KVM

I think 8 days of pain is to long. I did have the shoulder pain which started about 2 days after my surgery but it went away in about 4 days. I also do not have bowel movements very often. It was 3 weeks before I realized it after my surgery. It took me a couple of days of taking exlax before I went. But it is best to get her checked out. You said you are in a different country and the doctors are uncaring so maybe seeing a doctor in the ER she could get one that cares. Good luck and I hope she feels better.

I have had mine sine May 12th. At first you can feel stuff but it is not uncomfortable or painful but once everything is starting to heal, you don't feel it. You can feel the port with your hand because it is just under the skin but to feel it inside no. I did feel the band after my first fill for a couple of days. But after that it went away. It does take a while for the port spot to heal inside which made it tuff to do certain arobic exercises at the gym but as far as walking and the eliptical I had no problems. I am very glad I had it done. As far as the gas, I have gas all the time but I do not have any gas pains. I know two other ladies that have the band and they say they have gas also. I have read that it lasts 3 months. Some say longer. I am about 2 1/2 months out and I think it is decreasing. Before I would have it for 2 hours after I ate every time I ate. I know my friend takes GasX she says it helps. I haven't taken anything for it. I did read some one else said Charcol is the best but I don't even know what that is.

As long as your bmi is 40 you will get accepted into the program. I did not have any medical problems either. I went to my origination on July 31, 2007 and had surgery on May 12, 2008. It is a long process but it is worth the wait. I got frustrated at how long it was taking to get my next appointment and almost went to Mexico but stuck it out and I am very glad I did.

During the mushy stage, I ate everything but put it through the food processor. My mom made stew with beef and all the vegetables, and pea soup, and chicken soup and I just liquidified it. My friend who was banded a month after me did the same thing. Her husband would barbeque chicken and vegetables and she just put it through the food processor. I also ate the egg substitue.

I didn't like the Isopure water. To me they taste like soap. The only one I can tolerate is the green one. The nurse told me they were really good so of course I went out and bought a case of the variety of flavors. My friend tried one and she didn't like it either. So I can't even give them away. I haven't tried the protein bullets yet but someone told me they are way to sweet and thick. I just tried the K2O water and I like that so at night when I get hungry before bed, I drink one of those.

I was banded May 12th and I was so sick of sweet stuff, my mom made homemade pea soup and beef stew. I put that in the food processor and I was able to eat that no problem. I also did the cream of wheat. To change the flavor of the whey protein shakes, I went to Smart N Final and got some of the different sugar free flavorings. What a difference. Sometimes in the vanilla, I just add cinnamin. But my new favorite is chocolate with carmel & a teaspoon of peanut butter.

I was banded on May 12th and the first 4 weeks I couldn't even eat what they said to eat because sometimes it was to much. My doctor says you should be eating about 800 calories. I have noticed this week that I am getting hungry between lunch and dinner. I am going for my first fill on June 27th and I am hoping that takes care of that. I have a Protein shake for Breakfast. Lunch I eat a slice of ham (2 oz) and a slice of cheese (1/2 oz) with 2 crackers, a quarter cup of yogurt and quarter cup of fruit, or 1/2 a cup of turkey chili with 2 crackers, dinner is usually 2 oz of fish or chicken, 1/2 cup of potatoe or Pasta and a vegetable.

I was not crazy about the Protein powder either but now I am a fan. I buy the chocolate and vanilla Whey Protein at Wal-Mart. I went to Smart and Final and bought Torani's sugar free flavorings. I got carmel for the chocolate and I add a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. I also got black cherry and add a little almond extract. You blend them with ice and they are really good. I buy the frozen fruit and sometime just add a cup of fruit and it helps with the flavor. I drink a Protein shake almost every morning. When I got to the mushy stage, my mom made me homemade Soup and stew and I just put it in the food processor and would eat a half cup of that for dinner. Kim