txjanaa1

For me there was more restriction, but from what I hear everyone is different. I have 4.6cc in my band now. I go for my follow-up on Friday and am waying back and forth as to if I want another fill or not. It all depends on what I eat really. Things I would think would get stuck, i.e, chips, toast, chicken...dont! But other things, soft stuff does. I think it just all depends on the person and the band.

I had my first fill two weeks ago and it was painless for me!!! I was suprised on how much it DID'NT hurt!!! Let us know how it went...

Hi all! Saturday night I went to lie down on my bed and felt a strange hurtful pulling feeling on the left side of my stomach. I lay down and got comfortable and didn’t feel it anymore. The next morning I went to stretch and that same area hurt again (it felt like my muscles were being pulled apart). It hurts on and off depending on which way I move. I have discovered to the left side of my port about 1 inch below there is a knot about the size of a lemon. I can feel my port just fine. I automatically thought it was a hernia. The reason I thought that was because when my son was 5, he got into the tub and all the sudden right above his groin looked like a HUGE alien wanted to come out. I took him to the Dr. right away and he had a hernia, and it was removed. I was banded in May and in late June had to have my appendix removed (the Dr. said that the appendix and lapband were not related, I called BS on that one). So when I felt this feeling over the weekend, I thought sheesh, what else can go wrong??? Since Sunday, more food seems to be getting stuck easier, I don’t know if it is all in my head and I am just not chewing my food enough, or could it be this big huge bulge pushing against my band? I feel like I am getting paranoid, but was just curious if anyone else has had this issue??? I LOVE my band and have lost 26 pounds since my surgery, but my stomach at this point since I have had lapband and then my appendix removed looks like a railroad track! :crying: Has anyone had this problem? Does it sound like a hernia to you or something else? I go back to the Dr. on Friday (for my fill follow-up) since I had my first fill two weeks ago, I am up to 4.6cc right now, but wanted to see if anyone else has had this problem before?? Thanks for your reply...

I was just banded on Thursday 5/22/08 and this has been harder than I thought. I have been doing the liquid diet since Thursday, but today has been VERY hard for me. Especially when all I can think about is FOOD!!!!! I am a very emotional eater, and have been pretty depressed since the surgery. I just now got out of the house this morning (too sore to leave before today) and actually had an adult conversation with my Mother (my dog doesn’t speak good English..lol). All I have been doing is lying down and watching movies since I got home Thursday afternoon. OK........I want something to EAT!!!!! I am soooo sick of shakes, pudding, Jell-O & the worst thing chicken BrOtH! YUCK!!!!! I have to fight my mind all the time; I have not slipped one time, and am VERY proud of myself. But it has been just as hard as being on all the other diets I have been on for over 10 years on and off! Anyone having this same problem?!?!?!

Good morning all, I had my surgery on 5/22/08 and did the whole liquid diet till day 7 and then am now on the "mushies" stage till day 30. I have found (in my sick head maybe) that there are actually alot of food that can "become" mushy (that should be a whole other thread :thumbup:). The first couple of days eating mushies I found that I was getting VERY full VERY quickly. Like after about 8-10 bites or less. NOW.........it seems as though I never even had the Lapband??? What the heck is going on here? I know that once the swelling goes down that you start to feel hungry again and nothing really tends to get stuck, but I really didn’t expect it to be this quickly. My port is still sore when I push it, so to me that means...maybe...that I am still a little swollen?? So I should still get full quicker??? My mind is beginning to play tricks on me BIG TIME!!! Back to the fill question.... I am not scheduled to get my fill till 6/24/08, which would be 32 days after surgery (I want it NOW!!:thumbup:) How soon did everyone get his or her first fill?? Also, has anyone had or having the above situation? All replies are very much appreciated!

Thank you BAMAGAL, was your port not stitched in some way? Or is it floating around? Did I read that right???

Ewwwwwwwww.........no wonder we hurt so bad after surgery!!!! I didnt realize all that went into it, my Dr. explained of course, but there is nothing like watching it first hand. Thanks for sharing that website yvonne72!!!

