Exude

So I was handling my pain pretty well the first week. I took my Dilaudid pills a good amount each day, 2 pills per dose (4mg total) about 2-3 times a day. I started weaning off and using Tylenol which worked for days 7-8. But when I took off my steri-strips, the next two days (today is that second day) I've been suffering with a lot of port pain. I would rate it as a 6 right now. I still have some Dilaudid and took 3 (I developed a tolerance) and I am still suffering from it. It's VERY uncomfortable and the port site is the ONLY place I'm really suffering. I only have like 8 pills left out of my original 30... ugh. What do you guys do for your pain?? -Jason

I see him Monday for my two-week post-op. If it is bad then I will talk with him. Dilaudid is pretty good, though it makes me nauseus. -Jason

Liquid tylenol sounds like a good idea! -Jason

Excellent story! Keep us informed on your recovery! This is great for those going into pre-op soon. -Jason

Good luck everyone! Post your experiences following surgery! -Jason

Both statements were correct and answered whatever confusion was happening -Jason

It's coming. If you look close, you can see my belly pretty red. I've been having this weird rash-like outbreak. It's been extremely itchy! I think it has to do with the tape. I have been taking off the sticky remains the past couple of days as evidenced by the last couple pics. Maybe I'll get some pics of my large port site incision close-up. Maybe for tomorrow... -Jason

Wheezy is correct. RNY surgery is restrictive and malabsorptive whereas the band is only restrictive. So alcohol does not have an effect with metabolism. Although... you're also right where if you do eat less, it tends to absorb quicker in your system... but its nothing different than what you did before the surgery with an empty stomach. -Jason

The time has come! Monday is the day my life will change forever. I am 23 and weigh 309 lbs. (after dropping 19 lbs. in the last 1.5 months from doing whatever I could to do so). I am hoping to get down to 225 or so since my ideal weight is 170 for my 6'2" height. I have done "pretty good" when it comes to my two week liquid diet. There were bouts at times where I did have to have solid food, which made me feel completely guilty. I hope that this doesn't change my outcome as I hear many people on here don't even have the liquid diet requirement. Any thoughts on that? Any last minute advice for me? I especially want to know how I should treat my last day before banding. I am required to do a fleet enema at night and not drink red liquids during the day. So I assume I can have Soups and the like since they're brown (mmmm french onion)? I will definitely try and drink a ton of Water though! NPO after midnight. So, just seeking advice for a soon-to-be bander! Thanks! -Jason

Scar pictures posted!!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/scar-stages-share-t6117.html?p=414768#post414768 -Jason

I am a 23 year old guy. Weighed 324 lbs. at my last pre-op appointment. Within the next 1.5 months, on surgery day, I had lost 21 lbs (303). One week after that, I have lost a total of 7 more lbs. (296) for a total of 28 lbs. lost in only a couple months! So here I am, I guess 9 days out (counting surgery day as day one). Got banded on March 5th. Here are pictures in order: Day 3 - Before bandage taken off Day 3 - After bandage taken off Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 8 - Steristrips removed Day 9 -Jason

Dr. Michael Schwartz, part of the Healtheast Bariatrics Center of Excellent in St. Paul, MN. Be veryyyyy weary of the "last supper syndrome." I ate Chipotle my "last time" about six times. I kept saying "this will be the last time I can goto Chipotle! I need one more!" So be weary if you have that feeling again, because you'll have to stop it at some point. I understand in Amsterdam you must've been high as a kite and you just haaad to eat. I'm sure I'm right . Hehehe. Just get your body adjusted to not eating as much. Takes a few days and a few walls to put holes in. -Jason

Awesome! Another nursing student! You should put that in your signature too I goto Winona State University in Winona, MN. Great school and I'll be out in May. The preop diet is soooooooo difficult. Keep drinking tons and tons! At least you'll have something in your stomach and it's 0 calories. As for exercise, I slowed my working out during the pre-op stage. I probably should have worked hard, but like you said, without the nutrients, everything is so hard. Classes for me was the biggest pain... I felt like I didn't have enough glucose in me to think! So it's up to you, but you do have to lose weight. There's no doubt about that. So if working out helps (hell, even walking 10,000 steps a day, or at least a couple miles will work) and you eat according to the pre-op diet, you should be fine! I lost 23 lbs. pre-op. -Jason

