Thanks for stopping by! I thought I'd use this post to address some of the biggest questions/fears I had about being banded, before I was banded. Some of these might seem silly, but they really did keep me up at night for some reason.
1. Will I be able to lay on my stomach after getting the Lap Band? The answer, for me at least, is YES, you can lay on your stomach. I was actually more comfortable laying on my stomach about 1 week post-op than I was laying on my back. I'm not sure why, and I had some major difficulty getting into, and out of, that position, but it worked for me.
2. Will I be able to feel my port throughout a typical day?
I don't, unless I want to, when I flex my stomach muscles and press on my port site with my hand. I was a little freaked out when I read that other Bandsters could feel their port (feel in terms of sensitivity) after a work out, climbing stairs, etc. Again, this is just my experience, but I really don't feel it, and when I do, it isn't uncomfortable, it's just there. Kinda like feeling your toes in your shoes. You don't really think about them in there unless you really want to. Hopefully that makes sense.
3. Will I be able to eat like a normal person?
Well, this one's kinda hard to answer. See, the whole point of the band is that you DON'T eat that way anymore, however, you CAN if you really really want to. It's a slippy slope, because these poor food habits that we've developed over a lifetime of eating are hard to break. However, the band does have some input in this, but it varies for everyone. I can eat bread, for example. Other bandsters can't. They get stuck, and end up with their head in the toilet. I can eat ALMOST everything I used to eat, although some days I experience more discomfort than others. Pizza? Goes down ok, but I usually order/make mine with little to no cheese and lots of sauce, so that may have something to do with it. Sushi rice, however, literally forms a dam in my esophagus.
4. What does "getting stuck" feel like?
I wasn't too sure what to expect with this. I think there are varying degrees of "stuck-ness". For me, the most mild form of stuck is just a constant watering of the mouth, and I am able to "force up" the blockage (kinda like concentrating really hard on pulling up a burp.) The most extreme form of stuck-age is this incredibly painful pressure in my chest and upper back. For me, it radiates down my arms, and makes my eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out of my head. Ok, maybe not, but it really hurts throughout every inch of my body. The pain lasts until I can PB (re: vomit up) the blockage. Vomiting itself is pretty unpleasant, but not painful. However, you have to be really careful, because vomiting every once in a while is one thing, but violent vomiting can dislodge your band, which can create some really serious problems.
These were some of the biggest questions I had that didn't relate to the actual procedure or mechanics of the band. If you have a question that I didn't address, you can always ask me. I'd be happy to provide any insight I can!
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