kathyNH

tell me what you think? I am an RN, who tends to not want to make a mountain out of a molehill!! It has been 4 weeks since surgery. The larger of the incision lines had scabs on it then came off last week (on their own). On Friday the distal end of the large incision line felt tender to touch or if anything leaned on it. That evening I noted the distal end looks red and there is a pea size yellow area, like a blister in appearance. The area is drainaing a pea size amount of yellow with every bandage change, so about every 8 hours I change it. I guesstimate the area of redness around it is approx 3/4 inch in length. Today I outlined it to be sure it isnt getting bigger. There does not appear to be any tenderness other than the redenned area. I have no other signs of infection. I have been putting bacitracin on it. I have my first fill on Thursday so am inclined to wait until then to see how this area does. It really seems like it is superficial, and just involving the incision line. My only concers is this incision line is closest to my port. So tell me, am I being a silly nurse to wait until Thursday???

I have been banded almost a year now. Just got a fill and now have the joy of upper back pain, between shoulder blades any time I eat. I eat a small amount and get this pain. THe pain is awfull!!! IT goes away within an hour. I do not get chest sensation like I would if I ate too fast, didnt chew well enough, or ate too much. I eat a little and bamo.....back pain from hell!!! what is this???????

I am another one who cant drink with meals as it will come right back up and I find it to be painfull!!! I do miss drinking with meals but am dealing...

OKay, This has been a slow journey for me. But I finally feel like I am getting somewhere!! I had my surgery on 2/9/10. I was 256lbs I am now 213!! I have been having my daughter take pics of my progress. I am able to do up my first goal jeans. I cant believe I am sharing the these, but we are all in the same boat. Ignore the messy hair!!! Before January 2010 256lbs And today in the exact same clothes!!

I have been so discouraged lately. I have had, I believe, 6 fills. I couldnt help but think this was a mistake. I was gaining weight. Well baby, something worked with the last fill I had 2 weeks ago!!! I have lost 8 lbs in the past 2 weeks!!!!! I marvel at the facts 1)I dont have to count points 2)I dont have to measure food 3)I dont have off limit foods except for slider foods 4)I dont feel deprived!!!!!!! All I have to do is eat my Protein first, veggies second and if i still have room the carbs. Easy!!!! I am not hungry between meals!! this is so brilliant!!!!! Can you tell I am a happy campers?

At this point there is no one who does it in Concord. There used to be but he left. I went down to Keene for my surgery. Pain to have to travel that way for appts but that team of surgeons and medical staff is fantastic!!!!

banded 2/9/10 a bunch of fills later, finally feeling restriction!!! woohoo!!! I had lost 18 lbs preop and now am down 9 more lbs since surgery. This past week I have lost 5lbs!!! I am so excited that this is finally started to work for me. I was getting so discouraged!!

My progress to restriction has been slooooow! Anyway a week ago Friday I got my 6th fill. I now have restriction. Am not at my sweet spot. I can eat more food then I should be able to. But, I do have restriction and have lost 5lbs in a week!!! So should I just wait until the weight loss stops and get another fill or should I get that other fill now seeing as I am not quite in the "green zone" yet. My surgeon allows fills every week. I had been going every two weeks

Thank you for this post. I know in my mind that this is a process and soon I will get to that sweet spot. I had my third fill and am still not there, dont think I am even close. I am discouraged. I need to keep telling myself it will get better.

so had my second fill last Thursday. grumbling because I still have no restriction. Eating normal. then tonight out of nowhere....whamo!! I had 3 bites of coleslaw and holy cow!!!! ouch!!!! took about 10 mins and the stuff came back up. Feel so much better now!!! that scared me into chewing my food thoroughly!!! I wonder why all of a sudden, with no feelings of restriction I get a stuck episode!!!

I am in!! this will be my first mini-challenge! I am 230lbs this morning I am going for 11 pounds. Would put me at 219lbs on Mothers day. Will make my challenger ticker when I get home from work. Have a great day all!!!

Had my first fill 5 days ago as well. Dont feel restriction. Am following all the band rules and I am hungry within a few hours and when I eat I feel like I can eat more!! It is trial and error for each person I guess. I am going to call for another fill appointment.

okay I had my first fill this week. I am on mushies today. Had scrambled eggs for Breakfast. I took small bites and ate slow. Took about 20 minutes. Um how do I know when to stop?? Isnt that awfull? I have been over eating for so long I have no idea at what point to stop!!! I scrambled two eggs and ate just over half of them. I cant tell if I am full. I am paranoid of eating too much!!! I know I will figure this out soon enough but was wondering if anyone had some words of advice?

I had my first fill on 3/25. Was told can come in a week for another if needed. I dont know if I am eating not enough and that is why I am hungry? Here is thus far today 7am Breakfast, one peice of toast, with peanutbutter one banana----total time 20 mins to eat 10am hungry, stomach rumbling 1030 Fiber one bar--took 7 mins to eat 1215pm hungry!!! slight stomach rumbling lunch one egg salad sandwich, one pear, total time 22 mins to eat. Feel like I could eat more!! also I wait an hour before started in on my Water, and it seems that as soon as I start water the hungers appears! I am thinking I may need a fill. Should I give it more time. Should I eat more????

Thanks everyone!!! I feel like a baby again, learning to eat!!! I was trying to figure out lunch today. I have egg salad. Normally I would have brought in two sandwhiches. Today I decided on one and a pear. I hope it is enough!!! I am happy I can still eat bread But am not sure I have enough restriction. So if I get another fill may not be able to after that. I am going to give this two weeks before I decide if I need another fill.

Hi All!!! Just touching base. Was banded 2/9/10 finally got my first fill on 3/25/10, 3ccs I have already lost the 4lbs I gained after surgery!! the past couple of weeks I could eat like normal Not sure I am feeling restricting yet. I get to start solids today so this will be a trial and error thing. Hope not too many errors though!

I was banded on 2/9/10 got a mild incision line infection so had to put off my first fill finally filled yesterday!! am on full liquids until tomorrow. I have a 10cc band. He tried 4 cc's but I couldnt tolerate the Water, so he removed a cc. Hope I have some restriction!!!

wow, I had my first fill yesterday, 4 ccs and he had me drink Water after and I knew immediatley it wasnt going down. He immediately took a cc out and I was fine. Glad you were able to go back and get a cc out.

thanks everyone! I called my surgeon and saw him today. Seems that my body was rejecting the two knots in the suture line beneath my skin. Unfortunately he went digging for the knots and cut them out. OUCH!!! my first fill is now delayed two weeks. sigh....oh well...just bumps in the road.

My daughter had a stomach bug and she was vomiting for 12 hours. So I had a thought. During a virus, the bile collects in the stomach. When we have restriction, is it physically possible to vomit the contents of the stomach???

wishing all you being banded today the best and speedy recovery!!

Hi all, one week since I was banded. Doing well. Am about to approache mushie foods. Might have over done it today, area over my port site feels sore and tight. Must take it slower!!! wishing all soon to be bandits the best of luck!!

I was banded on Tuesday. had Clear liquids in small amounts until today. Had 4ounces of milk for Breakfast and at11am had 6 ouches of a yogurt smoothing. I feel like I wanted to vomited. I am very restless. I am quite miserable. Have been walknig around a lot but it is not helping. Is this normal?

Starting yesterday I have felt MUCH better!! the only area bothering me is the port site. Still bloated but much better.

Mrs Place I had surgery on Tuesday and the left side is the worst for me, I am post op day 5 and the left side is tender otherwise I am feeling good! I see the surgeon tomorrow for my 1 week follow up