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I went to my first fill today. I brought what I've eaten for the past seven days and talked to the nutritionist about it. She said I was doing very welll. She didn't even flinch at the King Crab Legs and Vodka I had on New Years!!! I was honest, I put on there that I'd eaten at Taco Bell two days and McDonald's another day, but those days I pretty much didn't eat anything else, and then most days I ate healthy food, so she said I was doing great. Apparently I'm down another 5 pounds since the last doctor's appointment!!! That made me feel so much better. THe scale read 300.003!!! That's just one pound until I'm under 300! It actually flashed 299.9, but then went back up o 300. My home scale says 303. The surgeon said I was doing great, especially over the holidays to lose 5 pounds, so that perked my spirits up. I was told to get on the chair and they reclined it all the way, but betadine on my stomach and numbed it with little needle pricks. Then he took a long needle and began to poke me to find the port. He couldn't find it. He could find the big round thing, but apparently there's a soft spot in the middle that the syringe goes through and he could not find that. He stuck me like 10 times and he hurt! (I'm a baby with pain by the way). Then he kept trying to find it. I was actually going to ask to take a break because I can't stand little sticking pain....He numbed the area again and poked me again, and then I said, "Ouch!" and he numbed it agaain. He finally found it well below where they (and I ) thought it was. He apologized for hurting me several times and said that next time they'll know right where it is. In hindsight, it wasn't really that bad. I have a 10cc band and he put in 4.5 cc, which is a little more than usual, but I live close by, so I could get an unfill if I needed to. I drank a whole glass of Water and it went down fine. I have another follow up appt. scheduled on Feb. 3rd. I'm supposed to drink liquids, then progress to mushies, then on to real food in the next two days. I feel good and I'm hopeful that my weight loss will really jump start now!! Update: It's the day after my fill and I feel restriction. I weighed myself today after the gym and I weighed 299 on my home scale! WHOO hoo on being under 300!:thumbup:

I just got my callback!..... I go see my surgeon monday morning....... I have been waiting for 10 months! Now what I would really like to know....is how long do I wait now? ...how much more time until my surgery? Im nurvous ....excited.... happy! and surprised...I thought I was going to have to wait until 2010 for my call....sorry if I sound so excited.....but I only told 2 pple.... reason is Im choosing NOT to tell pple........ no thank you...Im finally doing something for myself and I feel great about my decision....I don't need other people giving me any negitive feedback! I have my mothers sholder...and my hubbies..... thats all I need!:closedeyes:

I wish I was allowed a protein shake. My doctor told me that I am not allowed any more protein shakes. I did find a protein bar that is only 180 calories, 19 grams of protein and only 2 grams of sugar. The bars taste really great. I think they are called pure protein. I found them in my store's nutrician center.

Hi all, I was banded on 3/25 and am down 45 pds (20 pre op). Really other than minor issues it really didn't feel like I had much restriction. Well yesterday i got my 3rd fill and am now at 5.5 in a 10 cc band. Well I got real hungry today and ate too fast and didn't chew.... well had my 1st PB. and hopefully it will be my last.

Hi Jessica, I was nauseated for a while after surgery but Im happy to report that its gone away for the most part. I had mine done on 12/21/10 and I rarely have nausea now. It does happen when I eat a little too much but other than that im alot better. As for spitting, I didnt have that problem but I had a thick white film on my tongue for 6 weeks or so and bad breath and dry mouth as well. I still struggle with the dry mouth if Im not hydrated well. Hope that helps.

Tomorrow morning (October 10) I'm having my surgery at 7:45 a.m. I am nervous and excited. Hope I can sleep tonight!

Me too! I hope I'm not hurting my stomach! I cannot make this tiny bit of food last longer than 10-15 minutes!

I was banded 12-08-10 and was doown about 10 lbs. from my surgery day weight... Well, today, for some reason, I am back to my pre-surgery weight and I am totally DISGUSTED and want to give up. This all happened while religiously watching the calories and protein and I just got done with my period... Any help out there???

My sister is 3 yrs post op & still can't. Me on the other hand, 10 month post op & never could, can now like a drunken sailor!!

