Barbiek

I gained 5 lbs after surgery, and I was told it was from all the fluids they pump in you through the I.V. during your hospital stay, plus the swelling and gas. After 1 week the added weight fell off plus some! Give it time! It will all come off. Don't worry!

I was banded on July 2 and I had a lot of chest pain /pressure/discomfort from the time I was in the recovery room. I even told the recovery nurse that I felt like a small child was sitting on my chest. They did an EKG after surgery and it was fine. This same problem persisted once I went home. I got VERY concerned because I actually felt like I was going to have a heart attack! I went to the ER about 6 days post-op, and I let the doctor know that I just had the lapband surgery. They did another EKG, and the heart was fine. They said that the gas is still trapped in body and it will take a while to release it all. (I hear that people burp a lot after the surgery, but I still have not burped since surgery, so I think I just had to wait until gas was gone). I am 15 days post-op and feel great! No more gas, no more chest pain! I promise you all that it does get better. Don't hesitate to see a doctor if it persists. This is only my experience.

I had surgery on July 2 and I am kind of confused about band sizes. How do the doctors decide what size band to use? My doctor gave me a little card that says I have a 4cc band. I am assuming that means I can only be filled to 4cc, correct? Does that mean I am more restricted right now (without a fill), then someone who was banded with a 10cc band? I am very rarely hungry, and when I do eat, I get full really fast.:frown: I don't know if I feel restriction, or am I just afraid to eat too much. Since I have a small band, I'm afraid something might get stuck. :confused2: Please help me to understand this band size. Thank you!

Thanks everyone for your replies. This really helps me out. I just want to say it's so nice to post a question and get prompt responses. I love this website! I don't know anyone who actually has a lapband, and since I didn't tell anyone I was getting it done, it's really great to have the support here. Thanks again!

Congratulations! How exciting for you! Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery. It will be here before you know it!

Ineedalapband: I was banded on July 2 and I was soooooooo scared. I was excited too, but mostly scared for the very same reasons. Because this is an "elective" surgery, you feel that you are making a choice that could be potentially harmful to you. I felt the exact same way, it's very normal. All I can say is when you wake up from surgery, you will feel liberated and very happy that you made that decision. I posted something similar to this right before my surgery and a woman replied to me saying "this is just another day at the office for your doctor!" Those words were very comforting to me and it was so true! You will be fine ~ Good luck to you!

Hi Ssundevill, and welcome to lapband talk! You will love this website! You will be able to find all the info you need here. People are so nice and supportive. I was banded on July 2 and am starting to feel really good! Good luck to you on your weightloss journey!

Hi Stacey, My advice to you is that if you work outside the home, don't go back to work too early. I have an office job and went back to work 6 days post-op and I kept wishing that I had taken a few more days off. After your surgery, just take it slow. I am now 13 days post-op and am doing well. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

I was banded on July 2 and still feel no hunger. I eat because I have to and I get full really fast. I can hear my stomach growl/gurgle but I have to say that I am really not hungry. I am 12 days post-op and starting to feel really good.

Hi skinny grandma! I was recently banded on July 2 and today has been the best day for me. I am 11 days post-op and my pain is finally gone. Still seem to have a little gas pain now and then, but most of the bloating has settled down. I actually feel like a regular person today! Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

Hi Lisa, I, like you, have been heavy most of my life. I have been on every diet. I finally got sick of dieting and being fat so I did something about it. I was banded on July 2 (11 days ago) and I am almost fully recovered from my surgery. I feel great today, and I am looking forward to a new and improved me! I am happy with decision. Good luck to you.

The straw that broke the camel's back for me was last September I was so sick of being fat that I got serious and met with a nutritionist and hired a personal trainer to get this excess weight off. Well, while training with the personal trainer, I injured my back! (He must have mistaken me for a young, thin person with all that exercise he had me doing!) Ha! Well, at that point I knew I had to take some serious action and killing myself with the trainer was not the plan! I talked to my doctor and asked for a lap band referral and I was approved! My BMI was kind of low, but I had high blood pressure and with a new back injury, I qualified! (I guess the back injury was a blessing in disguise.) Well, today, I am 11 days post op and am doing very well! I am happy with my lapband and am looking forward to a new and improved me!

