zilgirl2012

I am 3 weeks out and on mushy food. I was just eating some banana and swallowed mindlessly. Now I think it is stuck. It hurts through my upper abdomen/mid chest and around to my back, Tried walking around but it hasn't helped. Is this what "stuck" feels like? A little extra saliva, but no vomiting so far.

Quick update- I'm improving every day. No sign of infection. Belly still pretty bruised- my son says it looks like a bag of skittles. He thinks he's soooo funny. I only got 15cc from the drain today so hopefully it will come out Monday. This is post-op day 9 for me from the original lap band procedure. I am still having difficulty getting more than 4oz of a protein shake down. Is this normal?

Thank y'all for your well wishes and prayers.

I was banded on the 10th, doing great, went back to work yesterday- doing great until about 1130, I stood up to go check on one of my nursing units and my port site got huge. It looked like a full-term baby's head was trying to come through my abdomen. I immediately broke out in a cold sweat and thought I was going to faint. I called my husband, who works in the same facility to come quick. He called Dr. Miles' office and they had me come in immediately. His Nurse Practitioner and Sonographer immediately tried to see if if was a seroma, Dr. Miles viewed the echo, and didn't really see fluid so he thought I had a hernia- which he has never had before. He sent me for a CT which showed fluid. They tried to aspirate it in the office(don't want to know how many needle sticks are in my belly) and they could only get small amts of thick, bloody fluid. Upon seeing that, Dr. Miles decided to take me back to surgery. He was hesitant to open up the port site due to increasing the chance of infection but felt he had no choice. I went into surgery around 5. According to my husband last night, he evacuated a 200cc hematoma and put a drain in. We got home around 9 p.m. with very little instructions so I called the office this morning. I have to keep the drain for a week- it's still draining and can't go back to work until it's out. I could shower today- yay! I hurt a lot worse at the port site than I did last week. My son stayed home with me today and my husband is tomorrow. They're having to help me get up and down. The site is very bruised all the way over to my belly button and is still pretty swollen due to the tissue trauma. I had to be on liquids for 24 hrs- I can go back to fulls tomorrow. Really had no appetite today. Had to force fluids down. On a humorous note, I watched Bones twice. According to my son, I watched it when I got home last night but I don't remember a thing. I watched it again tonight despite him teasing me about it. I really hope this is the end of complications. Anyone who prays, please pray that I do not develop an infection of any kind. If I do, I'll have to have the band removed. and then I don't know what I'll do.

I can't believe it's only been 4 days. I advanced to full liquids yesterday and haven't had any problems other than getting full quickly. My surgeon's packet recommends eating 4-8 oz. every 2 hrs. I do great with 4 oz but cannot take in anymore. I also had to wait more than 2 hrs. to get the 3rd protein shake down. My only real complaint is my port site. I have 11 staples there and it is still hurts anytime I try to bend over in the slightest. I couldn't put the soap in the dishwasher or get the clothes out of the dryer. I return to work Monday, so that should really be interesting. The staples come out Tues. afternoon, so hopefully that will alleviate the pain. From reading on the forums I've seen where some people are sore up to 6wks. I'm fine with soreness, but now it's a burning pain that feels like my muscle is tearing. It's a familiar pain from when I was pregnant with my twins and tried to bend over- I was so full of babies that I would stretch my abdomen muscles- LOL.

POD #3- still can't bend over. I've gotten really good at picking stuff up off the floor by holding onto something and doing an arabesque- LOL. Advanced to fulls this morning and thoroughly enjoyed my mocha Protein shake.

Thamm, I was a nervous wreck. I've always worked surgery and recovery so I know too much. Everything was a breeze though. I had no PONV or shoulder pain from the gas. The worst part is the soreness at the port site. Let me know how you do,

That stinks about your insurance. Most hospitals encourage weight loss with special programs, etc so I'm surprised about the exclusion. I know I am only POD 2, but I feel great. Even walked the dog this morning. As I said yesterday, the port site is the only thing bothering me. I wasn't planning on surgery until the end of April or first of May, but my surgeon's office called on the 2nd to tell me I was approved and that they had a cancellation on the 10th if I wanted it. Believe it or not, I actually hestitated for a second because I didn't have everything I needed. I had to order Protein and have it shipped express. I had to run to Walmart so I could begin full liquids and then clears. I had to rush to my pre-op visit, to have labs drawn and to pre-admission testing. Use this time to get yourself prepared so you don't have to run around at the last minute. Also, with you being private pay, you don't have to wait 6 months, do you? That was what seemed to take forever- but I used that time to get an exercise routine established that I plan on starting back next week. Let me know when your surgery is scheduled. I'm here if you want to talk. I wish I had done this years ago! Debbie

Hi! I was just banded on this past Tues. and I know the 6 months of waiting seems like forever. I just tried to go about my everyday life and not think about it. I did get into an exercise routine, some of which I will pick back up next week. I really did not concentrate on losing wt during that 6 months. I joined Weight Watchers, exercised, and saw my internist monthly. I really only lost about 12# but my endurance is greatly increased due to the exercise routine.You will feel better before surgery and your healing will be quicker. When I look back, the time really flew. Hang in there, enjoy your everyday life, and it'll be here before you know it! I had thought my surgery would be the end of April or first of May, but received a call from the surgeon's office on April 2nd saying I had been approved and that they had a cancellation on the 10th if I wanted the slot. I actually hesitated a second because I had not mentally prepared myself for having it that quick. Just make sure you have everything in place before you are finished with your 6 months. I had to order Protein and have it shipped quickly, run to the store to purchase stuff for full and Clear liquids, rush to my pre-op visit with the surgeon and to preadmission testing and for labs. The 6 months is a good time to use to get mentally prepared also and to prepare your family for the changes. So far, it's been a breeze since Tuesday. The worst part has been the pain at the port site. I don't even realize I have the other puncture sites. I did not have the post-op gas pain in my shoulder that is common and I have not been hungry so far. I even walked my little dog this morning and feel great. I'm considering cooking dinner for my family tonight too. Good luck and let me know how you are doing. I'm here whenever you want to talk. Just hang in there! Debbie

Hi all, I was banded yesterday by Dr. Les Miles in Birmingham, AL. He also repaired a large hiatal hernia I had no idea about. So far it has been a breeze. I am pretty sore at the port site, but other than that, I'm doing great. No nausea and doing well with liquids. I was really afraid and worried before surgery. I am a nurse and know too much I guess- LOL. if everything continues as well as it is now, I worried for nothing. I'm planning on returning to work on Monday so hopefully most of the soreness will be gone by then.