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tomorrow's the big day

well, tomorrow morning i head to San Antonio to start my lap band journey. i feel like i'm as ready as i'm going to be, but still have those "what the hell have i gotten myself into" moments.   looking at old photos from many dozens of pounds ago helps me remember why i've made this decision.
tonyisstillhere

tonyisstillhere

1
 

its done.

i'm back from the hospital now after an overnight stay (required by the insurance company). here is a brief synopsis of my experience.   i was scheduled for surgery at the nix weight loss center in san antonio, tx with dr. keith wright at noon. i was asked to check in at 10:00 for admission to the hospital. i got there at 9:30 to check with the surgeon's office to let them know i was there and see if there were any last minute things i needed to do. i also bought some "bariatic advantage" chewable multivitamins while i was there. around 10 i went to the admissions office and checked in. after that i was taken to a waiting room and told to take everything off and put on a hosital gown. i waited there while a nurse went over disclosures and paperwork. they also drew some blood. after about half an hour, they took me to a hospital room and lay me down, put in the IV and i waited there for over an hour. the surgeon apparently had 6 surgeries that day and i was number four, i can only imagine he was running behind. they finally came to get me and rolled me to another waiting area where they administered antibiotics through the iv and i met the anesthesiologist. after another hour or so, they finally wheeled me into surgery.   the room was much bigger than i expected. i haven't had surgery since i was 12, so i had no idea what to expect. i did learn something though about the actual operation. apparently, it is performed with the patient hoisted up on a vinyl type table almost standing (at about a 45 degree angle). when i moved onto the operating table, there was a team of about 5 people that went to work. everything was so fast paced that i'm surprised i remember anything at all. they had me breathe pure oxygen for about 2 minutes and then injected the anesthetic, which was warm in my veins and knocked me out in about 10 seconds.   when i woke up, i was in the recovery room. i think it took me a good hour to regain my senses and i don't think i regained them fully until about 5 hours after surgery. i lay there in a big room with several other patients and nurses milling about. every once in awhile someone would ask me something, but i have no idea what they were saying. after awhile, they wheeled me away and took me to do the barium swallow so they could do a video xray of my insides and see if the band and port were properly placed. i was scared to swallow the barium because it was pretty thick. it tasted like lemon antacids mixed with chalk. i could only get a small amount down and they kept telling me to drink more. i briefly saw a picture of my band and port but couldn't really tell what was what.   then they took my to my room. luckily they were able to arrange a private room so my wife could stay with me overnight. the rest of the day was spent trying to keep liquids down and trying to stay conscious long enough to watch an episode of family guy. they kept me well stocked with crystal light, jello, and veggie broth. the warm veggie broth was the best on my throat.   the staff was all very helpful, friendly, and professional and though i had very little actual contact or communication with my surgeon, i think he was the best person for the job. i spent one night there... the nurses came in every so often to check vitals and blood sugar. i woke up around 7 am for good and had a veggie broth, tea, and jello breakfast and checked out soon after.   the hardest part of the whole process for me was being so out of it for so long because of the anesthesia. the pain is completely manageable and causes the most problems when i use my abdominal muscles. my throat is very sore from intubation and the gas pain doesn't seem to be a problem for me in the traditional sense. the gas seems to have travelled through my body and into my joints and muscles, causing my whole body to ache as if i had the flu or a bad cold. it's been about 24 hours since surgery now though and really starting to subside. the only really noticeable pain now is aching from the incisions.   i did take a look at my incisions and after comparing them to so many other pictures on this board, i have to say i believe my surgeon did an excellent job. i have 4 very small incisions (less then 1 inch) and one larger one (maybe 1.5 inches). dr. wright is top notch!   it has been almost 48 hours since i last ate solid food, and the hunger has just start to hit. the broth seems to be the best thing to hold it at bay. i weighed myself today and i'm about 5 pounds heavier than this time yesterday. i imagine it's all the fluids and i'm sure i'll be dropping it pretty quickly once i get into ful liquids and mushies.   my goal now, having the week off work, is to relax, recover, and move around as much as possible. 160 lbs, here i come!
tonyisstillhere

tonyisstillhere

2
 

day 5 post op

day 5 and feeling 100%. i was 242 at the hospital before my surgery after starting my pre-op diet at around 250. on the 17th, the day after my surgery, i spiked to 249! i was amazed, but i imagine it was all water retention from the fluids in surgery. since then i've seen a pleasing decline and today the scale read 238!!! it's been over a year since i've seen the 230's.   i find myself looking at my old smaller clothes in my closet and it's nice not wishing, but knowing that i will wear them again. when i get down to around 220 i will be able to fit into about 50% more of my wardrobe! under 200 and i'll have to buy all new things. that's money i look forward to spending.   my diet hasn't been going quite to doctor's orders. the 100% clear liquid diet was abandoned a few days early and i've gone to mostly clear liquids and mixed in some protein drinks and some soupy mashed potatoes. the hunger was too much and i figured it was time for some protein.   tomorrow i go back to work, so i'm preparing myself with special k protein water for mid morning when i start to get hungry, crystal light to drink throughout the day, and protein drinks for lunch and mid afternoon. when i get home i may have some soup or something else light for dinner. with the way i'm feeling lately, i'll be ready for solid foods by the end of the week.   the exercise portion is scaring me a bit. i still have port site pain and i don't want to overdo it. i think i'll start tomorrow with walking on the treadmill in the gym and see how that makes me feel. i took a walk today in the 40 degree weather and though it was short, it was more acitivity than i've had since surgery.
tonyisstillhere

tonyisstillhere

1
 

3rd day and feeling much better

after being banded on the 16th, today is the first day that i'm really beginning to feel like myself. most of the gas pain is gone and my muscles don't ache like they have. it doesn't hurt nearly as much to swallow and my abdominal area seems to be healing up. i was able to sleep on both sides without much discomfort last night. i have until monday before i have to face the stress of work again.   last night, the hunger got to me. after 3 full days with no solid food and no protein to speak of, i gave in and made myself a soymilk protein shake. i just used about 8 oz of soymilk and one package of whole foods soy protein and mixed it up. i drank it over about half an hour and regretted having so much after awhile. for the first time since surgery, i felt full. very full. it took about an hour to pass and make me feel normal again. i got through that one without much of an incident, but now i know what i can handle and that i need to go slllloooooww.
tonyisstillhere

tonyisstillhere

1
 

2 days post op

so i survived the first night in my own bed. last night and this morning is the first time i am really aware that i have a band. when i stretch i can feel something at the top of my stomach, just below the center of my ribcage. i was able to sleep on my side, though the port is on my right side and it was definitely noticeable. the hardest part about sleeping is that just about every muscle in my body still aches and every time i need to get myself up, the pain in my abdomen flares up. i find it easier to sit than lay down.   yesterday, i had alot of clear liquids... possibly more than i was even supposed to. i love drinking warm veggie broth and grape juice because my throat is still so sore. swallowing hurts, but the warm stuff goes down more easily. today i plan to go to whole foods to pick up a few more clear liquid items and get the soy protein powder i want for next week.   one of the most unexpected things is that i am very hungry. i spent most of the day yesterday trying to ignore the hunger pains and working down the veggie broth because it is the closest thing in flavor to real food that i can have. this morning the hunger hasn't hit yet and i'm hoping that as i graduate to full liquids next week the hunger will be less noticeable.   today i'm going to make sure and go on a nice long walk and i think that will help some of the pain. it's true what everyone says... getting up and moving around helps. the hard part is fighting through some of the drowsiness from the pain meds and just making yourself do it.
tonyisstillhere

tonyisstillhere

1
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