Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot

[Lizalee 1]

Great to hear that there are just-banded folks on this thread - but sorry you are going to a tough post-op period.

The shoulder pain is 'referred pain' - meaning, it's actually from CO2 that the surgeon usees to inflate the belly during surgery so they can see what they're doing, and from pain in the operative site, internal organs, etc. It does get better as the gas is slowly reabsorbed - mine wasn't too bad, but I'd say there was some discomfort for 2 - 4 days. Walking helps distribute it around I think, which can help ease the pain.

My guess is also that feeling of needing to burp, but being unable to, is from the swelling and irritation of the stomach. Usually we can burp up excess gas...but since the stomach inlet is now so much smaller, it doesn't come up so easily. As the swelling after surgery goes down, that bloated feelling/ability to burp does get better. (Unfortunely, at that point you start getting hungry again...and then the "bandster hell" period starts - not enough restriction) I do find though that I burp more now - like I'm swallowing more air when I eat for some reason - or maybe I just notice it more because I have to work a little harder to relieve it? I've also noticed that at night I have lots of "wind" - which I wonder is also related to more gases being trapped in the stomach that is passing on through rather than being burped up?

And, those narcotic pain meds do slow the bowels down too.

Take heart ! You will be feeling better very soon! Within a week I was back to pretty much all my normal activities.

Katydid - sounds like you have something more significant going on with that intractable reflux - have they looked inside your GI tract with a scope to see if you have ulcers or inflammation of the esophagus, stomach or small intestine? Perhaps get a second opinion from a GI specialist? How long have you been on the nexium?

Bluzbandit - I do believe that liability has a good part in why so much pre-op testing is done in the US, but, I also think there is some good reason to do so. For example, there are risks of anesthesia -- it's stressful on the heart, lungs, and kidneys - best to know about any medical conditions ahead of time so that the choice of anesthesics and care provided doesn't cause problems. Also, testing for h. pylori that causes stomach ulcers is important before the band to prevent worseing problems after the band and endoscopy is harder with the band in place. So, I think there is a measure of science abehind the testing, but also certainly a fear of liablity - since everybody who has a bad outcome wants somebody else to be responsible for it! (Just my opinion!! Sometimes doctors DO make mistakes!)

Anyway...welcome to bandland!

Edited October 10, 2008 by Lizalee

[Katydid 0]

Hi Lizalee,

Thanks for the information. I had and edoscopy a few months before the 2nd banding to check for ulcers = none. Didn't have a problem with reflux till after the banding, now it's continual and so very wearing. I mentioned it to my surgeon last visit nearly two months ago but all he said was not to eat or drink anything after 6.30pm. Problem is that it is all day long and through the night. Can't take much more of this. I see the surgeon again at the end of the month.

Thanks again for your concern and advice.

[Elayne 0]

Sorry for all the goofy remarks and questions -

but one can NEVER have too much information

and

the more answers I get - the more questions form.

So -

Considering hemorrhoids, burping, indigestion, back pain, shoulder pain (often "referred pain"), and all the other physical discomforts that come with obesity and lap band surgery -

Is an inversion table appropriate?

I use it occasionally for neck pain (when my BP is normal of course) and find it beneficial.

But I certainly don't want to mess things up down the road.

Obviously I will ask my surgeon and/or PA but I'd like to hear responses from this forum.

[chell1957 2]

Hi! I finally had my surgery Tuesday and everything is going well except the gas that is traveling to my shoulders. It was easy to walk the halls in the hospital but at home it's more difficult. Does anyone know if doing a gentle walk on the Gazelle would be OK and if it should help. It's the only way I could think of to get my walking in the get rid of this pain. I live at the bottom of a big hill and don't feel I can handle walking it.

Any comments would be appreciated. :confused: Thanks!!

This is a good question but I can't find the answer to it. I was wondering the same thing as my surgery is on 10-27-08. Chell

[phyllser 3]

Hi Lizalee, Thanks for the information. I had an endoscopy a few months before the 2nd banding to check for ulcers = none. Didn't have a problem with reflux till after the banding, now it's continual and so very wearing. I mentioned it to my surgeon last visit nearly two months ago but all he said was not to eat or drink anything after 6.30pm. Problem is that it is all day long and through the night. Can't take much more of this. I see the surgeon again at the end of the month. Thanks again for your concern and advice.

That is not right and could indicate a serious problem with your band.

I'd advise you to call the surgeon's office and tell them...

you need to go in ASAP and find out what's wrong!

[lynnt1215 1]

(yum - those coffee drinks look great!)

Are Unjury product available off-line??

Like in natural food or health stores?

I had my endoscopy today.

2 questions -

The doctor performing the procedure questioned the need for a biopsy for H. pylori. Apparently he only has requests for BYPASS candidates.

and -

Everything was OK but he found a "minor" hiatal hernia.

Is that ever an issue for LPS eligibility??

I had a rather large hiatel hernia and it was repaired during surgery. by getting it repaired it has alleviated all symptoms of my acid reflux..

[lynnt1215 1]

This is a good question but I can't find the answer to it. I was wondering the same thing as my surgery is on 10-27-08. Chell

since most DR say no exercise until at least 3 weeks post op, not sure what the Gazelle would be considered.

I would check with my DR if I were you, just to make sure.

[Great2BThin 5]

I had my surgery yesterday. I have been so sick. Please tell me everyone felt this way and it will pass soon. Today has been better then yesterday. I can not wait until tomorrow. I will be one day better. Still on medication so I am just rambling on. It has been very difficult getting on my liquids in. I will check in tomorrow.

