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Brandi - I know how you feel, I've been having a hard time getting used to this fill and have had that horrible stuck feeling way too much. Tonight we ate at chinese buffet - 11 of us so I didn't have much choice - so I took about 2 bites and yep - was sick - so I go in the bathroom hopeing to throw up but I never get that lucky. I slimed for a bit and finally was about to spit up about a tblsp of flem. Sorry tmi - stood there a minute and felt great. I went back explained that I must eat slowly and was able to very slowly eat and I felt great, I actually stopped before I felt full. It was kinda weird tho bc everyone else was having dessert and I was still nibbling away on my chicken. I really forget what bad habits we all had. Kirsten can't wait to see your pics! As you can see dd had her laptop with, we are in hotel, took my sleeping pill, so I'll say goodnight and will talk to you all soon.

For once, I am SO glad that my period decided to come early. It was scheduled for next week, but came this week instead. It is such a relief, since I am scheduled to have my yearly gyn exam next Thursday (oh, so much fun :rolleyes). At least this will be one less thing to worry about.

i had it PREOP..way before preop, really bad especially at night. Since banding, i havent had one single episode. I do however, gurgle sometimes and some nitwit at a meeting said THAT was acid reflux...like i didnt know what reflux was...but this gurgling isnt unpleasant or produce acid in anyway, and actually feels like a relief. it comes after i eat softsolids like poached eggs, oatmeal or uncondensed Soup. sounds like babyfood sliding down a pvc pipe. lol was that tmi?

I posted this in the newbie section as well... I live in Hampton but am having the Surgery done by the Norfolk Surgical Group. More specifically, Dr. Wohlgemuth. I am also a member of the yahoo groups sch_lap_band_support which is Hampton Careplex, I believe, and also sentara_southside_lb_support. Not too much going on in those... This one is hoppin' though! I do enjoy Virginia. It is a wonderful place to live! The laws here are pretty screwy but you have to take the good with the bad. I moved here from Riverside, California in the early 90's and don't regret it. Sourthern Ca. is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there again if I can help it! Born and raised there, I had enough of So. Ca. to last a lifetime. Northern Ca. reminds me of here though, so I would definitely go back there! So, I just called my Surgeon's office and left a voicemail for the coordinator to call me back because I feel like I am off-track. I need to regroup and keep my eye on the prize, so-to-speak. With Norfolk Surgical Group, you are required to go to 2 Support groups before you can be scheduled for surgery. They happen on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. They also require a class for exercise and nutrition. There are several other requirements but My Surgeon is booked until June, but I fear that I won't be able to get banded until July at this rate! I need to know what else that I haven't done so that I can get it done as soon as possible so that there is nothing else holding me up from being banded. My new-year's resolution was to have the surgery and lose 30 lbs., by independence day. At the time it seemed very realistic! It's looking less and less realistic now. I am so sick of yoyo dieting. I am a very strong person and would stay on a liquid diet for a year if necessary. I was on slim fast for years and also California Slim and a few others so drinking my meals is certainly nothing new to me. What brands have you found helpful so far as the shakes go? What is the name of the liquid protien Suppliment that you like? Have you found that it affects your Bowel Movements negatively? Please share your info and I am not one to say 'that was TMI' - there are not many subject that I find Taboo. Thanks in advance for your suggestions! Alison :hungry:

I do enjoy Virginia. It is a wonderful place to live! The laws here are pretty screwy but you have to take the good with the bad. I moved here from Riverside, California in the early 90's and don't regret it. Sourthern Ca is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there again if I can help it! Born and raised there, I had enough of So. Ca. to last a lifetime. Northern Ca reminds me of here though, I would go back there! So, I just called my Surgeon's office and left a voicemail for the coordinator to call me back because I feel like I am off-track. I need to regroup and keep my eye on the prize, so-to-speak. With Norfolk Surgical Group, you are required to go to 2 Support groups before you can be scheduled for surgery. They happen on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. My Surgeon is booked until June, but I fear that I won't be able to get banded until July at this rate! My new-year's resolution was to have the surgery and lose 30 lbs., by independence day. At the time it seemed very realistic! It's looking less and less realistic now. I am so sick of yoyo dieting. I am a very strong person and would stay on a liquid diet for a year if necessary. I was on slim fast for years and also California Slim and a few others so drinking my meals is certainly nothing new to me. What brands have you found helpful so far as the shakes go? What is the name of the liquid protien Suppliment that you like? Have you found that it affects your Bowel Movements negatively? Please share your info and I am not one to say 'that was TMI' - there are not many subject that I find Taboo. Thanks in advance for your suggestions! Alison:hungry:

