Acadia

You're way too tight. Get an unfill. And understand that you will likely have to have 0.75-1.00 cc taken out and not just 0.25 cc. You've caused a lot of swelling by pbing and by not being able to eat, which is why you need more taken out. If your Dr insists on only taking out 0.25 then you need a new Dr. Get the full fill taken out that you had put in plus a little bit to help with the swelling. Then you'll have to wait at least four weeks before you get another fill - to allow your body to heal. Do not rush the process. You should be able to eat 1-2 CUPS of food per meal - not 0.25 cups. And you should be able to eat a normal bite of food like chicken. If you can't easily eat solid Protein then you're too tight. If you have to break food down to such a small size (half a pinky) then you are too tight and you will not get enough nourishment. In summary - you are way too tight and you need an unfill. Remember, the band isn't about restriction or not being able to eat. It's about staying fuller longer on less food (because you eat slower).

I hit my green zone with 1.5 cc at my first fill (~2 cc was put in as a passive fill at surgery). 1 cc IS enough for some people. Don't listen to anyone on here that you need more or should be asking for more. I did listen and I got another 1 cc when I didn't need it (because I thought 1.5 cc was too little based on everyone else's experiences) and I was over filled for two months. Two horrendous months. 1.5 cc was right for me. 1 cc might be right for you.

I've had my FitBit since they've been released (I'm actually on my second one now). They do more than enough to keep you on track. The website is great - and FREE. And you aren't signing away your life, photos, etc. by joining the site. I strongly suggest the FitBit, $99 at REI or online. If you don't like it - sell it. They sell for nearly the same amount on eBay even used.

Depending how it is prepared you should be fine.

1 L of Water weighs 2.5 lbs No surgeon would ever give you six liters of Fluid during surgery (it would kill you). It's likely they gave you 1 L of fluid (2.5 lbs) and your body did the rest. It could also be that your scale at home is different than your scale at the Dr. That medications you're on are causing fluid retention. etc. There are several reasons why your weight can go up that much. It's also not uncommon for men to gain 15-25 lbs when they have a major cheat day after they've been on a diet. They eat more salt and their body just pulls in all of that fluid and keeps it there. Drink lots of fluids, have some tea, and you'll be fine. However - if you have ANY chest pain, get to the ER immediately.

Please note that most ERs will NOT do anything for people with Lapband because they don't know how or what to do and the liability is too high. You need to see your Dr / Surgeon. Some bodies don't react well to devices being in them. If they've recently done a barium swallow under fluoroscopy and everything looks good then have them check for a hiatial hernia (can cause every symptom you're talking about). You may need to have your band removed, it might not work for your body - this is nothing that can be predicted. You may also want them to double check that you've been completely unfilled. It's not uncommon for doctors and nurses to think they've hit the port and pulled everything out, but they haven't.

I agree with Jachut all the way. The reason things like potatoes are often forbidden is because they can group together when mushy (like french fries - if you grab a handful of them they will form a ball). While you can eat them in the mushy phase (when they are like baby food) later in your life they will cause issues unless you are really lose. Sometimes baked potato can go down okay, but it's pretty rare for most people. Even when I didn't have fill potatoes were too much for me. Even chips, because they break down into a mush that can bunch together. For carrots - they are simply too hard. They don't dissolve like many other foods so they will take hours to get through if you get stuck. If you have shredded carrots in a lasagna those won't be a problem because they are slivers. But taking bites of carrots, if you don't chew it until it's pulp, you risk swallowing a piece that's too big. Remember, your stoma (hole between pouch and stomach) is only the size of a dime and when it contracts it's about the size of a pencil eraser. If you really love eating carrots try using a mandoline to cut them into thin sheets (that you can roll up like a full carrot) or slicing them into really thin match sticks. That will minimize the potential to get stuck.

It's quite normal. During surgery you were intubated and that can cause some scar tissue in your throat, which - disgustingly enough - can 'catch' drippage from your nose, which means it's likely you do have phlegm in there. Drink some hot tea with honey to help clear it up.

SageTracey is correct. The pain comes from the nerves being pressured in the abdomen, specifically in the diaphragm. That same nerve (very long nerve) goes up to the shoulders and neck, which is why shoulders can hurt for a few days or years, depending on the damage done to the nerves.

karynj: there are a ton of gluten free products available, you should have no issues finding healthy and delicious foods. Try talking with local chefs as well, they can help you with gluten free recipes using vegetarian products that taste great. Congratulations Vanessa!

I take a large handful of pills every night (12+ Vitamins etc.) including "horse pill" size Omega-3 (0.75" long) without issue. Chances are you won't have any issues with pills. Just take them one at a time to start and keep some hot tea on hand if you need to dissolve them quickly.

