vegasgirl44

I lost 21 lbs on my month long preop diet and since being banded on the 14th, I've lost another 9. (For some reason, I gained 6 lbs the day of surgery and it took FOREVER to get that to go away). So, when I say I've lost 29 lbs, that is my total experience of weight loss in this LapBand Process. You betcha I'm going to count it and so should you. It's definitely an accomplishment....especially the weight loss BEFORE the band. Now, I'm just trying to make 2 lbs a week till my first fill and not GAIN any of it. It's a challenge, but I'm up for it. Until it gets to be that time of the month, then I'm sure I'll lose control. Better lock up the pantry!

Debbie, Just calm down. You are alive. You are going to get tested. And like the other post said, you will probably be fine to have the band, but you need to take care of the most pressing issues first. Think that this is a blessing and if anything further needs to be done, count yourself lucky that you found this out now. It sucks getting old, I know. And it also sucks having bad genes for co-morbidities. I have heart disease in my family. If I hadn't had the lap band done, I might have never found out about my cardiac history. You will be fine. You can do this. Don't worry. It's good to cry. And you are doing great. Good luck and keep us posted.

Debbie, I so know what you are going through....just about. I had an irregular EKG and my doc scheduled me for a carotid and heart ultrasound because I had a slow heart beat, and then he felt swooshing in my neck and I had to have a cardiac angiography where I had to get an IV, they inject iodine in my veins and put me in this big XRay machine thing. The good news is that I came out pretty normal and he just wants me to follow-up in January. Don't panic just yet. You might be required to have a test for coronary artery disease if indeed, you had a silent MI. I tried to tell myself that it's a good thing I was getting the band, because I was required to have tests for things that contributed to my father's death at 58. So, just hold tight and wait to see what happens. And keep us posted. This is a good thing you are getting checked out. Good luck to you.

OMG! Ditto again! If I would have known the day of surgery that I had hernia repair, it would have explained to me for the next week why it was so hard to breathe in and was so tight. I can't say my recovery was even hard. It was uncomfortable, but it sure does explain WHY it was so uncomfortable in certain areas.

Michelle, I know how you feel. Have you tried exercising or if you ARE doing exercise, have you shaken up your routine? And if you eat the same things every day, maybe change up your diet a little. If you only eat about 700 calories a day, maybe have 1200 one day and then go back to the 700. That's what happened to me this weekend. I was sitting on the same weight for a week and eating only 6-7 hundred calories. So, I switched it up a bit, ate something different, got back on my treadmill, and I'm down since yesterday. Try it. Good luck!

Debbs, I was worried about that hardness right on top of my big incision. I thought my port had flipped, but I found out it's the muscle and stitches and scar tissue. Many people have it. Don't worry about it. And I still have it. I'm guessing it will go away.

Yeah, I still have that pain sometimes. But last week, I lifted something heavy and it took a whole week for me to start feeling better. I have one big hole, but my doc says my port is a little lower and to the side of the hole. The hole also got hard on top and many people had the same thing...scar tissue, I guess. I know I just keep reminding myself that the port and stitches were sewn into our abdominal muscles and those muscles run horizontally, so it's natural for us to feel those pains in that area. And why it's so important to not lift and bend certain ways.

OMG! I could have written this post. DITTO exactamundo!

I never had neck pain, but I sure did have shoulder pain. It took 2 weeks for it to go away. I have been symptom free now for about 4 days. It will go away.

I think that is why it's so important to eat SLOWLY and put down our fork between bites. Trust me, I know it's hard. But I think your band is telling you it's working.

ReeRee, Make that me, number three. Since I had surgery, I've not taken my Zoloft and just yesterday, I've noticed a change in my mood. I think I'm either too lazy to crush them and/or don't know what food to put them in to take them. I know that I would feel like a million bucks (ok, a hundred...I still have that freakin' side pain) if I just started back on it again. Yesterday, my BF pissed me off and not I'm ignoring him and feeling sorry for myself, etc...The problems are still there, but if I was taking my meds, I wouldn't even give a rat's ass. I suggest getting back on the meds and calling your doc to let him know what's going on. He wants you to be successful as much as you want to be. Good luck. And thanks for reminding me to get crackin' on my Zoloft.

Gosh, I hate to say that I wish I had the poops. The first week or so, I did have a little diarrhea, and then in the second week, I had another day of it. Just be glad something is coming out. I think it's all the meds you get, plus the liquids you are taking in, plus the anesthesia and change to your body. I think it's normal. As long as it's not coming up the other way, I think you are safe. Now, if it continues a lot longer and you feel faint, then I would call the doc. I say to just keep your fluids going. I think you will be fine.

Yes, my doc says half a cup servings. That's it. Good luck to you!

I would be careful with that. If it was me, I would rather drink a protein shake than a milk shake, just to get the protein in. That just seems like too many empty calories to me. Also, I don't know about you, but ice cream is what got me into this mess to begin with. Good luck!

Can you explain the exact type of pain and where it is? Sharp, dull, stabbing, muscular, nerve, radiating, etc. Is it deep and hig or is it low? I am just curious because I have a sharp pain in my left side like somebody stabbed me and I can't breathe in and now it hurts mainly down by my waistline on the left side. Have you lifted anything at all lately? Or stretched or bent down? Sunday night, I lifted something heavy and I guess I'll be paying for it now for the next several weeks. It's so debilitating. I called my doc and maybe you should to. Good luck!

