dhall111

I was banded by Dr. K on 5/26. So far I have had a great experience and I really like him. Dr. K does have a yahoogroup support group set up now. It's great to talk with others who are also patients of Dr. K.

Yesterday I went in for a fill. I'm about 6 months out and my weight loss has been really slow the past 2-3 months. When I went in today I had GAINED 3 pounds! I am hungry all the time now. She gave me another fill of 1 cc. Last night I bent over for something and when I stood back up I felt a little tingle at my port area. You know when you have a Water balloon or hose and it has a little tiny pin prick hole in it and you put your hand over it? It was that exact feeling. Immediately I wondered if I had a leak. I have never even thought about a leak before, the thought just popped into my head. And I remembered that after my prior fill I also felt that tingly feeling at the port site that night. We're talking 12 hours AFTER the fill. I felt it several times last night whenever I moved a certain way. And today, starving hungry. Has anyone else had that tingly feeling at the port site 12 + hours after the fill? It's the only 2 times I've ever felt that feeling - the night after a fill.

No one's experienced this? How do you know if you have a leak? How do you know if your pouch is stretched?

I might. :mad: LOL Who's asking?? LOL

Right now I'm on the powdered Vitamins (mix with water) from my general doc, she sells them. But they're pricey. A lot of people in my lap band support group use the Centrum liquid so I'm going to switch to that when I'm through with my current bottle. CVS carries it and they have a lot of sales on Centrum. I'm also taking a calcium supplement. I'm moving to the Caltrate tablets that are called "petites". They are smaller than my birth control pill so it shouldn't be a problem. I learned I have a B-12 deficiency when I started the lap band process early on this year. I was at 120 and my general doc said I should be between 400 and 900. Even after 3 months of the shots I barely went over 200. So I'm on a B-12 liquid supplement also. I haven't tried any of the chewables. I used to take Viactiv. But ever since I was banded I've been worried about them getting stuck.

My doc said that some of it may be actual gas left over from surgery in your chest cavity, but he said the more likely culprit is pressure on a nerve. Because of all the internal swelling there is some pressure pushing on a nerve. Walking helps because it helps overall with blood flow which speeds healing. I agree that gas strips won't help with this type of pain.

I've been watching it but hate it. I can't stand Luke. He is NOT a nice guy. He's acting the martyr. "Yes ladies, no one loves you but me and I'm the only one that will ever try to see you for you and I don't care that you're fat, see how good I am?" What a jerk. They stopped the height/weight thing last week. They didn't show that at all so that's one step in the right direction. I HATE the promise rings. Give them a ring, then right before the ceremony you take it back. Tacky, tacky, tacky!!! I've been watching Dance Your A*& off. I kind of like that one. It gets better every week. It is good to see how they are improving. I'm not thrilled with some of the outfits, but really, they are just dressing like the dancers on other shows. Still it does look weird to see all that. But it is nice to see them improve and drop the weight. The other "fat" show that's on right now is Drop Dead Diva. I like this one (not reality). The only negative I can say about it is the food stuff they throw in, but other than that it's pretty good. I've never been a Biggest Loser fan though I'm going to try to get through it this next season. I just always felt that it was presenting such unreachable goals. That all those "normal" people started looking at us tubbies thinking, well, if Joe can drop 10 pounds in a week why can't you?"

I've never worn anything like this but I've been wondering about them. Does anyone think something like these would help to keep you from getting saggy? I mean saggy when you don't have them on. Like maybe they could help shape you as you lose so your body stays firmer? does that make sense?

Won't know if it really works or not until I'm at my goal weight. But I figure it's not hurting anything to use it.

That was one of my concerns too. I have about 140 to lose but will be ecstatic when I lose 100. My biggest concern is my tummy. I have done a lot of research on this. I am currently taking a Biotin and a coq10 supplement. I also use the Nivea Q10 tightening cream. I haven't lost a lot of weight yet, just 24 pounds, but I don't feel my skin as being loose like I have with other weight losses. My regular physician does laser skin tightening so I'm hoping that if I do have some loose skin that might be all I'll need. It's pretty cool. No down time at all, go to work right afterward. Not as costly by any stretch - my doc charges $2400 for 5 sessions or $600 for one. So while it's not cheap it's a lot less than a tummy tuck.

Band removal could very well be covered. The items not covered by most surgeries are weight loss surgery. Removing the band isn't a weight loss surgery. If the doc says it's unsafe for you to have the band in you and must have it removed I would bet that it would be covered. Just like if you have dental coverage, one item that is often not covered is implants. But if you have coverage that includes implants, and get one . . . then switch carriers to one that doesn't cover implants, they'll still cover problems associated with that implant.

