aklhoney

I had something similar happen last month when I went to a new doctor in Auckland where I am visiting for the next few months. The doctor was a very experienced lapband surgeon. When he had done the fill he had found a level of resistance initially that then suddenly seemed to release and allowed the fill to occur. The fill was very uncomfortable so I was anxious to remove a small amount from the lapband. When the doctor attempted to insert the needle into the port he once again struck a level of resistance. The doctor explained to me that sometimes small fibres can block the mesh on the port. Heproceeded to flush the port with saline. this was successful and he as then able to gain access to the port to complete the unfill.

Last Thursday I reported in to Emirates Hospital for a weigh in and can now officially claim to be -30 kg from my pre loss weight. I just feel so much better. In the grander scheme I am now half way to my preliminary goal weight. It is now 7.5 months since I was banded and this weekend I saw friends that I had not seen for about 4 months. It was just wonderful to be "oohed" and "ahhed" over as they marvelled at my weight loss. Did wonders for my self esteem! All in all the journey has been relatively easy with minimal issues although I have learnt: 1) hiccups means it is time to stop eating 2) almonds = pain... or at least at the quantity that I ate (just over 1/4 cup) 3) talking and eating = potential to overeat 4) weight plateaus do happen but they also pass (thank goodness). Time now to really concentrate on more exercise so it is time now to investigate gyms and personal trainers (not fit enough for classes yet :thumbup:) All the best to my fellow March bandsters.

Absolutely amazing the difference a mere .5c made. I had had no real issues to this week and will look upon it as a slight hiccup. Nice restriction now and I look forward to my next weigh in. Thanks for commenting.

Have you just had a fill? You may be too constricted - I had similar symptoms which were cured but the removal of some of the fluid from my band. Followup as soon as possible. Comfort is bliss.

After suffering severe pain in the chest and ribs, and unable to keep anything down on Tuesday, I finally put in a call the my doctor on Wednesday when it looked at shaping up to similar to Tuesdays no liquid/no food outcome. Living 1.5 hours away from the hospital (in Abu Dhabi), I really was looking on advice on how long should I "stick it out" to see if the fill (1.5cc) would settle down. Wednesday had certainly been easier than the day before as I had successfuly got down a small bottle of water and a carton of Boost but I was still just not comfortable at all. (Think pain for a single swallow, chest obstruction and sore ribs emanating into the back, sliming and foaming were the least of my worries!) Although the doctor was not seeing patients due to Wednesday being a surgery day he immediately provided a time to see me. As he was unsure of whether there were any other underlying causes to my inability to keep things down I was warned to expect a barrage of xrays and tests. A colleague from work offered to drive through to Dubai with me and off we set. The presence of a work colleague was both comforting and worrying as I had taken the choice not to tell anyone at work that I had had a LAP-BAND®® done - they knew I had had stomach surgery but no more. I just did not want an office full of diet police and having read some of the recent blogs I am glad that I made the choice I did. Anyway I digress. On arrival in Dubai I was seen by my doctor, a decision was taken to remove .5cc and viola... comfort again. Just 10 seconds to overcome 36 hours of huge discomfort. A benefit was the loss of 2kg which was more than welcome having plateaued the previous 2 weeks. However the ability to at least get some fluids in ,given that is is currently 50 degrees celecius during the day now that Summer has hit , was ultimately more important. Today is day 4 of my extended liquid phase - I certainly have restriction now and hopefully I am back on track for loosing.

Hi . I was banded at Emirates Hospital in Duabi March 6 this year however I live in Abu Dhabi. LIke you I am doing most of my research post operation. Loss was 10 kg in first 6 weeks but slowed up since then. Bigger fill on MOnday just gone so I have had the challenge of discomfort and unable to keep anything down. The inability to keep anything down was certainly more than a little scary. The surgeon saw me the same day inspite of just ringing for advice as to how long I should leave it before returning to see him in Dubai. He immediately slotted me into his day.. and a trip to Dubai resulted in .5cc out and all is well. I was very very impressed with the responsiveness to my concerns. I have followed up with fluids for the last few days and today tried scrambled eggs and yoghurt. I can get only a few tablespoons down before feeling uncomfortable but looking forward to the weight moving again. HAng in there....The first two months were definetely the most difficult. Things do improve.

Thanks for the posting.. I had a fill yesterday and I am very uncomfortable so will leave it for only a day and then think I will go for an unfill . what a nice way of putting it.. over into the sick zone.. a blinding flash of the obvious for me.

Since last posting I have been back for a fill 6/6 1.5cc taking me to 4.5cc and for the last 2 weeks my weight has yet again plateaued with no change at all. Well not helped by being the end of the teaching year and a whole pile of functions to attend so I guess no gain was really good. My doctor however was not so happy with the last 2 weeks and yesterday (21 June) added another 1.5cc taking me to 6cc. Water sipped in the surgery and then the mandatory 2 glasses of water within 30 mins .. no problems so duly travelled the 1.5 hour journey back to the city where I live. Collapsed into bed only to wake at midnight with an uncomfortable feeling in the chest... mmm I thought. Maybe just overtired .. roll over and back to sleep. Morning brought a lovely sunny day with a blue sky .. and ... an attempt to drink a protein shake. Attempt.. yes attempt. 4 hours late only half down, lots of hiccups and foaming. No - not sliming - foaming. A search on the forums and the question raised.. is the band too tight? Difficulty in getting water down is not so good when it is 50 degrees celcius outside. Things had been going so smoothly to date.. no pain, no discomfort and food relatively easy to manage albeit in reduced quantities. Now the big question.. should I ride it out for another day or should I try and get an appointment and have a defill... I will give it a few more hours and see how I go. :smile2:

In my prayers.

Over the first four weeks I managed to lose 10Kgs before plateauing for another 3 weeks. At week 7 I initiated contact with the hospital and a few days later returned to Dubai for my first fill - albeit a little delayed due to international travel. It is now 3 days post fill (3cc) and no problems. All in all this journey has been very straight forward so far. Quantities eaten are lower than previously but no real feeling of restriction as yet. One Uh-Oh incident with bread but relatively smooth sailing to date. Touch wood. Weight going down, BMI down also. Here's to the future :smile:

Over the first four weeks I managed to lose 10Kgs before plateauing for another 3 weeks. At week 7 I initiated contact with the hospital and a few days later returned to Dubai for my first fill - albeit a little delayed due to international travel. It is now 3 days post fill (3cc) and no problems. All in all this journey has been very straight forward so far. Quantities eaten are lower than previously but no real feeling of restriction as yet. One Uh-Oh incident with bread but relatively smooth sailing to date. Touch wood. Weight going down, BMI down also. Here's to the future :thumbup:

It is now one month since I had my Lap Band inserted at Emirates Hospital in Dubai. One night in hospital was followed by 2 nights in a hotel in Duabi just so I could access the hospital should I need to do so. (My choice). An uncomfortable two days with my stomach feeling like a corset was tightly strung inhibiting movement. Then day 3 arrived and movement was significantly easier and life seemed much more positive. A return to Abu Dhabi and a further three days off work meant I could reflect on the sudden changes in my life - a lapband and a new apartment. Surrounded by boxes waiting to be unpacked I had to call on friends to assist in getting me the very basics of a bed organised. Now a month later my apartment is ship shape and I am already feeling clothes are loser and a spring is back in my step. Weight loss to date is 10kg or 22lbs. No fill as yet as the surgeon here prefers to wait 6 weeks before doing this. This have been going very smoothly no major issues with food. So far so good.