shayb

I have never been much of a drinker, usually only drinking a couple times a year, but have never been a beer or wine drinker. I drink vodka drinks, like Komokozi's or Bloody Mary's, and a shot or 2 of Pucker once in awhile. I actually drink more now, after surgery. I didn't drink until at least 2 or 3 months post op, but since my very first fill I have had trouble keeping food down. Not all the time, but a lot. By having a drink here and there by the pool this summer after my brother moved close to me, I discovered it actually if I have a drink before dinner, it relaxes me or my stomach or both enough for me to enjoy my dinner. I know it sounds weird, but it is definate, I have tested it out many times. I am not recommending this or anything, but it works for me. I dont do it every night or anything, but a coulple times a week I have a Bloody Mary before dinner and I have gone out and gotten quite buzzed. I have never really been one to vomit after drinking, but I usually drink in moderation too. Hope this helps, and please let me know if anyone else has discovered or experienced anything llike this.

I am sorry you had so much trouble, BUT I am glad to hear I am not the only one!! My first fill (the only one so far) was HORRIBLE. This does not seem to be the norm but happens once in awhile. We just were the unlucky ones. My doctor had trouble finding the port (I had my surgery in Mexico, so he didn't do my surgery) and between the 2 numbing shots (which did not help me much) and him trying to find the port... I was poked atleast 9 times!!!!! I tried not to look, but my husband said he even broke 2 needles. This went on for about 30 -45 minutes. Then, my husband jumped up on the table (he had lapband surgery too) and it was one numbing shot (which he didnt even need) one poke and bam he was done in about 2 minutes. So, it is not the doctor at least not in my case. The doctor said my port is lower than most. The good news he did eventually get it in a give me a fill without xray, but I am so frightened to go again for the next one, hope I dont need one for awhile.

Of course you know by now... NO GUM. My doctor didn't tell me this and I had my band in Mexico, so when we flew back of course I chewed gum on the plane. BIG mistake... thank God I didn't swallow it, but it made my stomach churn and hurt something aweful!! As far as the pain, I know exactly what you are talking about. I had a lot of pain my first day after surgery. My doctor told me not to worry, it would be MUCH better the 2nd day, and it was just like he said. In Mexico you stay in the hospital for 2 nights after surgery, so I was on IV narcotics which helped a lot and cant imagine only taking Tylenol with codine for this... the US in a lot different. I would call the Doctor today and ask for something stronger. Then, if your not quite a bit better tomorrow, let them know. The spot where your port is will be sore for weeks probably. Mine was. And, yes it pull and feels like a very sore muscle. They sewed the port into your muscle, so that is why. It does take awhile to heal for most people. Hang in there, it does get better, it just takes time, more for some than others.

It's true. I was where your at just a few weeks ago. My husband and I had our lapband surgery on May 28, 2009 and were very excited when we lost 20 lbs right away and then got very, very discouraged when that halted and sometimes we even put a pound or two back on and then off again and this was right when we were going from liquids to solids. I felt bad, then found this site and realized almost everyone goes through this. I did not realize how quickly we would need to get our first fill. since then I have lost another 10 pounds and that was just July 13, 2009. I had a very big fill and I only have a 4 cc band, so its working. My husband got his fill and has lost a little more, but we already know he needs another fill and we have scheduled that for August 10th. He has a 10 cc band, so it makes since he would need more fills to get to his "sweet spot". Hang in there. It will get better.

My husband and I had our surgery on May 28. 2009 in Mexicali, Mexico. We had Dr. Aceves and his assistant, Dr. Campos. They were GREAT!!! We cannot say enough about this Doctor and the hospital along with the staff. I would highly recommend Dr. Aceves and his team. The area was pretty nice too and so was the hotel we were in the night before surgery, probably a 4 star or so. Everything was included in our package, except airfare and our last dinner the night before surgery. We paid $6950.00 each, but I have seen on this website (on the right side w/ advertisements) a special price of $6500.00. They are a little more expensive than some Doctors in Tijuana, but totally worth it. For more info. see my introduction and other posts or just ask me any questions you have.

