CJen

I am 7 months post-op! For the last couple weeks I have noticed a lot of port pain, especially when I try to sleep! It's almost like a stabbing feeling! I have no nausea, or anything that would make me think that I need to call my Dr. Has anyone had this pain? I really don't want to make more out of this than necessary, but I hurt! On a scale of 1-10, at times a 7-8!

Thanks for reading this, and I look forward to your replys!

Thank you to everyone for their replies, I truely appreciate them! I am relieved to know that some of you have kept this a secret, and some are so confident that they choose to help people with their knowledge.

Thanks again,

Jen

When I decided to be banded I felt that the only people that neded know were my family, and one friend whom I trust with the world. I felt ashamed that I had allowed myself to get to the point of needing to be banded at the age of 27. Well I have lost over 60 lbs, and I have people telling me how great I look, and what did I do? I never thank them, I feel like a hypocrite, like I cheated! I just say' oh I am dieting, and exercise'. Don't get me wrong I love my band, but I hate my lies I have created. I know that some people suspect, as they have asked my Mom, she then says what I have told her to say. I just feel like I have created this mess that I will never be able to get out of, as I have lied to all my friends. The worst part is when they ask me for help, or we work out together, and they don't lose, and get sad because of it. I don't know, guess I will just have to live with this big fat elephant in the room, as I still selfishly don't want to reveal that I have been banded.

I used to get horrible Migraines, almost daily! Now rarely mostly around that time of month.

As a fake blonde, I didn't miss a beat in coloring my hair. Even when my hair wasn't at it's healthiest, I still colored. But I can see what Lindsay is saying about waiting too. I just couldn't STAND the roots showing. Vain, I know..... My hair did fine, but I am a veteran. I am not even sure of my natural color.....

Lol! I guess I'll live with my roots showing til my hair gets healthy, my roots might be a little hard to explain. Thanks for the advice!

My rooots are showing, ahhhhhh! I am nervous about dying with my hair falling out? Anyone here dyed their hair soon after post-op with the hair loss? And if so, how did it turn out? I don't want to freak my hairdresser out, lol!

I didn't even know I had a hiatal hernia, and my Doctor removed it during my Lap-Band surgery. One of my friends also had it removed during her band surgery. I was told that it is actually very common to have a hiatal hernia removed during band surgery, Something about the location! Only thing different for me was a horrible pain in my shoulders a couple of weeks after surgery that was caused by drinking liquids too fast, needless to say I lived on popsicles!

Don't stress it, I am now 4 months post-op, and doing great!

Good luck & Best wishes!

Hey everyone! So, had the lapband yesterday at the OCC with Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez, who may I say are very two hot men, always a perk! I cannot say what a wonderful exprience it was and continues to be as I am here just resting at the Lucerna.

My fiance and I parked at the Border Parking as we drove in from Long Beach and it only took us less than two hours to get here. The shuttle was already there waiting for us and when we stepped in, a prior patient, Kristy her mother, Billlie who was gettin banded that day too, greeted us with their gorgeous smiling faces. You two are awesome!

The OCC is literally right into the border, so close that I looked to my left side to catch the beginning of the long line of cars returning to the U.S when the van stopped and to my shock we had arrived already.

The hospital is super clean. The staff is wonderful, so professional and personable. I felt so loved ad taken care of. My room was great! I felt like I was at home with a mini sofa and a flat-panel screen tv and one of those meditation water gadgets that play relaxing sounds. My fiance was blown away because he was apprehensive about the entire thing and especially because it was of course, in Mexico. Dr. Ortiz's mother came in and was such a sweetheart to put a blanket on me. Then came in Dr. Ortiz and followed Dr. Martinez who individually consulted with me. They are a plethera of information.

What I did learn though from the doctors is that I asked about the actual lapband itself and they said they stopped using the regular lapband and are now using the newest technology of the band which i called the REALIZE band. They have been using this new one for the last two months and Dr. Ortiz told me that they and a doctor in Georgia are the first ones to use it. It's manufactured by Johnson&Johnson so I gotta look into that.

The procedure went smoothly and I decided to leave the same day of surgry and leave for Hotel Lucerna right after. The first night was uncomfortable for me as I have a lot of gas pain and I had to take a sleeping pill along with the pain meds they adminstered through my i.v. before I left. I sipped on some of their good chicken broth before going to bed but only a few spoonfulls. Same thing today with also a few sips of apple juice. I kinda feel nauseacous but maybe it's just because I'm tired but the gas is keeping me up. My tummy keeps rumbling so I'm trying to keep sipping my soup. I'm gonna get some popsicles later.

Ooh, I also discovered that room service is free here at the Lucerne for whatever you want to order, which of course would be mostly for your companion as my fiance did, ordering hoards of delicious food while the smell and sight of it was torcher. You only have to pay gratuity. It's nice because we don't even have to leave the hotel room.

Does anyone know how long this gas thing lasts and if being nauseacous is okay? I'm thinking it's moreso my port area and that pain is just traveling.

My gas pains lasted about 3-4 days! I found that putting a heating pad on my shoulders helped the most. I know how much pain that was1 I remember barely even noticing the pain of my band, just the gas pains. Good Luck, It will all get better from here!

Stormy,

I too am dealing with family drama, so I understand, only I am the opposite! I wanna eat! then I get horrible stomach aches!