Hey everyone! I am doing pretty good. Having a HARD time with the Iron pills. They are so hard to take. I break them up in like 4 pieces. Also have to take more Fiber cuz iron can stop things from movin if you know what I mean! Today I had the feeling of the munchies but I got past it. I have a hard time eating in the morning.. very tight.. so sometimes I skip and that is bad cuz I get hungrier later in the day. So, I am going to get back to at least drinking a Carnation IB in the morning. I should be able to tolerate that. Can I just tell you guys.. and sorry if TMI.. but lately, romantically, things have been GREAT with my fiance and I. I don't know but losing the weight and inches has increased things! *evil grin* Sorry if TMI again but just thought if anyone would understand, you guys would!.. My honey wont leave me alone!!! Well, I am off now.. gonna read some and then head to bed. (and will be sleeping.. LOL) Love to all! ~Donnamarie~

At the risk of TMI (too much information)here's a link to a website that provides a forum for more personal reports about many medications we take for emotional or neurological conditions. Be prepared for some VERY blunt talk. Click here: Crazy Meds! The Good, The Bad & The Funny of Neurological Medications Jo Ann

Slime to me is to pb, to pb does not mean you throw up, like it comes from the toes, it's the relief of that golf ball feeling or stuck feeling with "slime" ....just my opinion. Hope that wasn't TMI.

Been a rough week, this will be a nice change of pace/thought. This is hard because I really don't get embarassed, even over things that I know would mortify others. I have quick "oh crap" reactions, but then it's "oh well". Hmm... I had a "Something About Mary" moment once. Before the movie came out. I swear they got that idea from our camping incident. Funny that would be brought up already. It was with DH. We were camping and I'm big on being able to shower after - you know. I just can't stand the feeling lubed... and just trying to wipe it away doesn't cut it for me. Sorry, TMI, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And I don't use public showers. So I told DH ok, but he would have to pull out. How the fark do I tell this without it sounding like a porn? He pulls out and is kneeling/straddling me as he finishes. I'm helping him out. Right as he starts to "arrive", I get this HUGE leg cramp (come on ladies, we've all been there) and have to pull my leg up, which hits his arm/hand and makes him loosen his grip so he wasn't able to "contain" his ...guys... hopefully you know what I'm talking about. So ok, we'll have a little mess to clean up, no biggie, except we can't freaking find it. We're looking everywhere - on the tent walls, on the sleeping bag... on the flashlight... and I'll be a son of a bitch but we can't find his guys anywhere. And I'm thinking - maybe he did one of those weird things where the guy orgasms without ejaculating, because there is no ejaculate in this tent (my husband the tantric???). We're baffled, but our friends are calling us to come out so we can eat, figuring we're just missing it in one of the folds of the sleeping bags or something. We go out, eat, socialize, all is well. And then I notice people are looking at me funny. Don't think a single thing about it, my hair must be messed up. Get paranoid enough to reach up there and check it out, and my hair is all gooey. Wtf? Oh! Yep, there it is, on my head. Mostly on my hair, and somehow pooled at my hairline. Don't ask me, I can't explain it. But see... it didn't embarass me. It went something like: Me - Why the F didn't you guys tell me I had spooge in my hair? Friend 1 - I couldn't figure out what it was. Friend 5 - I thought it was a bug. Friend 2 - I though that's what it was, but how the hell did it get there? Me - We were looking EVERYWHERE for that. DH - Is easily embarassed, and just kind of sits there before sliding into a fetal position. Friend 6 - *takes a picture*

