msnenequeenie14

It sounds like everyone had a great removal experience, I feel even more worried now because its the exact opposite for me. I had my band removed on 09/12/11 and today is 09/21/11 and I am still is severe pain, I am still totally swollen, I have twice as many incisions to get it out than I had to get it in, including two large sloppy incisions that are on my left side that have 14 staples in them combined. That area on my left side became so painful and swollen after surgery that I had to go to the emergency room, there they said "OH my! Well, its bleeding under the skin" they proceeded to do NOTHING about it even as they marked it each time they came into the room to keep record of how much larger it was getting while I was sitting in the ER. Even the slightest cough or exertion feels like something is coming through my left abdominal wall. I was totally blown off by my surgeon who asked me "Hey, what you wan do? You want to stay here in hospital or go home?" Isn't this something the Surgeon/doctor should decide???? God I wish that I had never gotten this ridiculous thing. Now I am all torn apart and in pain and nobody seems to care or try to help.

Hello, If you are still looking for people to write about the Lap Band, I am available, I am a writer myself. My lap band story id not all happiness and butterflies. This has been the absolute worst most painful experience of my entire life. I would love to share my story and how I am dealing with it. Jenean

Hey Tobler, Congrats on being banded and on your way! You will be happy to know, it does get better and worse adn better again! And just an FYI, the hiccups and burping is a GOOD sign! During surgery they fill your abdomen with air so its easier to navigate, all that burping and hiccups is just the air trying to absorbp and escape! Good Luck!!

Its a diet that the docs have you go on, anywhere from two weeks to three days before surgery, they usually tell you about it, but do be afraid to ask. My docs requirement was a two week liquid diet and lose 10 lbs before my surgery date.

What can you eat? I learned that even when you have restriction, when you lose weight, you also lose some fat from around your stomach which causes you to lose restriction, meaning that you may have seven, but if you have lost, you may still need a fill... So what can you eat? Doc said if you can eat a whole anything, like a meal or a Burger you are not fully restricted adn need a fill...

Hey! My nutritionist is also staffed by the hospital not the actual surgeon and she works with several bariatric doctors. When I go in to see the doctor the Nutritionist receives a list of everyone that is coming in that day and she comes over to the clinic side and sits with us in the waiting area and talks with us and then when we go into meet with thte doctor she comes in and has a quick one on one with us. No additional co pay at all. I am sorry that is happening to you, it has to be stressful.

Hey! I'm 5'8", 32 years old, mom of 2 and started out my lapband journey at 339 lbs. Congrats for seriously looking into getting yourself healthy, its a hard thing to do alone. I also had to think long and hard about if I want a foreign object in me for life. But its pretty much the same thing as if you had hip replacement, or a pace maker put in, or any kind of orthopedic repair done to your bones after a break. I Broke my ankle back in 2004 and it was much harder to heal because I am overweight. But they put all kinds of pins in me and I had no second guesses about those at all and I can truly say my ankle still hurts more than this lap band ever did...So it's really just a personal choice, so far from what the band is and can do for me, I am willing to accept it. As far as activities, every seminar I went to (and I went to many, many seminars all over the Chicagoland area) and my own Doctor and nurses staff advised that you can do every activity as normal, the band does not limit you. I'm not an athlete by any means but I was apprehensive about getting it because I was worried it would interfere with my sex life. I was assured that there would be no problems and so far I "exercise" with my husband everyday and no issues at all. I went to my last appointment and everything is working fine and still in place! Hope that helps a little~

Whats the driving restriction for exactly? I drove home from the hospital.

This is probably a silly question, but how exactly can you tell if something is stuck?

Hey Starting Over! I was also banded in June 2008 (06/30/08) I have only lost 30 lbs so far and I have been on a roller coaster of emotions and good and bad eating habits right along with you! I didn't get my first fill until 10/14/08. Before that date I was able to eat anything at all, no restriction, nothing stopping me but that voice in the back of my head asking me "Now why are you eating all of that? You got the Lap Band to lose weight and you won't ever do it if you keep eating like that" I have had my first fill and I dont have the sweet spot yet, but I do have some restriction, not total restriction, but I find myself wanting to go into next summer without having to dread being Hot(Temperature) & Fat(Overweight), I want to be Hot(Sexy) and Phat(pretty Hot and Temptng). So I decided to use what restriction I have the best way I can and put forth all my effort into making better food choices. Now as far as the exercise goes, you have to start somewhere right? So why not just get up and walk around the block, just once, then the next day do it twice, and so on and so on. You will build up your stamina and feel motivated to do even more exercise! Did you also talk with your doc about what was causing you to throw up? Don't give up and don't give in! Were all right here with you and for you!