It's an endless battle when it comes to family. Unfortunately all we can do is sit back on the rollercoaster ride. I am gonna try liquids for a couple day, and see if it works, because my tummy is killing me. I will let you know!

Thank you everyone for you replys! I am gonna buy weights, and I think knitting sounds intersting, so I am gonna give it a try, lol!

Thanks again for the support!

Holy Camolli!!! 58 pounds in less than 4 months??? I think that is a record. I've never heard of anyone with a band losing that much that fast. Are you sure you didn't have gastric bypass, haha?! That's great. Obviously you should just keep doing whatever you've been doing (what HAVE you been doing?) and try reading books or magazines while you are stuck at home. It's very difficult to eat while you are turning pages, much easier while watching tv- anything to keep those hands busy.

Sabrina:)

I am not really sure what I am doing differently than all of you thers. I did lose about 10-15 lbs(not sure, because I couldn't weigh myself for a week) in the hospital from not being able to eat, due to the pain killers. Other than that I just do what I have been told, small portions! Also exercise! I have tried reading, which I normally love, but can't seem to concentrate much. I am however gonna go buy weights today....

Thank you for the advice!

I also drink liquid when my food gets stuck. I have found that throwing up is now difficult, sometimes it's just nothing but dry heaves. Honestly, do what works for, I also have heard not to drink liquids when food is stuck, but I also know how panicked I get when it's stuck..

Good luck, hope you find the answers you are looking for

I broke my leg about 3 weeks ago. I still have another 3 to go before I get my cast off. Sitting around all day is leading to a lot of poor eating habits again. I am scheduled for my third fill in 2 weeks. I am scared! I am terrified to weigh myself, I miss working out. Anyone got any ideas on working out from the couch, lol! I am getting desperate. I started out at 233 lbs, and am now 175! This all since Feb 17, I love my weight loss, and band! I don't want to gain it all back, HELP!!!!!! :lb12:

OK, take a deep breath, and realize you may need an adjustment - or you may not. First I don't drink smoothies when I'm trying to gauge a new fill. The cold can close my band up and they can be too thick at first.

Right now you might want to try some warm herb teas to see if you can open up, (small sips - slowly add in some honey) then stay with liquids and understand that smoothies or creamy soup are not part of the program when you at the "I may be too tight mode". Stay away from anything really salty and try to figure out if you are too tight with liquids only (broth, tea, warm is good). Once you do this and if you stay too tight were you can’t drink liquids you might need an adjustment. But remember stressing about it only makes it worse – so deep breaths and relax – most of us have been through this. It most likely will be fine.

Good luck and hope it works out.

Best,

Lisa

Thanks Lisa! I will try some warm drinks!

I am so annoyed, I don't know what to do about this! Everything, even smoothies is sticking to my throat. Will this go away? This is only my second fill!

Hi!

I was banded Feb 17! I am so far doing ok, I have almost lost 50 lbs! I go for second fill in two weeks. I am not sure about you, but I have absolutely no restriction?

It's absoulutely normal! I have been banded one month longer than you, and I have had one fill! I still have no restriction, and I haven't lost a pound in weeks. I have complete faith in my band though, I know that I am doing everything right, as are you! And soon we will see the results! I go in for my next fill in 2 weeks, so I will let you know how much, or if I have any restriction after! I have heard that with some people it may take several fills to have restriction. Good luck, and don't be confused it's just part of the loooooooong process

I had my first fill like 4 weeks ago, and I have no restriction yet. I have been told that for some it takes 2-3 fills before they have restriction. Tell her to hang on, because I am having the same doubts, but I know several people that started out like this, and after 6 months they are doing good, and are losing all the weight.

Ok, so my friend told me that it's possible that this pain is caused from me eating to quickly, and drinking to quickly! What do you guys think?

I am over two months post-op, and I am having a lot of pain this last couple of days. I sneezed this morning, and I had pain also, I am kind of weirded out, because I haven't felt like this since right after my surgery. Has anyone else had this problem?

Thank you for reading this!

Hi Jen, I'm going for my first one on saturday. OMG, I am definitely eating too much, so i can't wait till fill day. maybe then i'll be able to start losing again. i'm not scared, but i do hope i haven't done something to mess up my band.

I can relate, lol! I am eating like I did before surgery, only not as much, but basically the same foods. I feel like I don't even have a band. I am however working out for an hour every morning, and drinking lots of water. I will let you know how Fri goes for me. Good luck with your fill!

Finally I get my first fill. I feel as though I have been eating too much these last couple of days, so I am excited to have my fill. I am however a little scared!

Does it hurt? Will I be sore after? Please share your band fill stories with me......

Thank you! :-h

Wow! I started solids two weeks ago, and then I quit losing weight. I got so frustrated! I just weighed myself this morning, and I am down 4 lbs! I wanted so

badly to get below 200, and I was stuck at 201 for awhile. Anyway, "Yay Me"! This band is finally working again. Ok, I am gonna go work out, so happy!

Good luck to all of you aswell

Thanks for all your help! This will be my fourth trip there and I love going and staying at the Lucerna it is just a wonderful place. We are going to just stick to the hotel and relax and enjoy ourself and I think all will be okay. Thanks again everyone!

Just be careful! I have been watching the news, and checking out web sites where people share their terror stories. I think as long as you are aware of your surroundings, and you should be fine.

LMAO! Thanks for sharing your diary. It totally boosted my spirits!