Although many people think it's a gas pain (I did too) someone told me different and it makes a lot of sense. They said it had to do with the swelling from the surgery. It puts pressure on a nerve that goes to your left shoulder. It makes sense. How you lay can make it feel better, not because it moves the gas but because it relieves pressure on the nerve. I tried all those gas remedies around and nothing helped. Once I was told it wasn't gas, but nerve pressure, just changing my position when laying down helped tremendously.

My nutritionist recommended Boost. I love them. You can get them just about anywhere too.

Just to the right of my port (which is just above my belly button), about 3 inches toward my right hip I noticed swelling today. The entire tummy area has been a little swollen since surgery (9 days ago) but it looks like the rest of my stomach is almost back to normal except this one area. It's about the size of a decent sized fist. When I showered this evening I noticed it felt kind of hard too. I have a doc visit tomorrow but I know I'm going to spend the rest of the night wondering if a surgical towel was left in me, or if my port tubing got undone somehow and tangled itself around something, or God knows what my pea brain may think up next. Everything is working normally from food intake to bowels (though come to think of it I only had a little bowel movement this morning and nothing since). TMI!!! Other than that I'm feeling pretty good.

I agree to check with your insurance carrier. I used Dr. Eysring (hope I spelled that right) in Merritt Island. That's who Dr. Kasemsap refers his patients to.

I'm 1 week out today and I got the pain in my left shoulder. It eases a bit if I rub it. I'm going to try heat now, thanks for the tip guys! I also get the same sharp pain in my right hip, like in front of my hip bone and right of my belly button. I'm thinking that's gas too.

Banded May 26. I know where my port is and there is some swelling in that area - about 2" above my belly button, and maybe an inch or two to the right. I have the larger incision there and then a smaller one right below and to the right. And there is a red circle mark kind of between the two. The entire area is still swollen. I kind of expected this so I'm not too concerned. But sometimes, when I'm standing up and take a deep breath, I'll get a really sharp pain just to the right of the port, kind of in the area where your appendix would be. It seems to be worst after I eat. Is this just gas?

I had my period the week prior to surgery. I'm on the birth control pill and have never had any problems. No co-morbidities, I'm the healthiest fat person you'll see. Anyhow, I wasn't allowed to take my bcp on the day of surgery but have been taking them ever since. But my period has started again, like a full blown period. Should I be concerned? I'm going to call my doc in the morning but just wanted to see if anyone else out there had this happen.

You must be Melissa? I think we've been talking on Dr. K's yahoogroup. Everything is wonderful. I go back to work tomorrow, can't wait, the walls are closing in. You'll love the staff at Wuesthoff. Best of luck, and check in when you're able!

Dr K is who this forum is dedicated to - Dr. Pachavit Kasemsap. Just like a lot of other docs have their own forums within lapband talk.

That's all very interesting, thanks for the info. I'm going to talk to my gyn about other methods of birth control. I hate my period and am past the age where I want to have kids (have one, love him dearly, but he's 21, I don't want another one now). I don't want a full blown hysterectomy or anything. Does the IUD stop you from getting a period? just curious.

Georgia, did that include your pre-op diet time as well? If not, that's 14 pounds in 6 days post-op? That's more than 2 pounds each day!

I'm being banded day after Memorial Day. So tomorrow starts my 2 week pre-op diet. liquids of course, but it includes other things like yogurt and popsicles and things like that. Soups with no "stuff" in it (strained, or even things like tomato Soup is ok). I'm confused as to why this would have any bearing. They didn't care about fat or carb content, just chunks of food. Pretty much anything strained or clear or things without chunks of food in it. And I have to have 3 Protein drinks a day - they said anything from Boost to Slimfast would be fine. Anyone else on a similar diet? It just seems weird to me. But then again, i guess I'm not all that educated on how the liver works and what would make it shrink.

I'm the VP of HR at my company and benefits is one of my specialty areas. COBRA coverage is the SAME exact coverage you currently have. There are no changes, your plan continues just as if you're still employed as long as you continue to make your premium payments. Be very diligent in making your payments, you don't want a denial due to a technicality.

I was also banded 5/26. I was on Clear liquids through the 28th, and now I'm on full liquids for one full week, then I get to go to soft foods. I buy the V8 Soups - they are GREAT. Strain off whatever bits of veggies get in there. I mix a can of cheddar cheese Soup with it and get several meals out of one box. I do the same with Campbell's cream of chicken soup. Makes an awesome meal. I have been having weird cravings, for foods I never really ate. Like I want a hot dog with saurkraut. I never eat saurkraut! Of course, I'm not eating them yet. I also do 2 Boost Protein drinks a day. I'm only able to get down 4 oz of anything at a time. Then I walk, wait a good half an hour, and can finish off the boost. I also seem to be longing for the day when I can COOK. I have NEVER EVER really cooked unless you call microwaving a lean cuisine cooking. I can mix a few things together, boil Pasta, and make scrambled eggs, but that's pretty much been the extent. Now I want to really learn to cook cool meals. Weird as I have never had a single desire to cook.