Bosh

The "shoulder thang" can be from the gas inflation that is used so the surgeon can manipulate and see organs during surgery. It can also be because diaphram is irritated either during surgery or from band itself. I am a week post op and am still having intermittent left side pain near shoulder. A heat pack helps and sometimes lying down on my left side. Mix up you Protein drink and put in a Water bottle so you can take sips consistently. It really is important to get your 50-70 gr. Even though the outside of our bodies don't look like MAJOR ... sometimes it is easy to forget that we have had an anesthetic (as close as we get to death and wake up) and a rearrangement of our gastrointestinal tract (even if it is minimal with the band). Be nice to yourself, rest, walk and take your pain meds....it will get better! If you are concerned call your doc. regards Bosh

Hello All, After reading and researching HEAPS...only when talking to surgeon did I realise that "slippage" is not the "band slipping", but the lower part of stomach "slipping" up past stoma (band) into upper stomach (above band) and it can happen when you vomit. regards and glad you are feeling better Bosh

Ginger (the powdered sort in the spices) or cut a couple slices of ginger root (may be near garlic in grocery store) and sweeten. Both are REALLY good for nausea. Make a tea - just steep in hot Water. Regards Bosh

I found a tri-pillow was a real life-saver.... didn't stretch abdomen so much as lying flat. It also allowed me to sleep a little on my side (I used hot Water bottle on a pillow next to my abdomen when on my side for support and comfort) I too agree that you should call your surgeon! regards Bosh

Hello All, This is my first post and I am one week post op. My surgery went without a hitch and stayed overnite - haven't needed pain meds much at all. (the surgery was HEAPS easier than laproscopic gallbladder surgery 5 years ago) I live outside of the USA (though American). I have a bariatric surgeon who has been doing lapbands for many years with no major complications. He is nice, competent and RIGID. Post op - 1 month liquids, 1 month mushies, then intro back on solids. (plus the 2 weeks preop on Optifast - which, as I understand it, is more to reduce fatty liver size for easier access to upper stomach than weight loss) After reading and researching HEAPS...only when talking to surgeon did I realise that "slippage" is not the "band slipping", but the lower part of stomach "slipping" up past stoma (band) into upper stomach (above band) and it can happen when you vomit. My band is a soft AMI gastric band... I am not sure how often they are used in the USA, (the photos of lapbands always look to be hard plastic). The fact that the band is completely pliable impacts ALOT on the problem of erosion... And as you mentioned there is no SET STANDARD yet for the surgery so none of us should hold our breathe for comparative statistics in the near future :-( And so we are all faced with the "problem" that there are NO longterm research results about the band because they simply have not been used "for a long time" yet. And of course patient compliance varies.... I have been involved with healthcare my whole adult life.... Even if you (or I AND the surgeon) do EVERYTHING RIGHT...we can end up with complications! So please reconsider and err on the side of conservative....hang in there (and don't hold your breath)!!!! regards Bosh