Littleroo27

The first month or two, it's uncomfortable to sleep on your stomach, mostly because it takes longer for your port incision to heal up. However, I can safely say that I can now sleep in every wonky position possible, including with the cat laying directly on my port site, on my stomach, side, etc. So if you can put up with a bit of uncomfortable for the first bit, you will be fine!

Thanks Beth,

I think I may have torn the stitches...God I hope not but I really have not been taking it easy (although I have not been excercising at all...okay that is not totally true, I did jump on my elliptical for about 10 minutes a few nights ago and there was another night where I did some reps of a yoga position from my Women's Health magazine). I guess the only way to know for sure is by flouroscopy? or will that be too vague? I just walked out of the OCC from day 1 like nothing happened (activity wise) and that same night my mom and I were counting (clear) liquid calories at the bar in the Mariott (God that was fun). I guess I would not have a sign if I did pop the stitches would I?

I honestly don't know the answer to that! I'd think if you really screwed up, your band would have slipped, and you'd KNOW that. So for now, I'd just be careful. They will be able to tell under x-ray if the band has moved in a bad way... not sure about the stitches... do they dissolve or are they forever stitches? I'm sure two years ago I knew the answer to that!

Of course, I'm here having my own problems. No restriction, no healing to go through, absolutely NOTHING telling me not to eat (except for my mother, who scolded me when I ate the pecan pie, but later ate a slice of cheesecake, lol!).

I told her today that she really needed to be careful and reminded her that eating solids too soon could result in her band slipping. She hasn't eaten anything solid since then, so I'm HOPING that the reminder that she could literally undo everything she is working for just by "cheating" will be some motivation.

I KNOW how hard it is. My eating is awful right now. I have no restriction and am hungry all the time, and I'm not even worried about losing my job! Her two stress relievers are shopping and eating, and she can't do either one right now. I guess we'll just need to help each other get through this. Once Friday has come and gone, we will know one way or the other about her job and deal with it accordingly. At least the stress of waiting and not knowing will be over with.

Hi Beth,

I am not sure if there is anything I can say that you have not already tried to say to your mom. We were banded on the same day so I know that she only has until Friday morning before she can eat solid foods again. How was she for Thanksgiving? Was yesterday her only slip? Was it only chicken or other things as well like bread and starches that can expand?

I guess the one thing I would ask her is if she slipped becaue she feels out of control and or stressed or if it was just a moment of weakness. My worry for her is that she will not be able to manage what she eats come Friday because if not then she is going to be in trouble for weeks 4 & 5 until she can get her first fill.

It is one thing to slip and it is another thing to fall into a pattern. I understand how the threat of being laid of can contribute to feeling of having no control (I was there myself 9 months ago). I wish I could offer you something that she could try to do to over come moments of temptation. Are the pounds still flying off her? I know you said that was helping with the temptation initially.

The one thing I have not tried but thought about trying is watching episodes of The Biggest Looser for motivation (even if that means renting them). For me getting out of the house when that feeling hits has worked the best. I already mentioned that reading my Women's Health magazines when that feeling hit has also been helpful. I also read the Weight Watchers magazines when I get the urge as a means of motivation. I even try to keep busy by cutting and pasting things from the magazines into a journal that I find motivating and/or interesting. It has become such a project that I literally forget about my hunger.

I also would like to suggest that she might want to try changing her prespective on the situation. I trick myself my playing a mental game I call the "Challenge." Every day I wake up my mission for the day is to find as many tasty liquid combinations as a can and preferably ones that I have never tried before (sort of like Breakfast At Tiffany's for your taste buds). By doing this your mom will find herself exploring things that she normally would not. For me this was Indian Letil soup, organic split pea soup from Whole Foods, Prune Juice, Carrot Juice, mixing organic sweet potato soup with cinnemon and sugar, heating up a can of V8 on the stove for breakfast, etc. The point is to have the perspective that this is an adventure and probably one that only comes around once. By the way, my favorite "discovery" was Miso Soup Mix

Another thing that I found really motivating AND distracting was watching You Tube videos of people who have been banded. Some of the video journals are really moving. You find yourself watching one after another and soon you realize you forgot about dinner.

I have my band completely unfilled right now and am also gaining weight. It's so frustrating to feel like I never had the surgery to begin with! I'm hungry ALL THE TIME and can eat anything with great haste. I know I need to be careful so that my pouch can shrink (I was too tight and stretched my pouch out), but that's hard to do when you feel like you're constantly hungry.

