WAgal

Wendy, wishing you the best!!! Keep us posted... Hanna

Hi Deon, Suffina, Fluoro Fill is a fill with x-ray.. They have you drink barium to see on the x-ray the flow of water as it passes your band. I think it also sees the placement of your band to see that all is well and that it has not slipped. I'm due for my fluoro fill in a week at OCC. I chose to do this for my first fill so that I have that assurance that all is functioning well and to return to OCC for a mini vacation. Do a search on this forum for topics you are trying to read about. I'm sure this question has been answered before here somewhere. Welcome! Hanna

Ladies, ladies, ladies... ditto, ditto, and ditto!!! These awfully handsome doctors make you loose your concentration.. I had a lot of nervousness and questions to ask when i spoke to both of them just before surgery but you know those devilishly handsome doctors just looking so HOTTTT put me at ease and made me forget all my question. I actually had a wonderful conversation on the phone with Dr. O before I arrived at OCC and he had already answered my questions in advance. Just talking with him in person was another reassurance that he was going to take good care of me!!! Do they get online and see these comments we make??? I love that they are so friendly and competent at OCC and the good looks are just icing on the cake! Thanks for sharing Gina!! Hanna

Yay!!! >

Clynn, Ewwww!!! That's sick!!! I was one of those in the theater that watch Alien and screamed my head off!!! LOL!!! Hanna

Darlene, Thanks for clearing that up.. I see... so that was addressed to pacificnw... MYBAD. Sorry.. no none taken as far as disrespect. NEVER, not here... I was reading pretty quickly new postings, like I normally do... just like to be able to hop on the forum everyday and keep myself attuned to our fellow bandsters! You're too cute to be disrespectful!! Hanna

You will do just great!!! Hanna =D>

Yes ... I did mean Anna Lou... it was addressed for her but I was defending you!!! Heck, let me correct it, so there will not be any further confusion. Hanna (corrected/edited... I think that's better)

Dear Annie Lou, I think you misunderstood Darlene. Darlene meant for you to keep coming back to this forum... keep posting ....keep us updated about your journey... NOT that she doesn't believe you... I want to say thank you for reminding us the reality of surgery. Although this is the least invasive (lapband) of all weight loss surgery it is still a major surgery. These things are what my husband and family were thinking of.. that's why my daugher wouldn't let me go by myself... bless her heart. I thank God too that you were in a facility that was able to take care of your needs once the spleen was nicked... I'll pray for your continued recovery, thank you for sharing. You brave girl!!! Blessings.. can you email me in private as to who this doctor was... if you don't mind... just curious 'cause your posting says "PacificNW" on top. Hanna

I had a 1/4 of a burger, just the beef part.. some tortilla chips about 6-8... That was it...that's all I could eat! Hanna

Dottie, Thanks for sharing your pics! You look fantabulous! Keep working it girl!!! LOL! I'm looking forward to seeing you skinny dipping too!!! Ha ha ha... I mean you know, you going skinny dipping in private and not me actually watching you skinny dipping!!! Thanks for the encouragement... I'm dreading the needle for my first fill!! I just won't look!!! Hanna

Yes... I did the slimfast too and decided to switch to EAS (upon someone's recommendation here ..can't remember who but a big THANKS) and the grumbling of my tummy stopped. There are the little 3 oz., 35 cals.. I think it's Dannon yogurt drinks. They are pricey but I found it very convenient during the liquid stage.. I didn't cry either but was SO irritated... Now when you get to my stage about 5-6 weeks out post-op where you are in bandster chaos... 'cause you wanna be good and continue loosing weight but are fluctuating up and down the scale and can literally eat a COW again! ... my point is I am appreciating the liquid diet more and have actually gone back to the pre-op diet just so that I don't go back to my old eating habits... Look up MamaMichelle... she is doing great and is very methodical in her approach.. she has also posted pics of her before surgery and 1 month post op... you'll find this very encouraging! Maybe you've already seen it. Hanna

Dawnie! You're so funny! Thanks for the post! And here you are morning after surgery! Godspeed to a quick recovery!!! You take care and have fun shopping! My group fill is coming up in a couple of weeks and I can't wait!!!! It's great isn't it to have such a caring and very competent facility to care for you and ease your mind before and after surgery! Blessings, Hanna > >

Hi Sweetie! The gas pain that some experience over a year is not related to the shoulder pain I'm researching. The shoulder pain for post op 1 year or more are usually 'caused by overeating it seems but all again are different as individuals and different lifestyles. Don't worry about something that's not probably going to be a situation for you. It doesn't seem that common from other blogs I've read. Stomach gas pains we all get... have you been experiencing the tremendous flatulations you've been getting? This subsides. I think you'll be just fine... follow your post-op to the T... you'll be protecting your investment and friend (band) if you do. Some people's tolerance for pain are also different. I had pain post-op and chose not to take any medication after 24 hours... So I still have 2 pills left over from OCC given to me. I just don't like taking pills if I can avoid them, that's me! You take care of yourself and keep us posted about your progress. Read wherever you can about experienced bandsters on different forums so you get a real "feel" of overall experiences of bandsters nation/worldwide. Thanks for posting your experience. Blessings, Hanna

mkirk, did you receive oxygen like I described it to Michelle just before your surgery? Thanks..