I'm a week away from being banded. I have been reading around here quite a bit, but I wondered if this is unusual. I have no pre-op diet. They just told me to practice chewing food really good, give up caffeine, sip as much Water as possible, and eat less carbs / more Protein. I feel like I should be doing more to get ready for this. Also, post-op, I will be on Clear liquids for a very short time (about two days) and then go straight to mushies. Does this seem unusual? The place where I am being banded is very reputable. It's a "Bariatric Center of Excellence" for Blue Cross / Blue Shield. They do a lot of surgeries and they are quite aggressive about recovery, post-op. Also, TMI-type question (I'm a dork) but do they shave your pubic hair when they do surgery? For some reason I am freaking out about this. I am not a hairball but I don't shave clean either - can't stand the grow-back itch! LOL! Thanks in advance, for any info.

That is a good theory! I haven't had a BM and I do get constipated before my period for some weird reason. Sorry if that was TMI!!! Is Miralax prescription? Maybe I'll try something over the counter. PS-I got Flonase today too due to my post-nasal drip which makes me tight too.

I also have PCOS and have always had trouble with periods. Up until a month after I got my band I had never started my period on my own before. I always had to take the pill to get a period. I had one in October, then again in November but in december I started having them twice a month and then would spot a few days... then nothing a few days. It was very all over the place. I finally went in and decided it was time to get back on birth control because I still have over 100 pounds to lose to goal so I got the nuva ring. I put it in and all was fine until I started my period 4 days before I was supposed to take it out. So I removed it early and within a few days I was having the worst period of my life. I bled over tampons and pads together every 2 hours. It lasted two weeks and I went back on the pill and it still didn't completely stop it so after a week on the pill and still bleeding I went to my obgyn and she doubled up my pills for 3 days and said she's not sure what caused it to be that bad. I also got a yeast infection from the heavy bleeding for 2 weeks. She said that was common. I'm just now recovering from it. I'm never using nuva ring again! hahahaha. I'm now taking Yaz birth control pills and I'm much happier. I was on ortho tri cyclin for probably 7 or 8 years. Sorry if this is TMI

Do you REALLY want someone to call Kenneth Star? That was so messy. Besides, is that really what will make or break them in the Oval Office doing their job? There are just some things you shouldn't know about a person (TMI).

So the swelling seems to be mostly all gone down today finally. Yesterday I noticed that on a lot of corners where I have the incision sites taped (these are square bits of clear stuff with masking tape on them) I was getting blisters. So what I did was cut away the tape where there was blisters. A few of the blisters popped- mostly the bigger ones and of course there was cross pus and all but I put antibiotic ointment and bandaides over them and then a lot of the smaller ones didn't so I am just leaving them alone. Probably some bizare allergic reaction. I have sensitive skin. Then right now I am also finally starting on the full liquid phase. I stayed on Clear liquids for longer because I had a PB on day two post op when I drank too much all at once. So now I am slowly sipping on a slim fast. It never tasted so good before. Last night I was drinking Protein Water and at some points it was hard to remember to go slow because I was thirsty but I managed. When I drink I usually get a nice burp in return. Sometimes there is some pressure for a moment or two and then some more gas comes up. I guess I have pretty tight restriction! I sure hope it loosens up in the next week or two! Also right now I am still having dreams about food but they have changed. Before it was always food and then I would wake up starving. Now since my PB I have been having more nightmares. LOL. Like I dream that I ate a slice a pizza really fast and of course it is yummy but then I remember that I now I have the band I can't eat a slice of pizza really fast like that- just gulping it down so I am waiting for it... Or that I ate a soft solid too early but I was really careful and only had one bite. Or I discovered a huge tub of ice cream of ice cream in the freezer (chocolate cheesecake swirl with rocky road) and then I dished out just a half a cup and worked on chewing really well because I was afraid of upsetting the band. So now all my food dreams feature the band as well as food. This is a definite change. And when I wake up I always take a moment and sort of wonder what I might have eaten and then I realize that off course it was a dream. I meant to go to the walk in clinic today because I think I have a UTI because of all the blood in my urine lately (a bit freaky I'll admit as I'm not used to that) and also I started running a low fever (99.2) last night but its stable at least. And I called the doctor on call at my clinic and they said walk in should be able to handle it and not send me to ER ( I don't feel up to sitting around for hours there. I just don't. I'm not sick enough or well enough at this point... You know what I mean), since it sounds like a basic UTI. But today I slept through the hours that the walk in clinic was open (8 am to 8pm)... hey sleeping is what I do especially when I don't feel well. And tomorrow I will try again. I also sent my DH out for cranberry juice. So of course I am worrying about antibioitics now and what form they will take. I am allergic to most antibiotics-- at least the ones I have taken. Basically I can taken the erithymiacin derivitives and clindimyiacin (erithmiacin itself makes me projectile vomit so I like to avoid it). But those tend to be big pills or make me nauseated with stuff or whatever. So I don't know if there is a liquid form. I figure I would ask for zithromax as that is the least pills and side effects. And I don't want to be adventurous and try a new class of antibiotics or whatever because I don't feel up to the whole not breathing swelling rash stuff. This of course assumes it is an UTI but what else could it be? I swear when I wipe after I pee there is more blood than Urine, probably TMI. But it is sort of interesting too. And no, it isn't my period. I also finally lost a couple of pounds. I had somehow managed to gain weight after the surgery. This was pretty disconcerting especially since I was on no food and clear liquids and all. But then yesterday I was two pounds down finally. I haven't changed my ticker yet because I haven't felt like doing it yet. I also think the house is getting even messier around me. My husband said a pile of clothes collapsed in the laundry room and I don't think he did anything about it. The kitchen doesn't look good at all. He is working on putting in a newer, bigger, tankless water heater (we have a tankless that is fairly new but it doesn't keep up with our water needs esp since we are doing a bathroom renovation). So there are pipes and stuff all over. *Sigh* I'll get on him tomorrow. I'm going to be still down and resting at least a few more days so he needs to do more than he usually would, not that he would do a lot...

