Kmartin121

How long after surgery before you went back to work? Was it the right choice, or should you have gone back sooner or waited longer? I have a desk job for the most part, but do a bit of driving to different offices. I had surgery on Friday and am supposed to back to work this Wed. Today is Monday and I am seriously doubting that i am going to survive a whole day at work on Wednesday. Please let me know your thoughts...

Hi Thin! My doctor scheduled me for an upper GI for next Wednesday. He said he will let me know after he looks at the results. He did still proceed with the fill, so I am on liquids for the next couple days anyway, so I decided to try the 5 day pouch test. Question - Why is it that every time I get a fill and am on stictly liquids do I start dreaming of big greasy cheeseburgers??? :thumbup: (Not that I've had one in over a year, but I still dream of them!! LOL)

I think we are in the exact same boat. Before my last unfill, I would eat and not be able to drink even hours later. As soon as I would fall asleep, I would start choking everything up. No matter how early I ate it. I am also at a plateau since this started happening. I will definitely let you know what he says. I am going to ask him about the 5 day pouch test diet as well.

I'm glad to have found this info. I have had my band for a year and a half and am pretty convinced that I have stretched my pouch over the course of that time. I was too tight for a few months before I realized what was going on and I think that is when it stretched. Since then, I have been loosened and tightend. I can still more than 1 1/2 c of food, but liquids don't go down. That tells me that the food is sitting in my pouch, but the band itself is too tight. I just had an unfill a couple weeks ago and everything is going down too well. I am supposed to get a refill tomorrow, so will talk to the Dr to find out about a possible stretched pouch. I love this forum!! I don't think I would have done as well with my band if I didn't have all of you to share stories with. Thanks!!

Hi Lorrie - I am just a year banded and started experiencing this pain about a month or so ago. It is very uncomfortable, and for some reason, I always want to unbutton my pants, even though they aren't tight anymore. :confused: I try to walk it off, but it doesn't seem to work. I finally got to the point that it is worrying me so I decided to check here and see what other people are saying. Now that you said that, the pain definitely feels like it could be gas. I had a very hard time with gas pain right after surgery. I am going to get me some Gas X and see if that works. I'll keep you posted. Thanks!!

Hey Renee! Just wondering if you had the surgery and how it went. Let us know if we can help. I remember that it was great to have this forum to come to with all my questions. Hope you are doing well!

Hey Lisa and Renee! I am just around the corner in Westhampton!! I was banded in January by Dr. Haag. Send me a message. Would love to meet!! Kris

I use Calorie Count. Calorie Counter Database - Free Online Diet Program It's free. Can add from a list including brand names or add your own, and it keeps track of food, activity, weight, and graphs.

I've had 4 fills and am definitely feeling restriction, but am just not losing weight. After this last fill, I thought for sure that I would see the scale heading downward, but it's not. I find that I eat a couple bites and feel the pressure of the restriction. If I feel "stuck", I get up and walk around a little bit, and I usually feel better in a couple of mins. Then I sit back down, eat slower, chew more, and can finish my meal. I know I am eating much less than I ever did before, but am not seeing the results on the scale. I am still seeing my nutritionist and she says that I'm only supposed to be able to eat a cup of food. I'm pretty sure that I'm eating more than that, but I don't feel full from the band, it just slows me down. Should I feel full? I'm wondering if I should get another fill. I am afraid to, because I don't want to get sick. I do not drink with my meals. I forgot a couple times and took a sip with my meal and ended up heading for the bathroom. Do you think I am "eating around the band" as they say?

I'm in the same boat Cattoy. I've had 4 fills and am definitely feeling restriction, but am just not losing weight. After this last fill, I thought for sure that I would see the scale heading downward, but it's not. I find that I eat a couple bites and feel the pressure of the restriction. If I feel "stuck", I get up and walk around a little bit, and I usually feel better in a couple of mins. Then I sit back down, eat slower, chew more, and can finish my meal. I know I am eating much less than I ever did before, but am not seeing the results on the scale. I am still seeing my nutritionist and she says that I'm only supposed to be able to eat a cup of food. I'm pretty sure that I'm eating more than that, but I don't feel full from the band, it just slows me down. Should I feel full? I'm wondering if I should get another fill. I am afraid to, because I don't want to get sick. I do not drink with my meals. I forgot a couple times and took a sip with my meal and ended up heading for the bathroom. Do you think I am "eating around the band" as they say?

I had my first fill on Thursday. I didn't think to ask how much they were putting in. I did the liquids and mushies for the past couple of days, but don't feel any restriction. I am going to call on Monday to find out how much they put in and see if I can schedule another fill. Dr. said I could schedule another one in two weeks.

The fill went very smoothly... and quickly. Not feeling any restriction though. They said that I can schedule another one in two weeks.

Hey Cathy - I had my first fill yesterday afternoon. I wonder if we were sitting in the waiting room together. I was there at 3:45 and went in a little after 4. Congratulations with getting your date and good luck with your sugery. If you need anything, we are here for you! Kris

I was at the PVSA meeting on Monday as well. I have a friend that is Pre-Op, so I went to that one instead of the BayState meeting. I have to say that I was very impressed that they are hearing us and trying new things. I, for one, might have been too quick to judge the first meeting. I am going to continue going to the PVSA groups and see how it goes. They are trying to work the best in for both pre and post op groups. They are big on having the post-op people there to help and inform the pre-op patients, but I think they heard us when we voiced that we need our time for help too. Luigismama - I wish I knew that you were there. I was sitting on the right side, facing the front about halfway back. Where were you?