Okay Bobbi... did you breathe in through a mask with oxygen or a tube thing through your mouth connected to something that was making a hissing noise? I got the regular gas in my midsection but it was very mild pain... not like the unbearable left shoulder pain everyone describes here. Some feel it right after just having surgery and it continues roughly for 4-10 days. I guess I've yet to experience the future shoulder pain from eating too much but I'm primarily interested in the shoulder pain associated with the carbon dioxide they pump us with so that the docs can better see in there during the operation.

Kimmie, Did you get oxygen the way I described it to Michelle?

Hi Michelle, Did they have you inhale from a tube through your mouth connected to something making a hissing noise, the tube was similar to the breathing device thing for pre-op eval? Do you recall if they put a mask on you saying it was oxygen? This stuff they did to me while I was in my private room waiting for my turn for surgery. I remember one thing in the surgery room and that was just before I was going to be operated on and I saw Dr. Martinez and the three nurses, I said something to the effect "Where's is Dr. Ortiz?" Then Dr. O, by some curtain said "I'm right here Hanna, count to 10 and go back to sleep!" I remember I was resisting and again he asked me to count to ten and that everything would be alright and he'd see after surgery. I don't think I got to 10 and I was out. Next recollection was being awakened to sip something.

When I say receive oxygen before surgery, I mean they had this tube they ask you to inhale with your mouth... and the nurse specifically told me that it was oxygen I was inhaling. When I started to get sleepy from the meds in my IV, the nurse switch me over to a mask type over my nose and mouth and said it was oxygen, it was so that I could sleep and still breathe in the oxygen. We need more to participate... Please I encourage those who haven't posted to please post their experience. We may be on to something here. This time please specify if it is the right or left shoulder (if you remember) where you experienced the pain. I will pose this same question in other bandster forums to get more data... Thanks for the link for the research... I will post here the results of my little survey/findings. If we can help future bandsters NOT have the extra added shoulder pain then this is all worth it! again thanks, Hanna =D>

Hi all, I'm doing a survey regarding the dreaded shoulder gas pain incurred post-op. It seems some people get it and some people don't. I was expecting to get it since I read it was part of what WOULD happen but happily surprised that I didn't get it. The information I'm interested in is if you rec'd oxygen before surgery or not. example: WAgal: no shoulder pain received oxygen before surgery: yes That's it. Your participation may lead us to discover if this is something necessary to avoid the shoulder gas pain for future bandsters. Or it may be nothing. A big THANKS in advance.

Yes, normal... The meds you were given have probably worn off and now you can feel things inside and are still healing. I'm a side sleeper. I sleep on my side and that didn't feel good at all the first 10 days, I'd say. I found that sleeping on my back, where everything is flat on my belly felt the most comfortable and no pain or uncomfortableness. It was also sometimes hard to sit up from a lying down position. It will pass once you are fully healed! I'm a little 5 weeks post-op and facing the no restriction banding H*E* double hockey sticks. Not fun at all since I can probably eat a whole COW if I wanted. But I will not... I will not!!! Have a nice one!