Hi All, I had my surgery on Tuesday, and I am still in pain. I was hospitalized on Tuesday night for observation and yesterday night as well. I came home today. I am not in as much pain as I was the past few days, and thankfully, I am now passing "gas." Sorry, I know it is TMI but the nurses told me that I need to, to release the pressure caused by the CO2 during surgery. I am home now, armed and dangerous with vicodine and anti-nausea medication. The past two days I was wondering what I did to myself, but now as the pain slowly decreases, I believe i made a good decision. I cannot wait to live the rest of my life. Thank you everyone for sharing on this thread as it has been amazing moral support. Reading about what everyone is going through gives me the courage and confidence to keep moving forward. Good luck to those being banded today and shortly. Keep us updated/ Tabitha

Ok I am back home and resting... doing better pain wise now too than I was earlier. I have a Looong post all about my banding experience in the March 2007 bandsters thread on the main page. I fell asleep for about four hours not too long after getting settled in here at home and now I'm super thirtsty, but still just one sip/ounce every 15 minutes. Thats rough. In a couple of minutes I am going to get up and attempt to go pee. Ah, the adventures I have:rolleyes:. I tried to pee when I got home but it didn't work and I don't think I really needed to. When they made me sit up in the hospital on the bed some leaked on. Naturally, I pretended nothing happended and just covered it up with a blanket. I think its just part of my readjusting after the cath so as long as I can pee tonight it will all be ok. TMI, I know, I know, but I feel compelled to share. Instead of doing a more formal type ritual like I had intended I actually went out for a ride with a friend cause she had taken the top off of her jeep and it was so nice out. And we stopped off at the Park where they have this meditation labrynth that you walk. Its a brick pattern based on one in a cathedral in france. So I walked and meditated on my banding and spirtuality and the woods and how my new sandles were giving me blisters. It was nice. A few times since being home my dog has come up to me and licked my hand and had me pet her and then she wags like crazy as she stares up at me adoringly, like she is trying to say "Get better soon" My rabbit is ignoring me for now. I ordered a pretty bouqet of pink tulips and blue irisis that should arrive tomorrow with a get well soon card for me. I'm excited about those.

