RODCAR48

Hi, I was banded in 2010, initially lost about 50 lbs. but constantly getting things, including liquids, stuck. It eventually caused dehydration which led to very low blood pressures to the point that I couldn't sit up in bed without passing out. I had the band deflated, and regained nearly all the weight back. I am scheduled for a single procedure on June 8th for revision to the sleeve. I would like to hear someone's day by day experiences / feelings over the first week post op.

Hi everyone! I was banded on 12/16/10 after a 5 day liquid diet. Up until about two days ago, I was doing well and not really being bothered by hunger. Things are really changing! Now I am hungry most of the time. I feel absolutely no restriction. Should I? I haven't had a fill yet but should I be feeling some restriction just by virtue that the band is in place and a pouch created? I am also beginning to have problems with muscle cramping in my legs and abdomen, might this be a mineral or iron deficiency? If anyone has any comments or suggestions I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

I saw my doctor on Dec 29th and told him that I haven't had any type of restriction since the surgery. I have followed the diet and lost about 30 lbs. but feel hungry most of the time. He agreed to schedule me for a fill on 11 Jan. This will be my first. He uses a fluoroscope for the fills, so hopefully I will feel a restriction. Keep the faith!

Thanks for the advice Fran! I am doing a good job following my liquid diet...haven't cheated. I'm making sure I get the required fluids and am getting more than enough protein. I just didn't know if I should be filling any restriction at all with the band in place.

I can't find where to add my photo for my posts. Can someone help me out?

Day 2 post surgery, and all is well. Everything has gone very smoothly, very little pain, able to sleep on side and back and able to drink my liquids with no problems. I only took the pain meds three times and don't feel they are needed anymore. I am very happy with my decision so far.

I am making my first blog entry today, the day before my lap band surgery. I was fortunate, I only had a 5 day pre surgery diet. I mostly drank Isopure zero carb protein shakes(with skim milk), beef or chicken broth, water with crystal lite, my morning decaf coffee and an occasional glass of decaf iced tea. I was really surprised how little the diet bothered me. The first day of course was the worst but after that I really didn't have any major problems or severe hunger pangs. My surgery is tomorrow (Dec. 16th). My surgeon is Dr. William Richards of Mobile, Alabama. The surgery will be at the University of Alabama Medical Center. Dr. Richards has been in Mobile for about 18 months and prior to that was with Vanderbilt University. He has excellent credentials and reviews. So, a little about me to let you know my background. I am a 56 year old retired Navy Seabee. I have had a weight problem my entire life. When I joined the Navy at 17, I weighed 272 pounds. They didn't have much in the way height weight requirements so I was allowed to enlist and lost a large amount of weight during boot camp (go figure). After boot camp the weight returned but in the 70's the only time you had to worry about making weight was upon reenlistment. So whenever I came up for reenlistment, I would sign a 2 year extension which did not require the physical exam. When I needed to actually reenlist I would go on a starvation diet to lose enough to qualify and reenlist for 6 years at a time. At one point in the early 70's I was assigned to a Seabee unit in Diego Garcia, which is a tiny horseshoe shaped island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It is a British Territory and was formerly a leper colony and a copra plantation before all the residents were eventually relocated to allow the U.S. to begin building a base there. During my stay there I went on a dangerous, but effective, diet. Every third day I would go to the galley during midrats (a meal served at midnight for the folks who worked night shift) and eat a meal consisting only of meat. Upon leaving the galley, my next stop would be the outhouse. When I started I weighed 264 pounds, after 3 1/2 months I weighed 212 pounds. Of course this was short lived and I had soon regained the weight. In the late 70's / early 80's I was stationed in San Diego, California and weighed about 260 pounds. I went to a weight loss clinic and I ate prepared meals and got a shot, of lord knows what, in the butt each day. Within about 6-8 months I had lost down to 198 pounds! The only time I ever remember being under 200 pounds. Of course this weight loss was short lived also. A couple of years later I was stationed in Sasebo, Japan. About this time the Navy came out with new height / weight standards and also the JFK physical fitness test! This spelled trouble for me as I never exercised and was always overweight. For the first time I was placed on the Navy's FatBoy program! This meant I had to sign in and participate in an exercise program with a fitness coordinator each morning before working hours and I had regular weigh-ins at medical. This was a constant cat and mouse game, I would lose weight and get released from the fat boy program, regain the weight and go back on the program. In the mid 80's the Navy came out with mandatory physical fitness training 3 times a week and twice a year physical fitness tests and weigh-in and measurements. This meant that I was forced to diet and exercise for a month or so before the tests so I could pass and then regain after the test. I found that it was getting more and more difficult to get ready for the tests as I got older. This actually played a big part in my determination to retire from the Navy in 1992. During my retirement physical I was diagnosed as diabetic and started on meds. After retirement, I refused to do another push-up, sit-up or run but I was generally able to keep my weight around 240 - 250. In 2005 I had my first heart attack and had 6 stents put in. I recovered pretty well, but about 7 months later I had my second heart attack. This time I had to have a triple bypass, one more stent and a pacemaker / defibrillator. I had significant heart muscle loss and by this time was also having a lot of neuropathy pain in my feet. As a result I am unable to do any significant work or exercise. I am 100% disabled through the Veterans Association and 100% disabled through Social Security. I now weigh 323 pounds and feel I am losing my mobility. I have rotton genetics in my family! I have been researching my family history and found that the oldest surviving male in my family was 58 years old. I'm now 56! Hows that for motivation? So I am ready for my adventure to begin tomorrow with the dream that I can set a new standard in my family and be able to watch my grandson, who I adore, graduate from college and get married. That's my story, keep me in you prayers and good thoughts.

