guitarmama54

Hi All, Banded two years and noticed in past 6 months that upper stomach has had a gradual swelling...since I wasn't eating all the right foods, thought a bit of weight gain was going on, but weight is stable.. Suddenly I feel a hard lump/lunmovable in upper tummy just below rib cage on left side.. Not painful but eating is uncomfortable as I feel a pressure up under the ribs and into my back on left side.... Went to doc ...did xray.. band seems in place.. .had abdominal ultrasound and waiting results..tech thought I might have a epigastric hernia starting...but the muscle wall has not perforated yet... lump is becoming really uncomfortable any time I eat and laying down on tummy. After reading forums wondering if it's an adhesion from tubing on spleen/intestines, etc...Never had any hernia issues before, so will keep you all posted on what this turns out to be.. Anyone with similar story??????? Down almost 50 lbs, but ready to have band out if it's causing issues... I'll finish my last 25 with WWatchers if this is what happens with the Band....Not pleased at all....

Wow folks.. thanks for all the great info...I"ve developed a swelling/lump just below my left rib cage area and it's not painful but shouldn't be there. Ultrasound suggests a possible herniation devloping but going tomorrow fo hear results from doc.. xray showed band seemd place okay, but PA has no experience in that area....Surgeon is out of town, very reputable/great safety ratings, but still 2 hours away. Since this was a gradual swelling/waistline seeming a bit tighter over past few months, will also demand follow up tests : barium swallow, etc. to be sure no organs are out of place, etc. as suggested in your posts.... Thank you for your candor and info, I"ll be a very proactive patient about this issue....Since there is no pain, just pressure and an obvious lumpiness to my upper tummy area/pressure under my left rib area.. I will be a force to be dealt with...Thanks again, will let you know what I learn from uttrasound results and if more tests are needed... take good care

I;ve developed a good size painless lump just below my ribs in the ridge of tummy fat that rolls over all our jeans...lol....lump is stationary..feels like a tennis ball or slightly smaller size lump. PA did xray says band looks in place...ordered a abdomen ultrasound..tech saw nothing till I showed her while standing up where the lump was.. She said it looks as if I'm developing a hernia issue.. My port is much lower at my betly button so it's not that and i had the minimal incision surgery via the belly button...Guess the next step is an CT if insurance allows it...lump has made my tummy looked slightly lopsided on the left side.. I can see it when I look down...noticed my waist in pants was feeling a bit tighter last few months,,, but my weight only changes by about 5 lbs depending if I'm a good girl or not with my diet. Hope it's not an adhesion of some sort .. lump is not painful but annoying as it cause pressure up under my ribs too on left side.. will let you know if this is a 'epigastric hernia' or not.....Good luck to you too

Me too..when I over eat...it shoots up into my left shoulder/neck and into my arm at times.. NOT heart related pain...doc checked me out...only happens when I over eat my pouch...

Yes I have recurrent bouts of it..and the urgency and cramping are fierce...hadn't thought about artificial sweetners or lactose intolarance I've been seeing on post replies....Will experiment to see what is up...Also having some swelling/.large tennis ball lump in upper left quadrant..below the ribs and just the left of my midline...doing tests for herniation or adhesions/tubing issues??? I"m two years out and not pleased with this new development.. LOTS of stuff they don't warn you about with Lap Band and I had a top CA surgeon do mine....Want it out and do WW for the last 30 lbs...can't eat enough veggies, healthy foods since banding and don't like it at all.......lost 50 lbs, but stuck...so. hope all turns out well with you!

:smile: Hi, I'm having my Band on Monday, March 29th in Santa Barbara, CA and traveling 2.5 hours to be there as there is no Center of Excellence in my hometown. Starting to worry about port issues, tubing leaks that I've been reading about and it seems all too common. Hadn't thought about it before while being so busy getting pre op testings/approvals for the surgery. Could use some moral support and encouragement to help me on my way.. Thanks! Colleen -Guitarmama54

Wow, having been banded on the 29th of March, I amazed that you got a brownie down! I'm on mushies since 1 and 3/4 weeks out simply because I needed some chewing/mushy food instead of all the sweet tasting SF stuff, so my nurse said go for it. But too afraid to try something way off course that could cause lots of digestion action and ruin my band setting up. While I have had no physical hunger, I do understand the 'head hunger' and am making sure I have lots of things that appeal to me. Large variety of lowfat cream soups/strained, frozen mashed potato buds that I mix with protein powder and some pureed canned chicken, FF cottage cheese w/soft fruit purees, etc. Even Underwood canned deviled chicken is pretty low fat and low carb and you only need about 1/2 can and it's easy to keep at desk or pop open for a satisfying protein snack. Add a few bites of canned green beans or carrots w/butter spray and bites of applesauce for dinner. I let myself go twice too long w/o eating and simply felt crappy and knew I needed to eat, though not physically hungry. How about a thermos of soup on your way home from work to warm your pouch and fill you up a bit? Just sharing what is working for me...I was out of town to see my surgeon and snuck a few bites of lowfat mac and cheese w/my cup of soup at a restaurant and I realized that I too have to be careful till a few fills and will power is still the name of the game. HANG TOUGH.. we're all in it together! Good Luck!