"That my BMI qualified me for weight loss surgery, not my pocket book." Julie, I just wanted to say way to go on making a decision to lose the weight now. I "only" had 65 pounds to lose, for 16 frickin years! I don't care if its 65 or 165 being obese sucks! Don't feel bad about getting help. I have 10 pounds to go and couldnt be happier. And I was self pay too. Best $10K I ever spent! Just for reference, I tell everyone about my lap band. But I am also 40 years old and I don't give a flip what people think anymore. Do what is right for you.... Leigha

My surgeon never gave me a pre-op diet, just directions to lower the carbs, go high protein, and try to lose 10-15 pounds before surgery. He said the most important thing is to shrink the liver to allow better access to the stomach and reduce chances of complications. It's also a chance to practice what you'll have to do more stringently after surgery, so that you don't go into emotional shock in the first two phases after surgery (liquids and full liquids). So I just dieted like normal with salads, veggies, no soda, cut out sugary stuff, ate lots of chicken, tried out a few protein shakes. But I still made time to have some of my favorites, just in very small bites. Then of course, clears 24 hours before surgery for anesthesia reasons.

The benfits are twofold. One, if they can't find the port it helps locate it. Most don't have any problem finding the port, but if they do this is helpful. You don't want anyone poking around the port and accidently puncturing the tubing. Second, barium is swolled and they can see how fast/slow the liquid goes through to the stomach. This is a gauge for how much restriction you have. That being said, mine flows through like a waterfall. Even when I could barley swallow my own spit, it flowed through. For me, restriction is not meaured by the barium swallow. It just shows I'm not stuck. I react to fills about 6-10 days later. A delay swelling. The symptoms we get from an overfill might not be that stuff can't go through, but the irritation/pain is from the esphogus. The barium/fluro method gives me a little piece of mind that things are working and the band is where its supposed to be. Other than that, it is not a good indicator of restriction for me. I don't think I'm a normal case though.

I'm in the same boat. I am stuck. Has taken me 4 months to lose 10 pounds. While that is still better than gaining and I am grateful for that, I feel as if I should be doing better. All I want to really be is 199 and I got 30 pounds to go. Seems my body has given up no matter what I do to try and jump start things. I set the 199 goal for myself coming from a all-time highest weight of 368 (abaout 10 years ago) and 300 on surgery day 1/19/07. I'm not ready to be finished yet. Getting a fill on 5/27. Hopefully will do some good.

WHY was it unfilled? (you said leave it unfilled....why was it unfilled to begin with? I am not just nosy; it may pertain!) and yes if the papaya enzyme is going to help (get one formulated with other enzymes...words like cellulase, ok?) it will help within about 10 minutes. Keep in mind if you've been stuck this long you will be sore and swollen.

57 lbs!!! That's awesome! At least the number on the scale went down not up. You should feel wonderful about that. I have read several posts similar to yours where people are adament about the number on the scale and comparing their loss with others and it's easy to do but Stop!!! No 2 people are alike. What everyone is failing to realize is that they have upped their grams of Protein which causes more muscle building which weighs more than fat, so the scale is not going to move. So you may be getting the wrong type of protein. Lower your intake of the meat and try a faster digesting protein such as whey or Soy. Also you probably are exercising more which is building muscle and causing you to stay at your plateau. Lower your intake by at least 10 grams for 2-3 days and up your cardio. Try to do at least 20 mins of heart rate elevating cardio at least 2 times a day. You should be able to move past your plateau this way by allowing your body to feed off it's fat and not muscle. And measure, measure, measure! Your body will drop inches before it even registers on the scale. Keep your head up!! You're doing a great job!!! You'll get where you want to be before you know it!

At 10 days post-op your body is in a major heal mode. You should not be eating chicken nuggets at your stage. For RNY gastric bypass patients the Weight Loss phase is very short. You want to maximize your weight loss during this phase because soon you will slide into the Maintenance phase. So it is very very important to follow the program guidelines. Right after surgery, some individuals will lose weight quickly and effortlessly. But as time goes on, your weight loss will dramatically slow down. So make the most of it and follow the doctor's orders.