Hi Nicole and welcome to lapband talk. You will love this website! We are here to support you in anyway we can. You will find all the information you need here. I was banded on July 2 and am doing very well and I am happy with my decision. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

Hey Mutt, Don't be shy. We are here to give you the support you need. You will find all kinds of information on this website that will help you with your decision. I was banded on July 2 and am doing quite well. Good luck to you!

I was banded on July 2 and I don't feel the port at all. My doctor assures me that it's there, but I can't feel a thing.

MarylandMommy, I was banded on July 2 and after my surgery I weighed 5 lbs more than when I went into surgery! They told me it was from the fluids from the IV when you had the surgery, plus the gas/bloating. I have since lost the 5 lbs gained, and then have lost an additional 10 lbs. Give yourself some time to get rid of the water weight/bloating and pounds will soon fall off! I am seeing results already. Good luck to you.

Hi Eisermanr7 - There's a another thread that just came out today titled: "Newly banded, what is this feeling?" I think it's in the post-surgery section. Anyway, this thread had a lot more on the chest pain and shoulder pain. You may want to look that one up. I, just like you, thought I was having a heart attack! Now that I read that other thread, I'm not quite as alarmed. My chest pain and shoulder pain comes and goes. I had surgery July 2 and I thought that I should be done with all the gas pains, but I guess not. Check out that other thread. Lots of replies there that will help you.

Prior to my July 2 lapband surgery, I read a book called "Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding" by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D. The author (a woman) is a nurse practitioner who had the lapband surgery in 1998 and she talks about the procedure, her experience, etc. It also tells some stories about other people who had the procedure done and what to expect before and after surgery. It's a great book and I highly recommend it. I don't know if you will be able to find it at the library, but any big bookstore should have it. I think that this book is a must read for anyone considering lapband surgery.

I'm no doctor, but I don't think that is normal. I would have that checked right away! Good Luck.

Sherry21, thanks for the reply. I will try the ice. Seems a little better today, but usually happens right after I eat something. Pefox: I don't know if the band can break, but somebody (actually 2 people) posted something about their band becoming "unlocked" so there must be somekind of clicking/locking mechanism for the band. Can't remember where it was posted but you may want to look for that post.

I'm so glad that this question was asked. I am 10 days post-op (surgery July 2) and I am having a similar problem: chest discomfort/pressure with shoulder pain. Usually happens after I eat something. I called the Bariatric nurse and they told me I shouldn't have any chest pain so they suggested I have an EKG. So I went to have an EKG and they said my heart was fine. Now, by reading everyone's posts, it seems like chest pressure is a normal complaint after lap band surgery. (I thought I has having a heart attack!) My problem is I have not burped since surgery. I see that everyone seems to be burping and feeling better, but I cannot burp for some reason. Do you think there's still a lot of gas in my stomach? I thought most of the gas would have been absorbed already. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

Hi Jazie, and welcome to lapband talk. You will love this website! I had my surgery July 2 and am doing well. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

I had surgery July 2 and went back to work 6 days later. I figured that since I have a desk job, it wouldn't be too bad. Well, I wished that I would have taken an extra day or two. I thought I would be fine, but I didn't know how tired and weak I would be. I'm doing ok now, but really could have used a few more days. Good luck with your decision.

Hi ldonna1, Glad you are doing good! Sounds like you will have a speedy recovery. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

Sherry21, Just had surgery July 2 and I am having similar pain like you. I feel like I have chest pain, with left shoulder pain, and sometimes trouble breathing. When you say "breastbone", do you mean like between your breasts, or just above? I called the Bariatric Dept. Nurse, she said I shouldn't have any chest pains at all and I should probably go to E.R. I went to E.R. and they did an EKG and said my heart was fine. Maybe I have what you have? I have a dr. appt on Friday morning for a follow up with my regular medical provider. I will have to ask her. Thanks.