DaGramma

I had my Lapband surgery June 18 and 3 weeks later I developed "walking pneumonia" which lasted a few weeks. About the first week of September I began coughing alot again and finally went to the Dr today and it seems I have pneumonia again! So I'm back on antibiotics, codeine, inhalers - the works. It's almost impossible to exercise feeling this crappy! They're wondering if it's a complication from anesthesia now. Janet

The worst pain after my June 18 Lapbanding was the shoulder pain, at the top of my left shoulder and radiating to the left side of my neck. It was horrible for the first 2 weeks and continued for over a month. It would come and go after that and I was told it was due to the gas they insert to inflate your organs during surgery to give the surgeon more room to work. After nearly 4 months, it is mostly gone but I have noticed a correlation to the pain returning and being constipated. Milk of Magnesia makes the pain in the shoulder go away! Janet

I had my lapband surgery on June 18 and my first fill with xray 4 weeks later. It was difficult to find and the Dr. said it had migrated. It took many tries even with the contrast and xray to find it. I'm slightly nervous about my second fill next week (again with contrast and xray assist) Janet

June 18 Lapband and total loss is just 30 lbs (including 7 lbs lost pre-op). It seems rather slow and I am meeting with the Dr. next Monday to discuss a second fill. I seem to be able to eat just about anything except bread. Anyone else able to eat almost normally? Janet

I was told by a relative on the east coast that she was given a Bariatric ID card and restaurant discount card when she had her Lap Band surgery done. I never received a card like this, is this available online somewhere? I'm in northern California-

Yesterday I had my first fill using xray to locate my port. It was very weird feeling, the doctor took 3 tries almost jumping on me to get the needle into the port. Finally it went in, and then the doctor tipped up the xray table and had me drink barium- while we watched the screen and he injected the saline. (no pain due to lidocaine, but lots of pressure) 1.5cc was too much (the barium stopped) and he settled on 1.2cc. Apparently there is a new lap band he started using 3 months ago... sounds different than others I've heard about where they add 5cc. So I am back to liquids for 2 days, then onto mush for 2 then I can start some "real grownup food." I'm almost feeling human again and semi-normal, but back to the very full feeling with each sip.

My port is about 2 inches below my largest incision, I swear it moved down since the surgery 4 weeks ago!

June 18 Lap Band, now 2 weeks post surgery. Today I finally went to GNC to look for alternative protein shakes. The ones I had bought before were from NorthStar Weightloss (online) and were 8 oz/ 18g protein, BUT they made me soo bloated and gassy that I dreaded having to drink them. Today I bought GNC shakes that are 12 oz/ 35g protein and so far no bloat - I might actually like these. First week and a half, I stayed with liquids (water, vitamin water, jello, broth) and now I've switched to some stage 3 babyfood meals (not as bad as I thought), big people applesauce (to crush pills into), and mashed potatoes last night that were FABULOUS! I have no hunger but I am still very sore at 3 of the 6 incisions, especially the port one, and don't have much energy yet. I haven't taken naps in decades and I often want one now (might be lack of caffeine). First week I was down 5 lbs, not sure how much more yet. My first fill is scheduled for July 15 (just short of 4 weeks post-surgery). I'm a tad anxious as to what that will change...

Finally almost feeling human today and I've been able to stay dressed all day to not take a nap. Most waistbands, even though loose, rub on one or more of the 7 holes. I have my "one week" post-surgery checkup on Friday, and wondering if I've lost any weight yet. The most I have been able to get down in one day is 3 oz of jello, 16 oz (36 g) of protein shakes, and water all day long. The protein shakes give me such an uncomfortable fullness so that each 8oz takes me hours. I haven't had to use the hydrocodone today and hope maybe I can stop taking it permanently!

My doctor was Dr. Nguyen, one of 3 in the ValleyCare group on W. Las Positas. The classes were ok and ones I couldn't attend in person, I listened to on the phone.

I'm in the East Bay and just had LapBand in Pleasanton June 18 at ValleyCare. Day 5 and feeling better. Pre-op staff was great, but once in the room after surgery I've never felt so neglected before in a hospital. Ringing for things took 1-2 hours and some never got a response (and all i wanted was water or something to rinse out my mouth- which was approved by the doctor by the way). The A/C was broken and the room was over 85 degrees. Other than a bad hospital overnight stay, so far things are going ok.

I've just found this online forum today. I am day 5 post LapBand Surgery and starting to feel a little better. Lots of surprises- the many pre-surgery classes I attended said LapBand surgery would be done through 2 incisions - but i have 7 holes! A relative of mine, who also had LapBand a few months ago on the other side of the country, had her few holes closed with staples - my doctor used crazy glue! My husband says I look like I've been in a knife fight. I'm doing ok now getting jello down slowly and crushing pills into small amounts of applesauce. The protein shakes aren't going down so well, and I get bad shoulder pains after drinking them.