Can't wait to get filled again; I miss my restriction. But more than that, I miss being able to eat solids without throwing up, but still with restriction!

You know I am wondering the same thing but for different reasons. Last night I watched that movie "The Goods" and at one point laughed so hard that my chest begin to hurt and I felt this really weird sensation in my stomache and it took me awhile to recover. Also I never really took a day post op. I was doing lifting and laundry a few days after surgery and also I went back to work the following Monday. Also my 80 pound Bulldog has jumped on my incisions a couple times (with me cursing expluratives...Kelly Clarkson! Como Tu LLama!) I feel like I have not really changed my life style (activity wise) and maybe I should be babying this band more then I should? Am I just being paranoid or can rigorous activity streach the pounch and or the band?

In your case bogiesmom, it's more a risk of ripping out those stitches before the band has healed in place. If you've made it this far, you're probably okay, but take it easy, woman! no crunches or abdominal focused workouts for 6 months, and try not to pick up anything too heavy.

As for stretching your band before you get a fill, I suppose it's possible, but not probable. Just take it easy and don't drink a lot at one time right after you eat, to help avoid that too-full feeling. You might want to wait closer to an hour to drink, if that's happening, also.

bethsmom is going to kill me for posting this, but she started eating solid food yesterday. Not just solid food, but CHICKEN of all things! I know she's over 2 weeks out, but she's soooo close to the finish line, I just wanted to see her make it!

I think stress won out over following the rules to a T. She's looking at a high possibility of being laid off on December 6th, and is just REALLY CRANKY right now.

*worries for her*

Good afternoon...

I have had the lap band in since nov 3 2008 and iniatially started to lose a bit of weight, then found that I didnt lose at all. I lost a total of 9 kilos since 2008, but regrettably have not lost any weight since. Its been quite a downer due to the fact that I don't eat a lot and my partner always thinks its a waste of time taking me out for dinner since I never can eat much or vomit.

My port unforutantely become unattatched and had to have this revised and and put back into place in June 2009 after much attempts to get my surgeon to have this done at an earlier stage. Since this revision I have not lost any additional weight which I am quite saddenned about.

I consulted my GP who said i need to source a second opinion and they found after gastrograffins and surgery that my band had slipped and become unattatched. Would this mean that I would not lose weight due to the above.. I only had the revison this week so still on thefluids diet but unsure how long I need to continue to complete this for and hoping that now I will get results due to the last year being a bit of a downer especially whenI see others just having success and I havent.

Hoping its all sorted now and don't know totally wot the next steps are, if you could please help

love and best wishes one desperate girl

I'm afraid I have no help to give, but I can at least say "I know how you feel!"

My band didn't slip completely, but I just found out that my pouch has been enlarged, which can eventually lead to a slipped band. I'm so thankful that I found out before that happened, but like you I have spent the past year not losing any weight and feeling like I could eat more than I should be able to. 2009 was a complete wash for me, but I try to keep a positive attitude. I didn't gain weight, and for me, that's a win on its own.

I wish you the best of luck. Keep us informed with what's going on!

Littleroo27

Hi Beth - do you have fiber tablets or pills, chromium(sp). I would suggest you take them, it will help you run from the turkey! LOL

We had our Thanksgiving meal yesterday. Ugh! I ate the pie.....even though it wasn't premium.....ate it anyway.....

How long do you have to wait for a check? A few weeks or a month?

I was completely unfilled last Friday so that my stomach can shrink back down to "normal." I really hope that happens!

The goal is to go back down in Mid-January (about 8 weeks later) and hopefully get a fill. It's really hard to keep my eating in check without any restriction... I mean, there is a REASON I had this surgery, you know? I've been more or less okay at home, cuz I don't want to eat in front of my mom anyway. She's still on liquids, so it would just be mean to eat in front of her all the time!

Work is... dependent upon the day. The more stressful days result in more chocolate being eaten. Obviously I still have food issues to work through. But as long as I can get back into the game and learn how to eat without slipping my band, I'll be happy as a clam.

Our office is having a Thanksgiving Potluck at work today and I have NOOOOO restriction. heeeeeeelp! The turkey is coming to get me!!!