BBk - you'll wear yourself out - you need to get rest when you are sick or you'll just get sicker. I'm totally one for bedrest at least one day when someone is sick, it gives the body time to heal. But I know that sometimes its impossible. Nat - whats up girl? Va - yes I am definitly looser in the evenings. WAY too loose (in every sense of the word just ask dh - jking!) Annie -I really have to agree with you about the eating adjustment too - I should not be eating ice cream - and the crazy thing is I've never been much of an ice cream eater! I've been really good about staying away from that kind of crap and then suddenly I'm stuffing myself with it! As for the parfait instead of a burger - I'd still opt for the burger, that parfait wouldn't stay with me and meat does, plus the higher protein in meat makes me tend to side with it. BUT the bun is another story, I don't normally eat breads like that. Anyway I'm going in today at 2 for another fill - hopefully this will bring me a little closer to the sweetspot. Like you said even a small fill should help. Claudia - I would think the weight would be dropping off at 500-700 calories. I agree I think you should up your intake to 900-1200. Good job on the walking. I think I'll walk outside today instead of on the treadmill. Jill - I think you and I are about the same - you probably need another fill too. Even just a small one. I got my fill 2/28 and I think I lost about 3 lbs the first week - and now nothing. Are you exercising? I think thats the only reason I lost anything. Try to get you 10000 steps in everyday. Bman - I hope your cyst gets skinny - lol - seriously will it shrink then? I remember my dh had a fatty cyst on his back, it was pretty big like the size of a deck of cards and it went away on its own. I don't remember how long he had it tho. Pain meds are good - when dh cut his finger - he was like mr macho .. oh I dont' need them... she said I bet you will when what we gave you wears off... needless to say he took them till they were gone. I have to say sweetie that last weekend seemed to do you the world of good - you sound happy. I'm glad. And yes it was a bit embarrassing puking in the parking lot - thank goodness there wasn't many people around and that it didn't look like throw up - it was just a couple chunks of burger, like someone had chewed up and spit out. sorry tmi LOL I think the reason it came up was the water I drank trying to get it down. Lesson learned. BTW - my nails look great.

Kelly, thank you so much for updating us on your Mom. I am glad it is over, and behind her, now for the healing. Let her know, our prayers will continue, and we hope her pain eases. Thanks again. Mandy, my heart is so sad for you right now. We want our childrens lives to be easy, and right now that isn't the case for Abi. I will for sure say extra prayers for all of you. I wish there was something more I could do. Does she like receiving mail? Can I send her a card or a little something every now and then? If ever you need a caring ear on the other end of the phone line, to vent to, to cry with----you can call me ANYTIME---I will PM the #. I know you have a supportive family, but I always felt like I was adding to the pain they were already feeling, knowing I was hurting too----we are all here, and sharing your concerns, and fears, and hopes for help for Abi. I hope you can feel the big hug I am sending you telepathically!!! Deb--I had the crud it sounds like your family has. I had my DD call me in a prescription (with the Dr.s ok!) for some phenergren for the nausea, and it helped, knocked me out---but then it hit the other way, and for 2 days I couldn't get far from the bathroom. I know TMI---but be prepared!!! Today I feel human again! I actually yesterday---saw my scale read 200. BUT this morning it was up to 201, and I am sure tomorrow will be 202. I seriously thought about refusing to eat or drink for another day just to let it drop!!! Then the stupidity of the idea sunk in!!! Betty--it has been so nice here! We had a rain storm the other day, but it passed, and the sun has returned. I dearly hope the rain you are getting is hitting our place in TX as well. It is so dry there, our tanks are almost dry. If it doesn't change, we will likely sell even more of the herd, if not all of it. That is happening to so many, the beef prices are bare bottom....which doesn't help the idea. Beannie--glad you are home, and still employeed. That is scary! I think you are wise looking ahead at a change. Then if they pull it out, you have not lost anything. Extra knowledge will never hurt! Your vacation sounds like it was just what you needed. Quality time with DH & your family. I want a pool.......and a hot pool boy....cuz I really don't want to have to take care of one!!!! Sherry---how's the cold? Darcy---you off walking on the new treadmill and ignoring us???? Cindy---time to check in!!! Do not make me do roll call!!! Well, I am going to make the coffeepot, and likely head off to bed. I will remember all of you in my prayers tonight....promise! Kat

