kittykat56

That's awesome news! Sounds like you're getting back on track! Congrats on your frist 52 lbs too!

You look awesome! Congratulations on your results! Happy Bandiversary!!!!

I too have this irritating pain, and it tends to occur when I eat too much. It goes away then comes back days/weeks later. I mentioned it to my Dr this past week, and he said as long as it wasn't stabbing pain and there is no redness or swelling, I shouldn't worry

I also had a flipped port. My stitches had broken loose and caused my port flip completely over. I had revision surgery, which was a bit less invasive that the orignal band placement surgery. But it was stil under general anesthesia and took about 45 mintues in all. Everything was billed to my insurance, but since I'd already met my deductible for the year with my original surgery, I did not have to pay anything out of pocket. I really thought I should not have been charged. But I guess the hospital didn't agree with that! Good Luck to you! It really isn't that big of a deal, but there is a few days of recovery involved.

I too was just diagnosed with a leak. I am just over 10 months out. I lost about 50 lbs between Sept and Jan. Then, I just stopped. I thought I'd reached a plateau and my body was just trying to catch up. I've struggled for over 6 months trying to work through the plateau. I had about 4-5 fills during this time and I couldn't figure out why they weren't working. I had restriction for a week or two, then I could eat the equivalent of a horse! At the end of May, that fill was done under fluro and the CNP saw that my opening was entirely too large. She just gave me a bigger fill. At my next appt, just this week, my surgeon listened to my struggles (I have been very depressed and disappointed with my recent results or lack thereof.) He decided to do an unfill to determine how much Fluid I actually had. I should have had 5.1 cc's. I had not even 1!!! He determined I have a leak and that it is most likely in the port, since the fills seemed to work for a week or two after fills. So, now I am having surgery next week for port replacement. (Oh, and I have already had an additional surgery in December for a flipped port!) My insurance will pay for it, but I have a $1000 deductible! I would love to hear from someone who has already gone through this fiasco. I am curious to hear what to expect next.

I feel your pain! I'm not very good at it either! However, I think if I did it more often, I could improve, and I'm sure you can too! Keep trying.

I, too, had a flipped port. Unlike you, I had NO idea my port had flipped until I attempted to get my first fill, which was about 2 months after surgery. The revision surgery was just like the band surgery, except there was only one incision. (He reopened the same one he'd used for the band.) MY abdomen was much more sore this time around and I too felt like I'd done two million situps at one time! It wasn't painful, but was definitely sore. And while it was different, the revision soreness was worse than the bad soreness. I had no gas. I didn't get a fill during the surgery, and I got my first one last month. I'm due for my second this week, and I'm really apprehensive about getting it. For some stupid reason, I feel like my port coudl have flipped again. No reason, just worried that it could happen, especially since I had no warning when it really did. I'm glad you're doing well. Thanks for sharing your story. And good luck on your journey!

Heather is right, and make sure you are really hungry and it's not head hunger. My Dr says that a growling tummy is just gas in your intenstines. It does NOT mean you're hungry. Being 5 months post op I've found this to be true. Good Luck to you!

Thanks for the new challenge! I can't wait to get started. I'm really struggling right now and need some support and motivation to keep me going. I lost a lot of weight early on and now I've stopped. I haven't lost but one pound in almost two months! One fill and that didn't affect me at all! Scheduled for another fill at the end of Feb, but until then... Name, real or screen~ KittyKat Age~ 39 Weight on January 31st~ 236 Goal Weight for February 28th~ 229 Exercise Goal for February~ 1 hour on treadmill x3 per week; use elliptical more Dietary Goal for February~ 60-80 grams of Protein Personal Goal for February~measure my portions at every meal Date Banded~ 9/22/10 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 64 lbs

Hi, Caitlin! I've been banded for almost 4 months, and I WANT to eat every day! You have to resist the urge to eat everything in sight. You must measure and know everything that goes into your mouth. You have to do what your Dr. tells you to do. I've been very successful so far in my journey. I'm going thru a rough patch right now, but it certainly is the best thing I've ever done for myself. And I wouldn't change a thing! You can do it if you set your mind to it! Don't get discouraged so soon and let the band help you. Everyone is different and loses at a different pace. Hang in there!

I'm in for this challenge! I'm stuck on a plateau right now and in bandster hell with my last and only fill not working! I'm due for another fill on Feb 4th, so hopefully that along with this challenge will kickstart my weight loss again. Thanks for creating the Spring Challenge!

I'm right there with ya! I got my first fill on Dec 28th and I feel worse now than I did before! I feel like I could eat a horse if I wanted to! I'm due for another fill on Feb 4th, so hopefully that will help. Good Luck to you!

