julesmck

Hi, I was banded yesterday. Is it normal to feel gas pain (across the back at the shoulder line) after a sip of Water? Thanks!

Yes, you're right - thanks for the tip - I couldn't find the option to change my signature before.

Yes - my original pouch was dilated, so the lap-band was removed and replaced. Can't quite figure out how to change my ticker information.

Hi, I had a fill 10 days ago in which I went from 1.7 cc to 2.2 cc. My band felt noticeably tighter after the fill, but then a couple of days ago (around the time my period started), it got so tight I can barely get fluid down, even hot liquids. Do I need a slight de-fill or is it because I'm menstruating, as I read on another forum? I scheduled a de-fill for tomorrow but if this is something that will pass I'd like to know. Thanks!

Thanks everyone. Lianna, when you say you get "ridiculously tight" on the first day of your period, do you find it hard to get liquids down? That's my main concern; If I drink rather slowly I can get warm Water down, but it still feels uncomfortably like it might come back up at any moment. Is that normal? Thanks again!

Hi, I was banded Friday, and everything seems to be going well. I'm not too hungry and the demon that compels me to overeat seems to be sleeping (yahoo!). Anyway, a few of my incisions are itching and it's driving me mad. Also, I have sporadic pain in my shoulder-to-neck area (on both sides) like a pinched nerve that only goes away when I lie down. I suppose that's the referred pain from the diaphragm? Any idea how long the referred pain lasts? Is it a matter of days or weeks? Thanks! Julie 252/248/150 Banded 5/19/06 Dr. Chris Cobourn, Mississauga, ON Canada

Hi, I'm having my surgery done about 5 hours from where I live (in Mississauga, ON), so I'll be staying at a hotel for 24 hours after the surgery. The pre-surgery form states that one should arrange for alternate child-care in the 24-hrs after surgery since the person who takes charge of you after your surgery should be completely devoted to your needs for a day following the surgery. I am planning to go down with my husband and three-year old, and am assuming I won't need so much "care" that my husband won't be able to look after DS, taking him to the mall across the street to burn off some energy. What has the experience of other people been? Have you needed someone devoted to your care immediately after surgery? I figure that as long as my husband has his cell phone on and is nearby I should be ok that first day in the hotel room by myself. Thanks.

I just called the clinic and they said that although I would probably be released between 2-3 in the afternoon (surgery at 11am), I absolutely must have someone with me at all times during the first 24 hours after surgery in case of fainting, to help with toileting, etc. They gave me the name of a nurse I could stay overnight with that first night (at her home) if I want to. Sheesh, this is such a pain.

Thanks for all your replies! Jachut, you say you did need help the first 24 hours - while you were in the hospital? That's the period of time I'm worried about. The surgery is scheduled for 11am so I suppose I'll be released to my husband around 1pm (?) and I'm really hoping I won't need much help because we don't have anyone who can look after our son while I'm convalescing.

Here's my sob story: When I met my husband nine years ago I was relatively thin. I've always had a problem with my weight and we just happened to meet during one of the good times. I was on fen-phen at the time and he feels that was deceptive since he didn't really know what he was getting into. Well, fen-phen is off the market and I'm about 80 lbs. overweight. I have a 3-yr old, my mother died two years ago, I just finished a graduate degree, and my family lives across the country, all of which have compunded my original inclination towards emotional eating. We've spent tons of money on weight-loss schemes, but to no avail. He says he is not attracted to me and admitted yesterday that he would divorce me were it not for the fact that it would screw up our son. It's not only the extra weight that he objects to - it's the lethargy and self-absorption (due to a total lack of energy) that comes with it. I can't blame him. Of course his lack of empathy makes me want to head for the cookie jar even more, though I know he's right. I mean, he didn't sign on for being married to someone he finds physically repulsive. How can I blame him when I find myself repulsive? The problem is the more weight I gain the less control I seem to have over it. And there is a little bit of rebellion thrown in I guess. I'm scheduled for surgery May 19 (lap-band) so I'm hoping this will help give me some energy. Sigh. Perhaps divorce is the answer but it's hard to tell. I won't know 'til I get my health back and am able to survey the landscape with a clear head. Thanks for listening.