Me and My wife went from Chicago to Monterry MX 2 1/2 years ago. On the same day we both had surgery. We had lost weight before surgery, but lost much more after surgery. It was awesome to do this with my best friend. I have seen Debbie go from a size 30 to a size 12. I am so proud of her, but I was proud of her before surgery. It is like being on a honeymoon after 22 years of marriage. I know thats TMI. Dow

Actually, i don't have too much in the way of gas pain either. But, my port sight was hurting and i just put it on top of my t-shirt..ah lovely. Ok- good news -poop accomplished. TMI , I know. Can i just say that tonite i was hungry and my family had some of my favorites. Steak,pasta with sauce ,salad and here's the killer..garlic bread. I am on soft/mushie so i made myself soft baked ricotta and tomato sauce. Had my cup serving and you know, it was delish. I needed to get some protein..I was hungry. I also made homemade applesauce for tomorrow. It looks yummy. I will blend some cottage cheese in. I am staying with soft for a bit. I have to admit i am alittle intimidated by food right now. I get kinda freaked that I will get sick. I know it's a learning curve..i have to be patient and learn this one step at a time. Synicalchick- how are you feeling? mary- shame on him- is he perhaps dealing with the surgery in his own way? does he have a weight problem? Sometimes i think partners have a hard time b/c they are losing their eating partner? I have no idea if that's you guys, but i know my husband had alittle of that. My husband will do anything in the world for me.........if I ask, it usually doesn't just occur to him.He makes me nuts sometimes but he is definitely my other half. What can you do??

Ah, OK. I haven't really had any so I guess that's why I haven't searched for solutions. Don't get me wrong, I have the gas, lol. Accompanied by a lovely diarrhea (TMI), but no pain or even feelings of the gas. Sometimes I hear it gurgling :girl_hug:

I know TMI. But for everyone with a yeast infection, try douching with live yogurt as well, seriously!

my nutritionalist said that if you drink juice without watering it down, you could get the D word. so i made sure i always did. in fact, i didn't even have any sort of BM for about 3 days. TMI, yeah. LOL!

Hi February Bandsters, I was banded on Feb 12 and took a little side trip. I have just now caught up on all your posts since I have been gone. Boy do you guys fly:) I think I had 25 pages to catch up on. It has been interesting reading about your bandings and recoveries. Hunger :hungry: and pain :sick seem to be common themes. I had a hiatal hernia fix as well as band placement and for some reason (I neglected to ask the doc) I swelled up tight, so tight I could not get liquids down. I sat in the hospital, hooked to an IV, spitting for 5 days. I was glad to go home but I still was not getting liquids down despite what the doc thought. My pain and anti nausea meds made me sicker so I got suppositories :omg: I know TMI, sorry. I was throwing up 2-3 times a day :cake: (I think my pouch was filling with saliva and when it got full up it came). It was actually a relief because it would take away the feeling of being incredibly full with lots of pressure on my chest. My break through came on day 8 (just in time) when I found out hot tea went through. I slept in a recliner because I had a kind of tugging or constriction feeling at my throat and later reflux issues. Two weeks after surgery I was able to sleep in a bed and I started back to work half-time. I have gotten better daily but I sure think I am a candidate for the pity party, just let me know when and I will be there;). Is there a silver lining here? Maybe, I missed the shoulder/gas pains. I had them but I was on morphine then so they were not an issue (just a little after I got home) as far as incision or port pain, I haven't even noticed if there was any. Now that I am on "the other side" of my complications I think they were minor in comparison to the inconvenience and discomfort some of you are going through. Hang in there :girl_hug: and hugs to you all. Good Journey, Terri