Just wondering what type of Vitamins everyone is taking post-op? I know since we are all restricted on some of the good nutrition we get, I am curious as to what everyone is taking. Obviously I don’t want to take vitamins the size of horse pills...ouch!! (they will get stuck VERY easily, as you all know)! I tried pre-natal pills, but......they seem to make me crave things? Could just be me??? Thanks for your reply... :tongue2:

I am sooooo glad I am not the only one out there with this issue. I got on my scales this morning, and was shocked that I had lost 3 pounds since last Monday. Nothing really feels looser, so I guess I lost the weight in my big toe. lol... Anyway, thank you all who have responded...I think this is the best site since sliced bread! :tongue2:

Ohhh...that's what they call bandster hell. SHEESH! This sucks!!! I am going to call him on Monday and see what he says. I was self pay ($15,000) and I know that I am probably being a llittle impatient, buttttt.....sheesh, it seems way too soon to me. But what do I know?!?!?!?! lol

By the way, I have lost NOTHING since 8 days after surgery.... BOO HOO!

That's awesome! I personally had to eat healthy for two weeks before the surgery. After, I had to be on liquids only for 7 days and day 7-30 on "mushies". After that I can "try" to bring in other foods. I lost 11 pounds in the first 7 days, but once I started my mushies, I have not lost anymore. Which is ok with me, I am still eating no sugar, no bread & nothing with white flour, and am eating very healthy. The BEST part (besides losing the weight) is that I have not had one headache since the surgery. I used to have at least one migraine a week, with headaches most days in between due to all of the white flour I had through out the day! To me, that made it sooo worth it. I would literally have to hide my head under a pillow so I couldn’t see any light, or I would PB. The very best of luck to you!

I was a self-pay and went to Dr. Richard Benavides, he and his staff were wonderful!!! I have seen some commercials in the DFW area who are charging $11,000 to $12,000. I paid $15,000, that included pre-op, surgery center charges (which he owns the surgery center), him to perform the surgery, anesthesiologist charges, and fills every month (or when needed) for a year. He has taught most of the surgeons throughout the US, has written many books on lapband. He is known as one of the founders of the newest lapband that is out there. He was awesome... But, I encourage you to not just go with "how much will it cost" but what kind of surgeon your are going to use. What is his/her background? How many lapband surgeries have his/her done? And then after you have done that research then look at the cost, this is my opinion only. His website is Lap-Band Weight Loss Surgery Solutions. I would call them and maybe go to a free seminar. I would suggest if any doctor you talk to have a free seminar you can attend to go. I personally am very happy with my band. I was very impressed with everyone that works with him. They are all very caring (so is he) and just really care how you are doing. I would love to hear who you choose...the VERY best of luck to you! :tongue2:

I get my fill on 6/24. I was banded on 5/22. I was just telling my mom about 5 minutes ago I am curious to see how I react. I don’t feel like much has changed. Yes I do get full quicker, but I haven’t had the feeling like something is unable to go down (I am NOT wishing for this by any means). I am still on my mushies, and lost 11 pounds the first week after surgery. Since I started my mushies I have lost nothing! I was so scared to get off my liquid diet, thinking this would happen. I am VERY grateful for what I have lost, and I hope this continues... Bottom line...I can’t wait till my fill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen Sister!

I am glad I am not the only one that felt that way. I sure didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I am constantly reading people "bash" others because THEY are not following the plan their Dr. set for them. Come on people, this is a support group (and a WONDERFUL one) it is for help not hurt! I have seen people that used the same Dr. I did have a totally different diet plan before and after. I think it all depends on your BMI and what they think will work best for that individual!

I am not necessarily talking about this thread when I say passing judgment, I want to clarify that. I have read on other postings including ones I have posted before and after this one...where people can be so hateful when it comes to what others Dr.'s ordered for them versus their own....I just wanted to clarify that I was talking about all postings in general. Thanks again! :thumbup:

Hi everyone! There is great feedback from all of these threads. I just wanted to say everyone is different; every Dr.'s orders are different. I see people saying on here, "Why are you eating mushies/solids so quickly after surgery?" I don’t think anyone should pass judgment because they are doing something different than what another's Dr. ordered for them. I don’t want this to sound hateful, but why don’t we just share what we all were told from our Dr. instead of passing judgment????