill was done, the pain was somewhat gone and the idea of being able to eat solids again was just so exciting! So I have to return in two weeks, hopefully the GI will be on the positive, to start from scratch with the fills. I will just enjoy it until then. But now I have learned what stuck feels like and when I'm about to slim. Hopefully in time I will learn that comfortable spot. I do hope you feel better.

Again, I am unable to tell when a band is too tight or if I am just not chewing my food. But since my 2nd fill 3 weeks ago (now at 4cc) solids and I just don't agree. I think there was one day I was able to eat a pizza but that was the only time, and it wasnt until the past couple of days I have experienced Pb'ing and am afraid to eat anything. Anyway, so my dilemma here is that I am finding it discouraging to make family dinners because I feel like the odd ball unable to eat what they can it. chicken dinners are out the window for me because it hurts going down. Crab is no problem and salmon, but normal meals I just feel left out. I try so hard to keep the family meals normal because its unfair to deprive my kids and husband because of my band. For the last few months I have kept my head up, but now that I am experiencing the restriction so I am frustrated as hell with this whole dinner thing. I am trying to keep family meals as normal as possible, but I can't eat anything without the stuck feeling! My kids see when I am in distress when it happens and how I struggle and how it takes forever to come back up (I got off the subject here), but it is becoming a burden for me now. I am sick of cream of wheat and soups! And tonight I did not feel like making dinner because of my episodes, so he offered to order in or pick it up. Well, the family is tired of pizza so chinese is the only place. And I have stared at the menu over and over trying to guess what I could possibly eat, still afraid of Pb'ing. So after an hour of staring at the menu I finally threw my hands up and started looking in the pantry to figure out dinner because its getting late. Anyway, I blew up at hubby and told him I did not want to cook and that he and the kids need to figure out what they want to eat because I am out of the equation. He tries hard to include me and try to find something, but I am scared to eat anything. Is anyone else is a similar situation? I admit that I am frustrated as hell that I can no longer eat the things I enjoy (crispy shredded beef, taco salads, sweet and sour shrimp, etc) and I have no clue if this is normal, and if it is, how to cope. I feel extremly angry and to some degree resentful of the band! Weight loss is great but never thought in a million years I would have to go through this much distress to lose weight.

After I wrote the thread last night, I ended up eating fish for dinner; however, at 4:15 am I woke up in severe pain. I would turn on my side and the pain radiated in the front where my belly is to the middle of my back. Everytime I would swollow just saliva it felt like a painful pulling sensation in my back. I ended calling the call center for the doc on call in distress and they had me come in this morning. The doc did an unfill and wants me to have another upper GI to ensure everything is ok with the band before we start from scratch with the fills. He says that the band was probaby too tight from the fill and with the Pb'ing that I've been doing I more than likely have swelling going on. So now I have to schedule the upper GI. But the sad thing is is that once he did the unfill, and of course I was hungry as hell, my mind went crazy on what to eat for lunch. I was happy as hell knowing that I could eat some sort of solid again. So we went to get lunch and I had a salad and some fries at a restaurant. It was like an heaven for me. Anyway, I guess I will see what happens when I schedule the upper GI. Hopefully my band is ok. But I think your right about the whole post nasal drip. I have this scratchy sore throat (unsure from Pb'ing) and scratchy sensation in my lungs along with post nasal drip. Maybe I am coming down with a viral infection. I also suffer from chronic sinusitis as well, so maybe that contributed to the swelling of the band. I should no more after the upper GI, but for now, I am going to enjoy what food I can still keeping the portions in check.

I had my 2nd fill (4cc) 3 weeks ago and had a hard time eating solids, so I stuck to crunchy things and protein shakes. Recently, over the weekend, I spent some time at a neighbors and drank Martini's and Jack daniels until 4 am. Since that night I have not been able to eat anything except liquids and liquidify cream of wheat. For the 1st time since I was banded, I have Slimmed/Pb'd 3 times within the last few days - Its exhausting!!! I have no idea if the alcohol did something (I was not drunk that night) or if my band is just way too tight. But I am very hungry and have no clue how to eat. I did try some captain crunch this morning. 1st bite was fine, 2nd bit ok, then third, well, got that stuck feeling, started slimming and up it came. I read how people who have more cc's than me are able to eat regular stuff, but I just don't why I am unable to eat just basic food. How do you know if the band is just too tight?

