JohnD

My 2 cents is this: When you are buying a procedure like this, you are mostly buying the Dr. Yes, there are complications, but the question to be asked is which Dr's, what was their experience, and what actually happened? Dr. Ortiz has a very, very low complication rate on all of his procedures. He is a world renown surgeon, and his patients seem to be satisfied. Also, what is the over all complication rate? Talk to Dr. So. He has time, and he's wonderful. I always say, if this group could be by regular set of Dr's, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Best facility I've ever seen. Anyhow, either you trust Dr. O or you don't. I do.

Yes, you will feel restriction. Just try to follow the instructions for now, and for sure don't eat solid food until it's time. Step by step...

It's not uncommon for someone to stretch their stomach. The first thing to try when that happens is a complete unfill and liquids which will allow the stomach to go back to its original shape. Don't know what happens if that doesn't work though. However, being able to feel your port is not an indication of a stretched pouch. I've been able to feel my port since a month or two after surgery and things are going fine. You may have just irritated your band from overeating. Since you've recognized that sugar is your weakness, I suggest you get all that crap out of your house, no exceptions. If you find you are compulsively overeating, then no amount of willpower is going to help you and you should get in touch with a therapist who is experienced in dealing with this type of eating disorder (and we ALL here have an eating disorder, that's why we got to this point). If you find yourself continuing to eat to the point which could cause you harm despite your best intentions, then worrying about a stretched pouch is like arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic - no matter how good a job you do, that ship is going down.

Well said.

Hello,

I am sitting here crying and crying. I don't eat a lot but am addicted to sugar. I ate almost one huge bag a tootsie rolls in last 24 hours. My stomach is so distended that I can feel my port with my fingers! I called dr. and was told that I may have stretched my pouch and damaged my surgery. I may have to have x-rays to check on everything. Well, I am so so so ashamed. My dr. asked me if I learned my lesson? Oh yea I am going to change the way I eat. I am giving up candy that's for sure. It is my meds that make me crave sugar. I am so frightened that I may have done long term damage. i was a self pay, banded on 14th of Nov. and my mom re-financed her house to pay. I am so frightened. We don't have any money to fix this. Does anyone have info. on pouch stretching? Does it go back? What if it doesn't go back, do you need a re-do surgery? Has anyone ever been so distended ( I am cronically constipated due to cronic pain meds but now I am so constipated I can feel my port from distention) they could feel their port, does it go back down. dr. told me milk of magnesia. Two doses later and still waiting. HELP, I AM SO ASHAMED BUT MOSTLY SCARED THAT I HAVE DONE PERMANENT DAMAGE!

K

Hey there Moon,

I totally get it. I'm a binge eater myself, and I did the very same thing but with barbecued ribs, cookies, potatoes, and some other stuff I can't remember. I have been on solid food for a week. The shame is there for me too. People just don't understand that urge to binge. I drank liquides to make t go down, but that was really stupid, because that can stretch the pouch. I called to talk to a Dr. at the clinic, and guess who answered... Dr. Ortiz. He was really pissed... read me the "riot act." I felt like such a loser. He said that we won't know anything till my fill in two weeks when they use the xray scope. From what I've read, if the band didn't slip (which it can), it will take a prolonged period of time of overeating to permanaently strecth the pouch. This is just from my research. I also read about going back on liquids for 5 days or so to let the pouch go back. Many other banders said that helped. Honestly, the band can fix the physical hunger, but not the emotional hunger. I am going to start going to OA again... it helps.

Why did I spill my guts like that only to feel embarrassed? Because I wanted you to know that you are not alone.

Good luck.

John

(lost 20 pounds during first 3 weeks)

I was researching the clear liquid phase online and found a source which said, "no caffeine for 3 months." However, OCC says coffee and tea are fine. I'm curious about why this discrepancy exists. What harm would caffeine do?