Sun Rae

Thanks everybody for your responses. I am going to shop some thrift stores and such and see what I can find. I now have 2 pair of jeans, 2 shirts and 1 dress that I can wear. I went into surgery on Oct 19th at a size 24 and I can now wear an 18. Catherine, I love that idea! I'm going to start looking now.

I've asked this question before, but didn't get much of a response. It's good to read all of these, as I have been wondering the same thing. Mine is several inches above my left breast - the front of the shoulder/chest area. My incision is in my underarm area. I've had absolutely no port pain since surgery.

I take 2 Flintstones with Iron every day. My nutritionist recommended them so I started taking them a few weeks before my surgery. So far, so good; and I take them on an empty stomach.

I was not hungry at all during my 2 weeks of liquids. In fact, even seeing or smelling food did not make me hungry, and I continued to cook for my husband and son. I am now 4 weeks post op and just started getting hungry yesterday. I can't wait until November 30th to get my first fill.

Where is your port? So far, when I see people post about their port site, it seems that everybody's is in the abdominal area. Mine is in the left front shoulder/chest area. My incision is in the left under arm area. I have had absolutely no pain in my port area sinnce surgery, which I am very thankful for. I guess most doctors place the port in the abdomen?

My Dr. sends his patients home wearing one and I also had a prescription for nausea. It does not hurt and mine had 5 settings. I thought it was great and it really does work. I normally kept mine on "2" or "3". I took the prescription meds for nausea 2 times, but it made my mouth so dry. I decided instead to turn up the band it it really worked. I did put it on "5" one time just to see what it felt like - it was a little strong, but still tolerable. Use it, you'll be glad you have it.

Any time that I've had anesthesia and even when I had both of my babies, my skin gets very dry and my hair falls out for a couple of months. I was banded on Oct 19th, and I am steadily losing hair. Luckily, I have very thick hair, so at the most, it thins out to what most people have. My hair dresser is always amazed. I just have to really condition my hair and be sure to use lotion after showering. After about 8 weeks, it usually subsides.

I hope you feel better soon. :rolleyes2: I've been banded since October 19th and cannot even begin my body being able to tolerate rice. I had to do clear liquids the first week after surgery, full liquids at 2 weeks and now "mushies". Let us know how you're doing.

Congratulations! I'm sure that made you feel great. :rolleyes2:

I will have my first fill on November 30th and can still eat eggs, but I have seen so many people post about not being able to eat them. I so enjoy my scrambled egg every morning. Why do people have such a hard time with eggs? it just seems like that would be one of the easier things to eat.

Oh my gosh, that is flippin' amazing! Congratulations!

Any Bagnato Bandsters out there? I was banded on October 19th by Dr. John Bagnato and was just trying to connect with some of his Bandsters. He and his staff have been so great and I am doing so well. Would love to hear your stories.

I forgot to mention that a heating pad worked wonders for me.

Congratulations, that's great! I cannot wait to get there. Do something extra special for yourself!

I'm 3 weeks post op and the gas stayed with me for about 2 weeks. I found that walking made mine better and I used lots of Gas-X strips. Friday night I had terrible gas pains - not sure what brought it on again. When I was having it really bad though, laying down was the worst for me. I felt like I had something sitting on my chest.

I'm newly banded (about 3 weeks) and I had been losing steadily until last week. I had bronchitis and was eating very little because I was so sick. I think I wasn't getting enough food. Maybe you're not eating enough?

I started Phase 3 of my post-op diet, which is the pureed phase. I was so glad to be able to eat something a little more substantial, especially since being sick with bronchitis. On Friday night, I pureed some chicken and some green beens, which are both allowed. I had 1 oz of each (took small bites and ate very slowly) and thought it was the best thing I've ever put in my mouth - that is until I woke up around 3:00 AM. Since then, I feel like I have so much gas in my chest and abdominal area. My abdomen even seems a little swollen/bloated. I keep using the Gas-X strips, but it hasn't helped alot. Yesterday I stuck to liquids, but had part of a sweet potato today and my chest is hurting again. My question is: Since I don't seem to be tolerating this very well, should I move back to a liquid diet for a few more days? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.:smile2:

I don't have any fluid in my band yet, but going back to the previous stage just made sense to me. I think I am going to stick with liquids for the rest of the day and give them a call tomorrow. When you think about it...I'm sure the chicken and green beans, even though pureed, were quite a shock to my body. Thanks for your advice.

Congratulations! Doing the happy dance for you!!!! I have about 50 to go before I get there, but I get so encouraged when I hear the success stories of others. That's what I love about this site! Keep up the good work!

I would very much like to have a Buddy/Mentor to help me through this new journey in my life. I live in a very small town in SW Georgia; I'm married with 2 sons (24 yr old who is a Marine, 20 yr old college student); I am a Shipping Coordinator for a large Corporation; Hobbies include photography, boating, a little fishing, reading, just being outside. I am so proud of this life changing decision that I made for myself and look forward to finally living my life to the fullest. Banded October 19, 2010 Heaviest - 310 lbs Pre-Op Diet start weight - 297 lbs Surgery day weight on 10/19 - 274 lbs Weight recorded by PCP on 11/1 - 254

Oh, I'm so sorry. Do you know when you will be going back to have it fixed? Let us know. Also, from what I've been reading it looks the abdominal area is the common placementarea for the port. Is this correct? My surgeon places the port in the front part of the shoulder/chest area. My incision for my port is in my underarm area. I was banded on 10/19 and have had zero pain in my port area. Does anyone else have theirs here? Just curious.

Hi Mona. I am writing to you as I am watching you on "What's Eating You?". I just wanted you to know that you are a very strong, courageous, beautiful, amazing woman. I wish you the best!

I'm watching it on E right now. Amazing lady!

I had my surgery on Tuesday and went back to work the following Wednesday. My 1 week follow up appt was on the Tuesday before I went back on Wednesday and my company requires a Dr.'s release before they will let you come back to work. I felt ok when I went back, but really got kind of weak about mid day - and I have an office job. Personally, I think less than a week is too soon.