Sorry you are feeling crummy. I was lucky, never had pain or nauseousness, each day should get better.

From what I gather there's a large percentage of LB people who have hiatal hernias and they were repaired when the LB procedure was done. I had one larger than a baseball (dr's description) and they repaired it at the time of my LB surgery. No more acid reflux. Not even a hint.

Yep I had a hiatal hernia repair too and no more reflux!! It's been wonderful!

I remember waking up in recovery and wondering what the hell I did to myself. Fortunately, I had been hanging around bandster forums and lists so long that I was able to smile at my own words and know I was right on track emotionally, because everyone feels that way from what I hear.

I felt good by day 4 and pretty darn good on day 5, but I needed extra sleep for several weeks.

That was my 2nd thought when waking up, the first was, 'should I be awake now or am I still in surgery', then OMG what have I done?

Just checking in quick, during my parents visit. It's going well so far. Each day they seem more and more positive about my band and weight loss too. It helps that I have lost a pound a day while they've been here. Not sure what's happened but the weight loss is kicked up to high gear again, I'm loving it!! Down 73 as of this am, need to update siggie and ticker still, will do that next week!

[Justmeuknow 0]

I just do low gi, seems to work better for me than all out Atkins because eventually when you go back to eating right, you gain some back. Hope your jump start works.

Im finally back to walking, rash or no rash. I went to Mexico for my band too, so I guess it was easy for me as you put it, I didnt have a long bunch of tests. I think Im trying to lose to a lower point than you, I want to get to 120 lbs. I have a thin frame and dont look good much over that.

good luck.

The rash you have is a yeast infection go to drug store and get something for it or that doesn't work go to doc I have a big problem with it to and doc gave me some strong stuff.

Carol

[flowers 0]

The rash you have is a yeast infection go to drug store and get something for it or that doesn't work go to doc I have a big problem with it to and doc gave me some strong stuff.

Carol

I went to the doctor monday, and he has me on antibiotics and gave me some creme to put on them. Now my scars from my lapband surgery got infected with the rash, or the creme got on them and was too strong and they turned red for about and inch along the scars, so I quit using everything on them, not even Mederma so I wouldnt get the creme on them.

The doctor had a couple guesses for the rash, and said if these dont cure you, come back and he will have to start some biospys to find out what it is.

I think I saw some daylight below the 200 mark once, but now Im back up 2 lbs to 202 lbs. I have tried to start back walking. Been off track for about a month, need to get moving again. Everyone else's weight loss is passing me by. The prunes didnt work to get me below 200 :wub:

How are you doing? Hope your weight is just flying off lol. :smile2:

[Katydid 0]

That is not right and could indicate a serious problem with your band.

I'd advise you to call the surgeon's office and tell them...

you need to go in ASAP and find out what's wrong!

I think you're right phyllser, couldn't stop throwing up and burping last night. Don't know where it all comes from. I'm worried that the band may have slipped like last time. The stomach slipped through,fell over the band cutting the blood supply and turned necrotic. 16 days in intensive care. Not a well girl. Four years later, tried again with a different surgeon who stitches the stomach over the band so it's not supposed to move. Hope it hasn't as this was my last chance to lose weight. All other avenues had failed. I've had four abdominal hernias repaired since the first band was removed but this is the worst the reflux has been.

I've just read that the wrong food combinations can cause bad reflux, so I might look into that at well. Know anything about that?

Edited October 11, 2008 by Katydid

[Beader 1]

This is a good question but I can't find the answer to it. I was wondering the same thing as my surgery is on 10-27-08. Chell

Chel, I did call my doctor and the nurse said she didn't think that was a good idea. Can't do anything that exercises the stomach muscles. I told her I did the Gazelle last night for the gas pain but I was doing it very gently. She said that was OK as long as I was careful. I decided to wait out the pain and skip the Gazelle. I don't want to mess anything up as I'm really doing well so far.

[Little Bit 0]

today is my third day on the liquied diet. my stomach is really making noises. the first 2 days weren't tooooo bad. had to sit and watch others eat some of my favorite foods. i just drank my broth. thought about cheating my first day, thinking oh well i have 13 days left, but i didn't.

one cheat could lead to sanother. i need to find asomething to keep mre busy. i am having a lot of cramping and gas, is that normal??

[Justmeuknow 0]

I went to the doctor monday, and he has me on antibiotics and gave me some creme to put on them. Now my scars from my lapband surgery got infected with the rash, or the creme got on them and was too strong and they turned red for about and inch along the scars, so I quit using everything on them, not even Mederma so I wouldnt get the creme on them.

The doctor had a couple guesses for the rash, and said if these dont cure you, come back and he will have to start some biospys to find out what it is.

I think I saw some daylight below the 200 mark once, but now Im back up 2 lbs to 202 lbs. I have tried to start back walking. Been off track for about a month, need to get moving again. Everyone else's weight loss is passing me by. The prunes didnt work to get me below 200 :tt2:

How are you doing? Hope your weight is just flying off lol.

So sorry flower I hope they can get it under control soon.

Carol

[flowers 0]

So sorry flower I hope they can get it under control soon.

Carol

Thanks, and thanks for replying . I was beginning to wonder if this was a closed group or if I was invisible. Maybe the rest of ya'all have been posting here awhile and it takes a while to get accepted?

Let me introduce myself. Im in Texas and Im 58, so in this age bracket too.