[Team BandBoozled]

Apologies for the late response Charlotte
The port is stitched into the muscle so there can be some natural aches and twinges around the port from time to time. Hopefully your nurse will check you over prior to your fill also. As long as there is no redness swelling or ongoing pain (getting worse) then this is generally ok. With the bloating do make sure you are doing your 20202020 rule. Hitting around the 5+mls in your band is when it really starts to kick in so the 20+ has to be spot on. Hopefully you are not having any stuck episodes/regurg – this can make for a tender port if this is happening too. If so take things back to fluids for a few days, revisit soft/texture being that bit more cautious and hopefully that helps. If things persist or you have any other concerns please do contact your provider to discuss. Best of luck xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Sarah

Apologies, I cannot see anything on the FB group? was this a direct message or on the group? could you please repost or get back to us on here? we will help out in anyway we can for sure xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Cass

Thanks for getting in touch

You are correct, over time you can for sure get a degree of dispersion of the fluid in your band which will mean the band will loosen due to this. You may not even need much adding but if you are eating over the side plate and getting hungry less then 4-5 hours then likely a fill will be just what you need. Sometimes it can be bad habits creeping in too, so always make sure you meals are textured drinking your 2ltrs of water, challenging hunger/ hitting 50g protein daily minimal. If you are in the North West area we have a band clinic starting on 9th May on Rodney Street if this helps xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Thanks for getting back

it really does like you are in the red zone even with only a small amount of fluid in your band.   My advice would be to call your provider and discuss, you need some fluid out by the sounds of things.  Till then maybe go back to fluids only, suck some ice and see can you settle any irritation around the band site down with rest.  Take some gaviscon for the reflux.  These symptoms continuous aren’t normal so hopefully a defill then maybe smaller fills going forward will help if required.   Do let us know how you get on huni xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Charlotte

im thinking if this is happening when you have drinks too and you are doing your 202020 rule could your band just be a little too tight.

you aren’t using a straw are you?  Are you having any other symptoms – reflux/regurg/discomfort when eating.   Are you keeping check on your food bolus size and keeping sips tea spoon size amounts.   Out of curiosity what size fills did you have and what’s the total amount in your band and band size xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Dawn

Good for you upping your protein and exercise. Yes definitely book a nutritional call for a full assessment. We wouldn’t recommend any crash diets like keto etc but being mindful of health eating is required for sure, but generally post op this can be achieved by using a small plate 1/2 veg salad 1/4 carbs and protein. Make sure your food is textured, slider foods won’t give you the stimulation and will find portions will be bigger. Make sure you are drinking your 2ltrs of water. Also your band may need adjusting slightly to re engage the weight loss? Your assessment with the dietitian will help figure out what’s best. Don’t give up, sometimes a little shake up with the diet or a tweak on your band can get things moving again. Make sure to do your body measurements too.. progress doesn’t always just focus around the scales especially if you are doing exercise.

Best of luck with everything and keep us posted how you are getting on xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Charlotte

Hope all is going well and good for you getting up and about. This will help on so May levels with healing and recovery

Pain around the port and incisions can be pretty normal because of the healing. We would say just keep an eye on the Abdo area for any obvious additional swellings, raised temps, redness or issues with any of the wounds.

The port site can be the worse as your port is stitched to the stomach wall and can take a little long to recover.

The back pain may just be down to posture, if you’re guarding your Abdo area the lower back can take the brunt of you arching your shoulders or sleeping in a position that you are not used too. Again observe, make sure you are getting your hydration in, but if having any issues passing urine or in that department speak with your GP

For your bowels, make sure you are hitting at least 2ltrs or water, you could try some prune juice or an over the counter ducolax or something similar if needed

It gets easier daily lovely, try some over the counter pain relief, hot water bottle to your back.. But if you’ve any concerns do not hesitate to contact your provider or your gp to discuss 😘 xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Has anyone ever seen the delicious sharing boards, or charcuterie?? 🤩 might be a delicious DIY option for an office treat – include nuts, cheese, grapes, crackers… xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Demi

This could be the location of your port.  It is positioned around the largest incision.   Unfortunately it is stitched into the muscle and nerves once damaged sit numb until they start to reconnect and spark back to life.  With this healing process can bring new symptoms of pain/awareness.