Kel, thank you so much for your thoughts. What you say about why I'm defending my husband is exactly right. BTW, he hasn't threatened to leave if I don't lose weight - he simply says if our son weren't around he doesn't know if he could put up with the mood swings, the lethargy, the irritability, etc. I am just so ANGRY all the time. As they say, I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired all the time and I do take it out on him. Like you described your behavior towards your husband pre-surgery, when my husband compliments me I let him have it because I know how he "really" feels about me. If he wants to go see friends I put up a nasty fuss because I'm ashamed to be seen in this state. If he wants to go for a walk I'm too tired. He has a stomach problem and if he doesn't eat within ten minutes of feeling hunger pains he feels terrible for days after. So last week he had to pop into a fast-food restaurant when he first got hungry and I couldn't hide my jealous rage because he and my son were sharing a grilled cheese sandwich! I swear to G__ I feel like a monster sometimes. Where does the rage come from exactly? Were you angry all the time pre-surgery? I have very low frustration tolerance and my lack of energy has rendered me unable to roll with the punches of everyday life. I don't know if it's because my blood sugar is out of whack (I'm not diabetic -yet) or what the hell is going on. Which is why I feel justified in saying, "who can blame him"???? I just got off the phone with my surgeon and finalized the surgery date so that is a relief. He doesn't do bypass surgery but said he's had several bypass patients come in for banding after their bodies adjusted to the bypass and they started gaining the weight back. Makes me feel more confident in the banding choice. Thank you all for listening, Jules

I'm pretty sure that my husband looks at it from this perspective: he pays all the bills and worries about our financial security in addition to participating in child-rearing and house-cleaning, so why can't I get it together and do this one thing?

vinesqueen, thanks for your support! However I should clarify a few things: my husband works full-time and actually does do a fair bit of the house-work. He did not have a good childhood himself (which no doubt explains a lot of things) but I honestly could not ask for a better father for our son. The way they interact is incredible - my husband showers him with love (yes, unconditional!), attention, interest and patience. They are really sweet together. I am a stay-at-home mom and what my husband objects to is that I don't get off my duff often enough and take our son to the park, for walks or for rides on his tricycle, etc. because I have all the energy of a slug, no matter how much coffee I drink. I do worry about my husband's attitude towards me rubbing off on my son but so far my husband manages to keep his negative comments to himself until we are alone.

Thank you all for being so kind - it really does mean so much to me! As for my husband's lack of support, he has definitely been more supportive in the past (though truthfully his support is more of the "you know what you need to do so just do it" variety with a few hugs and pep talks sprinkled in ) but at this point I think he is just completely fed up. Over the years I've embarked on every new weight-loss endeavor with high hopes and I've dragged him along with me, both financially and emotionally. In the end, we've both been disappointed, over and over. Anyway, as I said I think he's just fed up at this point and I can't really blame him.

Thank you all for your kind replies. bigbellykellie, you are truly an inspiration - just knowing you've made it through to the other side gives me hope. To those posters who suggest I ditch him because he doesn't love me unconditionally, I can't help asking myself whether there really is such a thing as "unconditional" love when you're dealing with two adults. He likens it to being married to a heroin addict or an alcoholic. Should he put up with any behavior on my part that adversely affects the whole family just because we took vows? And to those posters who've suggested that maybe the relationship isn't based on such strong stuff to begin with if this is all it takes to knock it down, well that's definitely something to think about... Thanks again for your thoughts and please keep them coming!

Ah, fen-phen. I was one satisfied customer. Nothing has EVER worked so well for me: when I was taking it food had all the appeal of sawdust. For the first time in my life I had an inkling of what it must be like to have a normal relationship with food. After the combination was taken off the market I gained all the weight back and then some. Since then I've tried just about everything but nothing comes CLOSE to fen-phen. It was perfect. Sigh. My most recent weight loss attempts have included Optifast shakes (I flunked out after 7 weeks because I could not shake my cravings which may have been brought on by the aspartame in the shakes), and Meridia with Effexor-XR which did nothing for me. Nor did Topamax, the epilepsy drug, which is supposed to curb food cravings. I know that at least for me the key will be to get rid of the refined carbs/sugar/fake sugar - I just need help sticking to it. I've been able to stick to Kay Sheppard's plan for a few days (as described in "The Body Knows") which advocates a diet that avoids anything that will set off your cravings but I'm never able to get through the period of intense cravings that come with withdrawal without falling off the wagon. Even so I feel much more clear-headed and sane when I'm off the carbs. What confuses me is why I can't stay away from them in the first place even though I know I feel better (though less "comfortable") without them. What a freak. I'm scheduled for lap-band surgery May 19 and I am sincerely hoping it will help me with the satiety part, if not the mouth hunger. Why oh why did they have to take my fen-phen away??? :cry