cyndilou29

:huytsao Hi Ernie, I was banded 5/24 and am having the exact same problem. I am back in the hospital today for fluids too. My surgeon said the same thing, if swelling doesn't go down I have to have the larger band in or this one out. However, he did say we could wait it out a bit as I am getting some fluid down. I find that the warmer the liquid (warm tea, broth) the easier it goes down now. I posted another thread (think it was titled "desperately need some help" or something like that if you want to check out the responses) and got that suggestion from someone who had the same problem. My surgeon said it's rare but it does happen. He said the more you have to manipulate the stomach during surgery the more issues you have with swelling. He said in retrospect, he should have put the bigger band on. Lovely.... I'll tell you I do feel a little better today. One of the responses to my other thread said it took her 9 days to get anything down. I guess it's just a waiting game at this point. It's all we can do. Do you want your surgeon to put in the larger band? I really don't. Just not emotionally ready to go back in to surgery or financially ready to pay for another band/surgery/hospital stay (I'm self pay). Either way, I know you will feel better soon. Just hang in there. I know that's easy to say but I completely know what you are going through and I know it's not easy, but it will get better. Please keep us updated as to how you're feeling. Good luck

Thanks, it actually does. I was banded just 2 days before you and I'm having about the same as you now. I'm up to about 24 oz per day, mostly water. The NP said she wanted me on no less than 48 oz. I'm going to try the tea in the morning, I'm hearing that warm stuff might go down better. The broth doesn't seem to help but I hate broth so maybe it's psychological. I love tea so what the heck. Good luck to you. I hope we both are less restricted really soon. At least we know what an "overfill" feels like!

Terri, I swear that God sent this message to me. No one had any of the issues that I have had and I just feel so alone. I'm completely tearing up right now! My surgeon came in about an hour ago and said he wants to put the bigger band in tomorrow. I just cannot afford that and emotionally I can't wrap my head around doing it again. Your message inspired me so much. So I will take the 3 bags of Fluid they have attached to my IV and hope it keeps me going long enough for the swelling to go down. Hopefully, the surgeon will think that's okay! Thank God I have such a great surgeon too. He, and his staff have been so amazing. The hugs, the reassurance - just amazing people. Plus, all the nurses I had last week came in to say hi and chat a bit. I'm so lucky to have chosen this program/hospital. Thank you all, so much. I really don't know what I would do if it wasn't for all of you. Your support and kind words are really helping me through this incredbly difficult time. You are all truly amazing people

<p>Hi Faith,</p> <p> </p> <p>Well I'm back in the hospital. Did another swallow and it was no better than when I was in the hospital 4 days ago. Goes down but really, really slow. Said they think it's just really swollen but it is odd for it to be so swollen 5 days post op. I'm on an IV for 24 hours and then I can go home. I was really dehydrated. After that I'm on Water only for 5 days and then I go back for another swallow. I'm trying so hard to be strong and not cry but I'm so scared this whole thing will be for nothing. All the money, all the time, effort, energy, pain - what if it's all for nothing and they have to take it out? I need to stop being such a baby and just focus on getting better. Hard to do though.</p> <p> </p> <p>But to show where my priorities are, because of all of this, I am down 9 lbs in 5 days. If this resolves itself in a few days I'll at least have a good jumpstart on my weightloss!</p>

I'm 5 days post op and I'm enormous too! My belly looks like I'm 20 months pregnant. My NP said it's normal and it can take from a week to a month for it to go down, just depends. Sorry, not much help!

I did a lot of research on this and went to a few of the clinics for meetings and I chose Dr. Brams at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington. These people are the nicest people I have ever seen in any situation. Dr. Brams is very skilled and his staff at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss is outstanding. That being said it is a very personal situation and what works for me may not for you. My mother in law had hers at Mass General and she doesn't get the care I do. I had a consult there and didn't like them at all. But they are supposed to be one of the best. Hope that helps!

Actually I don't know anyone who has hd a fil at 2 weeks. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I just usually hear 4-6 weeks. My doc makes everyone wait 6 weeks. Really though you should be focused on healing though and not weight loss. You will have no Fluid in your band so you probably won't have too much restriction but will most likely be on a liquid diet for a week or so. I would say 5 or 6 but you might lose nothing and that will be okay, you might lose 10 and that would be okay. Everyone is different

I did call my doctor, I'm leaving in about 10 minutes for a 2pm appt (I live kinda far away). I am definitely really swollen. I look like I'm carrying triplets. And I'm 20 months pregnant. Just so scared of what he's going to say. I'm shaking, I'm so nervous that it's something bad.

