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Yesterday, while napping, I rolled onto my left side and woke up with this burning/pulling pain and then a weird sensation, like something slipped/squished/slid. Today, my port area hurts. My question: has anyone ever actually felt their band slip? And if so, does that describe it? Also: I have an appointment on March 1 to see my surgeon. If my band has slipped, do I need to get in sooner, or will it be okay to wait (I do not have a fill, if that's important to know). I'm going to call my doctor's office tomorrow, for sure, but am curious to know if this is some sort of emergency that I need to be worried about, lol. Thanks!

Thanks! It helps to know what to expect -- I appreciate it!

Thanks, that makes me feel better! Heather, how did they determine that your port had flipped?

Okay, so here's the thing ... Before surgery, the internist said that my bloodwork looked good, but I had a Vitamin D deficiency, and that she would tell my doctor I needed some RX strength supplements. Those never materialized, and while I realize I should have asked the surgeon, to be honest, there was so much going on at the time and it all happened so fast, that I just plain forgot about it. I was on a liquid diet for ten days before surgery, then again for fourteen days after surgery. Including the day of surgery, that is 25 days of liquid dieting. I've been on full foods for about a week now, and I'm really trying to get my Vitamins and Protein in. I'm taking two chewable Flintstones vitamins each day, as per the PA, and I'm taking in at least 50 g of protein each day but ... My gums are bleeding. Everytime I brush my teeth, which is about four to five times a day (I know, I have issues, lol), my gums bleed. I know this is not a gingivitis thing, because I have braces (yes, I am 45 with braces, ha ha) and I'm at the orthodontist once a month. My teeth are in good shape in terms of oral hygiene. This must be a nutrition thing. My question: Has this happened to anyone else? And does anyone know which nutrient deficiencies cause bleeding gums? Thanks so much for your input!

I was going to buy a little notebook to carry around, but my DH bought an iphone for me and they have several apps that allow you to log calories, exercise, etc right on your phone. Very cool! Does anyone use one of these apps? Which one do you like the best? I just bought the app Tap&Track. Look pretty cool -- has a built in database of food items to make calculating your intake easier. What methods of tracking do you all use?

I think the confusion begins in that I am not a military wife, ha ha -- so no, I used BC/BS to pay for my surgery. My husband was in the Marine Corp and served overseas during all of Regan's administration, and then some. I started the group to support current military spouses, but anyone is welcome to join, military or no. A lot of civilians appreciate the opportunity to help our armed forces in some way. Hope that clears that up, ha ha!

Very cool -- thanks! It seems like the majority with iphones use loseit over any other app. I'll check it out - thanks again!

Mine required 12 weeks. If I were you, I would be up front about it with your doctor. Tell him the exact date that you quit -- but also tell him exactly how much you smoke. The reason being that as a matter of standard practice, many doctors will include an order to test for smoking during your preop bloodwork. You'll be told that nicotine leaves your bloodstream in 48 hours, and that's true - but they don't test for nicotine. They test for the metabolite, Cotinine. You'll find various numbers on the internet about how long cotinine stays in your bloodstream (most of these manipulated by people trying to sell detox miracles that don't work), but the general consensus is that it may stay in your bloodstream for up to 12 weeks. Most doctors are very up front and will tell you in your preop visit that if they find you've been smoking within the 8 or 12 weeks that they've instructed you to be smoke free, they will cancel your surgery. And some will refuse to reschedule. I even heard one story about a doctor who was wheeling a patient into the OR when he found out, and he ordered her out of the hospital. Rather than chance it, I was honest and told my doctor that I would only be nicotine free for 6 weeks at the time of the surgery -- but that I had actually quit smoking two weeks prior. I let them know that my blood work would show the cotinine because I was using an electronic cigarette, with a 6 mg nicotine level, but that even when I was smoking regular cigarettes, they were lights and I only smoked about a half pack a day. They appreciated my honesty, weighed all that information and cleared me for surgery. If you would like to quit smoking all together, I would recommend getting an ecig. It worked for me! On an aside, I could send you a link to a humor article that I wrote about it in my blog, but I'm afraid the language isn't very good. I was in the throes of a full on nicotine withdrawal attack at the time, and feeling fairly grumpy (as in, I wanted to kill people, ha ha). If you're interested, PM me and I'll send you the link. Best of luck to you!

Hi Stevie! I sent you a PM with a personal invitation to join us at Walking With Warriors -- a group designed to help support, encourage, and motivate military spouses. Hope to see you there!

Have they checked to see if maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the band? Maybe some kind of bacteria in your stomach? My daughter doesn't have a band, but -- she was very ill a few months ago -- couldn't keep anything down. Did all sorts of tests including an endoscopy and it was found that she had h. pylori bacteria in her stomach. They did a triple treatment and she's right as rain. Hope you feel better soon - I can't imagine what you must be going through :rolleyes2:

Don't take this the wrong way, but it's so nice to hear that you are also having this problem -- or more to the point, it's good to know that I'm not alone. I couldn't get in touch with my doctor today, but I'm going to keep trying until I get a call back. If you learn something before I do, please let me know!