I also want to mention that another large reason for me to get this surgery was that the LAP-BAND is completely reversible. With all the medical research going on with obesity and all the scientific advances in medicine... we may soon find the "magic pill." At 23, I'm counting within 10 years that we will exponentially increase obesity research and find the right way to control weight. That mayyy be a new surgery (I've heard of the gastric pacemaker in research), or just a pill... the band gives you that option to take it off if need be. -Jason

Thanks, thought there was an original thread. I'll get those up mayyyybe later tonight. I'm doing homework I'm a college boy still. -Jason

For one, I want you to know that you are not the only one that went through those exact feelings. All the way until the day of surgery I asked myself... should I do this? I lost 23 lbs. in 1.5 months before surgery. My reason for getting the surgery was because I've dieted tons and tons before but could never lose weight anymore. I lost 80 lbs. three years ago, but have been battling losing weight again ever since. I would do the same things that I had lost all the weight before and could not lose a lb., only slow the progression of my body weight going into the 320's again. When I lost 23 lbs. in the past 1.5 months, I was shocked! If I couuuld do it now, then what the hell am I getting bariatric surgery at 23 for?! I have so much beer, pizza, steak, and BUFFALO wings to eat with all my college buds. My simple answer: I have a disease. Obesity is something that certain people will suffer from... forever. The surgery does not cure the disease, but it will suppress it successfully (with hard work). Me losing 23 lbs. showed that I am ready to put my mind to it and suppress this disease overtaking my life. I lost so much since I gained my weight back... I had a great active life, a loving girlfriend, and my schoolwork/friendships all balanced out. Since feeling my weight has been uncontrollable, other aspects of my life started going out of control. If you're still having doubts... don't go for it. But I strongly encourage you to take a piece of paper out and write out why you need to lose weight. Do you have a strong family history of disease? Do you love food so much and can't give it up? Do you not have the support you need? Personally, I am worried about your wife understanding your situation. You may have to explain to her that weight loss on your own is not successful. 95% of those who go on diets gain the weight back + more. The band is only a TOOL to aid in weight loss so you don't fall within that 95% statistic. We're all here to encourage you through the process whether you go through with it or not. But know we all have been or are going through the same thing. We all were/are big at one point. Good luck. -Jason

Haha, Chipotle is great! Although, I always eat the entire fajita burrito at one sitting... covered with hot and mild sauce and half a bottle of tabasco. This might be too much information... but never eat an entire burrito with all that hot sauce without eating other meals... it BURNS, just like in the movies. So lets hope our blending of beans is legit. I didn't blend it, im just chewing the beans as much as possible since they shred up so easily. I guess I'll throw it in now and try. -Jason

Thanks for posting!! You sound like you are doing this for the right reasons. Food obsession got us all to this point. It is so hard to not think about having all that lovely food. After the surgery and the few weeks after, you will still be able to eat almost anything, but in such small amounts. You will have to work harder, but the band will make you work hard to get the results you want. Eventually, you won't even crave the same foods you used to. I've heard on this board how everyone starts eating "high quality" foods. I'm excited to go out to eat and order an expensive filet minon and savor the taste all week. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Good luck with the surgery and let all of us know how it goes! You're in our prayers! -Jason

Yeah, that dang port site. I'm trying to do the same and stick with Tylenol. I've been having so much problems with sleep as well. Last night got 3 hours, the night before maybe 4. I'm getting the runny nose thing too and worried about what it would develop to... so I guess we'll both see. Today I broke down and after seeing some of the liquid diet recipes and people going to Taco Bell, I went to Chipotle. I picked up some brown Beans, a little bit of sour cream, and salsa. I've been dying for something spicy! I've only taken about 4 bites and don't think I can handle much more... but I was freaking out needing something different than Soup. Yeah yeah, its bad........................ -Jason