I don't know about revised instructions from Inamed about stitching the band to the stomach but I would like to know - definitely! I know my surgeon did that and most surgeons that I have spoken to (I am in medical sales) that do the band do stitch it to prevent slippage. In any case, the thing with the PA shouldn't worry you. In most states, PAs are allowed to assist in surgical procedures so they are very qualified to stick a needle in a port. My friend had cancer and had a port-a-cath put in and the LPN at the chemo center would do the sticks, so I'm sure an NP or PA will be fine. The "I'll learn to do it" part is a little disconcerting though. There is no one near you who has experience doing the fills? Regarding your age, 58 is young girlfriend! My mother in law is 66 and she had it done in March and frankly has had fewer complications than me and I'm 39! She is definitely losing a little slower though. She's down about 25 lbs since March 9 which is still GREAT weight loss. You're going to have to "bite the bullet" and tell your DH. I know it will be difficult at first, especially where he doesn't understand your struggle, but remind yourself that you are doing this for YOU and that, while of course his opinion is important to you, it won't change anything. And once he sees his "new" sexy hot mama who eats healthy and exercises right along with him, trust me if he ever argued about you doing it - he'll stop. Good luck with your journey

Hi Tony, I travel for my work too and I was worried about the same thing. What I decided I will do (just got banded last Thursday) is only choose hotels with restaurants and do room service until I'm on solids. Once you are on solids, it's easy - get a salad with some Protein, burger with no bun, broiled fish and veggies, etc. I called the hotels I usually stay in and told them I'm on a medically supervised diet and I was wondering if the next time I was there if they could help me. Every single one of them said they would be able to make creamed soups for dinner and they all have yogurt for Breakfast. I'm bringing instant cream of wheat packets and applesauce in my luggage. For lunch, I'll just order the Soup and not eat the "chunky" stuff if they have no creamed soup but many do. You'll be surprised at how accomodating most places are if you tell them what's going on. Now I eat with people that I wouldn't want to disclose everything to but I'm just telling them it's something medical. Hope that helps

Hey Melissa, First, let me get this out of the way, what are you doing in Singapore? How cool! Okay, next. It's really not going to help you at all but it's the truth - everyone is different. Will you probably get a little restriction at your first fill - yes. Will it be enough? Maybe, maybe not. Here is a great example - my mother in law had her band in March. She has been able to eat exactly the same as before her sugery since 1 day post op. She doesn't eat that way, mind you. She fights it tooth and nail. She got her first fill and said she still eats a lot at meals but is not hungry in between any more. She gets another fill in 2 weeks and she can't wait. I, on the other hand, can't get a darn thing down. I have to force everything in. Can't get the darm Protein shake in, struggle with the broth and the Water is a nightmare. I've lost 9 lbs in 4 days (okay, so it's not ALL bad), but I'm MISERABLE. I mean truly miserable. Moral of the story, you'll get your restriction. It may take 1 fill, 2 fills, or more, but you WILL get there. Hang in there....

I do get the pain too. I'm thinking it's my full signal. I've ignored it twice, thinking it was something else and twice I got a crazy tickle in my throat and had a huge coughing fit (not fun so close post-op!) after which I felt really nauseated and my left side got runny. What I mean by that is my left eye and my left nostril - same side as the tickle. This band is freaky. LOL

SoCalGal, I was banded 4 days ago and had a question about that. I'm on clear liquids too but how little is too little. I'm definitely swollen as when I woke up the surgeon told me the band was really loose and I probably would't have any restriction. Well, when I tried to drink liquids, I couldn't get anything down for over 24 hours. Now I am averaging about 8 oz of broth, 8 oz of water and 5 oz of Protein shake over the course of a day. It seems like it's not enough. I mean I definitely can't get any more down, I have to force that in. I was wondering how much most folks are able to get down post op. How abnormal is this? I'm so freakin' paranoid because I'm self pay and I NEED this to work the first time!

Yep, I had surgery on the 24th and I have a ton of phlegm. It's totally aggravating me but coughing hurts like a bugger.

