*susan*

The first four to six weeks you are going to experience what feels like spasms, pulling or other weird sensations with your port. It isn't unusual at all. Part of it is also you are just so aware of something being there that wasn't there before. It will settle in, you will heal and soon you will hardly even think about it.

What you are feeling is 100% normal. I think everyone that has decided on weight loss surgery has tried and been unsuccessful on numerous diets, so we wonder, how is this going to be any different? However, once you get to this point, you are usually at the point of realizing, I have to do something, I have to change my life, and if I am willing to have surgery to do it, then I am finally at the point where I am ready to commit to the changes that come with it. If you are not at that point, then no, now is probably not the right time. As long as you did your research, are well educated on what you are going to have do to be successful, then you should be fine. The important thing is knowing the band is a tool, but you have to work it in order to be successful.

I think before we are really able to offer any reasonable input on this, we need more information from you. Are you having problems with the band, difficulty reaching your sweet spot, issues with not being able to eat anything or keep food down, or is it simply, as others have said, you are not following proper protocol for a bandster? If it is a case of you are not losing because you are not following a sensible diet, then no, the sleeve is not the answer to your problems. However, if you are having actual band related issues, then yes, it might be worth looking into revision surgery.

It sounds like you are progressing well. It definitely isn't unusual to show a little gain in the first week after surgery, you were pumped full of gas and fluids, as well as the swelling and bloating. Don't worry about it, it will disappear just as quickly as it appeared. Some advice that helped me when I had my surgery, put a pillow under your tummy in bed at night, it helps support it and is amazing how much more comfortable you will be.

Susan's timing WAS unfortunate she always catches me when I being bad I just refered him to these problems so he'll know You mean, there are times when you aren't being bad???

i Well, I'm here, let's make some action!! LOL, that sounds bad.

You should mention this to Alex, and any suggestions you have that might help. He is very, very open to suggestions.

Oh hell to the no, girlfriend, I hold you to a higher level!!

Yay, congratulations to both of you! Breaking a stall is always a happy day!

Just dropping in to welcome you to our forums and congratulate you on your decision to become healthier. We are so happy to have you join us.

You know, I wake up a lot at night with quite a bit of hip pain. I never attributed it to possibly having something to do with weight loss. Interesting, I am curious to see what others have to say.

Don't be discouraged, you had major surgery and on top of that, you drastically changed your nutritional and caloric intake. Your body at some point, as mentioned, usually around the third or fourth week, is going to say, whoa, what is going on here? I need to take a break, slow down, regulate myself and get adjusted to all of these changes. It's okay, that doesn't mean your period of weight loss is over. I promise, just keep following your surgeons eating plan and the weight will start coming off again. In the meantime, don't forget to take your measurements. There will be times when changes aren't reflected on the scale, but are reflected in loss of inches.

GasX and lots of walking are your best defense against gas. And, I always recommend a heating pad on your tummy, it feels good and relieves some of the discomfort in general.

It's just like Facebook. Every time they make a change, everyone whines, complains and hates it. But then, after they get used to the change life is good again. Things will get better guys, Alex did not do this to make everyone miserable. Managing four websites at once was a huge chore. Now, with everything combined on one site, they will have more time to enable more features everyone has been asking for. You just have to be patient and give the team time to work through everything. Positive feedback and suggestions are helpful to them. General complaining without offering specific reasons why and suggestions are not. Can't we all just get along? LOL

Like you said, it is normal to feel it more as you lose weight and when you lie in certain positions, like on your tummy. However, if you do find that the discomfort is becoming worse, don't be afraid to contact your doctor again and ask to have it checked just in case it flipped.

I am so sorry you have encountered these problems. It just reinforces how vital it is doctors educate patients and patients educate themselves prior to any weight loss surgery. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the easy way out. Like you said, you have to be prepared to make a life long commitment to it and all of the lifestyle changes involved. Hopefully, this can be a lesson to others. I wish you good health and wellness.

Too funny, what a great combination. My feet definitely shrunk. I went from a 9 1/2 wide to an 8 1/2 narrow. I like my new, more narrow petite feet. I don't mind wearing sandals now. As for the sex drive, well, as I lost weight, I became more confident, felt better about myself and especially wanted to share that with my man. So yeah, it definitely got better too.

I originally had the band in 2006, back then insurance didn't cover it. I had it done here in the states, but even being self pay, I had to jump through so many hoops it was ridiculous. I remember being frustrated with the whole process and almost cancelled a couple of times for that reason. When I revised to the sleeve, I had my surgery done in Mexico. Oh my gosh, the process was so much easier. No hoops to jump through, they reviewed my medical history and said I was eligible, told me to have my band completely unfilled and do the pre-op diet. The part that really amazed me was that once I got there, I actually received better care than I ever did in a US hospital. I had definitely not expected that. Now, I have no qualms about travelling out of country for surgery. I think you will be very pleased with your decision.

That sounds absolutely delicious, I am definitely going to give it a try. And yes, breads are a major issue for most bandsters. When I had mine, I just knew there were certain things I couldn't eat, and two of the top items were any type of bread or Pasta. You eat those, and you think you stopped at safe point, but then they expand in your stomach and the next thing you know you are in band misery.

Please remember our forum rules. Take your personal arguments to PM, that is not what this forum is for. If you don't like the language someone is using, we will determine if it is appropriate or not, it is best for you to move on. And if you don't appreciate something someone is posting, use the ignore button, that is what it is for. We will not tolerate any more of this arguing and personal attacks. it ends now.

This is actually a very common problem when you first have your surgery. The other issue is, once you finally do have a BM, it can often be very hard and painful. For me, Milk of Magnesia was a life saver. Stool softeners are also helpful. Remember, no matter how difficult it is, make sure you stay well hydrated, because that makes a huge difference as well.

Oh, I just love gross topics. And to answer your question, yes, it is absolutely normal. Pleasant, no, normal yes.

Hi, and welcome to the forum. You are in very good hands with Dr. Corvala. I am also a band to sleeve revision, and have been very pleased with the results. My band slipped numerous times, my port flipped and I started having erosion. I couldn't eat anything, even with no fill. You just don't have those kind of issues with the sleeve. Many people have great success with the band, then there are those like us who to look to different solutions. I wish you much luck and look forward to following your progress.

Please check your private messages.

I understand, if you provide me with your old username, I may be able to go in and determine what the problem is and get your account reset.