Nikkx

I had something similar about a year or so into my band, Apparantly the stomach wall can lose resistance against the band over time so it automatically tightens. A 1ml unfill fixed it and I'm back to normal restriction. Good luck Nick

Can anyone help me with this. I was banded almost 2 years ago and had a number of fills over the first 4 months as I wasnt feeling any ongoing restriction. Then after my last one over a year ago the band started working and it has been fine for a year or more now. It restricts my eating and I know from painful experience now not to overeat. I cant eat bread, and steak is a problem unless i really chew it (40-50 chews is my normal count to be safe). So far I have been fine and lost 23kgs in about 18 months. But in the last few weeks I've been getting an increasing problem. Please excuse the graphic descriptions. I keep waking up in the night. Sometimes coughing badly due to a tickling throat, but more often due to a stream of snot coming out of my nose. I am waking up to 20-30 times a night with this sometimes. Sleeping propped up helps a bit but doesnt stop it completely. I have tried not eating 3 hours before bed but again this doesnt stop it completely but it does help. I have read the posts on here about reflux and about the throat producing some stuff to try to wash food down but if it cant go down it must come up and I guess this is the basis of my problem. Anyway I am going to stop eating earlier now, and the same for drink as it seems from posts on here that liquid can have just the same effect. Also I am wondering if the stomache has swollen because of this problem, causing the band to tighten and creating a viciouse cycle. So I think yoghuts and soft foods for a few days to try to get back to normal and then no eating or drinking after 6pm. If anyone has anything to add I'd be grateful to hear. Thanks

Hi Naomi Well done on the 9lbs! I soaked in the bath on Saturday to get the plasters off, (4 days after op). I've only had showers since then though and I try to keep the soap away from the scar cos my Doc said soap would irritate it. I keep putting Aloe Vera on the scars and I think they are healing very well with most of the redness almost gone. They no longer feel sore at the end of the day from rubbing against my shirt even though after I took the hospital dressing off I didn't put anymore on. I stopped wearing stockings cos my girlfriend started to think I was getting into cross dressing! :thumbdown: No, seriously they told me a week but I stopped after 4 nights; once I was moving around a lot. I think you said you'd already gone back to work so you must be moving during the day so I would have thought you dont need them now. Anyway good luck with the ongoing weight loss. Nick

Hi Angie Glad you are back and OK. It was good to meet you there and its great to be able to talk to a group of people who have done this at about the same time as me. I wish I could have been in a ward with other patients having a band but I was the only Brit in my ward and the only one getting banded and the other guy only spoke French and Flemish...I was too tired to talk really anyway. I must have been into the theatre just before you, I went in about 1.30 and was then discharged about 24 hours later at 1pm on Wednesday. I felt OK so decided to drive home that afternoon. Got back to London about 7.30. Probably not too sensible really and I was sore the next day. Wounds are still sore and I flinch everytime I have to twist or get up from a seat or bed, but the dressings are off and plenty of Aloe Vera gel seems to be cleaning and drying them up pretty quickly now. Cant wait for this swelling to go down though. I dont think I'm supposed to be on scrambled egg yet but I made it 'wet' and ate it slowly and it went down fine. Porridge, thats one I hadnt thought of, I'll have to try that. Went to see the doctor yesterday just to tell him what I'd done and he was really impressed and wanted to know all the details for a couple of other patients he is seeing. Its amazing really what they dont know. Anyway enough from me, glad you are OK and let me know how you are getting on. I'll drop an e-mail to your address so you have mine and we dont have to bore everyone else on the site with our 'work in progress' stories :thumbup: Nick

Hi Naomi I felt just the same and its getting better each day. Wind at both ends it seems! The sore from the port is the most painful and getting up from the couch or getting into a car or into bed is the worse, but it is a bit better each day. Can spend some time on my left side now too but more comfortable on the right for the moment. Was able to eat a bit easier today, scrambled egg, but it is just the swelling making me feel full very quickly. Went to the loo today for the first time since Monday so that was a relief! Anyway 2.5kg lost since Monday night. Planning to take dressings off tomorrow which I'm not looking forward too as I know they will be sore to take off. Will probably soak in the bath until they lift off. Ciao for now

Hi EnglishRose, Thanks. I dont seem to have any antiseptic liquid in my bag. Maybe I'll send a quick e-mail to Frederick. You are right about that port, I almost hit the ceiling when that came out :confused: Finally...any liquid food ideas...tomato soup and FLP chocolate shakes are all I've thought of so far... Nick

Hi everyone Well I'm back home complete with band installed. Saw Angie as we were going in and she seemed fine, but didnt see her when I came out. I think she is staying in Brussells for at least one more day. The worst pain for me so far is the wound where the blood drain went in, and you're right about the swelling...I look like I've got a growth on my left side! Gave myself my first injection this morning and am now starting to plan what I'm going to eat this week. One question; the waterproof dressings, am I just supposed to leave them alone or do I need to take them off at some time and let the air get to the wound. I have an appointment with the GP tomorrow just to let him know what is going on and I dont like the idea of him trying to peel them off to have a look...much too tender at the minute. Nick

Thanks Naomi. May see you on Wednesday as you go in and we go out. Good luck to you too. All I have is some large waterproof plasters, some slimfast type drinks and loose trousers! Oh and about €4000 of course!

Hi Naomi I guess I'll see you both in the hospital as I left it too late to get into the Campanile. I'm in the hotel Trol in the centre of Brussels. Like you the pre op diet is not really going to plan. Have cut down on fat but only lost 3lb in past week or so. Looking forward to the other side. Nick

I need to book it yet. I will start with the Camponile first, and if no joy there I will look some more. Luckily I will have my car and my girlfriend to drive so I can be much more flexible than most.

I'll will probably be driving from Frankfurt on Monday afternoon being as I will be at work in the morning. Then I will carry on back to London on either Wednesday or Thursday depending how I feel after the op. My girlfriend wants to come over with me so she will probably be with me too. Brussells is a nice city so I'm sure your parents will find plenty to do while they wait for you. Birthday Cake? I expect the hotel staff will point you in the right direction if you ask....none for you though.

Hi Angie I am scheduled to see him at 7.30 at his house on the Monday evening before the operation on the Tuesday. Diet OK so far but I have to go shopping tonight so I'll have to keep focussed! Nick