Sorry for the delay. We moved and are stuck with Comcast (I miss Fios) and have had way too many internet problems. You won't feel too much of a restriction, but you should lose weight though very slowly. These past few days I have tried to chew my food down and even eat more slowly, but for some reason my food still gets stuck. I have been slimming and "vomiting" 3 times within the last few days. It has been very exhausting. liquids seem to be my best bet now. But for you, I would enjoy the foods you can before your doc tightens it. I found it more difficult now to eat than before. I have came close to calling my doc numerous times, but am confused on whether or not I should have him take out 1/2 cc or something. I am losing weight pretty steady, and sometimes even more than I should. I am now down to 241 but it has been pure torture these last few days. When is your next appt?

I am 3 1/2 months post op. I had my 2nd fill a week and a half ago now at 4 cc's. That visit definately has made me fill the restriction now. Since then I have struggled with food going down, just painful. I am not sure if this is normal or if its because I am really not chewing my food down to a mushy state and/or haven't learned to slow down. Liquids go down fine, so maybe its the chewing thing; however, I have had a lack of appetite since then only wanting the protein shakes. Today I am now just starting to eat a very little bit of solids comfortably, ensuring I chew, chew, chew a billion times. The ailments I have now: 1. This morning I was in severe distress due to constipation (quite embarrassing for me to mention on this site) for over an hour and half. I couldn't get up because it felt like it was ready to come out, but never did, and when I would try to get up that area would leak (sorry folks for the description). After struggling for that period of time the stress of trying to go has made that entire area down there painful to sit and tailbone hurts. I have called the docs office and they said its because I am not drinking enough water, which is true to some degree but drink milk and shakes, and to take a stool softner. Well, I have now gone from one extreme to another withouy taking a stool softner, still painful, and have stomach cramps. Has anyone encountered this? Doc assured me last visit that its not band related as the band is higher up than the stomach. 2. It seems that any food I eat upsets my stomach easily, even the protein shakes at times. I have been on liquids - soups, and shakes - since the fill a week and a half ago. My stomach feels bloated all the time and cramps up periodically depending on what it is that I am drinking/eating. Why is this happening? :wink2:

My first fill my doc put in 2.5 cc's. He goes based on the drinking method in order to establish the right amount of cc's. I didn't have any real restriction until my 2nd fill a week and half ago (now at 4 cc) and am now feeling what Bas experienced with the whole eating thing. I haven't been able to eat any solids since then because of the the stuck feeling. And trust me! That stuck feeling has left me in distress plenty of times, so bad that I walk around the house trying to breath and sip Water. Sometimes I resort to hot tea and just allow the time to pass before that stuck feeling goes away. At times I will bust out in a mild sweat from it. But like Bas said, I thinks its because I am not chewing it down like we should and am probably eating a bit fast still. Anyway, didn't mean to get off the subject, but it could be that your doc is trying to acclimate you to the band. Most of the bandsters I've spoken to at my doc's office have shared that they didn't really get that restriction until they hit the 3 or 4cc. Just hang in there... :wink2:

I am 3 1/2 months post op and I am still struggling with fatigue (and mild hair loss) and sometimes just pure exhaustion. My doc assures me it will pass but it hasn't. I am taking bariatric Vitamin B-12 and B-complex in addition to the mulivitamin. Sometimes it will give me some energy but not enough to make it through the day. It is a constant struggle despite the Myoplex Protein shakes, so I know its not the lack of protein daily and blood work shows my protein levels are normal. Weightloss to date: 44 pounds