I bet that blood disorder is Factor V Leiden (Pronounced Factor Five Lie-den) -- one of my daughters has it. It is genetic blood disorder. Has your family experienced problems with blood clotting? And if your surgeon thinks it might be due to a blood disorder, did he order any tests? The test for FVL takes about ten seconds -- they just have to draw some blood. Please do make sure that you follow up on this. It is really very important. If you ever have to have emergency surgery, the doctors will absolutely need to know if you have a blood clotting disorder. Also, it can cause complications during pregnancy (my daughter nearly lost her baby, that's how we found out she had it), but there are things that they can do to help if they know about it in advance. Glad to hear you're on the healing path. Just rest and take it really slowly - your body has been through a terrible trauma! Try to get your Protein and Vitamins in, and worry about the rest later. Oh -- and congrats on the weight loss!

@julian's mom Well it seems to be working for you, from the looks of things -- good job! I also like the feel of a pencil and a pad of paper in my hand over technology, but I have to admit that the iphone (as much as I fought getting one) really does make like that much simpler, as everything is right at my fingertips in one piece of electric circuitry. @tarajim -- Is "loseit" an iphone app? Why do you like it so much? Have you tried others, and if so, how does loseit compare? @Just Ice -- I can honestly say that I have never heard of body bugg, so you'll have to give me a pass on not having recognized your royal presence, lol. Tap & Track tracks exercise as well, and it also tells me how many calories I have left to eat in a day to stay under my goal, which I think is cool. I wonder if body bugg has an iphone app.

Wow, ten minutes between bites -- that is eating slow! My diet varies from day to day. Yesterday I didn't do so well, I'm afraid. My husband and I went out of town on a date and we ended up at Chilies. While there, I had about five chips with salsa and about three boneless chicken wings. I also ordered the shrimp fajitas, black Beans and rice. I ate about six shrimp on two small tortillas, but didn't like the beans or rice so passed on those. And I was so stuffed!! Too much!! Today so far, I have had an omelet made with egg beaters, onions, and mushooms, with a half a piece of FF cheese. I'm thinking about tomato Soup for lunch. Generally speaking, though, I try to stay around 1000 to 1200 calories per day (unless my husband has a hankering for Chilies, ha ha) Not sure how much I've lost since surgery, as I have not weighed myself since my first check up, and I don't intend to until my next check up which is the 15th, but I know I've lost at least 12 pounds (plus the ten I lost on my pre-op) and I'm hoping that its more. Maybe about 15 to 17 pounds total since surgery? I'm guessing. My biggest successes so far, above and beyond weight loss, are that I quit smoking (woot!), and that my edema has disappeared -- completely. That is huge. I've lived with horrible edema in my feet and legs for several years. I actually have ankles now -- it's amazing!! I've started walking today with the Walking with Warrior's group, and I'm hoping that helps to speed the weight loss up, too. I have a conference to go to in Hollywood in October and I so want to be fit and slim for that!

dowhatido -- please consider asking your doctor if there wasn't some type of mis-communication about that Egg McMuffin. I hate to contradict your doctor and I'm sure he knows what he's talking about, but regardless of his medical degree, there is simply no way on God's Green Earth that ANYONE should eat an Egg McMuffin every day. Forget weight loss for a minute -- according to the American Heart Association, we are not supposed to consume more than 300 mg of cholesterol per day, in order to maintain a healthy heart. Less is even better. An Egg McMuffin contains 238 mg. Please, just think about it -- then do what you feel is best for your health. Regarding Cereal -- I can't see the harm as long as you are getting in your Protein and stay within your calorie range. Enjoy!

Congratulations!!!:blushing:

For those who missed the Mile Matchers thread: If you feel you need some encouragement in your daily walking, please feel free to join our social/support group, Walking With Warriors at: LAP-BAND Today is Day One of 100, so if you want to start with us at the beginning, this is the day to do it! You are, of course, welcome to join at any time. We will be walking a minimum of 1 mile a day and logging our total miles in at the group, so we can keep a running, cumulative tab of the miles we've walked as a group. Exciting stuff! Hope to see you there!

Okay, so Ashley was having some difficulty getting motivated to lose weight while her hubby is overseas, and she needed some help. As a thank you to her husband, some of us have decided to match every mile that Ashley walks between now and the time her honey comes home in April. It's a great way to thank a soldier, help a sister bander, AND get the exercise that we ourselves need. A win-win! Anyone is welcome to join. And if you have a spouse overseas, and you want someone to walk with you, let us know and someone will adopt you, LOL! Our soldiers have trudged so many long, lonely miles through the desert, surely we can walk a single mile a day for them and their families! We have five walkers now, and I'll start a group for us, but first we need a good name. Any suggestions? Jump on in, we're all about input! Very exciting -- look forward to starting!! Woot!!:smile2:

LOL -- sorry, but there is nothing I know of that will rush the process. Be patient -- it'll make slipping into those size 16s all the better! And congratulations - that's fabulous!!

Have you consulted your doctor? What has he/she said? Do you need a fill? Maybe your doctor can schedule you with a nutritionist?

Of course it does! Walking With Warriors it is. And the group is up! You can find us at: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/groups/walking-warriors.html Woot!

Well then I wouldn't contradict at all, as I don't like it, ha ha! And trust me you're so not alone -- I'm still learning, too!