Liquid diet is tough!!!!!!!!! I was on it two weeks prior and two weeks after (which I'm in now). I dislike all the food already and can't wait for substance! But think about it, once you get through it... you'll never have to be stuck like it again. If you do not follow liquid post-op, your band will shift and won't heal properly where it is positioned. So that scare tactic makes me stick with liquids. If I did not do well pre-op (I did do well for the last week), then I wouldn't have been prepared. Be successful now, be successful later! -Jason

Hey, I'm doing alright guys. Was banded 8 days ago so just recovering. My port site still kills! I'll lay down for a while and when I get up, it just stings. Or when I drive and roll over a bump, that little bit of shock hurts. I went off my pain killers for a few days, but have had to take a couple again recently. As for three days after, that is exactly when I had my left shoulder pain too. That was crazy! I thought it was supposed to happen the day of surgery, then all of a sudden BOOM, shoulder pain three days later. Did you mean to say stay vertical? Like aren't we supposed to be elevated yet while sleeping? Would it be beneficial to show scar pictures? I took pictures for each day progressing the healing. I wonder if I should do it here, start a picture thread, or contribute to someone elses. Glad to see the surgery went well. I will keep contributing on other posts as I have been. The boards are becoming addicting . -Jason

Hey bigsexy, I'm a 23-year old version of you! 6'2", 324 lbs. (as of January, I am now 299) and I just got banded 8 days ago. I'm a college student so I am good at drinking heavy amounts of beer. I like to brag about my drinking contest wins at the local bar... and everytime the Budweiser rep comes in he says, "ARE YOU READY?!" Haha, but yeah... beer was HARD to give up, but I did it. I even did it with a lot of my friends not knowing I had the surgery. Partying was such a large pasttime of mine.. tues, wed, thurs, fri, and sat had awesome deals on alcohol. I guess it was a slap in the face when my Psychiatrist told me I have all the signs for 'potential' alcoholism, but I wouldn't be now considering my circumstances. But I dropped it a couple weeks before surgery for good and got the band. I too struggle with the idea of not eating large pizza's, especially after seeing commercials for those new Domino's pizzas. I crave it sooo much. Steak is one of my favorite foods as well! What I needed to understand before getting this surgery is that 1. I will still be able to eat my [previous] favorite foods if I must, and 2. it will be completely smaller portions. Have you ever gone to a buffet, ate so much, and felt sickly full because you ate too much? Well if you feel like that after a few bites of steak, won't you be satisfied? Will you eat more? Most likely not. I honestly look forward to eating all my foods again (I'm on the stupid post-op liquid diet), but with smaller portions. But you will go crazy before the band even thinking of this. Just realize you'll be full! -Jason

I'm one of the younger bandsters at 23 here, but I would do this if I was 61, 80, and older if it meant extra years in my life. I applaud you for making the decision to live life to the fullest and want to be able to do things that "naturally skinny" people take for granted! It's going to be a long process, but I think after surgery things get smoother and everything gets richer. I was banded 8 days ago and I'm in the process of recuperating. Looking forward to hearing more from you! -Jason

The preop liquid diet was the most difficult for me. I had to concentrate on my college classes while ALWAYS thinking about food. I literally started punching the air while looking for food because I was starving. I even posted a thread on here how I was staring at 11 pizzas, a tray of Cookies, and crazy bread... I felt like I was in hell. Now that I am post-op, I have to do the liquid diet again for a few weeks, but it is a lot easier because I had to adjust before surgery. Just think of it in that way. So Mexico?? I don't know much about the healthcare system there... did you make sure you found a trustworthy doc? Good luck everyone! -Jason

What happened was I was driving on the highway, in a trance with my music, and I swallowed my gum. I FREAKED out because I've been cutting pills in half to take them (only solids I have had), and the stick of gum was lots bigger than anything I've had since surgery 6 days ago (monday). I pulled over and tried inducing myself to vomit a couple times incase it didn't go down all the way yet. It was unsuccessful. I actually called the Doctor on call and he said there is a 90% chance that nothing will come out of this (mostly because the band isn't filled yet). He just said to act normally and pretend it didn't even happen. I just worry (worry wort by nature) that maybe inducing vomiting might have an effect on the band? I only did it a few times and don't feel any differently now, but just worry what the rule is on vomiting after surgery. Thanks! -Jason