I'm down over 40 and even though my current clothes are loose, the next size down is still a bit tight. I'm hoping if 5 or 10 more lbs I'll be down a size---finally! Mary

at about 2 months out, I started bleeding a few days a week lightly. (I have PCOS & only have TOM maybe 2-3 times a year at my highest weight of 265lbs.) That went on for probably a month or so. Then all the sudden I started bleeding A LOT every single day for probably 10-14 days. During that time i had my hemoglobin and hematocrit checked and it was super low 23.4 and 7.9. I was very pale as well. Finally at a dr.'s appt. my OB/GYN told me she could do a D&C THAT day. So 2 hours later I was prepped for that and then when done, I received 2 units of blood. Long story short, I know for a fact that my weight loss had everything to do with the onslaught of TOM. My hormones were obviously WAY out of whack. I lost 95lbs in 5.5 months. The last 2 months I;ve lost about 10lbs (my fault.Kind of took a break,but now getting back on track to lose the last 30-40lbs). I would say it's your hormones. I would certainly go see a doctor as soon as you can. Good luck!

I hope this helps. http://www.advancedbariatricsurgery.com/forum/?f=10

Sorry about your UTI. I don’t know about others, but I had my sleeve on 10/10 and they did NOT give me an antibiotic after surgery. I think it’s odd they didn’t give you any to clear up the UTI before surgery. Did they say why they didn’t??

You can watch some great YouTube videos by Erin Branscom (My Level 10 Life) about the process. I liked them so much I joined her facebook group, and I never do stuff like that (I don't agree with everything she says). I have never heard of anyone coming home on oxygen. Mostly for sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass (the most common WLSurgeries) they are done with small incisions, and I can't imagine why you would need to come home on oxygen unless you required oxygen before surgery. At the consult the surgeon will probably take a medical/surgical history and talk to you about the various procedures. I haven't had surgery yet so I can't answer most of your questions.