Okay.. just stole this from Doolittle... if you haven't read it here on the forum this is what we should be doing for our fill: Increase Your Chances of a Good Fill The following suggestions are good rules of thumb and will greatly increase your chances of getting a good fill. 1. Be sure you are very well hydrated when you come in for your fill appointment. That means at least 6 to 8 full glasses of liquid every day for at least several days before the fill. (Remember, water is your friend). Drink especially well the morning of the fill. If you're flying in, it can be much harder to stay hydrated, so take an empty drink bottle and fill it after you pass airport security. TSA rules state you can bring an empty water bottle past the TSA security check point. Bring some of those "to-go" packs of Crystal Light, they’re ideal! Ask the flight attendants for a refill of your water bottle, pop one in, and then you will have plenty to drink. (Hint - If you flying in for a fill, while you're on the plane, grab a couple of those white barf bags. It’s good to keep one in your purse or car, for "emergencies".) 2. Do not to have any solid foods for at least 6 hours before the fill. Don't eat a huge or late dinner the night before. If you're having any trouble (reflux, possible slip, etc) please have nothing but fluids after dinner the night before. In some cases, food can still be in the pouch for 12 or more hours. ANY food in the pouch will make it impossible to give a good fill, or get a good fluoro 3. Don't drink COLD fluids for an hour before the fill. That will shrink your stoma and give a false fluoro reading, and a poor fill. Room temp fluids are fine. Let the ice in your drink melt and hour before a fill, and then you'll have room-temp fluids to drink right up to the fill time. 4. Avoid getting a fill during a menstrual period or a few days before an expected one. During this time, girls are usually retaining water, and the fluoro will not be as accurate, and the fill will not be either. 5. If at all possible, hang around for at least a few hours after a fill. Don't run right back home or to the plane. It takes the normal swelling after a fill 1-2 hours to develop, and by that time you might be too tight and need to come right back. 6. If you fly in, If at all possible, stay overnight and catch a plane out the following late afternoon or evening. If you are too tight, this will allow time to get a small unfill before you leave. This is not very convenient, but sure beats having to possibly return to TJ in a few days, on short notice, in pain, and at high last-minute plane fares! This is "prevention!" Overfills are not common, but they DO happen, even under the best of conditions. Be prepared, and think about this overnight stay. Test your fill the next day before you leave. 7. After a fill, please have liquids only for at least 24 hrs. This allows the stoma to rest and heal. Then, a day of soft foods, then back to regular foods. Full liquids are fine, no need for clears. Remember, if you staying over night test your fill before you fly out. 8. Review the eating and food guidelines again before every fill. You’ll need to refine your eating more and more with higher fill levels, and there will be less and less room for goofs. As you reach a higher fill level, you'll no longer be able to "get away" with things you might have before! 9. Please don't get a fill if you are having ANY trouble with the current level of fill. This means ANY regular pain, PB or barfing more than maybe once a week at the VERY most, not able to get enough calories in, not able to drink enough, able to eat only soft foods or fluids. More fill will NOT help, and will make things worse. Discuss all this carefully with your doctor. You may even need an UNFILL, to keep your band and stomach safe. 10. First fills are routinely given at 6-8 weeks after surgery, but only as you need them. Many people do, some do not. Your doctor will help you decide if you need a fill, just ask. There is no rush for fills. Too much can very easily get you in trouble, and you end up further "behind" than if you had gone slower with fills. 11. Give a fill at least 2-3 weeks to test it. Some fills don't "settle in" for a week or two, and sometimes more. Your weight loss is what determines how a fill is - not any feeling of restriction, necessarily. 12. One of the most important things in determining if a fill is good is choosing proper band foods. Soft foods, liquids, junk foods, sweets, etc, will NEVER be well-restricted, and will never tell a thing about having a good fill or not. Only solid foods give useful info. A good test meal is 2-4 oz of solid meat or chicken - be sure it's soft and moist - and about 1/2 cup veggies. You should be able to eat about a cup of food (no less) and this should keep you satisfied (NOT "FULL", but simply "satisfied, not physically hungry". for about 3-4 hrs. 13. Plan regular meals. A good fill will keep you satisfied for 3-4 hrs, but no longer. If you are hungry 5 hrs after lunch, it is not because you have an inadequate fill! Regular meals at planned times are important for a number of reasons; including avoiding snacking, maximizing your calorie burn and normalizing metabolism, which is essential for weight maintenance later on. 14. Learn to recognize YOUR "soft stop" sign. Common ones are chest tightness or "fullness", a sudden runny nose, a single hiccup or burp, an eye twitch, back pain, left should pain. All mean the pouch is full enough and we should STOP eating, even spitting out the bite that may be already in our mouths. If you do not, you could progress to the "hard stop" - slimming, pb, barfing. Please remember that good fills are very elusive, even with highly- experienced docs and fill people. There are just too many individual factors involved that the docs cannot control. Even the fluoro is only a clue, and not entirely accurate - for some of the reasons above. It usually takes 3- 5 fills to slowly and safely creep up on a good level, and they can be safely given a month apart. Trying to go faster with a bigger fill is not the solution, and the stomach rebels at big sudden fills. The goal of the first few fills is NOT to achieve a good restriction, but to gradually get your stomach used to some pressure so you can tolerate a GOOD fill later. SLOW and GRADUAL is the key! Going slowly with fills can be frustrating, but is well worth the wait to avoid problems. Forum: Support / General Discussions · Post Preview: #18694 · Replies: 15 · Views: 351

ditto here... I told Dr. Miranda and she said that this wasn't a problem at all... I don't think they gave me any extra meds., at least they didn't say anything about it to me...

Isn't it fun to have all this support here. Quite frankly, I know what you mean about laughing so much... it hurt to laugh the first week! So I hope I didn't hurt you! My husband would watch me get on the computer (this was the first week then I would burst into laughter reading stuff and then I would say "ouch, ouch, ouch!" Then he would laugh at me 'cause I probably looked pretty silly or crazy from his point of view. I love reading everyone's postings... Sometimes I wanna chime in just to let you know I've been there but I'm satisfied reading and enjoying the camaraderie taking place.. Keep it up ladies... We are going to look fantabulous!!!! Hanna "If I help you, then I am helping myself!"

YAY DARLENE!!!! I'M GLAD YOU HAD AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!! SEE... YOU'RE NOT ALONE YELLING!!! LOL!!!! HANNA