It can take up to 6 weeks to feel a fill. There's a specific reason they hold off. Delayed fills are completely normal. They happen for several reasons: when the Fluid is put in it pushes fluid from the tubing into the band, and it takes a bit of time for that to distribute equally around the band when fluid is put it it applies pressure to the stomach - even if it's just a tiny fill - and that causes a slight inflammatory reaction that builds as the body reacts placebo effect - you expect to feel a fill, you don't feel it immediately, you subconsciously eat a little less to see if it helps, it doesn't so you go back to eating normal but oops the fill really did take so you feel tighter a week or more later The last sounds ridiculous but it happens. Your body will react to how you feel. Just know that each fill does impact you - even if only a tiny bit - and when you're talking about a hole the size of a dime, that tiny bit can be a lot.

Remember - your body will change after being unfilled. Your Dr. may be willing to do more if you do it under fluorscopy with a barium swallow so they can see how the fluid moves as they add more.

It actually has nothing to do with the temperature outside but rather the barometric pressure. The higher the barometric pressure, the tighter the band. And barometric pressure is higher in warmer weather because warmer weather is usually accompanied by clear skies. As a storm moves in, its low pressure upsets the pressure and drops the barometric pressure, thereby loosening your band. Clear skies = high pressure = tight band. Stormy skies = low pressure = loose band. Watch the weather and you'll notice that you can eat more on rainy days than you can on clear days.

You're welcome

Are you hungry between meals? You could be like me where a very very small fill was just right. For me it was 1.5 cc. To be sure ask your Dr to do - under fluoroscopy - a full removal of all Fluid, measure it, do a barium swallow, add fluid 0.1 cc at a time and swallow between each 0.1 cc. That will tell you how your band is placed, where it sits, how fluid moves when your band is empty, how fluid moves when you add a bit of fluid to the band. That should give you a full baseline. And as for a fill ... try going without for a month and monitor your food and hunger levels then go in for 0.25 cc and see how that does for another 2 months. Then if you are hungry between 2-3 hours after eating go get another 0.25 cc and wait 2 months. Some people need 9 cc some people need 0.25 cc. Don't judge your fills by anyone else. I thought I should have 5-8 cc, I only needed a single fill of 1.5 cc.

Congratulations Cindy - I hope everything goes well! Katphill: As for anyone who reads this thread... (even though I know your decision may already be made for you) Yes the chance of them having to do an open surgery is there, however it is slim. Many people, including myself, have had an organ removed after lap band without issues to the band - without even being unfilled. As long as you have a skilled surgeon and they have a consult with your LapBand surgeon first then you should be fine.

Are you tracking your food? What are you eating? When are you eating it? How much are you eating? How long before you're hungry again? Are you snacking? What are you drinking? Are you exercising? It's likely the band is doing what it's supposed to do - but you're not. As harsh as that sounds it happens to all of us. My scale will move just fine if I eat properly and work out. But if I start eating chocolate and cheetos then I plateau. The band's purpose is to help you not be so hungry between meals - assuming you're eating the right types of food. Monitor all of the above for 6 weeks and see if you lose.

If it's all over go get your vitamin, mineral, sugar, and thyroid levels checked.

You're too tight. A slight unfill can be the difference between being too full and causing damage and being in your green zone. Go get half of what you had put in June removed, ask them to do a barium swallow under fluoroscopy to make sure you haven't slipped your band, caused swelling, or other complications.

The only ones that dissolve - or partially dissolve - before getting through are Gelatin capsules. Actual pills though and medical capsules (made of gelatin but coated to dissolve more slowly) will not start dissolving until they're in the "big stomach". Since everything should go through the stoma within 1 minute you can test all of your pills by putting them in a glass of luke warm Water with a bit of salt in it, then time them. That will mimic the situation they're in as they go into your stomach. That way you'll know how fast they dissolve. Until you know how quickly they go through (for your particular situation) take them 1-2 at a time. For me personally, I'm in my green zone and I take a handful of around 12 Vitamins / minerals and a couple of prescription meds all at once and have no issues.

Chances are it's nerve regeneration pain or internal sutures pulling. After gallbladder removal surgery last month I had the most horrendous nerve regeneration pain for three weeks straight - felt like a white hot scalpel being driven into my abdomen a few inches from my main incision. That was accompanied by pulling and tugging of the internal sutures, which can also feel like tearing. Both of those pains had me almost in tears at times. Unfortunately there's not much you can do - but, if it lasts for another 1-2 weeks go to your Dr. and ask for a nerve block in your abdomen. Know that internal sutures generally take 4-8 weeks to dissolve and nerve regeneration can last for 12-18 months.

I was completely alone after my surgery. While some things are a bit more difficult being alone has huge recovery benefits. It helps you get up and move to get your pain meds, etc. When you have someone around you are more apt to ask them to do it for you - which will prolong your recovery.

I agree with the other two. Get a prescription immediately for an antiemetic (will stop vomiting and nausea not just nausea). If you don't feel comfortable swallowing large pills (some can be large) ask for suppositories. Not fun but effective.