I just went online to Gamestop and ordered it for my daughter who is going to be 12 next week, but you can be sure I will be using it, too. When I went online, I was put on a waiting list, but it came right away. Of course, I had to pay S&H, but I don't care. I tried to get the whole thing for her last year and missed out.

I agree with all these posts. I know my doc has an extremely low complication rate, and part of that is attributed to the fact that he has us on a very rigid program. 2 weeks post-op liquids (first week clear and second week creamed), and then 2 weeks of mushies. The reason, as you said, is not to torture us but to allow us to heal. I know there are many patients that are allowed to eat chicken, etc day 3, and if your doc says ok, then ok. However, if not, think about it. If you are in the hospital sick or having any other surgery, they put you on a soft diet. Well, consider this your soft diet. And yes, it's hard. But like some have mentioned, when you pay for this out of your own pocket, it's important to follow the rules or you may waste all of that money. The people who have insurance companies pay for them are so lucky, and grateful. Please don't give insurance companies more reason to not pay for surgeries. And if you do cheat once in a while, it's normal. We are not perfect. Just try to make better choices. And remember that we are here to support each other, not make each other feel like s--t about what we are doing. Be firm but kind. That's always a good thing to be. Now, get off your arse and get going! LOL!

maribelle, yes, it's sort of like a stitch in my side from running...that type of thing. But it's sort of traveled straight down to my waistband area. I'm wondering if it's a combination of not having any BMs lately, gas, and lifting that 35lbs too soon. I hope so. I'd rather it be that than something else that would require some drastic measures. But the doc seems to think it's from lifting and bending. I do remember them stressing the fact of not bending and twisting several times before I left the hospital. I'm so jacked up on Lortab right now that I think I need to go home. I almost feel nauseous. I hate being like this!!

No, couldn't be stuck food since I haven't had any food yet. It's lower anyway. The doc called and what we have surmised is that I lifted something on Sunday night that weighed 35 lbs at the store and put it in my cart. I know I wasn't supposed to bend or twist and lift, but I got caught in that "Oh, I feel great already" thing and forgot that I just had surgery. I think we all take that for granted sometimes and over-do it. The funny thing is that my shoulder pain ended that night. The frustrating thing is that I really can't quite recall the onset of that particular pain. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do but wait. Could take weeks to get better. Apparently, since the port is sewn into the abdominal wall, anything that messes with that, ie pulling, twisting, etc., can cause sprain to that stomach muscle. The muscles run horizontally on the stomach. My pain starts to the left of my belly button and runs up under my ribcage. I know other people have similar pains. I've seen the threads. My guess is that there are many of us overdoing it too soon or there are a few things that can cause that type of pain. It's hard to get into bed and lay flat. I just hope that's all it is. However, I don't know if I can take another 3 weeks of this to see if it gets better. If it wasn't for this pain, I would feel completely healed. Darn it!

OMG! THis is ME! I put a call into the doc over an hour ago. If he has to go back in, I will scream!

Ok, I have a question. I've put a call into my doctor, but while I'm waiting...has anybody experienced any post-op left sided ribcage pain? When you breathe in, it feels like a dagger going into your lung? I have had it for several days now. The shoulder pain has subsided. The full belly is also going down, but now I have this pain that gets worse after I've eaten and sometimes I can't even breathe all the way in. Does anybody have this or have they experienced this kind of pain? Today, I've also noticed that it has traveled almost down vertically to my waistline.

Soontobehottie, that is so funny. Thanks for bringing up the sex thing. My boyfriend is like, "so October then?" Haha! I can't imagine a whole lot of writhing around with my band yet, but then I'm not opposed to just laying there and enjoying some good lovin' for a while. LOL!

Irish, right now I'm eating creamed soups, but my all-time favorite will be chicken noodle....something from my childhood, I guess. But I've had that southwestern corn from campbell's select in the gold box. Wunderbar! I hate mushroom and I'm not a big tomato soup fan. I like the bean and bacon and potato soups and will blenderize. Last night I went to Claimjumper and had their baked potato soup. I had to mash the potato parts down, but it was AWESOME! Make sure you only order a cup and not a bowl. I could have eaten the entire thing it was so good. I can eat yogurt and pudding. I love the Jello SF dulce creme pudding...it's sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good! It's hard for me to stop at 1 or even 2. Last night I went to support group and was reminded to slow down and keep portion sizes at half a cup. It's hard to do when all you get is liquids or semi-liquids.

Irish, doesn't your doctor require clear liquids for the first week? I think there are reasons for that, including prevention of vomiting and diarrhea. Your body has been through a lot. I would check with your surgeon and/or dietician to make sure. Or refer back to your paperwork you were given that specifies dietary guidelines. I know it's hard. My problem is eating too fast....considering all I get is basically liquid right now. And I need to learn to keep it at half a cup or I get a pain in my chest like someone stuck a dagger in my lung and I can't take a breath. Congratulations and good luck!

Girl, except for the allergy part, I hear ya! I'm not really in any pain except for the occasional shoulder and incision pain and lump at the incision, but I just feel out of it. I keep forgetting I had major surgery and then I'll go all out one day, and the next day I will pay for it. I know how you feel about the run over my a truck thing. Just all over. I was at Michael's tonight after spending the whole weekend at home, and I felt like I was 80! Walking, talking, and bending like I was already on the downhill of life. It's so discouraging. So I'm glad I found this post. It gives me hope that you guys have felt so much better after some time. The next time I see my surgeon it will be 10-1, so maybe by then I'll be feeling better and ready for a fill.