Bandmom

They pump the air in your belly and for some reason it hurts yoru shoulders as it works its way out. Your shoulder is fine, nothing has happened to it, just that is where you feel the pressure and pain as the air works out of your system! Breath deep, it helped me.....

When I went to talk to my surgeon it was different then what I thought. Mine wasn't as bad as yours, but I was hoping for the "you can do it" speech. however, he stated that based on body build, sex and age they can tell fairly accurately who stands a good chance of doing well with each type of surgery. Said for me the band would do great if I follow the rules, but for my husband he said the band won't work as well, and suggested bypass.

I had my surgery on 4/29, got my first fill yesterday (2 cc) and I dont' feel a lot of restriction but I can tell the difference from pre surgery to now. This fill as another poster indicated hasn't hit me yet, but the doctor said it could take up to 10 days to really feel it. He advised me to not even go out to eat for 2 weeks while I relearn the band. Don't get frustrated. 5 weeks in and I haven't lost the weight I wanted to but I also realize I have to relearn how to eat. While I am better I see things I have done that have caused my lower numbers. We just have to look at the bigger picture.

could the band be leaking?

As with this surgery just be aware of the side effects. My mom took it and had some issues with depression. Not the "I am going to kill myself stuff" but the cry all the time, negative out look stuff. But I have heard of others that dealt with more dangerous depression. Hubby hasn't had any side effects like that. The worst he is dealing with is if he takes the pill and hasn't eaten yet (even if he eats within 5 minutes) he gets a real upset stomach. It is worth it as long as you watch for the symptoms and address them appropriately!

My husband is doing the Chantix, and it is working. He wasn't even 100% sur ehe wanted to quit, but figured if I was getting myself healtheir her out to do something, and he is doing great with it. Even forgot to bring his cig's in from the car last night when he got home from work and didn't realize it till we left this morning and he saw them sitting there!

I am still battling the fatigue, but I am trying to calm down and realize I have a lot of "junk" going on in my life right now... the first week after the surgery I felt great and was more active then before, but then back to work, teenage kids, a son graduating high school with a girlfriend I don't like, school, and you get the picture. Looking forward to a long holiday weekend (I took Tuesday off to extend it AND GET MY FIRST FILL!!!) and see how that works out!

I haven't had a fill yet and haven't experienced the rest, but onthe flabby skin, that is a major concern of mine as well. I have been doing some research and found they recommend you drink protien shakes to reduce the risk. Imagine that. They stated that the skin can not 'adhere' to fat, but if you ensure that maintain or build muscle while losing fat weight, your skin can reattach to the muscle and will shrink with you more then if you didn't drink the shakes and didn't excerise to reduce fat not muscle.

I get the same thing. It is the port. I also have some issues with some of my pants, if they hit right in that area. I hope it stops being so obvious, that I get used to it because right now it is uncomfortable.

Here is a website that gives more details on it: Best Way - Protein Liver Shrink Diet for Gastric Bypass | eHow.com Following a liver shrink diet results in a smaller liver. This means that your liver will be more out of the way during the surgical procedure, which is a benefit especially during laparoscopic procedures. A smaller liver can also result in less time being spent under anesthesia, which can lessen the risk of complications. Following a diet before your surgery will help improve your overall health before the surgical procedure. Many overweight people are malnourished. Your presurgical diet will include all the protein and nutrients you need for maximum health. Losing even 10 or 15 pounds before surgery can help improve your surgical outcome. And finally, you will have to adhere to a strict plan of eating following your surgery. Following the high protein liver shrink diet beforehand gives you and your surgeon valuable insight into how well you will be able to follow your eating plan after surgery. I just kept reminding myself the better I did on the pre-op diet the easier my recovery would be....

