Ravenesqued

My first fill was yesterday afternoon. I was excited and nervous and came here to read on what to expect. Well, I arrived and chit-chatted with the PA for a few minutes and then proceded to lay down so he could find the port. He numbed the area and all was good. After a few minutes I was asking did you find the port entry? he said no. Several minutes passed and I am trying to keep my cool and not gross out or get worried. He said he was having difficulty. Then responded to me that he needed to get a new syringe because he had extracted blood into the syringe. GROSS! I am still trying to keep it together. He told me to relax and sit upward, push my stomach out, suck my stomach in, pretend to do a sit up etc. He called for reinformcement and went to the "go to" guy. Which was another PA who had me do the same thing but wanted a new syringe. So this is syringe #3. By this time I was freaking out and I would say it has been half an hour. I asked if this was going to happen every time and he assured me, No that once I lose weight the port would be more prominent. The 2nd PA suggested that I might even have to have another procedure to replace the port. What the...? They saw my fear and went to get Dr. Le Port (Fountain Valley Regional Hospital). Well, they left me alone!! I sat up and noticed the syringe still stuck in my abdomen. The horror! it isn't even Halloween yet. I am trying so hard to keep the tears back and just keep taking breaths and my stomach is falling in sync with my breaths and I can feel the syringe moving. So, the Dr. storms in and gently takes hold of the syringe the PA's are talking at the same time and the Dr. says that he has seen this occur before. That because the Realize band is Low pro and low pressure that it is diffiult to extract saline. What the...? again. So, the first PA had injected some saline when he attempted and the 2nd PA injected some saline into the port when he attempted and the Dr. had injected saline when he attempted and no-one was able to tell me how many cc's I had in my 9cc band. ARGHH!!! I drank 4 gulps of Water and on the 3rd I felt the bubble, the heartburn feeling and I was happy that I did have some restriction. So, the Dr. thinks I might have a kink. I proceded to have X-rays and the Byreum (sp?) drink and sure enough it showed restriction. I hand delivered the x-rays back to the surgeon, ate 5 Wheat Thins sips of water and all is fine. But now I am still scared thinking that in 6 weeks I have to go through this ordeal all over again. (This whole ordeal lasted 3 hours). They said that as I lose weight the port will be more prominent but come on give me a break how much can I lose in 6 weeks? 5-10 pounds. Is that really going to make a difference? What are the chances that I have to get a new port? Anybody else have difficulty the first time and now its easy breezy? :smile:

Please read Salome000 post earlier today. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/warning-77964/ Hers was a little bit more than just red. But please read.

HI Nicci, Well guess what the same thing happened to me on Saturday and Sunday! not as painful as Thursday's episode. Well, I woke up and still had the same pain - it did not go away with GasX or Tums. I thought for sure I had done something to the band. I called the doctor this morning and told him everything I was eating and drinking and he feels that I am eating too much. Since I have the Realize band and no fills yet I am eating too often. I have been drinking with my meals as well. So I have not been very good at satiety. I am now on liquids and mushies for the next 2 days until my tummy gets back to normal. I am still very sore and my abdomen all under my bellybutton is very sore and tight. It feels like someone scraped my inside. OUCH and gross.

I am in so much discomfort now typing this and hoping it is gas. How do you know? I am 4 weeks post-op and I am on solid foods. I just went shopping all day today and putting things away and then WHAMOOO! I keeled over in pain. I tried laying down and nothing sitting up feels a little better. I am unable to pin point the pain. It feels all over and when I take a deep breath I feel sharp pains under both my breasts and an ache in my mid section. Please tell me this is gas and not a slipped band. I experienced no gas when I got out of surgery. T:huh2:

I love Smooth Move!! if you don't like the taste of black licorice you will not enjoy the tea. I have had it several times when I was on my crazy Lemonade Cleanse Diet. You must steep it for 10-15 minutes before you drink it. It goes down kind of chocolately and taste licoricey big time. No cramps at all.

:blush:Hey Realize gang, I am one week post op yesterday and I just want to be clear that the Realize band has no fill at the time of surgery -right? This will explain why I now can chug my Water. I am in the mushy stage and I can have a pudding, yogurt and mash potatoes in one sitting also I have been able to eat a handful of cheez itz all mushy first. My question is, 1) have you gained any weight after surgery waiting for your first fill in 6 weeks? I totally feel back to normal as if I never even had the surgery. I am concerned because I might forget to watch myself. Also, 2) During the first fill are you still tender from the incision site before and after? 3) What is the reasoning behind not having the Realize band with any fill during surgery like the LapBand?

Great question and the forum has tons of information on it. Search for it and you will find the answer. Also go to the Realize site and you will find info there too.

