withtheband

Hi On Friday night I got food stuck and vomited slime for almost 4 hours. Yesterday night I had a meal and felt very little restruction. Issue is that since then. I feel that my band slipped. I have a sharp pain around my stomach area, around where the band would be. When I eat, it hurts worse. Am I bruised? Could I have torn a suture? Has anyone had this? Please help! I pay cash to go ot the doc and get get in for 2 weeks anyway. I'm scared. Hopefully I'm just bruised. Thanks

Was banded December 2009 but finally filled for the first time 2.5 weeks ago. I vomited a lot on Monday and again on Friday. Now I can eat just about anything, I don't feel restriction anymore, just this dull pain between my port and belly button that become a sharp pain when I eat. Something doesn't feel right. I don't have insurance coverage that will pay for anything regarding removal, revision,etc. I'm scared to death now and not sure what to do. I know that the surgeon stitched the band to my stomach. Maybe a stitch just popped or something? So scared! Please help! Thank you

You asked how long I've been banded. Was banded December 2009 but finally filled for the first time 2.5 weeks ago. I vomited a lot on Friday. Now I can eat just about anything, I don't feel restriction anymore, just this dull pain between my port and belly button that become a sharp pain when I eat. Something doesn't feel right. I don't have insurance coverage that will pay for anything regarding removal, revision,etc. I'm scared to death now and not sure what to do. I know that the surgeon stitched the band to my stomach. Maybe a stitch just popped or something? So scared!

This seems to be the hardest part for me so far. How do you guys do it? I'm always so thirsty after I eat, but I know that drinking will just wash down the food. What do you guys do? Chew gum? Ice Chips? Cry and wait it out? I'd love some advice. thanks

It's the Protein shakes. It gets better. Try "milk free" or "lactose free" options. I found that Worldwide Pure Protein Shakes worked best for me. Remember, every time you poop, you're losing weight.

I had my first fill on Wednesday. Last night I had a piece of Tilapia and some fat free refried beans. 8oz total food and I was stuffed (physically) however I wanted to eat about 400 more pieces of fish mentally. This thing is cool.

My port is on the left too. Maybe it depends on the handedness of the surgeon?

Not even joking. I tried a search but came up empty. Everything is so specific. I'm hoping someone can help with more general info. In a nutshell, I was banded in December 2009. Lost my job and insurance, couldn't afford follow ups and never had the band filled. Gained 60+ pounds. Finally filed and today is last day of "mushies" before getting back to regular food. My new surgeon told me I should get full pretty quickly but didn't follow up with suggested menus. I know I should eat protien first, then veggies, starch last, but any ideas, suggested meal plans, etc? How much does it take to get a person full? I know everyone is different. I recognize I sound like an idiot, but it's been SO LONG and we never went over the basics. Just 'eat slowly, chew a lot, no liquids 60 minutes before or after eating'. Any help or links to other resources would be helpful. Also, what do you guys do for "mouth hunger"? I'm full in my stomach, but in my head/mouth, I'm ready to eat a cow. Advice would be great. thanks again.

It's a very helpful site and there's lap band people on there. I've only been on for a few days but I think the tool will be helpful once I recalibrate it for my needs. Feel free to add me... "withtheband"

Hi Everyone! I'm Jason and I'd like to join the group. Here's the twist. I was banded in December 2009. Issue is that it was completely devoid of any saline and was never filled until 2 days ago. The surgeon believed waiting 6 months before the first fill and in that time I lost my job and also my insurance. I'm thankful that I found a new job last summer and I love it, but it's a small company and the insurance covers NOTHING regarding the lap bands, not fills, not the doctor's visit, not even the cup of Water they give you when you walk out the door. So, I'm finally filled. I have the "big" lap band (14cc's I think) and he put 5.5 cc's in there under a fluroscope. He said with that, I should feel very uncomfortable if I continue to eat like I've been. 2 nights before I went to a Sushi buffet and closed the place down. I've had ZERO restriction and could eat unlimited amounts of anything. Right now I'm on yogurt and pudding and tomorrow I can start with blended stuff. (or just scrambled eggs since there's NO WAY I'm blending food) Sad thing is that the day of surgery I weiged 290. The post op, mostly liquid and no carb diet brought me down to 251 at my lowest in March 2010. As of 2 days ago I was 319. That's a gain of 68 pounds since surgery. Needless to say, I'm ashamed. I've been able to save up over the last year and have found a new surgon who will take credit cards so I'm paying for follow up myself. This is motivator #2 or 3 for me. So for all intents and purposes, it's like I was just banded but worse because I don't remember the protocol very well. I found a new surgeon. I finally have Fluid in my band, and I'm scared to death of what lies ahead. The new sugeon's support groups start up again in 3 weeks so this site is all I've got. Please adopt me. I have to succeed. I'm 36 years old, fat, diabetic. have apnea and a 3 year old daughter I want to be around for. Help....please. Thanks Jason

Jessica - You and I have almost the same situation but I'm actually 28 pounds more than pre surgery. I had the band in December 2009 but never had a fill till 2 days ago. After getting the band I lost almost 70 pounds but started eating "normally" and found I had no restriction. Maybe we can help each other? I definitely need some, and you and I seem to have a very similar story. Jason

