~*~Rachel~*~

Okay so this has probably been answered a thousand times and it is kinda hard to describe. I have a constant pressure directly under my sternum and goes all the way to my back. At the expensive of sounding stupid it really does feel like a band around my stomach lol. I thought you could not feel the band? This is a constant feeling and I hope it goes away as the swelling improves but I can feel it when ever I take a breath cough try to burp. Did anyone else feel like they could actually feel the band? Its very annoying and a constant ache no matter if I have just drank or ate or not for hours. Its always there.

Nope did not have to have a hernia repair. I am assuming it is the band since it hurts mostly when I feel like I have to burp and nothing comes up. Its annoying more then anything.

I don't think there is one person out there with the band that has not felt this at your stage in the process. Its natural from what I saw. I felt it and still feel like that sometimes post op day 4 for me. All we can do is do our best and try this is not a guarantee but we are making the effort to try. Just be committed to making healthy choices. I am struggling even now to get in enough water, protein and vitamins. It is a constant effort everyday and we just have to say we are going to give it our all. If you need support find a buddy on here. I have several I talk to about everything not just the band but everyday life and that helps to know and share the struggle with someone. These people don't know you or your family who are they going to tell. I found it helpful that I was actually being more honest with myself in being honest with them. I don't feel my family shares in my emotions through this process because I don't feel they can understand what I am feeling. They are very supportive more then I would have ever thought they would be but still there is something about going through this with someone else. Somethings bothering me or I feel something abnormal to my buddy list I go....

Hi dadkins Hope you are doing well too you will have to give us a little update

I had surgery the 25th as well. This morning I was finally hungry and looked in my binder given to me by my doc to see what I could have that sounded good. It said oatmeal as long as it was runny and blended so I sent my husband after some quaker oat maple brown sugar oatmeal. It was wonderful just make it watery with some milk. I added one sweetner and some no calorie spray butter and a scoop of unflavored protein powder... YUMMY!!!!!!!! best meal yet!

So today is the end of day two post op. Still surviving. Having the classic problems/symptoms. Pain in my left shoulder and both sides of my neck I assume is gas pain. Feels sharp like a knife but is tolerable. Walking does not seem to help this pain. There is pressure under my sternum that feels like literally someone is holding tight all the way to my back. My stomach is full of gas both ways and is rather uncomfortable to burp. Walking does seem to help this pain and Gas X does not seem to help. I am not hungry I am guessing due to the swelling and can make myself take a few bites of something every once and awhile through the day. Getting protein no sorry to say it there is no way for me to get enough right now. Hopefully in a few days when I can tolerate more I will be able to get enough in. I am being a little bad in having a half cup of coffee but its sooooo goood. I tolerated some egg drop soup and some potato soup so far. I did brave the shower gods though it wore me out. I am scared to death of getting nauseated and I did have a bout with it for a short time last night so I called my doctor to ask for something to have over the weekend but I think they were in clinic all day so hopefully I will hear back in am. I feel really tired and I don't see how anyone would be going back to work in a week thankfully my work doesn't allow light duty so I have no choice but to stay home. Coughing is the worst and so is getting up from my low couch. But again it is all tolerable with the pain meds. So I am surviving hopefully I continue to feel better and do not get too discouraged. Really trying to not get dehydrated but I just can't seem to get enough of anything in. I will keep trying though. But I swear a small country could use me as a natural gas resource at the moment. lol. Sorry for the TMI. xoxoxo Rach P.S. Here is a awful photo of me and my diego recovering.

My doctors office was awesome they put together a binder of what we can have and when so I have been sticking to it. I call it my band bible lol.

I hope this doesn't sound rude... It is surgery... yes it is painful lol. I would do it a million times if it gets me to where I need to go though. My life as is without the band is painful. I hurt everyday and I am only 27 years old. So if I have to have a few days of post op pain to help me get healthy for life. Bring it on..... This is not for everyone and everyone has to make there own choice. I can't do this on my own but with the band hopefully I can.

Why did they tell you not to use protein powder anymore? You need protein!! This concerns me dani Please call and ask again and make sure you did not misunderstand or if there is not another reason or something. The tomato soup my be too acidic start with some potato soup or cream of chicken strained.

I had my surgery on 1-25 so I am day three post op. Lets face facts this hurts! The worst part of it is the getting up and down and it feels like my neck is hurting from the gas pain I guess. I have a pressure under my sternum that I am guessing is the band swelling. I do not regret getting my band just hoping to feel better soon. I am focusing on just taking in liquids lots of water. But I am feeling dehydrated So I am really going to try and limit my salt today. I have been able to sip on some soup just for the calories. Protein is not an option at this point. I am getting a little by drinking a little milk and I am going to try and make a shake today but I just have not been able to do it. I bought some yogurt and strawberry and unflavored protein powder I am going to try and make a shake with and strain it. I also got some select harvest soups that blend up nicely and make about four meals to a can. I am staying on top of my pain meds and got a little nauseated last night after having them. All I can say is lets hang in there and the days hopefully will go by soon and we will feel better. I don't think anyone at this point is able to get everything in like they need to so I am not going to stress over it. I am just trying to maintain enough fluids at this point.