So this can be really normal at this stage.  The positives are that your wounds and bruising are healing so this is great news.

It is good to keep up and mobile, but as stomach muscles are used with most movements, maybe take a few days to rest the muscle to allow for the healing to progress.

Be mindful that you are taking your fluids nice and slow and steady, lots of protein based ones to aid the healing and clear fluids to keep hydrated

With any pain we would always advise you call your provider and run the symptoms past them to make sure they are within the normal parameters.

Sounds like things are going well so good for you.  You can take a liquid paracetamol or soluble codeine if need (and tolerated) to help take the edge off.

Take care and look after you xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Ben

Does sound like wind, the typical shoulder pain and bloating. Have you tried any wind preps? Peppermint tea, gripe water, chewable deflatine will help. Keeping up and mobile, do some wind mills with your arms to release any wind in the showers. Hot water bottle on your shoulders.. lying in your L side can release the pressure on the nerves so may offer some relief. The intake of fluids should get easier as the wind releases and the post op swelling settles around your band site.

Suck some ice cubes. Make sure fluids are thin, use a teaspoon and 20 seconds between whilst the swelling is still very much apparent.

If things don’t settle speak with your provider… it does get easier just keep your sips slow and continuous to hit a good level of hydration and nutrition xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Grace

try not to be too concerned about your portions at this stage.   Likely is you will need several adjustments (4-6) for the band to really start to kick in offering you the portion control and reduced hunger.   For now just work with healthy textures best you can, be adhering to the 20+ rule and drinking plenty of clear fluids.  Good things are happening can just take a little while to kick in.

Get your second fill in the dairy and keep going lovely. I’m sure you are doing a great job xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Emma

glad the site has been of good use to you 😘.  Ok post fill – for all the fluid goes in straight away it can sometimes take a few weeks to fully kick in.  Plus other triggers like hormones, stress, heat, dehydration can tighten the band up and make things worse also

we would advise that firstly you go back to thin fluids only – suck some ice and see does this allow for any inflammation to settle.  If fluids still continue to be a struggle then you will require some of the last fill out and take things much slower.   Around the 6ml mark is when things really become significant so do make sure you are applying the 20+ rule ongoing and keeping well hydrated approx 2ltrs a day

hope things settle down for you if not contact your provider to discuss.  Try not to worry – this can add to the tightening – keep us posted huni xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Hi Tracey

Sorry to hear you are struggling with the dreaded wind!! Somethings to consider that may help are:

Has this become worse since progressing onto your textured food again? Are you having any other symptoms, feeling food go through your band, acid reflux, regurgitation? Great you are doing your 20+ rule as eating quickly can be the main contributor – just watch your forkfuls too and make sure these are 20p size – You are still early days in the surgical journey and swelling will still be applicable around the stomach to some degree

Are you drinking and eating together? for all this is ok to do, it may be worth a trial without doing the both together to see if this helps

Straws or suck type water bottles can mean lots of air in the system

Make sure you are eating small portions regular – not leaving long gaps between eating, the system will fill up with gas/air otherwise

Keep well hydrated, are you drinking your 2ltrs of clear fluids daily – try to sips continuously throughout the day – make peppermint tea a daily occurrence to help they digestive tract

Do certain foods make things worse? I,e dairy? maybe do a little food diary and then you can book a nutritional call – the team maybe able to offer some additional hint and tips

Hopefully this settles down for you, as a band nurse of 10 years patients do say in general they are a lot more windy than before surgery, but this does seem managed within the assessment

Best of luck with everything and do keep us posted xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Aww great news Demi – good luck with your call tomorrow and rest up 🙂

Take care of you, it is still very early days post op xx

[Team BandBoozled]

Just wondering how big are your portions at the moment? Does what you eat make you satisfied? Rather than a feeling of fullness

Are you eating enough maybe?

What’s your weight loss like? xx

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