First Off - Good Luck KDM!! We're here for you if you need anything. I didn't make Tues meeting at Baystate because of the weather, but I am definitely going to make next Wednesday's LapBand only group. Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6-8 PM - LAP-BAND GROUP Let me know if anyone else will be there. I am still planning on going to the BayState meeting on the 23rd. I agree that we should all compare notes, that way we can make the best decision for what we need. I'll say one thing for sure... I'm glad we have this website!! I would be incredibly lost without it and all of you!!

I like Luigismom's idea of starting our own or at least getting together for coffee to chat once a month or so. Someone at the PVSA meeting had a schedule of some other support groups from Baystate Medical Center, so I searched their website. They have quite a few. :thumbup: Here is the link... Baystate Health - Weight Loss Surgery Program | Support Groups There are some in February that I am going to try to attend. My daughter has gymnastics on Tuesday nights, so I can probably make the one this Tuesday while she's there. I might just have to leave a little early. Tuesday, February 3, 2009 6-8 PM - WOMEN ONLY GROUP Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6-8 PM - LAP-BAND GROUP Thursday, February 12, 2009 10-11:30 AM Lundy Board Room - SPANISH SPEAKING GROUP Thursday,February 12,2009 10 - 12 noon - GENERAL GROUP Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6-8 PM - GENERAL GROUP Thursday, February 19, 2009 6 - 8 PM LOCATION: United Methodist Church of Lenox, 6 Holmes Rd., Lenox, MA - BERKSHIREGROUP Monday, February 23, 2009 6-8 PM Chestnut #2 - POST-OP ONLY GROUP I think I am going to go to this one on the 23rd instead of PVSA's, because it is a Post op only group and that is what I really need. Let me know what you guys think...

Hey Crystal - Sorry that I didn't get to meet up with you there. Although I am not surprised. It was packed! I was a few mins late, so had a standing room spot in the back until people started bringing in chairs where there was no room for them and I headed out the back door. I was basically holding the door open for most of the meeting until I met a couple people and we spent the rest of the meeting talking out in the hall. One was just getting started and had just met with Dr. Fiallo, the other was a little over a year post op and has lost 120 pounds. She had a lot of valuable information, which is what I went to for, but didn't get from, the meeting. I was extremely disappointed with the meeting. It was just what I had envisioned, but worse. I felt that they were just trying to sell the lapband to the preop patients. I had alot of questions, seeing as I just had the surgery, but anytime someone post op brought up a question, she told them that they weren't going to talk about it until later and moved on. I got the feeling that we've already had the surgery, so they are done with us. I hope that is not what they are really trying to convey. I expected a post op support group to be just that, a support group. A group of post op patients with a moderator, learning what we need to learn and sharing experiences, good and bad. I feel very lost right now. Do you think if enough of us bring it up to the office that they might bring the post op support groups back? It sounded like they weren't even going to think about it for at least a couple of months. Are there any other support groups out there that we can attend? I would definitely drive to another area to attend one.

Was wondering if I would get to meet any of my new online friends at the support group tomorrow night... :confused:

Did anyone make it last night? I was pretty disappointed. It was all preop and no help for the post op people.

I was banded on 1/16 and also have the bruising. It's just starting to go away now. I was also only on clear liquids the day of the surgery. All the info that i got said 2 days, but the next morning i had a Protein shake on my tray. I would ask your doctor. I can't imagine going much longer than a couple days on just clear liquids, your body needs nutrients to heal. But every Dr. seems to be different, and you definitely want to follow your doctors plan. Good luck.

Hey all!! Just found this post. I was banded last Friday 1/16/09 by Dr. Haag in Springfield, MA. Everything went very smoothly. Everyone at BMC was excellent. The extent of the gas pain surprised me a little, but that has been the only negative. They said that it could take 1-2 weeks to totally eliminate the gas. I don't think the sugar free drinks, ie., crystal light, etc. that I was drinking helped any. I've always had a problem with them giving me gas anyway. I just didn't put 2 and 2 together. Good luck to everyone! Let's all keep in touch through our journey! :tt2:

I spoke to the office today and the support meeting date of 1/26/09 that i have is correct. They said that they are not doing specific pre-op or post-op meetings anymore. They are all together. They are also not doing meetings in Greenfield anymore. Is anyone going to the meeting next week? I would like to meet some of you. Also, do you think there is any way that we can get them to bring back the post op meetings? I just had my surgery on Friday, so have obviously never been to a post-op meeting, but I can't imagine that we can get the post op support that we really need from the massive meetings that I attended before I had my surgery. If any of you that have been to a post-op support group think that they are worth bringing back, I would be willing to work on it. Part of the reason that I felt this surgery would work for me is because of the support that offered. I think it is a very important part of our success. Sorry that this is so lengthy, but I was very disappointed when I heard that there weren't any more post-op meetings.

Hi Maggie - I just had my surgery with Dr Haag last Friday. I assume that you're going to be at Baystate... Everyone there was awesome. If you want to talk about anything at anytime, my email is Kmartin121@comcast.net. I'll be happy to give you my phone number. Good luck. Kris

I brought one to the hospital with me and they said it is fine. The ones that I have are 50 cal with 5g of protein.

I know that it seems a long way off, but 2 months isn't the end of the world. I had my first consult with the surgeon back in May 08 and just had my surgery on Friday 1/16/09. I don't think that this is the norm, but the surgeon had some personal issues that had him out of the office for a couple of months. I would look into your options, but if the best option is to wait the couple of months, go to some extra support groups, work on changing your eating habits, practice chewing your food to liquid consistency, etc. Once your surgery comes around, you'll be even more prepared. good luck!