sher

You look absolutely AMAZING! I still haven't got my before pics developed. When I do I'll email them to you. You're doing GREAT! =D>

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! =D> =D>

Darlene, I can sympathize with you. > Although I have lost some weight, lots more inches than what the scales show, I feel like I have not done as great at those here on the forum. I find myself eating lots of junk foods, because I know thats what will go down easier. I don't know how you can eat and drink though, thats impossible for me to do. Anyway if there is no Fills Center USA in your area, you can call Carolyn or one of the other care coordinator from the OCC. Before I finalized my appointment for the Lapband, I had them give me a list of physicians that were available in my area that would do follow up care if I had any problems. So you can use them as a resource to find a physician near you to that will do follow up care. Don't give up, if you lose any, its better than gaining. We have to remember we didn't put it on overnight

Marshall, When I got my fills with the Fills Center USA, they recommend only warm liquids for the 1st 24 hours to help the fill relax, the 2nd day warm and cool liquids and then progress slowly on the 3rd day to soups and so on. They do tell you stress plays a role on the restriction. Sometimes I have to drink something warm in the mornings to help relax it or I can't eat all day. Cold increases the restriction level. I'm 4 1/2 months out and I still have a time eating meats, eggs and salads. Hope this helps.

Yes I too had the shoulder pain and it was terrible! Phazyme helped alot as well as heat. Sometimes eating helped, sometimes it made it worse. Try not to gulp or swallow air, don't drink through a straw! I will say after about day 14 it gets much better!! Hang in there!.....

Dawn I think I would wait it out. I, too, got my 2nd fill last weekend. I now have a total of 3cc. It has been a tough week learning what will and won't go down. Tonight was actually the first night I've been able to eat any meat. But they did tell me that I should be able to tell the difference with this fill. The first fill only gave a little restriction in the beginning and then nothing, I was able to eat anything and probably as much as I wanted, so I think my main problem now is adjusting to the restriction that I now have. Possibly eating too fast or gulping too quickly causing air to be trapped. I think I'm going to try the warm/cold water to see if that helps. I only got a total of .6cc at this 2nd fill. As long as you are able to keep down fluids its probably just the restriction........

I am 6 weeks post op and I have had my first fill also. My fill was done under fluro and she said everything was in place and looked good. I sometimes have a burning pain and pulling sensation around the larger incision and port site? I can't seem to associate it with anything in particular, wondering if anyone esle has felt this?

Sher, what time were you there? My appt was at 10:40. Maybe we can coordinate our next fill to go together! I live in Tallahassee, FL. You? My appointment was at 12:20. I live in Douglas, GA. Its about an hour and half drive. I told her I wanted to keep seeing her there in Moultrie because it was closer for me than Roswell. She said she'd be back in August. I hope this really does the trick because I had been able to eat anything.

Hey Alana, I got my first fill today in Moultrie also. I was afraid she would not be able to do it, because I had developed a large hematoma after surgery. But to my surprise everything was in place! I also had gained some weight since starting solids. I do hope this is going to be helpful. I agree the needle hurt more than I expected.I ended up with a total of 2.4cc in my band. I was hoping to meet someone from the board, but I was the only one there at the time.

No need to be concerned. The 10cm is the length of the band. The actual band is probably a 4cc or ml, which holds the saline. Also the port is actually stitched to the abdominal wall below the port incision.

Hi Cathy, Don't worry about the hunger, they are all right it will come, this is some of the hardest days to get through the first 2 weeks, after that its much much better. I had lots of shoulder pain with or without food. Phazyme did help alot! I was surprised to see that they injected heparin into your arm, that is suppose to be given in the abdomen. I lost track of time with the anesthesia, but my husband said I was back in about 15 min. However, I was very sore afterwards too, but I also developed a large hematoma around my port site. It has taken about 3-4 weeks for that to subside. Hang in there it gets better!

I would have it all in one day. It doesn't really take any longer than having it in 2 separate days. It would free up your afternoon once you arrive at the hotel.

=D> Congratulations! Hope you get to feeling better!

usmcwife, This is a miserable time for you. I took Phazyme and it helped alot with the gas and fullness feeling. The shoulder pain was what got me down, however about day 12-14, somewhere in there, it all mysteriously went away. Just hang in there it does get better!

Hey Alana, I had my band on May 12th and I'm scheduled for Moultrie on the 14th. I'm like you thats the closest center for me which is still 1-2 hours away, but much closer than Roswell. While I was at the OCC, people were coming back in 4 & 5 weeks. I did get a hematoma around the portsite and its still there, hopefully it will be much better by then, but when I scheduled she told me that if Darlene was unable to do the fill I could postpone and they would apply my money at the next available time. Maybe I'll see you there. Sherri

=D> Looking good! I hope I have those same results shortly!

Hey Dawn, I did get sick after the surgery. Obviously this must be rare for them, because they questioned me about it. But I also have problems with motion sickness, I can't even ride in the back seat of a car. I also developed a hematoma after surgery around the port site, most likely due to the vomiting. This first week has been pretty rough, not with eating really, I haven't been hungry, just the shoulder pain. But I am happy to say that I am now on day 10 and the pain is much better. I don't think you'll have any problems going back to work, they actually tell you the best thing you can do is walk, helps absorb the gas. You can drink all day long, also I ate popsicles and jello.

I'm am one week post op. I have eaten clear liquids until Friday I ate maybe 1 cup of cream of chicken soup. I had been having some Left shoulder pain, but it wasn't bad. However yesterday and today are terrible! :lb12: Meds have not helped. It does seem to feel better after I eat immediately but not for long. Is this referred hunger pains? Do I need to eat more? After I eat I feel extremely bloated feeling and its hurting. I have emailed Dr. Ortiz, but has anyone else experienced this and have any suggestions?

Hello, I was banded this week on Monday 5/12/08. I thought I was going to the Lucerna, but when we were picked up from the airport we were taken to the Camino. I didn't argue, I think there was one patient that did move, she said it was really gross and smelled bad to her. I really didn't know what to expect, just all the comments that I had read about the Lucerna. The resturaunts and Lobby are nice. The Hotel itself is clean, there were some strong odors, but to me it smelled more like the smell coming from the food. The rooms were ok. No I don't think its anywhere comparable to a 5 star in the US, but I have never stayed at one of those either. They do have internet service, but you have to pay a fee to use them. We didn't find a pool. There is a excercise room. The shopping Mall is directly across the street. I don't know how well they can communicate at the Lucerna, but the communication was very poor at the Camino Real. When we checked out @ 4am to go back to the airport, all the charges were in spanish and the guy checking us out couldn't explain the charges, so I'm not sure what we were charged for.

I actually asked Dr Ortiz this question, because mine is the 10cc also. He said, "its the size of the stomach, it is what it is. The same as with shoe size." It doesn't have anything to do with the amount of weight you have to lose.

I got my band on Monday 05/12/08. Afterwards I was a bit sick from the anesthesia and vomited several times. I had to stay overnight and by the next morning I had developed a hematoma. They took me over for a sonogram where it was confirmed. Hopefully this will absorb on its own, but has anyone had this experience? Tell me what to expect or any pointers available. Thanks,

I am scheduled for surgery for May 12th. Anyone else out there during this time? This is my first flying trip also.