I, too, was very scared about the procedure. I was banded on April 30th and had the same exact feelings as you. Infact, everything I read on this site scared me to death! So I had to address each concern with my doctor and he eased my mind. Now, don't get me wrong, I ended up crying on my way to the O.R. because I was scared. It is definately a life changing event. But I also admit that it is well worth it. In the beginning of the post-op days you are too busy recovering and basically eating/drinking liquids - ranging from Jello, Water, liquidify cream of wheat, etc. Then you move on to mushies for 3-4 weeks. So you shouldn't have the "starving feeling", but then again, everyone is different. But at this this point you are learning what you can and cannot eat. I admit I am now starting to feel hungry more often, in addition to extreme fatigue and some hair loss. I met with my doctor yesterday and he said that I needed to keep up with my Protein shakes - whey Isolate from GNC or Vitamin shoppe- but that this should eventually pass. I do have my first fill scheduled July 3rd, and I am a bit scared about that. Its like once you get comfortable then you have to start all over again. But I have dropped over 20 pounds within the month. Again, ITS ALL WORTH IT! Right now I eat tuna and chicken from a can with lots of mayo on my 4 crackers. I also eat egg beater omelets with sharp cheddar cheese. I haven't pureed any of my food, but I do chew it up very well and I have yet to experience the Sliming or the PB's. But I am sure I will when I have my first fill. So, don't be scared; everything will be ok! Just be sure your have confidence in your doctor. I interviewed both of my doctor before surgery (HR- Recruiting is my specialty) and am very pleased with the results. Keep your head up and I wish you the best of luck! Feel free to contact me should you need a buddy. :wink2: Regards!

Hello, I had the band done 4 weeks ago. We also have BCBS FEP Standard. FEP has a distinction center for weightloss surgery in Fair Oaks (Inova Fair Oaks Hospital). They are in-network and will ease the cost of the surgery. My upper GI and Fluro (spelling??) only cost me 5.00, which was nice. I have not received my EOB for the hospital or for the docs yet. So I am not sure how much I am responsible for, yet. But its nice because I will be billed. You will have to pay a 100.00 hospital stay fee prior to admission. Distinction Center - In-network docs - two of them - are located at the Virginia Weightloss Surgery Center in Vienna, VA. See hyperlink to see surgeons. INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM : BARIATRICS : Meet Our Physicians If you look in your 2008 benefits, or online, it shows you that Fair Oaks is their distinction center. My doctors were Dr. Tran (who performed actual surgery) and Dr. Halmi - both are fantastic doctors! I have not had any problems with my band yet and many many patients have been very satisfied with them. I was required to pay the nutritionist fee and the fee for the fills - total about 700.00, but that is nothing compared to those who self-pay. I, too, suffered depression, wacky cholestrol, as well as hypothryoidism and was consider pre-diabetic. If you have all of your lab results prior to the consultation, it will help speed up the insurance approval. My Endo did all of my lab work before he determined that I needed the lapband. So I was able to provide copies to my doctor and insurance was approved two days later. BCBS FEP moves very fast. Infact, I will scheduled for surgery 30 days later after approval. I had to move fast with all of my pre-op stuff - psych eval (which I see a psychiatrist regularly anyway, so easy clearance letter), clearance letter with primary care, cardiologist, etc. Infact, my primary care detected some abnormal EKG's and sent me out to see his cardiologist. WEll, I didn't listen to him and instead turned to the Bariatric cooridnator at Fair Oaks, who was extremely helpful in getting me in with their cardiologist ASAP. It makes it easier because they can access all of their documentation right there. Anyway, Inova Fair Oaks hospital was WONDERFUL! And I even had a private room! Back to the subject... The process is very fast with my docs as well as with the hospital. I didn't have to wait several months. You will still be required to pay for all of you doctor's visit co-pays of 15.00 and any difference with additional lap work for pre-op. If you haven't found a doctor, I highly suggest Dr. Tran and Dr. Halmi! Read their bios. They are absolutely fantastic. And I must admit that I was extremely lucky to have great doctors under the FEP Plan! It surprised me. I hope this helps. email me should you have any questions! I wish you the best!