Littleroo27 (Beth) AKA: bethsmom's kid.

How do you know if your pouch is stretched? Are there signs like there are with an overfill like vomiting etc?

I stretched mine and I had NO idea. I guess looking back, there were signs, but not ones I noticed.

I got a fill and then spent the next week unable to eat more than a bite or two at a time, and PB'd a lot. I thought my stomach had just swollen some and once that calmed down, I'd be fine. Turns out, my pouch had stretched, and that's why I was able to eat more after a week or so... I still threw up more than "usual" but rather than having it checked, I subconsciously adjusted my diet to foods that didn't make me yack.

Now I've had to have a complete unfill and am crossing my fingers and toes that my pouch shrinks back up so that I can go back to normal. what a pain!

My lesson has been learned though - if you throw up more than occasionally, something isn't right. And get ALL of your fills done under flero!

Good call by making a call to the OCC. On a side note, I have heard many times that people who are not hydrated feel nauseous. Is she keeping her fluids up? Also watch the sodium level as it can take away from being hydrated as well.

Still waiting on a return call from the clinic. God, I hope I gave them the right number, lol! I just got a new cell phone with a new number about a month ago... I thought I knew it, but now I'm not so sure!!!

Hi Beth,

Wow I wish now that I stayed at the Lucerna with you and your mother. You take wonderful pictures and have such a photographic eye. I think these pictures should be included on the OCC web site.

How is your mother doing? She is so petite to begin with that I can't even begin to imagine what she is going to look like a couple months from now. I am doing great. I really love the liquid diet. I told Dr. So today that I am too scared to go off liquids now. I can hear all the liquid moving through my pipes and it is really cool. I feel like I am going through major detox and all the pipes are being flushed It sounds and feels like pogress. Like my body is actually accomplishing something. I wonder if your mother feels the same way. I think you are back on liquids now too. How is it for you? This morning was my weigh in and I lost 3 pounds since Friday (water). I cant wait until next weeks weigh in.

Well, tootles for now. Maybe we will run into each other again at the Center.

Mom is... hungry! LOL. Actually, I just posted about how she's doing... currently that would be dizzy and nauseous - not good. I think she's having a harder time than most, but she's also 57 and not 27, 37, or even 47. I think it may simply take a bit longer for her to heal.

As for me, I am TECHNICALLY on liquid right now, but have this problem where I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and if I eat only liquids, I tend to get serious digestive distress. After my surgery, I made it 6 days on liquids before I got sick... this time I made it 24 hours. So I'm trying to eat small portion sizes and choose soup at least once a day. The main goal is to keep the upper pouch as empty as possible so that it shrinks back down. I think in a month I may as the lap-band surgeon in town if he could just take a look at my stomach under x-ray and see if it is still stretched out. That way if things are still looking iffy, I'll know well before returning to Dr. Ortiz for a re-fill.

As for the website, they are certainly welcome to use them, though I'm sure there are better ones out there! I kinda wish I'd used my camera... I mean, my phone is a 5 megapixel camera on its own, by my camera is 12.1 megapixels!

God, I am such a technogeek! :-D

My mom had surgery last Friday (the 13th) and has had 2 episodes of extreme nausea. Thankfully, she has not thrown up, but it's been a close thing. Both episodes have been accompanied by dizziness and hot-flashes.

The first time, she'd just drank some orange juice that hadn't been weakened with water, so we thought maybe the acid caused it. Tonight, she downed all of her pills at once (a post-lap-band no-no!). But neither of those things should have caused the dizziness and hot-flashes, even if they did result in nausea!

The episode tonight was so bad that she ended up quickly laying down on the kitchen floor so that she wouldn't fall if she passed out.

After a cold washcloth and some deep breaths, she's feeling a bit better, but this still worries me. I never got nauseous after the surgery, so I don't know if this is something that we should have expected or not.

I have a bottle of OTC anti-nausea stuff, but she hasn't taken it (she hates Cherry and that's the only flavor it comes in). I'm hoping that I can get her to take a swig tonight, just in case. I'd hate for her to screw up the entire surgery just by throwing up one time!

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Yes, I did call the office and left a message, but it's 8:30 pm there, and I have no idea if anyone checks the messages at night. This is not a 911 situation, just an "OMG I don't know if this is okay or not!" thing.