This will be a long one, I'm afraid. I was banded 04/20/2006 by Dr. Ariel Ortiz in TJ. Surgery went great. My second - and last - fill was on 07/11/2006 for a total fill of 2.4 cc in a 10 cm band. Starting losing weight and was doing just fine. In November I began having stiffness and swelling in my back due to diagnosed spinal arthritis and bone spurs. This made my band a little tighter. Near the end of December I experienced bloating and swelling due to perimenopausal bleeding that I had not seen in four years. You guessed it, my band felt even tighter. By the end of January I knew it was time for an unfill until I could get these issues resolved. I made an appointment locally for a fluoro and unfill. The night before I was scheduled to go in, I ate a piece of chicken. It immediately obstructed my band. I have never known such pain as this, and I've had natural childbirth and three kidney stones. The vomiting and retching were over the top. I was taken immediately to the ER. Of course, they had never heard of the band. All I could say was "Get a 2-inch needle, aspirate all fluid from the port!" I even told them to go look it up online. One of the sweet ER nurses did come in and ask me to not scream so loud as I was scaring a child down the hall! As if I could stop. The local lap band doc (who was not on call) came to my rescue and removed all the fluid from my band. There was a great sense of relief, but I still had a lot of pain. It had been mitigated somewhat by the 5 mg of morphine they gave me. They sent me home. Within an hour, I knew I was in bad trouble. The pain had just increased more, so back we went to the ER. At least I got a different nurse this time! Bloodwork was done, followed by CT scan. Just an elevated white count. They decided to admit me for an endoscopy the following morning. It was about 2 a.m. by this time. They kept me drugged with the 5 mg morphine every 45 minutes to an hour, and it barely kept me going. The next morning at 11 a.m. I went down for an endoscopy to be followed by a gastric graphing. After waking up from the endo, they said no more tests for you. You have to go to immediate surgery. I saw the pictures from the endo - pink, pink, black. I knew it was bad when I saw black! The scheduled my surgery for 5 p.m. but moved it up to 2 p.m. As I was being rushed in, I was told that my band had slipped catastrophically down the front of my stomach and my stomach was being deprived of oxygen from being strangled by the band. They were hoping to do a lap incision and remove the band and things would go back to normal. The surgeon took one look in the lap incision, took a picture of my stomach looking the same color as my liver (bad news!) and then removed the lap tool and opened me up all they way, from sternum to belly button. They removed the band, along with two/thirds of my stomach that had died over the last few hours. I woke up with a six-inch stapled incision, a two-inch stapled incision, two drains, a central line to my heart, an NG tube that went into what was left of my stomach, a Foley catheter and those lovely leg squeezers. I was unable to get out of bed for four days and didn't have solid food for over a week. IVs only. The NG tube was my "friend" for five days. I was given alternating doses of two different antibiotics every six hours to prevent peritonitis. I was on a morphine pump to administer 5 mg of morphine every hour on the hour. I used that pump for over seven days. Thank God the antibiotics worked! I was in the hospital 11 days and am very lucky to be here today. Now to answer a few questions I know some of you might have. My band had not slipped before this night, and I had no symptoms of a slip. I had no symptoms of anything. No pain, No acid reflux, no PB'g. I was able to eat and drink as I had before it started getting tighter, just much smaller amounts. The doctor said the initial surgery looked like a good surgery, so no problem there. I did all the things I was supposed to be doing, eating slow, chewing well, etc. The doctor who fixed me up said I should have no long-term effects from losing so much stomach, except for some weight loss. I will only be able to eat small amounts, about 4 oz., five to seven times a day. I've lost over 17 pounds since the surgery and am struggling not to lose more as I need to get in more calories to help my body heal faster. I'm dealing with low-grade queasiness all day, and the BMs will be faster until they get settled down. The doc was able to save my pyloris, so I won't have the "dumping" issues we've all heard about. Before you get too scared over my story, just remember that my surgeon said that this is a very rare occurence. This was the first time he's seen it happen this way. But you know what they say, "The statistics may be only 1%, but if you are that 1%, then your statistic just jumped to 100%. We all know when we decide to get the lap-band that complications can happen, so I felt it was necessary to share with this community my personal experience. I do not regret getting my lap-band last year. It just turned out that I was to be one of the "statistics" we all read about. Considering the seriousness of my situation, I'm so very grateful to be here to be able to share this with you. I've often wondered over these last few weeks as I recover if there was anything I could have done to prevent this from happening. The doc says probably not as I had no symptoms and was in the process of doing the right thing by getting a fluoro and an unfill. I know this post may contain TMI, and I apolopgize in advance for that. But I also know there are many, many of you on this board that want and need to hear my story. So here it is. Feel free to post any questions for me. I'll be more than happy to answer any questions I can.