Day 2 post surgery starting off good. I slept well last night! I was able to sleep on my side as well as my back so I went back and forth as normal. I awoke this morning with very little pain just a little "discomfort" around the main incision area so I won't be using any more pain meds. I only took it 3 times, twice at bedtime and once in the morning the day after surgery.. I crushed all my regular meds this morning and mixed them into applesauce to take them, chewed my gummy bear vitamins and my chewable calcium supplement. It's now around noon and I'm a little drowsy so I think I will take a little nap. Talk with you later....

I was banded yesterday 12/16/2010. Everything went great! Very little discomfort. I'm walking around quite a bit to relieve the gas and all is going well. 15 pound weight loss from 5 day pre-op liquid diet.

I would like to thank you all for your support and well wishes! I got my band yesterday and everything went great. I will post all the details and time frames of my experience so those of you following me can have an idea of how the day went. First off the scales! I started my pre-op liquid diet (only 5 days) weighing 323.6 lbs. yesterday morning my surgery weight was 308.6 lbs -- 15 lbs lost in 5 days!! Not shabby. We left home (in Mississippi) at 4:00 am and drove to USA Medical Center in Mobile Alabama. I arrived at the hospital admitting around 5:45 to check-in. They already had all the paperwork completed, I just needed to verify the info and sign the release. Around 6:30 they escorted me into the surgery prep area where I stripped and put on the gown. I met with the anesthesiologist, the O.R. nurse, and several others. At one point there was like 5 people in the small cubicle asking information, verifying medical history etc. They set my I.V. line. My doctor (Dr. William Richards) and his back up doctor came by to see me and see if I had any questions. Shortly they gave me a shot through my I.V. line and that's the last I remember. They took me into the surgery room around 7:30 and actually started the surgery at 8:00. The surgery finished up about 9:30. The doctor had also found a small hernia and repaired it during the surgery. They started waking me up in recovery about 10:30 and I had some ice chips. I wasn't feeling any pain or difficulty swallowing when I woke up. I would describe it as kinda of a burning sensation around the largest incision. I had a total of 5 incisions, 4 of them very small, probably 1/4 - 1/2 inch and 1 incision about 2 - 3". They also had me in a compression girdle which felt good holding everything snug. They asked me if I wanted pain medication but I declined, I really wasn't in pain just a little discomfort. Around 12 - 12:30 they moved me upstairs to a room and ordered me a clear liquid tray. They took all my vitals and again asked if I wanted anything for pain and I again declined. The food tray consisted of a grape Popsicle, a cup of unsweetened tea, some jello and two small cups of lemonade. I took it all down without any problem. I thought the nurse had said that physical therapy would be coming to get me up to walk, so I just laid there sipping water and watching T.V. When the nurse came back in the room I asked if I was still waiting for physical therapy and she said no so I got up and walked the hallways. The doctors came back in to check on me and told me that everything went well and that if I was able to urinate then I could go home. He advised me to continue the full liquid diet for ten days then progress to the pureed diet. I follow up with the doctor in two weeks and will get my first fill in 6 weeks. They gave me a prescription for liquid Lortab if needed for pain. We left the hospital at 4:00 for the trip back home. I must say that everyone at the hospital was very kind, friendly and helpful. We stopped and filled the prescription before leaving town. It is about 1 1/2 hour drive back home so we stopped halfway and let me walk around the vehicle. Walking will help you pass the gas. Yes, you will have gas! But the walking will help relieve it and help you from getting too sore. After arriving home, I sat in my recliner and watched tv. I was considering sleeping in the recliner since I had not yet laid down flat on my back, but I decided to give the bed a try. I did take some of the liquid lortab before going to bed. I actually slept pretty well, although I.m not really a back sleeper. I did sleep through the night but by 8:00 this morning I was ready to get out of bed! I was a little more stiff and sore this morning when I first got up and took another lortab dose. One I was up and moving I got rid of some of the gas and felt better. I am trying to stand and walk more throughout the day and I am feeling pretty good. I don't have any difficulty swallowing and do not have any "fullness" sensations, but I'm not really hungry either. I don't have any fluid in the band yet so no real restriction other than the pouch. So far it has been a good experience and I am not having any problems. I realize everyone's experiences are different but if you have been contemplating the surgery or worrying about it, I really don't think you need to worry so much. I will try to keep this updated to share with you my experiences. Best wishes and good thoughts to all!!! It's time for my little friend --- the protein shake.

I'm getting banded tomorrow, Dec. 16th. I was only on a 5 day pre-op liquid diet. All has gone well and I'm looking forward to sharing our experiences as we move forward. Keep posting and sharing your success stories.