OMG I'm so with you! It took everything I had not to rip the hot dog my poor son was eating right from his little hands. I'm not even hungry at all, it's so sad. I'm actually struggling to get down my protein shakes and my water but I wanted that hot dog like it was the last one on earth! Might explain a little about how I got to weigh 244 lbs, eh? I can't fit in any water but darn it I could polish that hot dog. Or the eggs my husband had today. Or the spaghetti they had last night. I need to heal a little more so I can leave while they are eating! Although, I have to say, my husband is a doll. He saw me salivating over that dumb hot dog today and he said he was going to have a protein shake for dinner in "solidarity" with me. So we both had our protein shakes and he set up the patio furniture outside, gave me a magazine and then told me to go out and enjoy the warm evening. He fed the kids and then came out to sit with me. He said he was doing full liquids with me tomorrow too because he wants to know what I'm going through. Isn't that the sweetest thing? I hit the jackpot with him, I really did.

I have 6 too! What the heck? We got robbed! LOL. Mine are so tiny though, each about a half inch and then about an inch for the port

Just got banded yesterday and I'm frothing on just a small amount of liquid. Since the surgery I have had 12 cup of water, 2 spoonfulls of broth and a half teaspoon of Jell-o. Im freaking out. What if I'm too restricted already? What if I can never eat anything and it has to come out? I'm really scared. Have any of you had this post-op?

I am having the same problem, different from when I first posted. My PA said I was having too much and that's why it goes down but then comes up. I said I was only have a few spoonfulls of broth and she said "then a few spoonfulls is too much right now". She said it takes about a half hour to really know if you had too much and by then it's too late. I've been taking a spoonful of broth and then waiting a few minutes before I have another. It's better since I'm doing that. I don't know if it's good or bad either but I have lost 5 pounds since Thursday! Although I know when I start eating it will all come back with a vengeance. Oh well, I'll enjoy it while I have it!

Hi Sunny! I too was banded on Thursday and I had no voice either. Now I squeak a little bit but it is definitely getting better. My surgeon said it can take up to a week for it to come back. They have to pass the breathing tube through your vocal cords so sometimes they get swollen and irritated. Be patient, it will come back!

I get Tachy a lot too but I don't know if it's specifically when I take a deep breath. Maybe when you take a deep breath you are not really breathing right. Is the deep breath due to anxiety? Is it due a series of shallow breaths that you need to "make up for"? Either of those things will make your heart pound a bit. I would follow up with your doctor and tell him. I just had my band in Thursday and I got really Tachy in the recovery room. They think it was because my respiration rate was too low (they had me on Morphine which completely zonked me out.). Make sure you tell your surgeon at your pre-op visit too. Good luck!

Dr. Brams, Lahey Clinic, Burlington MA which I highly recommend. They are the most amazing team of people ever and Dr. Brams is not only a great surgeon but a great guy.

Hi everyone, I'm still in the hospital. You guys were right on the money, I had a lot of swelling so my band was basically closed. They kept me on IV until this morning and I've been able to get some Water down, 1/4 cup of broth and 2 teaspoons of Jell-O. I just decided to walk as much as I could and only try to drink warm liquids. What a difference it made. Thank you so much for all your support and feedback. The doctor said if I can keep this "lunch" down I can go home tonight. You are all so wonderful. I was in a really bad way when all this was happening and all of your posts calmed me right down. I'm sure the stress I was feeling didn't help at all either. This board and all of you are truly life savers. Like a gift from God. I can't thank you all enough. Cyndi

My doc keeps everyone in 1 night but I ended up staying two because I had a lot of swelling in my stomach from the surgery so I couldn't get any liquid in. The usual rule is outpatient for most but if they keep you overnight, you have to be able to get liquid down and pee. When you do both, they will send you home. I'm glad they kept me. I was NOT at all ready to go home the first day. I had a few sips of Water and a 1/4 tsp of Jello and I started frothing something awful. I'm fine today though Just a side note - I think the thing that scared me the most pre-op was the thought of frothing. I can tell you, it's not as bad as I thought. Don't get me wrong, I don't love it - it's not pleasant at all. But it's not as horrible as I anticipated either.

I am actually still IN the hospital cant leave until I eat. It figures, the water I'm drinking is full of ic. Thats what the nurse gave me. Thanks for the tip, I'm going to try warm

welcome! I just got banded yesterday. You have gone through so much, this is a piece of cake! Ooh, maybe not cake! Justt do your research and you'll know if it is rght for you. God bless...