Beth & her newly banded mom, Wilma

I stayed at the Lucerna, as I mentioned above, but thought I'd add a link to the slideshow of pics I took. the first half are all of the Lucerna (pretty!). I admit, I didn't take any of the hotel room, which is just your standard room with a balcony. 2 beds, tv, dresser, bathroom, etc. Nothing fancy, but very clean.

http://s394.photobucket.com/albums/pp23/li...mview=slideshow

Here is a link to the slideshow of pics I took from our little trip to TJ for Mom's lap-band surgery on Nov 13!

First images are from the Lucerna, then the clinic. Sorry some are fuzzy - I took them all with my HTC Hero cell phone in order to be less conspicuous (tourist with camera!!!!). Most are fair, though, and I hope you enjoy!

http://s394.photobucket.com/albums/pp23/li...mview=slideshow

Hey Beth! Glad to hear everyhing went well with Mom, but sorry to hear about your band!! Take it easy and hopefully they can get it straight.

We left yesterday and went to San Diego to see hubbys cuz... then had to catch the redeye last night to come home.. just got here a few hours ago... I am exhausted but feeling pretty well!! Hope to talk to you soon.. it was great meeting you guys!!

I'm mostly glad that I had it checked out instead of going back to my new band doctor and having ANOTHER fill! I could have really messed things up and had the band slip. At least this way, I just need to be super careful and kinda start over.

We went to the mall today and walked around for a bit, but mom is still feeling a bit tired and sore, which is the same way I was. Not nearly as "perky" as some of the people racing up and down the halls yesterday!

Glad you got home okay. I ended up not going to see my own friend in chula visa, deciding that when I come back in 2 months for a re-fill, I will arrange to stay with her for a couple of days before flying home. much better than running across the border for a short night.

I'm at the Lucerna right now. My momma is sleeping off her surgery at the clinic at the mo. I've never stayed at a place where the staff was so solicitous. It's amazing - my bag has almost never touched my hand! the second I walked into the hotel from the clinic today, someone took it from me and walked me to my room.

I'm on the wifi connection in my room right now, which works fairly well. not as fast as a direct connection, but good enough. the hotel is lovely, and they have 2 restaurants, though one is currently having floors redone. had dinner at the other one last night and it was quite nice. most of the lobby staff speak at least some english, though I felt like a tool when I called room service. I can pronounce spanish, but I can't really understand it, so that was fun! in the end, I got the right food, and it was terrific. Besides, if you're coming down for surgery, food isn't your primary goal anyway!

The beds are on the hard side. up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

most of the tv stations are in spanish, but I did get to watch the new Bones last night on Fox San Diego. I think there are maybe 5 stations in English, including CNN, Fox, and a movie station. Right now I'm watching "High School Musical" in spanish. Yup, I'm bored! At least the music is still in English, lol.

I do need to warn you that the noise level can be... obnoxious. last night was FINE, but now it's Friday night and the hotel is right off of a major street with a disco. there are cars driving by with loud music, and the pulsing beat from the club. Perhaps ask them to reserve a room Pool-Side (which is GORGEOUS) rather than street-facing. Cuz, loud. And I don't even know what the guy with the microphone is saying cuz it's in spanish, and I fail at spanish. Seriously, I almost failed college because I couldn't pass the spanish classes.

I'm babbling now. Alone in a hotel room with spanish TV and the internet for the evening. Weeeeeee!

found bogiesmom! she's doing well post-op. walking the halls and all.

Mom is still sleeping off the drugs from surgery. I think she was 4th out of 5 for the day.

I posted this in the fill forum, but thought I'd drop a note here too. Had my band checked out while I was here, cuz I thought I was too lose. turns out I was too tight, and my stomach had stretched. Poop.

They had to take all of the fluid out in order to let my stomach shrink before my band slips. 1 week of fluids, a few days of mushy foods, and being VERY CAREFUL over the holidays. Glad my momma will be there to keep me in line while she's healing from her lap-band surgery! when she comes down for her first fill, I'll come with to get mine checked out again, and hopefully re-filled.

I'm here at the clinic for my mom's lap-band surgery. I had mine done 2 years ago in the states (yay insurance). Dr. Ortiz offered to have them check out my band for me, as I didn't think it was at a good restriction level. I didn't want to say that I still threw up whenever I ate chicken, because I figured that was because the chicken was too try, and that's just the way it is, and I'm HUNGRY and I eat too much!