Hi Cindy, I'm doing very well, just saw my doc for 2 week follow up. Only have 3 incisions- belly button and two on each side of my tummy. Eating mushy foods now, i.e. egg, cottage cheese, string cheese, low fat mashed tatos w/protein powder, etc. Glad to share more with you, my email is: beachcoll@bak.rr.com.. my name is Colleen. feel free to write me and ask questions....Good Luck!

HI All, Interesting discussion to someone just one week out of surgery. I was eating very well - lean proteins and massive veggies and dropped 20 lbs pre surgery so glad for that. Have lost 5 in first week, sure it's due to full liquids only. I'm pretty much prepared for fact that weight loss will be slow until a few fills, but my own human nature wants some good losses too, how can one not want to? But I have to remember how much healthier I am already and realize once I get pureed, solids, I have to use will power to make the band and this lifestyle work. At least I'm not gaining and have to believe that eventually I will lose the weight I choose to lose. Realize that this is a life plan not a fast fix or I would have gone gastric bypass.. I want to have time to exercise and let my skin/muscles catch up to my weight loss too...

Hi, I'm one week out from being banded and finding the same thing. Mid day a 1/2 cp of cream strained soup feels like a gallon bubble in my chest, the next time, feels like I could eat 2 cups! Having the same worries but seems to be common, so gonna try to trust the band and relax. hang in there!

Hi,, I'm due to have my surgery this coming Monday, March 29th, 2010 and have a lot of confidence in Dr. Thoman. I agree his support staff is exceptional and Chantal and Karen are the best. I'm coming from Bakersfield, as we have no Center of Excellence there for this surgery, as required by Blue Cross/Anthem, so the distance will hopefully not be a problem for me if issues arise... At least Blue Cross reimburses for the hotel stay up to 2/3 days and some gas/expenses but I have to cover the nutritionist visit/psych eval and costs of transport up to the surgery date, but so far , it's been worth it. Will be staying overnight in SB the day after surgery just to be safe...Glad to hear he does good fills...since I've heard horror stories of other doctors issues....Thanks for sharing and hope more people post.

Thanks Sandi, Appreciate your words of encouragement and you were right, I am in Bakersfield, but I'd prefer Ventura myself... lol.. My folks lived there for a while, definitely better weather! And civilization too! I have to say that all the port and tubing issues got me a bit freaked out, as I hadn't really considered that aspect prior but I will check out your site for support and curious to see how you've been doing. I'd love some mentoring and will be in touch for sure...Going over to Santa Barbara, Sunday for a 6 am check in on Monday at Cottage Hospital w/Dr. Thoman who is suppose to be one of the best. Doing last minute Protein powder orders, making home made chicken broth and getting myself geared up for when I come home.. Wish me luck! Thanks again Colleen -guitarmama54 :Banane20:

Second day since joining this site. Joined the local 24 hour fitness gym with my neighbor, since it's close to my house and cheap. Have to start getting into the exercise groove pre surgery, since it also helps with my tension levels and might as well start good habits now, as I'll have to do so after surgery. Next Tuesday is my info meeting and dietician intake, then 5% off, get my preops done and see the doc to schedule. Gotta start somewhere right? Hope u all have a great day

Second day since joining this site. Joined the local 24 hour fitness gym with my neighbor, since it's close to my house and cheap. Have to start getting into the exercise groove pre surgery, since it also helps with my tension levels and might as well start good habits now, as I'll have to do so after surgery. Next Tuesday is my info meeting and dietician intake, then 5% off, get my preops done and see the doc to schedule. Gotta start somewhere right? Hope u all have a great day

:) well....this site seems to be the best info and honest feedback I've found. Seeing the nutritionist for initial consult next Tues. Then it's a 5% weight loss, about 12 lbs, and then make appt for doc. Let's hope my endoscopy and prelim tests all go well. Wish me luck that this is the start of a new life for me☆

Thanks Xavier...I'm excited to be taking this big step in my life...Good luck to you too!

:smile2: well....this site seems to be the best info and honest feedback I've found. Seeing the nutritionist for initial consult next Tues. Then it's a 5% weight loss, about 12 lbs, and then make appt for doc. Let's hope my endoscopy and prelim tests all go well. Wish me luck that this is the start of a new life for me☆