I am 4 weeks post-op and last Thursday I noticed a slight tenderness near the incision of the port area. It was a dull feeling on the left side and then on Friday the tenderness went to the right side, then subsided. And now it hurts so much more back on the left side that when I woke up this morning I could not sit up and had to take small baby breaths. I called my husband into the bedroom and told him to call the center for the doc on call. The doc called and spoke to my husband who then asked if I had any swelling, which I don't; if I had any redness in the area where the pain is, and I don't. But when I push down slightly on the left side and pain is excruciating and when I sit up it hurts like hell. The doc said that it could be a hernia, to take some tylenol and see if it helps. Tylenol took the edge off, as well as the heat pad, but the pain is back. But when I spoke to my mother I was told that hernias often display a bulge, which I do not have. What in the world could be causing this much pain?? DId I tear scar tissue? Or has my port slipped out? How does a person know if its the port moving around? When I push down I don't feel any kind of port. I still have no idea where its located. I plan to call the office in the morning to get an appointment. I just don't understand why this came on so suddenly. I am scared. Anybody else experiencing this??

I feel like I am out of breath and my heart pounds harder. Does anyone else experience this? Prior to surgery I was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and that it was a bit on the weak side. Cardiologist said the enlargement was probably due to being over weight and that this weightloss should help it, and that the weakness was probably because I have been immobile since I fractured my ankle in November and had ankle surgery in Feb which made it impossible to walk for many many weeks and I am still recovering from it. So being out of shape didn't help. Prior to the fracture I never had problems. So hopefully the cardiologist is right. Anyway, it seems worse now that I am banded. Anyone else out there? I am a little scared. I do not want to end up a statistic from cardiac arrest. I do meet with my surgeon for post eval this friday.

Hey there! I had my surgery last Wednesday (4/30/2008).I have felt that same exact pain since I came home! I thought something was wrong. Sometimes that pain makes sipping difficult and I have to immediately sit up and try to release the air. It is painful. And sometimes I burp and the majority of time I have to wait until it passes without burping. I am glad I am not the only one experiencing this. Reading all the postings eases my concern.

I just got home from the hospital. I was banded yesterday. I feel EXTREMELY SWOLLEN AND BLOATED and it hurts to sit up, lay down, and try to sit up from laying down. The dilaudid isnt helping at all.

Hey there. I think I can relate to you. For the last 3 years I have fought having any kind of weight loss surgery, especially gastric bypass. I chose the lap band because it seems less evasive. And just last Friday (my birthday) I saw my cardiologist for an echo and was told that my heart is a bit enlarged and a bit on the weak side. So he handed me several packs of ACE inhibitors and now I realize the severity of being overweight. I also admit that I am scared out of my freakin mind now as I read all the complications that many have shared with the lap band. My surgery date is April 30th and I am suffering major anxiety attacks (taking Xanax) and I can't control them. I am very scared now and wondering if the lapband is the way to go. Very confused and frightened.

Hi Everyone, I realize that the menstruation issue was posted last month but I thought I would add to it anyway for anyone else out there who looks this thread up. My lap-band surgery date is scheduled for April 30th 08 - a little over 2 weeks away! I am currently showing signs of a period coming on, some spotting right now, but I too was told that should I have a period it will not stop the surgery. I have never been regular since I developed hypothyroidism 5 1/2 years ago. But the beginning of last year I started having extremely heavy periods, to the point where I could not get up from the couch. OBGYN placed me on various types of birth control where it would slow it down and I would bleed for weeks, or it would stop for a week or two and start heavy again, but none of the birth controls controlled the cycles. Labs were done and no signs of PCOS. It went like that for 5 months and then it was decided to have NovaSure done (Uterine Ablation) in July 07. That surgery made a HUGE difference for me as I really do not have periods. Stats show that women who had NovaSure done experience little to no periods. So in my case, I am having some spotting but this could be my only period. Last Summer I learned that insulin resistance/high sugar level, and/or obesity contributes to HEAVY and irregular periods, which was probably what caused all my problems last year. Only I didn't learn about this until I switch to a new endocrinologist after the surgery. She did a ton of lab work on me and explained the whole insulin resistance and how it affected my cycles before the NovaSure. See, my previous endo of 4 years never bothered to check my glucose levels and I had continued to gain weight while under his care. So in August of last year I decided to change endos because he wasn't doing anything to find out why I was gaining weight. Anyway, the new endo explained insulin resistance to me and it was learned that that was causing my weight gain and menstrual problems. So if anyone out there is experiencing heavy menstrual issues like this, speak to your OBGYN about the NovaSure. Its does improve the quality of life.