Well I kind of jumped in and didn't introduce myself first. I am Stacy, I live in Missouri, married with two kids, two dogs and one strange cat. I love watching NASCAR, work as an Accounting Manager for an engineering firm, and am enrolled in school...still.... I weighed 264 at the time of my pre-surgery appointment, I have lost 12 -15 lbs depending on several things... My approval process went very quickly, becuase I knew the minute my insurance said that begining 1/1/10 they would cover it that I was going to have the surgery come heck or highwater! I have not always been overweight. I was 120 my senior year. I had my son and had to have a c-section, gained to much weight but I lost quite a bit and looked rather good when I got pregnant with my daughter. I only gained 20 lbs with her and did well at maintaining a weight more then what I was at graduation but acceptable for a while. then I developed endometriosis, and it went down hill from there. My estrogen was messed up, my moods were bad, and I gained and gained and gained. I had a hysterectomy and I stopped gaining but was only able to lose a little here and there. I finally hit a point where nothing worked. I used to be able to do WW and lose weight but finally I could eat 1000 calories a day, excercise 10 hours a day and still not lose. I no longer felt good about myself. I didn't feel pretty, and certainly not sexy....It was affecting my relationship with my husband. (He was supportive and wonderful but if you don't feel worthy, nothing they do will matter). Finally the surgery became a real option for me. I had my surgery 4/29/10 and have had no real complications. I love the support I have found here. No judgements on having the surgery or not being "strong" enough to do this without it. I look forward to posting with you!!!

Isn't it funny how that worked out. When I was on broth and liquids I didn't seem to have this problem! But wahoo, watch out world cause next week, I will be back on track!

the cotton mouth stuck around for a couple days!!! It sucked cause I was afraid to drink to much at once!!! You take care of yourself. Relax, but make sure you move around enough you don't get blood clots and you get the gas working out. The more you walk the quicker it will go away!

Wow...My senior year in high school I was 5'7 and 120 and wore a size 8......I know where you shop makes a difference....but that is a big difference. Oh and that was back in 91 when we wore our jeans TIGHT!

I am right there with you! I had my surgery on 4/29 and my first fill is on June 1. I can't wait because like you I can tell that I can eat more and I don't want to do that!!!!

I have not had this long enough to have this issue, but my friend has had her's over ayear and she said it can really depend on what she did the day before. If she ate to much on Monday, then generally she cant' eat much on Tuesday. She said time of day really affects her as well, right after waking she is generally unable to eat or drink anything, so her bigger meal is in the evening......

I only had to do the full liquid for two days, nothing outside that. My friend had to do it for like 2 weeks. I can't imagine that......Funny how different the doctors instructions can be on pre and post surgery diet and behaviors.

And you need to update your ticker! Those 7 lbs should be celebrated!

:thumbup::thumbup:

I am so sorry to hear about that. I am very fortunate as my best friend actually had the band over a year ago, so not only does she support me in my decision, but she is an unbelievable resource for helping me adjust. I am not sure if there is anything you can really do. This is something she has to either decide she wants to overcome or not. Maybe sit her down and tell her how you feel....

What did you think of the whole experience? Kind of strange how little you interact with Hoehn.

Makes sense, because even if I drink a bunch of water at once I do it until the water flows through.....so I just watch for that and as long as I listen to my body I should have no issues!!!

I was border line diabetic, had acid reflux, retained Water, took a thyroid pill and due to a hysterectomy I take HRT. Of course I cant' get rid of the HRT, so I still take that, I am no longer border line diabetic, I have not had my acid reflux medicine since the surgery, I still struggle with retaining water, but it used to be that I couldn't go one day without taking the pill, now I can go a couple with barely any effect....I am only about 4 weeks out so I think that is a great start!!!

ew--almost wish I hadn't asked, but you know I have noticed that I do a lot of "burping" now after eating. It isn't really a full out loud burp, but more of a "hiccup-burp" thing....

I had to do the three months for BCBSKC. But luckily I had seen my doctor for weight loss before I found out my insurance was going to cover it so I had two months out of the way from the start.... I had the same thing with the nutritionist, but she was weird, not a good humor person but one of those veggian lady's that just follow mother earth, and free spirit, and weird.... My doctor was great about it and honestly BCBSKC wasn't super strict on all that but the documents had to be filled out completely, as long as I proved my comorbidities and my doctor suggested they were good to go.