I was banded on July 16th. I too heard all the good things and was not prepared for what it could be like. Well my luck I had the what it could be like. I was banded on Wednesday. Friday I started the esophagus spasms that hurt really bad and my doctor called in something to calm my stomach. By the next Tuesday I went for my office visit and they even felt that maybe there was some air in the band causing me to have some retention that I was not to have yet. Tried to inject and draw out but nothng came out. On Thursday my husband took me back and I saw the doctor. He said some people have swelling and some have lots more. Seven days for everything to swell up which makes the band very tight and seven days then for the swelling to go down. Around 11:00 that night I finally got relief and started coming around. All is better until I drank something really cold today and gas is back under my shoulder and spasms or kinda coming back. Had two stressful days and I think after a day or so of rest things will finally get to where it is suppose to be. By the way 20 1/2 pounds lost from beg. of 2 week pre-opt to Thursday. I don't know anybody that had this much trouble with swelling. My friend had LAP-BAND® the day before and has been working and shopping everyday since. Hang in there.

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