You are definately not the only wussie, if that is the case. I had my fill Monday, July 13, late in the after noon. OMG!!!! The doctor had trouble finding my port and it was horrible! He did give me a numbing shot, but it didn't work at all the first time and after trying for at least 20-30 minutes, he gave me another numbing shot, which helped some, but I totally felt everything and it HURT. I didn't want to post yesterday because I didn't want to scare the girl who started the post before she went, because the anxiety and nerves will make it worse. But seriously, he poked me a total of 9 times (2 were to numb) or more and my husband said he bent 2 needles (I couldn't watch) in the process on the metal around the port. The good news is he finally found the port. It was much lower than normal and since he didn't do my surgery it was difficult to find the center of it. I was really happy that he finally found it, I was so afraid that he would give up and I would of had to wait and schedule my fill with fluro at the hospital which probably would have taken a couple of weeks longer and it would have cost me an extra $200. I was very impressed in fact that the doctor hung in there and didn't give up and send me for the fluro. He was willing to keep trying as long as I could take it, and in total he was in the room with my husband and I for over an hour. My husband jumped on the table he found the port, stuck him once for numbing (which he didn't even need) and once for the fill. His went right it and out the whole thing for him was less than 4 or 5 minutes. So, that is how different a fill for one person can be compared to another I guess. But, it does seem that normally it goes pretty smooth and easy, but every once in a while there is a problem fill like mine. I am just hoping that I do not need anther one right away, although the doctor did say that it would be easier next time, since now he knows where my port is located. I sure hope so. On another note, wow 4 cc's all at once, what size band to you have. Everyone thought 3 cc's was a lot for my husband's and he has a 10 cc band. I have a 4 cc band and had .8 fill put in during surgery and the my doctor yesterday put in 1.2 cc's to bring me up to an even 2 cc's.

I didn't move, but my husband and I had our lapband surgury in Mexico, so we had to find a doctor right away to follow us and do our fills here in Florida. We found one by asking on this website and we went yesterday for our initial consult and our first fill. He usually charges $200.00 each, but gave my husband and I a discount for both of us coming together and he did both of us for $300.00. We were thrilled and really liked him. We are self pay also and that is why we went to Mexico. Let me know if you would like any other info.

Why did you have to have a port revision so soon?

That is horrible and unfortunatly all too common around here. My daughter has health issues and has been in the hospital a lot and I have had some of those same types of experiences with the hospital nursing staff. I had my lapband in Mexicali, Mexico at the Hospital Almater and the experience was absolutely wonderful, exceeded ALL of our expectations and totally put some of our US hosptials to shame. My family was scared for me to have my surgery there with all the hype about Mexico, especially the border towns, but you know what, the medical world here in the US could learn a few things from the hospital where I was in Mexico. They came in to your room immediately if you hit your call button. They also came in to check on you often, but not so often you couldn't rest. They gave the pain medicine within a minute or so of when you requested it. And, even checked on you to see if you were in any pain if you hadn't asked in a while. Also, our doctors there (we had 2) came to see us no less than 3 times a day (we were in the hospital for 2 days) EACH!! They really cared and made you feel like you were more than a number or a chart, like you were a real person with feelings. It was GREAT!!! I did have a little problem with nausea after surgery and was hard for me to walk around, but it went away on the 2nd day, and the gas was there, but not unbearable. My husband had no problem with the nausea and he was up walking around within about an hour after his surgery. He came to check on me and he had his surgery after me. I went first, then another lady, then my husband. We did have some incision pain the first day, but it was a whole lot better by the second day, just like the Dr. said.

I eat pickles all the time, because they are low carb and I love them and had no problem whatsoever with them so far. I am only 6 wks post-op and have thought about popcorn (I smell it too, when my family has it), but am a little scared to try it, and that was before I read that one person had to have an unfill after popcorn.

From what I understand, it depends on your doctor and your individual body as to whether or not you get any kind of fill when you have your surgery. My husband also has the 10 cc band and he received no fill during surgery. I have the 4 cc band and I received a .8 cc fill during surgery. So I guess it really depends on what type of band you have and your stomach. We go for our first fill today, so we'll see, but I am sure my fill will be much smaller than my husbands, since his band holds more. A lot of the new bandsters have the 14 cc band, so it really just depends on a lot of things, but you'll get there. We were lucky enough to have lost a lot of weight right away (over 20 lbs each-the first 2-3 weeks), but have lost very little since then and on some days we even go up a pound, then back down again. Hang in there!

My husband and I are going for our first fill late this afternoon (6 wks post-op). I am a little nervous, but mostly because it is unknown and we are meeting a new Dr. because we had our bands done in Mexico and it is just not practical for us to get all our fills there, since we live in Florida. I will try to post later tonight or in the morning on how it went.