Hi Everyone! I'm Jason and I'd like to join the group. Here's the twist. I was banded in December 2009. Issue is that it was completely devoid of any saline and was never filled until 2 days ago. The surgeon believed waiting 6 months before the first fill and in that time I lost my job and also my insurance. I'm thankful that I found a new job last summer and I love it, but it's a small company and the insurance covers NOTHING regarding the lap bands, not fills, not the doctor's visit, not even the cup of Water they give you when you walk out the door. So, I'm finally filled. I have the "big" lap band (14cc's I think) and he put 5.5 cc's in there under a fluroscope. He said with that, I should feel very uncomfortable if I continue to eat like I've been. 2 nights before I went to a Sushi buffet and closed the place down. I've had ZERO restriction and could eat unlimited amounts of anything. Right now I'm on yogurt and pudding and tomorrow I can start with blended stuff. (or just scrambled eggs since there's NO WAY I'm blending food) Sad thing is that the day of surgery I weiged 290. The post op, mostly liquid and no carb diet brought me down to 251 at my lowest in March 2010. As of 2 days ago I was 319. That's a gain of 68 pounds since surgery. Needless to say, I'm ashamed. I've been able to save up over the last year and have found a new surgon who will take credit cards so I'm paying for follow up myself. This is motivator #2 or 3 for me. So for all intents and purposes, it's like I was just banded but worse because I don't remember the protocol very well. I found a new surgeon. I finally have Fluid in my band, and I'm scared to death of what lies ahead. The new sugeon's support groups start up again in 3 weeks so this site is all I've got. Please adopt me. ...and.... if anyone can tell me if oatmeal and or cream of wheat is a "heavy liquid" or a "mushie", that would be awesome. If anyone has any threads that are favorites, please let me know those too. I have to succeed. I'm 36 years old, fat, diabetic. have apnea and a 3 year old daughter I want to be around for. Help....please. Thanks Jason

Lapband.com offers a free 10 week program through lindora.com once you've had your first fill, which I just had. The info on the site is very vague, does anyone know exactly what this program is? Has anyone had any success with it? It looks like something I'll eventually have to pay for but if it works, I'm all over it. Any advice would be awesome. Thanks!

Hi All - I was banded on 12/10 and have been on liquids and purees for the last 6 weeks. I got a 1cc fill on Tuesday and today I can start on solids. The program from the doctor for pre and 6 weeks post op has been awesome but now I feel like I'm on my own. Doctor said to eat healthy, eat protien first, and don't worry about calories, just listen to my band. I'd love to listen to the band, but I still know there's things I should and shouldn't eat with the band. When y'all went back to solids, what sort of things were you eating? What seems to keep you full? Anything to totally avoid? (Other than sweets,liquid calories,etc) I think I've been pretty educated up to this point, but now I'm sort of at a loss. Any help would be SO appreciated. Thanks! Jason

One word.....TOFU! I was banded 12/10 and found that tofu is full of protien and can taste like anything. Yesterday i pretty much ate tofu and yogurt and a nsa fudgecicle. Trader Joes is awesome for this sort of stuff. Try the carrot ginger Soup too. Filling and delicious. Don't give up hope, there's good stuff out there.

Hi y'all - I got banded on 12/10 and for the most part I feel great except that I've got some crazy lower back pain going on over the last couple of days. My port is on the left side and so is the back pain. (lower left side...1/2 way up) Coincidence? It could just be from trying to favor the sore port area but wondering if anyone else has felt this going on too? I'm so lucky to have been banded, not complaining. :smile2: Thanks JI

When it rains, it pours. Thanks to all of you for the awesome broth ideas. I'm gonna get started soon. I can start mushies on 12/25, it'll be a great Christmas of scrambled eggs and salmon. Yay!

Just got banded 12/10 and would LOVE veggie broth. Where do you get it? What's it called? I can't find it anywhere! Thanks

I will be going again very soon to Central Dupage Hospital in Wheaton. They have weekly groups on different topics. I'm interested in lap band (duh) and nutrition. They're free and run by the bariatric program out there. Call the hospital and ask for the bariatric department. Renee can hook you up with the schedule. I just got banded on the 10th, waiting to drive again before I go to the groups.

Hi Everyone - I'm Jason! I was banded on 12/10, one week ago today and I have to say I'm feeling great. I've been wanting the surgery for years and finally insurance came through and granted me this new lease on life. I'm 34, live in the Chicago area, I have a 20 month old daughter, and a great wife. I also have a stressful job, diabetes (last a1c was 5.9! yay!), sleep apena,depression, and a pretty significant weight problem, and all of the above can be attributed to my weight. I've been fat since I was a kid, before I can even remember and have blamed it on everything but me. With the band, I feel like I've been given back the power over food controling my life. Before last week my life revolved around food, and now I will search for happiness without overeating. The emotional journey is stacking up to be greater than the physical one. I've been relatively pain free but uncomfortable after the surgery and am cautiously optimistic about getting back to work on Monday, at least there's a couple extra days off for Christmas in there. I've been reading posts on this site for a couple of weeks and decided it's time to stop hiding and start participating. Thanks to all of you for the nuggets of inspiration! It's so cool to know we're all on this journey together. I hope I posted this in the right place and I hope it made some sort of sense. From someone a week out of surgery, good luck to those about to get banded, it's not as bad as you think it will be, but not perfect either! I look forward to becoming part of this community. Sincerely Jason PS. 3 years ago I was 360, 290 before surgery, about 283 now. Trying to figure out how to add one of those tickers to the bottom of my posts.....