I went back to work a week and a half after my surgery. I didn't start to feel normal again, as far as energy, until about 4 weeks post op. Drink plenty of Water, and get 60-80 grams of Protein each day. That should help. But if you go much longer feeling this way, you may want to touch base with your Dr. Hope you're feeling better soon. Kat

I ditto everything the previous poster said. It is perfectly normal.

Congratulations! You're all doing great! I am a little over 3 months post op, and I can tell you the swelling persists for a while. I think mine lasted about a month, then one day it was gone. As for going to the bathroom, that won't regulate until you're eating regular foods again and getting some Fiber in your diet. I was so used to going a couple times a day, I thought I was dying. But it is perfectly normal for the stages you're in right now. However, I will say that I only go every couple of days now. Like it or not, that's my new normal. You're all doing fantastic. It only gets better from here, Ladies!

Congratulations! Isn't it a wonderful feeling? I too just bought my first pair of dress pants since my surgery---yep, size 18! It was great! I refuse to buy anything else until I'm out of the Women's section and in the Misses section. Hopefully, that won't be long for either of us!

I was banded on 9/22/10, and I have lost a total of 56 lbs, including what I lost prior to surgery! I have not yet had my first fill, but I'm looking forward to it at the end of December. I have been reading through the previous posts on this thread, and I just can't believe how great EVERYONE is doing. It's awesome! A little bit of advice from me: This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. You must work to make the best choices you can make. If you make a bad one, don't beat yourself up over it, just start over and keep on truckin'. Every one of us started the journey for the same reasons, but not everyone started in the same place. While it's nice to compare ourselves with others to justify where we are, that's impossible to do. You just can't compare apples to oranges. It doesn't work, and someone gets hurt. Be happy with your weight loss if it's 1 lb or 100lbs! It's still a loss, and that's what we're all here for! Good Luck to everyone and keep up the awesome work!!!

I am so sorry! I have been having some complications, but I still say this has been the best decision I've ever made for myself. Good Luck to you, Mrs. Brune!

Congratulations! Those are some AWESOME results!

Hello, All! I too have been gone for a while. (My internet service was down.) Anyhoo, here's where I am: Banded 9-22 and had my 8 week follow up appt today. I have done really well so far. No problems, no pain, One who didn't know, would have no idea I even have a band. I love my band and while I never thought I'd say it, I love being banded. My thoughts on food and the way I deal with food have changed immensely. I don't really miss anything. I just deal with it. Thanksgiving was good. I "tasted" a piece of pie and left it for my husband. Dr said my weight loss has been extraordinary compared with others at his center. I was so proud! Then, we talked a bit and he decided I should get my first fill. Easier said than done. He could not access my port. We went to the lab to try it under x-ray. It was really cool to watch it, but... He verified with several xray shots that my port had not flipped. However, every time he poked me with the needle, he hit metal. It felt really weird. He has done 100's and 100's of lap band surgeries, and said that this is the first case that has stumped him. Needless to say, I didn't get a fill and now I am scheduled for exploratory surgery next week. I'm kind of bummed.

I just had my 8 week post op appt with my surgeon today. He thought I needed a fill, so he tried. He had trouble accessing my port in the office, so we ventured over the the lab and he tried under x-ray. While watching it was really cool for me, I was quite disappointed in the end. You could see that my port had NOT flipped, but every time he tried to acces it, it would tilt. It appeared that the needle was in, but it kept hitting something metal. Dr said is was the back of the port. But he was really confused as the xray showed that the port was positioned correctly. Now, I am having surgery next week so he can figure out what's going on. While I'm not really scared or ticked about it, I am pretty bummed.

Hey, Billy! I see your surgeon is Dr. Canaday. Mine is Dr. Grandia! Your the first person I've found so far on this site from Holzer. I'm curious as to your experiences and progress.

I was banded 9/22 and have not yet had a fill. I have an appt 11/30, but I really wonder how my Dr will feel about giving me a fill. I've lost 35 lbs since surgery, and that's pretty well on target (or better) at 4 lbs/week. I suspect my Dr will have me wait for a fill. I'm sad about that because the past four weeks have been hell! I feel very little restriction in that I can eat anything I want, in any amounts!!! I don't do it (very often) but I can if I'd let myself! On the other hand, any meal of any size will get me by for about 4-5 hours. That part is good. As far as advice, I recommend everythings that's been posted previously--follow your Dr's orders. Each step is important to the end result. They're like building blocks. You have to dd one correctly to get to the next level.

I love mine! I"ve had it for about 4 and half years, and my dr. recommends to remove it at 5 years. It was a b*tch putting it in. I thought it was worse than my c-section. But I adjusted to it by the next day. My periods never stopped, but they are much, much lighter and not near as long as they were. Good Luck to you!