So they took me in to do the fleuro, and hey, check that out, my pouch is stretched! It's not awful (I guess) but they ended up taking all 8ccs out of my 10cc band so that my stomach can shrink down (hopefully to the way it was before). I have to do 1 week of liquids, then a few days of mushy foods. I'll have to be super careful about how much I eat, since I won't be able to have a fill until after the holidays are over (the horror!), but since mom will be pre-fill too, we can fight this one together. I'm super bummed and kinda mad at myself for not figuring it out on my own, but I guess unless you experience it, it's hard to know what constitutes "too tight."

I was able to take my meds and eat 1/4 of a subway sandwich... but I guess that's because my stomach was stretched out!

I think my last fill (just over a year ago) that put me at "good" restriction, was really too tight. I spent the first week throwing up, and then things got better... yeah, that was probably my stomach stretching out, not my band getting used to the fill. crap.

So....lesson learned! stay away from the mashed taters and mac & cheese, and if you can't eat the foods you're SUPPOSED to be eating... tell the doctor.

Bogiesmom where r u? I am in waiting room with mom. Wearing pink cardigan coat and jeans. Mom in black jogging suit. Com say hi when you can.

we're heeeeeere! 5th flr of hotel lucerna.

Hey beth! We are staying at the Lucerna.. it is beautiful and the people are great! We wont be leaving until Friday morning so hopefully we can meet tomorrow evening!!

we’re on our way to the airport now! How did your surgery go?

beth and wilma

We're leaving in the morning!!! Is anyone else going to be at the Lucerne Hotel? Mom's surgery is Friday, but we get in tomorrow afternoon.

Best,

Littleroo27

well, i'm not going to give you my exercise or eating habits because i've seen way too many folks verbally beaten up or chastised if they don't meet someone else's personal criteria. fact is, we all deal with weight problems stemming from poor eating habits and exercise habits. this is WHY we have the lapband in the first place

- that's not to have you all assume that i eat horribly or lay around all day... i just don't want it to be a factor in your answers at this point.

over one year with band. have lost very little. have had 3 fills. very rarely feel true restriction but OFTEN have things get stuck. i chew the heck out of all my food and don't drink with my meals. my question is this... if i am not losing even with proper diet and exercise, am NOT feeling restriction but AM having things get stuck, should i consider another fill? the fact that i am getting stuck fairly often but not feeling restriction concerns me - does this mean my band may have slipped upwards? in no way do i want to become one of the bandsters that is thrilled to eat 4 bites of food and call it a meal. it's not because i am unwilling to give up my food, it is because i am a firm believer in nutrition and not pushing my body into self-preservation mode (ie - storing up calories/fat because it's not sure when the next fuel-up will come).

thanks for your thoughts!

I know you don't want to say what you eat, and I get that, so I'll just say, consider what you are eating. What gets stuck the most? Personally, I almost never eat grilled chicken because it is almost ALWAYS bone dry. Hand me a grilled chicken sandwich from Wendy's and I might as well put it straight in the toilet, because it's going to end up there anyway, bread or no bread.

Like you, I currently feel very little restriction (my fill today was just NOT enough), but still PB on occasion. Almost always, it's because either I ate something that just refuses to be reduced to tiny bits (or likes to change into cement after being swallowed), or I ate too much too fast / didn't chew enough.

I've HAD perfect restriction before. It was awesome, and I miss it (wow, a down side to losing weight!). Hopefully given another couple of months and another fill or two, I will get it back and get this show back on the road, but until then, I'm slowly retraining myself to eat slower, eat solid foods, and be concious of the "soft stop."

I would suggest calling your doctor (either Dr. Ortiz or your fill doctor) and being very honest about what you eat. Maybe even keep a food diary and note when you had problems. Then you should be able to figure out if you need a fill or maybe a modified diet.

Good luck!

I've been there. In fact, when I PB, that's usually what happens. No or very little stomach acid, because it's not from your lower stomach, but lots of food chunks / small pieces, etc. It's like once that stuck bit comes out, the rest has to follow it like a frickin lemming!

It's not fun, and I try to avoid episodes, obviously, but it seems like whenever we have a family meal (rare), I get so focused on things other than what I'm putting in my mouth, that I either don't chew enough or eat too fast or both, and the next thing I know.... ewww.