this might be helpful for all who have tummy issues. I for one have had GERD all my 33 years of life. My mom said that she had to follow me around with a towel when I was a baby...... :sick Original Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=HQ00312 Barrett's esophagus Overview Tums. Maalox. Mylanta. Rolaids. These and other over-the-counter remedies spell "r-e-l-i-e-f" for many of the millions of Americans who regularly have heartburn. However, common heartburn isn't always just an annoying condition that's quickly remedied by an over-the-counter antacid. It can also be symptomatic of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is the chronic regurgitation of acid from your stomach into your lower esophagus. And, long-term GERD can sometimes lead to Barrett's esophagus, a condition in which the color and composition of the cells lining your lower esophagus change because of repeated exposure to stomach acid. Having Barrett's esophagus increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer. Barrett's esophagus is uncommon. Only a small percentage of people with GERD develop Barrett's. But once it's diagnosed, there's a much greater risk of developing esophageal cancer, which often spreads from the esophagus to lymph nodes and to other organs. Although increased, the absolute risk of esophageal cancer for someone with Barrett's esophagus is small — less than one percent a year. Signs and symptoms Barrett's esophagus itself isn't associated with specific symptoms. But, heartburn and acid reflux — the bad-tasting liquid that may enter your mouth from your throat — are common indicators of GERD. And having GERD can lead to Barrett's esophagus. A telltale sign of Barrett's esophagus occurs when the color of the tissue lining the lower esophagus changes from its normal pink to a salmon color. This process, called metaplasia, is caused by repeated and long-term exposure to stomach acid. Other signs and symptoms of GERD that also may be associated with Barrett's esophagus or even rarely esophageal cancer include: Trouble swallowing. Often, a narrowing of the esophagus (esophageal stricture) leads to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Bleeding. You may vomit red blood or blood that looks like coffee grounds. Unusual stools. Your stools may be black, tarry or bloody. Weight loss. You may experience an unexpected drop in weight. Causes Barrett's esophagus usually develops from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn and acid reflux are the most common symptoms of GERD and result from stomach contents washing into the esophagus. The ring of muscle at the junction of the esophagus and stomach (sphincter) normally traps acid in your stomach by clamping shut. GERD usually results from a weakened sphincter, and it can be aggravated by a protrusion of the upper stomach, where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm (hiatal hernia). Left untreated, GERD can lead to more serious complications such as severe heartburn (with esophagitis) — the chest pain can be intense enough to resemble a heart attack — stricture, bleeding, Barrett's esophagus and even esophageal cancer. Risk factors Chronic heartburn and acid reflux put you at risk of GERD and Barrett's esophagus because the esophagus is designed to carry food and liquid only one way: from your mouth to your stomach. The esophageal lining is sensitive to and unable to handle acid. Your stomach, however, has a lining designed to withstand acid-containing stomach (gastric) contents. Stomach acid is damaging to esophageal tissue. Repeated and long-term exposure to stomach acid can lead to the transformation of esophageal tissue into the salmon-colored tissue characteristic of Barrett's esophagus, which is actually an acid-resistant lining similar to the lining of your stomach. Men are more likely to develop Barrett's esophagus than women are. The disease is also more common in people over the age of 60 than it is in younger adults. When to seek medical advice See your doctor if you've had long-term trouble with heartburn and acid reflux. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you: Have difficulty swallowing Are vomiting red blood or blood that looks like coffee grounds Are passing black, tarry or bloody stools Experience an unexpected weight loss. Screening and diagnosis Diagnosing Barrett's esophagus is difficult because it often doesn't exhibit specific symptoms. Experiencing the acid reflux of GERD may be the best indication that you either have Barrett's esophagus or may be at risk to acquire the disease. If you have severe acid reflux, your doctor may discover Barrett's esophagus by examining your esophagus through endoscopy. Endoscopy involves inserting a lighted, flexible tube (endoscope) with a camera on its tip through your mouth and into your esophagus and stomach. Usually, you'll receive a local anesthetic, and you may be sedated for this procedure. The procedure allows your doctor to search for abnormalities such as precancerous cell changes (dysplasia) or an abnormal junction between your stomach and esophagus. In a healthy esophagus, the stomach-esophagus mucosal junction is at the lower end of the esophagus. In Barrett's esophagus, this junction is displaced upward. If Barrett's esophagus is suspected, your doctor also looks for evidence of cancer. During endoscopy, your doctor may remove tissue samples (biopsies) of potentially abnormal areas to be examined under a microscope. If specimens reveal intestinal goblet-shaped cells, your doctor may make a diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. Complications Having Barrett's esophagus increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer. The earlier that metaplasia — the telltale changing of the color of the tissue that lines the lower esophagus from its normal pink to a salmon color — is detected, the better. Barrett's esophagus may develop precancerous changes (dysplasia) in grades ranging from none to mild but still significant changes (low-grade), to serious changes (high-grade), and finally to invasive cancer. When high-grade dysplasia is detected, cancer often is already present. Cancer can spread from the esophagus to nearby lymph nodes and to other parts of your body. Treatment It's not too late to treat Barrett's esophagus if you don't have advanced cancer. However, many people with esophageal cancer show up so late in the progress of the disease that doctors first discover Barrett's esophagus at the same time they find the cancer. Treatment for Barrett's esophagus may start with controlling GERD by making a number of lifestyle changes and taking self-care steps. These actions include getting more exercise, avoiding foods that aggravate heartburn, stopping smoking if you smoke, taking antacids or stronger acid blocking medications, and elevating the head of your bed to prevent reflux during sleep. People with severe GERD and Barrett's esophagus usually need aggressive treatment, which may include medications, other nonsurgical medical procedures or even surgery. Medications Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix) and esomeprazole (Nexium) are drugs that block production of acid and relieve irritated tissue. Doctors sometimes prescribe another class of drugs called H-2-receptor blockers to treat GERD and Barrett's esophagus. They're weaker than PPIs, although less expensive. Prescription H-2-receptor blockers such as famotidine (Pepcid, Mylanta AR), cimetidine (Tagamet), nizatidine (Axid) and ranitidine (Zantac) are available over the counter in doses less than prescription strength. Although these medications often are quite effective for GERD, once Barrett's metaplasia is present these drugs won't reliably reverse the condition, and the risk of cancer remains. Surgery Anti-reflux surgery (laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication) offers an alternative to dependence on medication for GERD and Barrett's esophagus. The procedure tightens the sphincter by wrapping part of the stomach around the lower esophagus to prevent acid reflux. Laparoscopic surgery involves inserting special instruments through small incisions — less than an inch. The procedure leaves only tiny scars. You can expect to stay in the hospital for one or two days following this surgery. Although surgery can be effective for GERD, once Barrett's metaplasia is present surgery won't reliably reverse the condition, and the risk of cancer remains. If you have esophageal cancer, or if you have Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia, your doctor may recommend you undergo a procedure in which the esophagus is removed completely and the stomach is pulled into the chest (esophagectomy). After this surgery, you may lose up to 20 pounds, spend 10 to 12 days in the hospital and require up to six weeks to recover. The surgical treatment of people with high-grade dysplasia is controversial. Some experts believe that esophagectomy should be used as a measure to protect against cancer. Other experts believe that surveillance through endoscopies at three- to six-month intervals and esophagectomy — if cancer develops — are sufficient. Doctors generally don't recommend surgery for people with declining health or for those who are too weak to withstand a major procedure. Alternatives to medications and surgery Removal (ablation) of dysplasia makes possible the reversal of Barrett's esophagus, and it may prevent esophageal cancer. Combined with PPIs, ablation may be appropriate especially if you're not a good candidate for an esophagectomy. Ablation procedures include: Photodynamic therapy. First, you'll take a drug to make the Barrett's cells sensitive to light. Then, your doctor inserts a light into your esophagus. Tissues that the light touches are burned off. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the photosensitizing agent Photofrin to treat Barrett's esophagus. Electrocautery. Your doctor inserts an electric wire into your esophagus to burn away dysplasia. Laser therapy. Your doctor uses a hot beam of light (laser) inserted into your esophagus to burn away Barrett's cells. This procedure is effective but difficult to apply evenly. Argon plasma coagulation. Your doctor releases a jet of argon gas into your esophagus along with an electric current to burn away dysplasia. The long-term effectiveness of ablation procedures in preventing cancer is not known. Self-care You may eliminate or reduce the frequency of stomach acids flowing up into the lower end of your esophagus by making the following lifestyle changes: Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Three meals a day, with small Snacks in between, will help you stop overeating. Continual overeating leads to excess weight, which aggravates heartburn. Loosen your belt. Clothes that fit tightly around your waist put pressure on your abdomen, aggravating reflux. Avoid stooping or bending. Tying your shoes is OK. Bending over for hours to weed your garden isn't, especially soon after eating. Don't lie down after eating. Wait at least two to three hours after eating to lie down or go to bed. Raise the head of your bed. An elevation of 6 to 9 inches puts gravity to work for you. Or you can insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up. Wedges are available at drugstores and medical supply stores. Raising your head alone by using pillows isn't a good alternative. Don't smoke. Smoking may increase stomach acid. The swallowing of air during smoking also may aggravate belching and acid reflux. In addition, smoking and alcohol increase your risk of esophageal cancer. By Mayo Clinic staff HQ00312 May 19, 2004 © 1998-2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

