Mason33

I was just banded this morning. The University Point Outpatient Center in West Chester was wonderful. All of the staff were friendly, none of them judged me for having this surgery at all and they did everything possible to make me comfortable while I was there. I arrived at 8am, my surgery was at 9am, I woke up in recovery at 11am and was out of the facility a little after 12. I had a little nausea and slight discomfort upon wakening. I kept waiting for it to get worse, but it never did. I did bring a pillow with me for the car ride home to splint my incisions (5 in all) and I am glad that I did that. I was eating ice chips, drank some apple juice and walking before I was allowed to go too. Upon arriving at home I set up a bunch of pillows around me on the couch and relaxed for a little bit. The only pain that I feel is a soreness in upper abdomen, like I had done stomach crunches the day before. Throat is a little sore and so is my neck, more ice chips and a heating pad on the back of my neck helped that. I have not taken anything for pain yet and I have been at home for 7 hours now. I was very impressed with Dr. Watkins also. He always asks if I have any questions and if I do, he explains the answer so that it can be understood. He also called me at a little bit ago to see how I was doing and if I had any questions. That, to me, was the most surprising and wonderful thing. I have never had the actual doctor take time out of his busy schedule to call during his time at home to see how I was doing. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Watkins to everyone. Stephanie Mason

Last night was a little rough for me mostly because I am a stomach sleeper and I couldn't do that. Then when I would turn on my side all of my fat would pull at the incisions, LOL. So I had to be creative with the pillow placements. If I would have thought about it sooner, I would have bought me one of those body pillows. Still no nausea or vomiting or gas. Shoulder pain did get uncomfortable last night but the pain meds did help that. Throat feels better today too. Trying to take small sips of my liquids but a couple of times I didn't and it felt like I had a lump underneath my sternum, but it quickly passed. I realize that all of this is a learning process and as long as I can learn from my mistakes then this will go much smoother. I haven't regretted my decision once, yet, LOL. Good luck to everyone and thank you for all the well wishes:)

Hi Tabby! I had lap band today with Dr. Watkins and at the same surgery center too:) I too have had a wonderful experience at both places. Maybe I will run into you at the office sometime? LOL. Glad to hear that you are doing so well too. I am starting to have some swelling and bruising at the incision sites and I did have one incision bleed earlier but no nausea/vomiting or gas pains. Throat is still a little sore and shoulder is starting to ache. Still haven't had to take any medicine yet. I will probably take a little before bed just so I will be comfortable. Best Wishes!!!

Thank you everyone and I will look tabbyann up. I am starting to get some more swelling and bruising at the incision sites and I had one incision start to bleed a little and I just put a band aid on it. Throat is feeling better but now the shoulder pain is starting. It's still not terrible but I will probably take a little bit of pain medicine before I go to bed just to be more comfortable. But still no gas and no more burping or nausea/vomiting. Peeing like a racehorse though from all of the sips of fluid that I have had today, LOL. I will keep everyone updated. I suspect that tomorrow and Friday will be a little more painful because the 2nd & 3rd of any surgery usually is.

I am having surgery in two days. I am nervous, yet excited. I am very ready to start this new chapter in my life. I know it isn't going to be easy and it's a learning process but hopefully I can learn from everyone else's experiences. I am on the pre liquid diet right now, I only had to do it for a week. By day three, I was starting to get a little agravated with it and on day four I did cheat a little, I just hope that it doesn't keep me from having my surgery. I took some appetitie suppressant pills that I had already and that has really helped me to stay on track today. I am allowed to have low fat creamed soups made with skim milk, sugar free jello,pudding & popsicles, beef or chicken bouillon, sugar free juices and my protein shakes made with skim milk. I also had a shake today with diet A & W root beer, 4 ice cubes and 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder. It tasted just like a rootbeer float and helped to break up the monotomy of all of the other liquids. I wish the best of luck to all the other "banders" out there and I am looking forward to sharing this journey with everyone:)

Had surgery this morning and all went well. Just some soreness but no real pain yet and no vomiting or nausea either:) Did have to have a hiatal hernia repair which resulted in a couple of more incisions but no big deal. Have not had to take any phenergan or lortab elixir yet either.

My surgery was this morning, July 27th. I was at the surgery center at 8am, waited a few minutes then they took me back for all of the prep. I received a scopamine patch behind my ear for nausea. I had used one of these before for a cruise that I went on because of seasickness and it worked great then. Got into the operating room a little after 9am and then woke up in recovery at 11am. They said that they had given me pain meds before I woke up so I wasn't in pain, just a little sore, like I had did a bunch of stomach crunches the night before. I was home a little after 12 the same day. The doctor's office had called in my pain and nausea prescriptions prior to my surgery so I already had those at home. For the car ride home, I had brought a little pillow with me to hold against my abdomen and to keep the seat belt off my incisions. I have been walking around the house and I have been able to keep all of my fluids down without any problems. I have not had to take any pain meds or nausea medicine since I have been home and it's almost 8pm. No gas pain, I did burp a couple of times before I had even left the surgery center. My throat is a little sore and sherbet has helped that. Also the back of my neck is sore probably from the position that I was in in the OR. All in all this has not been a bad experience as of yet. My doctor even called me a little bit ago to see how I was feeling and if I had any questions. I would definitely recommend Dr. Brad Watkins in West Chester, Ohio, and his staff, and the staff at the University Medical Center Outpatient, to anyone in this area. They all have helped to make this a wonderful experience for me:)

I have actually found that the generic versions taste so much better than the name brands. My favorite so far is the Kroger generic brand. I also had diet a & w root beer with 4 ice cubes and 2 scoops of vanilla blended together and that was pretty good. Good Luck:)

I have fought for support from my family and friends for a while now. I have finally realized that I am doing this for my health and to help my family more in the long run. My husband isn't thrilled that I am doing this but at least he has stopped trying to talk me out of it. I have surgery scheduled Wednesday morning and I am nervous, scared, excited. I have also stayed away from the negative attitude and comments from what was a close friend of mine. I have always been the "fat" friend and I don't think that she can handle that I'm not going to be that anymore. Good luck with your decision and if you decide that it is right for you then stick to your guns and don't listen to the negatives. Best wishes.

Thank you. Glad to hear that all has went well for you:)