Hi Everyone! Things have happened fast and my head is spinning. My surgery date is April 30th and am trying to get everything required for surgery including MEDICAL CLEARANCE. My Primary Care did all of my lab work and my White Blood Cell count is elevated at 12.5 and max range is 10. He will not issue my clearance until this has been resolved. Of course every time I have had surgery in the past- total of 6 - all of my White Blood Cell counts have been elevated. I am being retested this coming Monday and am on Antibiotics because at the time the blood work was taken I was just overcoming a cold; however, being that my past has always been elevated, I am scared to death to retest and it still turns out its elevated. I have spoken to my Bariatric pre-op nurse and she states the almost everyone that she sees has the same problem. I am very certain that my white cell count being elevated is due to stress - which I am under greatly!! and Probably allergies since I am a severe sufferer (take zyrtec for 4 years per ENT doc. Also, I am running into a problem where my EKG is abnormal and Primary care and referred me to Cardiologist. EKG show a slight abnormality and I am due for Echo on the 18th. So, yes, stress level is high because of all these tests having to be done within a 4 week timeframe from Insurance approval and surgery date. The lap-band has been STRONGLY recommended my 2 endocrinologist and I have finally come to accept that this needs to be done as I am probably due to a heart attack. This is just frustrating now because I do not understand why an elevated white blood cell count would hold up the medical clearance. Has anyone encountered this?? Elevated white cell counts have never affected all of my prior surgeries, so what is the big deal?!?!? Anyone else out there experiencing the same problem?:thumbup:

Hi Hopeforjoy, I am at 281 right now (I had lost 30 pounds and then gained back 15 recently due to ankle surgery last month) and also suffer from hypothryoidism (diagnosed after giving birth to 2nd child 5 1/2 yrs ago) and many other ailments. My first Endo never bothered to check my sugar levels so the weight came on somewhat fast as I have a sweet tooth. But over the 3 years that I was seeing that endo, he never cared about my rapid weight gain. Anyway, I changed endos and at each follow up visit she continued to "highly recommend" gastric bypass because I was detected as insulin resistant, cholestrol all wacky and everything else. I have been against gastric bypass since I became obese and decided to change endos again because I was tired of hearing about it at each visit. But I did learn from her that I was insulin resistant, which was causing all of my problems, and followed the insulin resistant diet where I finally lost the 30 pounds. Anyway, I made it clear to the 3rd endo that I did not want gastric bypass. He told me not worry right now and see what the lab results say. He did all kinds of labwork and when we scheduled the follow-up he highly recommended some sort of weightloss surgery because I was headed for a heart attack. I still refuse gastric bypass and I already knew about the Lap-band as a former boss of mine had it done over 4 years ago. I was told by my endo that the gastric bypass really should only be considered if your deathly/morbidly obese and need to lose the weight fast due to health reasons, otherwise, banding would be just as good. Don't get me wrong... When I made the appt with the doctor at the weightloss surgical center he tried to tell me that gastric bypass would be better for me. Again I refuse to have that procedure, and from what I read, most people get good results just with the lap band. Think about it hard though. Gastric bypass is very drastic. I have a cousin who had that done and yes she lost the weight but she had ALOT of loose skin! It looked horrible on her. And then she eventually gained all the weight back and now she is pretty stuck with it unless she changes her eating habits. So just think about it! <warm smile>

Hi Littlesweet, I am feeling the same way you are. I am surprised you have to wait so long for your procedure. I met with my docs last week and am scheduled for April 30th! When I read others I am curious as to why my procedure is happening much faster than others! Its making me nervous now...