Kiz, Glad to hear from you. Its only 11am and I already drank my 32oz. I mean I pounded it! too easy going down. I made a call into the PA to see if I need to slow down or is this okay? seems like everyone is having problems getting fluids in but I haven't had a fill yet so hope this is normal. As for mushies I can make anything into a mushy I just haven't had any meat or fried or bread stuff. I did have a small side of Green beans and macaroni cheese from KFC and it was wonderful!!!

I am freaking out. I am 6 days post-op (9/10) and have been taking care of myself and wearing my binding. Well this morning I noticed 2 little drops of pus or blood on my binding. I have the liquid stitches so I can see my scars and am scared that it is the start of an infection at the port site. ARGH!! Nervous and super scared of corrosion. Have any of you used antibiotics or mercurochrome (Sp?). I have left a message to the P.A. and just waiting but I am wigging!!

I forgot to mention my binding. Its a large elastic belt wrapped around me to keep the incisions in place - I guess? Did you not have one?

Yes, I love Duran Duran!! on the top of my 80's list along with New Order, ABC and Echo. Okay back to the situation. I also have the liquid bandages on and it seems to be in place but the drops are cause for concern for me. I work at a college and will be going to the health center at lunch time for some antibiotic liquid. I know I am healing because it itches like crazy sometime. NO pain at all and no fever. I think I should have had the steristrip as well. Thank you.

I am home now and banded. I am soooo sore. I have no pain and no gas. Just sore as heck. Wearing a band around my waist and still in my pajamas from this morning. I am drinking the 42g bullet along with broth. All in all I survived and just looking forward to healing.

Thank you so much for remembering. I promise to post once I am back home and feeling fine.

I do not find the current list. The thread is too long. Am I on it yet? 9/10/08?:lovechoc:

Hey Gang! I am so glad I found this thread it looks like we are all in the same boat heading in the same direction and at the same spot. I love that!! I am on Day 8 of my liquids and happy to report I lost the 12 pounds I gained from my Last Supper Syndrome so I really hope I lose 10 more to show my doctor I had some weight loss. I weigh the exact same I did when I was last weighed in. My surgery is next Weds. 9/10/08 at 9:30 at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital with Dr. Kelly Francis. I do have a tip in regards to broth. I love the Swansons chicken broth 33% less sodium with Lemon Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper (pizza pepper) and half a lime or lemon juice. YUMMY!!! If you don't have lemons or limes you could use the mexican seasoning they put on fruit that tangy, sour salt stuff. Great!!:crying:

Great Idea Denver Girl. I thought I already sent you my date but I couldn't find my post anywhere. My date is on Sept. 10 at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital with Dr. Kelly Francis. I am excited to see my name on the calendar list with my new friends.!! :crying:

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are truly an inspiration. Before I read your thread I was in tears wondering if I could really do this. I am on my 7th day pre-op and just a ball of emotions. I was ready to just say forget IT! Thank you for reminding me why I am doing this. Thank you all!!

Congratulations!!! September is going to be the best month of the year!!! My surgery is on September 10th.

I have been using Cocoa Butter hoping that will help. I bath myself in it when I get out of the shower. I already have stretchmarks so I think the lotion is in vain. But I keep trying.

We can definitely share the journey together. I get banded on 9/8/08 in 1 week. YIKES!! I can't wait. Day 7 of my liquid diet and 12 pounds down. Congratulations!!!

I started my Pre-Op diet last Weds. and I am down 12 pounds. I originally weighed 255 but my last supper syndrome got me up to 267 so right now I am back to my original weight and hoping to lose at least 10 more pounds. My doc does not know how much weight I gained since my last recorded weight. YIKES! So, I hope all will be fine. I get banded on 9/10 next Weds.

Hey all, Well since news of my surgery date I have had dinners everynight and gained 12 pounds in 3 weeks!! YIKES! Today is day one on my pre-op shakes before surgery for 2 weeks. My question is - how much weight did you gain during Last Supper Syndrome and how much did you before surgery. I only have 2 weeks to lose this and hopefully more. Were you able to exercise? I was 255 and now 267. :cursing:

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and advice. I still refuse to believe I gained that much. Maybe my scale is broken. hahahah. I see my MD on Friday hopefully I am not as heavy. Day 1 almost done.

Keleka! that is great news! I get banded on September 10th are you on a liquid diet right now to shrink your liver? I am on day 1 today.

hahah. Sorry, I was responding to NayRay13's message and PCOS is Post Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. With symptoms such as hair growth on the face, acne near the chin and mouth, irregular periods and in most all cases causes infertility.