Thanks guys I am okay just in a lot of pain. feels like my port is going to rip out and this gas pain has started. I am a walking time bomb Hopefully it will feel better soon.

Well I made it and survived. I got to the hospital at 7 am and they quickly wanted me instead of having surgery at 9 I went in about 8. Took them a few times to get the IV but other then that prep went okay. Except some mean lady who wouldn't let my mom in to see me before surgery. <As I mentioned in my first blog I am a BIG mommas baby> Everyone else had family in the room didn't understand why she wouldn't let me. Anyway got to the operating room and the guys in there were cutting up with me and then came the versed. Oh the wonderful versed. I don't remember anything after that but waking up in recovery. I heard someone say "shes acting a little crazy" and I could feel me kicking. But I knew that would happen I am always in a panic waking up from anesthesia and feel like I am smothering. But I had a really nice nurse in recovery that was very reassuring and worked with me to make me comfortable with pain and breathing. I got to my room about 1130-12 with my mom and husband and they immediately let me start walking around as soon as I got good and awake which helped. Had a scary moment where my port site started bleeding through but they told me that was normal since they had given me a blood thinner called lovonox before surgery and that was my biggest incision. It continued bleeding over night but has since stopped. I was released about 4 and got home and settled in. My husband had a little trouble with the pharmacy they put the wrong date on my prescriptions and wouldn't feel it. When he told them I just had surgery the reply he got was "well then shes probably still doped up anyway and wont need it." Thankfully I was able to get a hold of my doctor and he got it fixed for me and needless to say there is a call into corporate by my husband to walgreens that lady would not even bother to help us. I am okay today just hurts to cough or get up and down starting to have a little gas pain but I am tolerating liquids fine. Just trying to keep hydrated. Other then that I am alive and survived. Remain in a lot of pain but trying to keep on top of my pain meds and get plenty of rest for that. Hope everyone that was band yesterday and today are doing well. Will update on my progress as I go. Oh btw My scale is pretty much accurate I weighted after surgery and my weight was down 21 lbs to 359 and that was after a lot of fluids in surgery. woot! On my way.. xoxoxo Rach

I have followed the yellow brick road of requirements. I have figured out the riddles of insurance companies. I have even fought off the flying monkeys of the pre op diet. Now today is my day to meet the wizard and get my band! I will be singing "If I only had a band" all day long. I am about to leave for the hospital to come home a changed person with a brand new pair of ruby red slippers Good luck to all my fellow banders today may God keep you safe. xoxoxo Rach...

Well I made it and survived. I got to the hospital at 7 am and they quickly wanted me instead of having surgery at 9 I went in about 8. Took them a few times to get the IV but other then that prep went okay. Except some mean lady who wouldn't let my mom in to see me before surgery. <As I mentioned in my first blog I am a BIG mommas baby> Everyone else had family in the room didn't understand why she wouldn't let me. Anyway got to the operating room and the guys in there were cutting up with me and then came the versed. Oh the wonderful versed. I don't remember anything after that but waking up in recovery. I heard someone say "shes acting a little crazy" and I could feel me kicking. But I knew that would happen I am always in a panic waking up from anesthesia and feel like I am smothering. But I had a really nice nurse in recovery that was very reassuring and worked with me to make me comfortable with pain and breathing. I got to my room about 1130-12 with my mom and husband and they immediately let me start walking around as soon as I got good and awake which helped. Had a scary moment where my port site started bleeding through but they told me that was normal since they had given me a blood thinner called lovonox before surgery and that was my biggest incision. It continued bleeding over night but has since stopped. I was released about 4 and got home and settled in. My husband had a little trouble with the pharmacy they put the wrong date on my prescriptions and wouldn't feel it. When he told them I just had surgery the reply he got was "well then shes probably still doped up anyway and wont need it." Thankfully I was able to get a hold of my doctor and he got it fixed for me and needless to say there is a call into corporate by my husband to walgreens that lady would not even bother to help us. I am okay today just hurts to cough or get up and down starting to have a little gas pain but I am tolerating liquids fine. Just trying to keep hydrated. Other then that I am alive and survived. Remain in a lot of pain but trying to keep on top of my pain meds and get plenty of rest for that. Hope everyone that was band yesterday and today are doing well. Will update on my progress as I go. Oh btw My scale is pretty much accurate I weighted after surgery and my weight was down 21 lbs to 359 and that was after a lot of fluids in surgery. woot! On my way.. xoxoxo Rach