I can't sleep. I didn't sleep for a week before the surgery due to terrible nightmares (it seems slaying the food dragon makes for nasty dreams), and now, I can't sleep because of all the pain. Yes, I'm taking my pain meds... but between the gas pain and the scar/bruises, I can't seem to sleep for more than an hour at a time. Can you say FRUSTRATED???

Don't get me wrong, I knew going in that this wound be easy... but no sleep... still? I need my sleep. I get cranky when I can't sleep... and added to the cranky from the pain, let's just say, my poor, poor mother (who's taking care of me).

I have been drinking water and warm low sodium chicken broth. At first I thought the bland taste would kill me. Now, I'm convinced if I had anything else, my agony would significantly increase. Did anyone else know that immediately post op, it takes over 5 hours to drink 16oz of broth? Because I didn't know that. I also didn't know how painful choking on the water I'm carefully sipping so as not to add more air to my body would be.

I'm down 22lbs pre-op, and my doctor told me the weight should fall off, but when I weighed myself yesterday afternoon, the fluids and air they gave me added 6lbs! Not fair! I know it'll come off slowly - mostly because I have to pee every 30 minutes. Still, some of my 'woohoo' has be stolen.

It's 5:20am. I don't even remember the last time (less yesterday) that I was up this early. I am a night owl, NOT a morning bird. As far as I'm concerned, let someone else have the damn worm. But sleeping late, sleeping at all is not an option. My eyes are scratchy, my poor lids have 10lb weights on them, and my typing skills are seriously compromised... still, breathing hurts, moving is agony, and laying flat is... well, not the best plan.

Long term plan... must focus on long term goals... losing 200lbs. Must focus. No pain, no ... loss.

But seriously, you should see these incisions... they'd keep you from sleeping too.

When I was banded, I remember that I could only sleep laying on my back. I also tried not to take the pain med until it was bedtime and had a pretty good night's sleep. Sometimes getting up the next morning was sore, and stiff. You seem to be doing everything you need to do. Believe me you will soon start returning back to your old self with no soreness. Try sleeping on your back, if your not already. Wish you the best!

I have issues with sleeping on my back unless I'm heavily drugged... and the drugs they gave me... yeah, not so much. Liquid hyrdo is good and everything, but for this pain and soreness, it does bubkiss.

First, CONGRATULATIONS!!! It was today, right? Trust us, it will get better. Try to get some walking in every few hours and rest as you can. You'll see a big change in a few days...and all of us had those frustrating moments post-band. Hang in there. -BG