I can feel it??

Kynekke · 12-13-2006, 08:00 AM

I had my re-fill yesterday and I was right, the last Dr. that was supposed to remove .2cc's removed all of it! This Dr. put me back up to 2.1cc's (I was at 2.4cc before and wanted .2 removed). Anyway... all of a sudden I can feel my band and it's annoying! I don't remember feeling my band when I had my first 2cc fill, seems like I may have felt it a tad just after surgery.

Anyway, just feels like... well... plastic heh. It comes in waves, so for 5 min or so I can't feel it and then I start feeling this plasticy poking feeling that starts to hurt a little then goes away. Is this normal?

beachgirl · 12-13-2006, 12:24 PM

I bet that feels odd. I don't guess I've ever felt mine. I had .4 taken out last week myself. I went from 2.00cc's to 1.6cc's and feeling much better. Are you able to eat okay? Hope your feeling better.

tomorrowsdream · 12-13-2006, 12:27 PM

It is possible to feel your port, but not your band. The stomach has no nerve endings in it and the band cannot ever be felt. It is like the arteries of the heart...there are absolutely no nerve endings. Not sure what you are feeling, but it is definitely not the band. You may feel restriction however, but this is not the same thing.

Jachut · 12-13-2006, 03:16 PM

Of course the stomach has nerve endings - that's how you feel full! What about the vagus nerve?

I agree though that we may not be feeling the band per se - like what I might be feeling when I've exercised is increased restriction due to swelling.

tomorrowsdream · 12-13-2006, 06:43 PM

The vagus nerve is located in the esophagus. I said the stomach has "no nerve endings", meaning you cannot feel the band at any time. You cannot feel it during fills as the band gets tigher, but afterwards you can definitefly feel restriction when the vegas nerve lets you know you've eaten enough. There are nerves that run through the entire body, but "nerve endings" are completely different.

Jachut · 12-13-2006, 09:56 PM

Sorry, I'm not normally argumentative for the sake of it but that isnt correct - and I can feel fills too - I can feel little bubbles move around the band. It takes a second for them to go up the tubing and then I feel the fill settle around the band. Most definitely.

And what about the pain if you get something stuck? There's certainly nerve endings in the stomach that allow you to feel satiety, fullness, pain etc. So technically while you may not feel the band sitting on the outside of the stomach, you may feel it in a referred way if you know what I mean.

The left vagus nerve hugs the anterior wall of the stomach whilst the right sits a little behind it and the vagus nerves are mainly sensory, they only slightly contribute to motility of the stomach. I've dissected a vagus nerve myself from a cadaver and actually seen it.

**Jack** · 12-13-2006, 10:17 PM

re: "The stomach has no nerve endings in it" and "The vagus nerve is located in the esophagus"

...Better take a look at your Grey's Anatomy.... the vagus innervates many organs...

re: 'feeling band'....I haven't seen many Bandsters report this....I never really have the sensation of my own....in the way Kynekke describes anyway....

I have at times been "aware" of it in an annoying non-physical way....but essentially not as a sensation of a plastic belt around anything kind of way....

flabuless · 12-13-2006, 10:31 PM

Well I have definately felt strange things...and have been convinced that I can feel the band as well... like jachut generally after exercising or doing something strenuous...It could be something different but I can certainly relate to kynekke feeling like their is an strange object in her tummy and not in the 'port' region either...higher up just under my ribs...
:) becky

Kynekke · 12-14-2006, 10:21 AM

I was paying more attention last night when I got home (hard to concentrate at work) and I'm noticing that it's gone for about 5 min then comes on light to strong to light and gone again. It still feels like a pokey plastic feeling and it's right where my stomache is I think.. ok my anatomy isn't that good. It's right under my left breast right where my bra band is. Just curious.. this doesn't sound like a slip does it?

kwhenrykerr · 12-14-2006, 10:29 AM

Sounds like Gas, it wil pass

Jachut · 12-14-2006, 03:04 PM

It could easily be gas - it can produce weird feelings. I swear sometimes it feels EXACTLY like a baby kicking.

tomorrowsdream · 12-14-2006, 05:03 PM

My info on the band and not feeling it being made tighter came from my surgeon who told me it was because the stomach has no nerve endings...maybe he's wrong. I'll have to ask again. I have felt it in my "throat" when getting fills, which baffled me, but I find that isn't that unusual. I have never felt any tightness or anything when I have my band filled, nor do I ever feel the band. I have 2.5 cc in a 4 cc band and have never felt the band tighten..it will be interesting to see if anyone else can actually feel their band.

My vagus nerve is definitely not communicating with my tummy for sure, as I am still as hungry as I ever way. It looks like I'm going to be someone that requires a huge fill to feel any restriction.

He also told me people with smaller stomachs often require larger and more fills. I guess this subject could be up for debate also, because I'm not sure if this is correct or not.

In any case, this is an informative post. I never knew anyone felt their band.:)

Jachut · 12-14-2006, 07:14 PM

I'd say it was the kind of off the cuff information that doctors and surgeons say just because they cant be bothered explaining fully - because overall, no you dont "feel" the band, but if it suddenly tore loose you would sure as eggs feel that!

You dont "feel" your rings sitting on your fingers most of the time either, its the same kind of thing, something has to make you aware of it and I guess for some people that something arises and for some it doesnt.

I cant tell you the amount of rubbish and misinformation I've been told about various bits of my anatomy (or my childrens') because the surgeon or doctor cant be bothered explaining it and dont realise that I actually understand what they're talking about.

On the other hand I had a family doctor who drew diagrams for EVERYTHING and that was a tad tedious as well.

kwhenrykerr · 12-14-2006, 09:45 PM

Feelings are funny things, they are in your head. I have a back problem and it feels like my foot is in ice water sometimes. My foot is fine it is all in my head. I still look at my foot to see if I am stepping on ice (ha, I live in Key West, Florida) You just need to try to get your brain to relearn. Good luck, like I said I still look at my foot.

~Jules~ · 12-16-2006, 09:41 AM

When I got my first fill (actually only fill so far), she told me I would feel tightness. And I did. I felt it get tighter.