I've gotten tired and dizzy a couple times. I took in more Protein and Water and it went away. I think that since I'm getting so few calories that with the healing and all it's easy to not get enough. Also dehydration is super easy. 64 ounces is a LOT to drink when you're not eating real food. I got really happy just now which is why I got on. My stomach is rumbling and growelling because it is so empty and hasn't even in a couple hours. BUT, I'm not feeling physical hunger. I'd love something that tastes great and isn't liquid but I don't NEED it. I was going to get some Jello then realized I don't really care to bother with it so I drank water. Very neat! I know things aren't going to be super easy in the future, especially once I can have 'good' food again, but I can already feel the amazing sensation of the physical hunger not being present when it would normally be. It is SO NEAT! I am SO excited now! At this point I should be crying for food but I'm mostly just annoyed at my churning stomach. Time for bed! I think I'm about 19 pounds down since I started the pre-op diet. I'm happy about that for sure.

Momma, Congratulations on your 10 pound lost. Does Dr. Valin work with Dr. Yood ? Will you be going to the first support group on Oct.2 at 6 pm? Maybe we can meet there. How has your first week been?

I was self-pay for my procedure, as my employer had negotiated a total exclusion with UHC for our contract - had my procedure in Mexico with a well-respected surgeon. It always amazes me that I, as a nurse - who spends my life caring for people, can't get the heathcare coverage I need from my employers...but that's another rant. Unknown to me (but known to my ancestors, those cheeky critters!), I had an undiagnosed hereditary blood clotting disorder, and landed back in the hospital at 10 days post op with a HUGE portal vein clot. As far as I know, UHC has covered the one week hospital bill that I incured at that point, with no issues...other than that pesky $2k deductible.