Andytim08

Thanks. I panicked when I first saw it. I had to look at it 2 or 3 times to really be sure it was open.....but I guess this means I am also taking one for the team with Spot on the complications quota for April lol.

So had lap band placed this morning. I have a single incision in my belly button, have had minimal pain, and have been home for almost 8 hours. Even after I asked and received the pre op anti-nausea meds, I had a twinge of nausea after I walked and went to the bathroom. I got another nausea med called Reglan and then I was fine. I have been setting my phoine alarm for when the 4 hour mark is approaching so that am taking the lortab elixir to stay in front of the pain. I had a little bit of gas pain too , but amazingly now it is gone. I ate some jello and have been "sip, sip sipping". I also have walked around a little bit....not bad That's about it........I almost wonder if there really is a band in there I guess I will be on here alot more as I have 12 days off with nothing to do!

Sending positive energy your way now! At work this week, one of my coworkers cam up to me and asked if I was nervous... I guess I had been alot more quiet than normal for me lol. I am still nervous, just because it IS a process, but I am glad that there are people out there going thru it with me

Glad you are ok now! I just wrote how great my surgery was and now am reading your post after the fact. That had to be sooooo scary!!!! What a crazy ordeal. I also hope that Woodlass is ok too. I guess that just because surgery went well, isn't a sure sign that we are out of the dark yet when it comes to post op problems... Crap!

I am glad to hear of everyone's experiences on freshly being banded! As I get closer to next friday, I get a little more nervous. It is not because of the surgery itself, but because of the negative stories I have read about the band (about not losing weight); however, I am going to remain positive about it and continue to count down the days! I am happy that I have a group of bandsters to go thru this with!!!!!!!!!!! One week left

April 15th for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is disappointing to hear how the aftercare has been for you guys at Dr. Enoch's office. I am hoping my experience will be different, however, if it isn't, I will absolutely be changing doctors. There are several Bariatric groups in the area and Doc's in the area: Dr. Sharp, Dr. Moran, Dr. Bovard, Dr. Henderson. I think Dr. Moran's group is where I would start. As far as Dr. Enochs is concerned, I will not keep spending my money if I am doing everything by the books and not losing weight..... How crazy! A band without fills is a waste, and it definatley should be individualized not 4cc for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Kelley- Sorry it took me so long to respond. I am working alot right now so that I can enjoy my time off in 2 weeks. As far as the hernia repair, you may have some mid abdominal discomfort also...or you may not have anything at all if the surgeon puts a local anesthetic in the area. You may want to ask him if he is going to give you something to numb the area ....my experience that some doctors do, and some don't..... with the hernia repair you may want to bring a small throw pillow to put a little weight on your stomach for the ride home.

Super excited to hear about everyone's experiences as we go through this together!!!!!!!!!!!!

shellydaisy86- Thanks for being my first friend on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am scheduled for Friday, April 15th! I work in the recovery unit at the hospital of where I am getting the surgery done. Majority of my coworkerd know what that I am getting Lap Band. It is sometimes funny because I get lap band patients all the time and I love to tell them that in a few weeks, I will be in their shoes and how excited I am for them and their new journey! I have only had one lap band revision (port flip) patient. He had gone in for his first fill (after already losing 40 pounds) and the Dr. could not fill him. The patient is still in good spirits! I wanted to share what I have seen with you all to give you a rough idea of what to expect right after surgery before you go home. Alot of patients have gas pain and it may hurt around the epigastric region of your chest (middle right below the rib cage). Ask for nuasea medication (they will give it to you in your iv) since all that you are allowed to have is Water in recovery, which, when mixed with anesthesia and pain meds (morphine, lortab elixr, dilaudid) may make you sick. You will have to walk before you go and pee ( if the dr. has ordered it) and getting up and walking is a good thing! It will help you to burp and relieve so of that gas pain. I know you will feel like you want to lay there, but moving usually helps. the quicker you get up to walk, the faster you can get home into your own bed.... Oh big thing before I forget, you may want to ask for an NSAID drug (which they can give you back in the OR) called Toradol. It will definatley help with the incisional pain that you may have........I am absolutely asking for it. I am also getting premedicated for nausea (you may want to say that you have a history of post op nausea and vomiting). As far as everything else, I have been working out alot and trying to be as active as possible so that when I am healing (4 weeks no arc trainer ) my metabolism will continue to run high. I don't have to do a pre op diet, but I have had time to do a complete 180 on my eating habits. I am only doing the clears the day before because the Dr. said he just doesn't want to see a cheeseburger in there. HAHAHA!!! I weigh 225 now and the largest I have been is 228........ I was always active and in shape (had to make weight while in military for 10 years) then i went to nursing school, got married, and gained 50 pounds in 2 years...... so I am ready to lose it! Super Excited!

April 15th for me!

I have mine scheduled for 4/15!

I am a newer nurse and have been working in Outpatient Surgery at a hospital which is a Bariatric Surgey Center of Excellence. I have been on the chubby side my whole life, and even while being in the military for 10 years (not as a nurse), it was very hard for me to make weight every 6 months for weigh-in. I could pass the run portion of the 6 month physical fitness test with flying colors; but my weight, majority of the time, was either right on the line for "max weight" or well over. Now that I am in my mid 30's it is not as easy to lose the weight. Back to the nursing question- I had thought about Lap Band before but it was not until I started working at my current job did I decide to actually get it myself. Every week I have at least 6 or 7 "banders". I also talked to some of the surgeons on a regular basis.I then started doing my research, picked a surgeon, and finished all the pre surgery criteria and got approved. Now I just have to schedule my surgery, which I will do on tuesday. I believe that my knowledge and experience with patients who had the surgery was my deciding factor...........

I am a nurse who works in the recovery room and occasionally preop at one of the hospitals in which Dr. Enochs does surgeries. I have had many of his patients for both lap chole's (gallbladder) and Lap Band. I have seen his work immediatley post op. After seeing the single incision for the lap band and seeing how prepared his patients were as far as kowing what guidelines to follow after surgery, I went to go see him. I was impressed at the time he took to answer my questions. I had talked to him a few times on the phone regarding patient care, but never as a patient myself. Since then, I have completed all of my required preop appointments and as of today am awaiting approval from my insurance. The staff has been very informative and has kept me in the loop as far where I was in the process. I was proactive in getting my appointments completed and whenever I had a question, I emailed (not called because their office is always busy) my case worker and would have a response within an hour or 2. The point is there is more than one great Bariatric Surgeon in the Raleigh area; but I personally am going with Dr. Enochs.

I am so excited because I am Tricare Standard North and my last appointment was today (ahhhh lovely psych)! I am hoping for a quick turnaround. It would be really nice to get an "APPPROVED" for Christmas!