how to take care of your band

[benfree 0]

Hey guys!

I'm officially banded last 06/26/09 and it's been 4 days of renewed hope in having great health!

Anyway, I've been hearing a lot about band slippages, etc.

Are there occurrences/activities we should avoid to prevent things like that to happen?

Hiccupping?

Coughing?

Abdominal crunches?

I really want this to be a life-long thing and I want to know if you guys know of any activities I should avoid now?

Thanks!:tongue2:

[maestrita 43]

For me, I think the answer is to not press my luck. I need to get used to the idea that I can only eat x amount of food. I can't have something just because I crave it. I can't get away with anything if I want this to work long term. I think the answer may be a bit different for each person because we've all gotten to this point via different roads. The key to band maintenance might be that a person has to figure out his or her triggers/pitfalls and learn to control them. Having said that, there are some who have followed the rules to a T and still had troubles. I certainly don't want to discredit their experiences. My plan includes re-reading the recommendations that Allergan gives you and trying to make sure I am practicing them again with each fill. A self check of sorts...

[Freckles 0]

maestrita would you be kind enough to point me in the correct direction to find

recommendations that Allergan gives you

I am in the UK and have the new Allergan band, but I didnt receive any 'instructions/recommendations' from the surgeon.

Unless you mean the first few weeks after surgery, because I did receive those.

Many thanx in anticipation.

[Makulafamy 55]

Hey guys!

I'm officially banded last 06/26/09 and it's been 4 days of renewed hope in having great health!

Anyway, I've been hearing a lot about band slippages, etc.

Are there occurrences/activities we should avoid to prevent things like that to happen?

Hiccupping?

Coughing?

Abdominal crunches?

I really want this to be a life-long thing and I want to know if you guys know of any activities I should avoid now?

Thanks!:tongue2:

Congrats on your new band! The only time you should be real careful with coughing is during the healing phase. not bc of slipping, but you dont want to rip any stitches on the inside. The occasional cough shouldt cause worry.

You arent supposed to do crunches until the doc gives you the all clear for exercising.

I asked my doc if there was anything I couldnt do...specifically tubing (behind a boat). I lay on my stomach and hit some pretty hard bumps. Once I was healed he said I could do anything that i did before.

I think what causes the majority of slippage is constant PBing and/or being too tight. You will read a lot of stories on here about after getting a fill someone can be too tight and they will start to have acid reflux or heartburn, can't sleep laying down, or constant PBing due to the restriction. If you ignore these signs then you can cause a slip.

For me, I try not to be too greedy with my fills (which is hard bc sometimes I wish I was tighter), and try to be careful and eat slow and choose the right foods.

Hope that helps,

Amy

[benfree 0]

Thanks guys, great tips.

I'm just a little worried because I have a little cough since my Op. The upper portion of my abdomen has a dull pain there (ignorable really), hopefully that's nothing.

Cheers!

[maestrita 43]

Freckles, I am referring to the guidelines that are sent out about 4 weeks after banding. There are two little booklets. I know that the same ideas are posted on the lapband site, as well, though I couldn't tell you exactly where. I know they are the most simple guidelines, but like to do a little self check about once a month. Let me poke around on that web page when I get a chance. Perhaps I can find it.

Ben, your port site can be a little tender for awhile. That is pretty normal. Mine was for about 6 weeks or so, and now if I work out too hard, I can feel a little bit of a bruised sort of feeling in that area. It might just be tender from coughing. Hope it feels perfect in no time!