Deb_Believes

My brother was planning to come for my surgery on July 1st, but now has an abscessed tooth causing him a tremendous amount of pain! He went for part 1 of the root canal today and will have to have parts 2 & 3 next week, so won't be here for my surgery. I am really alright with that, as I have others who have volunteered to be available for taking me to the hospital, checking on me, helping out, etc., since I live alone. I am mostly looking forward to just being in my house, my own space, and reaching out, as needed. My dogs will require me to get up and move around to take care of them, as since they are small, their care is not too taxing! My question is about the day of my surgery. My doctor has given me the sense that I will have to be at the hospital at the crack of dawn. (I'll find out the time for sure tomorrow.) Is there any real reason for me to ask my friends to stay at the hospital with me or to come back before they get the call that it's almost time to pick me up? I'm thinking no because I assume that I will be pretty out of it, coming out of the anesthesia, etc., but just wanted some other opinions. Any other thoughts from anyone that I should know about as far as my friends being / staying at the hospital or not? Thanks so much!

My doctor says I need to get b/t 75 - 100 grams of protein per day & b/t 800 & 1000 calories so I reset the goals on MFP. It took me a bit to figure out how to do it, but it can be done.

I had a small scare today that I'm going to have to watch closely. One of my smallest incisions has started to get infected (noticed today when changing shirts, very red around the incision, very slightly icky - I won't be too gross here - when I started checking it closer). I have quite the history of wounds getting infected so I was actually a little surprised it hadn't already happened to one of the larger incisions! Called doc & he had me come in. Confirmed mild infection & discussed how to care for it. I'll watch it closely in the process. As long as it doesn't get worse, we'll avoid antibiotics. I'm crossing my fingers & praying given my track record with this sort of thing. >:0

Aviva, had no idea how far behind I was on reading when I responded to the removing steri-strip question! Sorry! LOL!

My doctor told me that it was alright to take them off after a few days. For the 2 larger incisions, I bought butterfly strips at the pharmacy & used that & small band aids just to be on the safe side; didn't want to risk splitting open, greater scarring! Also had a nurse suggest using baby oil to get the steri-strips / band aids off if they are being stubborn b/c I tend to bruise so easily & they always irritate my skin.

Hi all, I went for my 2 week post-op with my doctor today. He said I'm doing great & released me to greater exercise, including swimming & biking (Yeah!!!) & said that I can finally start on munchies, after almost 4 weeks on liquids only! I was so thrilled that I went straight to the supermarket to get what the nutritionist told me to start with! I had not gotten it yet just in case he said wait a few more days! . My 1st fill will be a month from now at the 6 week point. Hope everyone is feeling as happy & positive as I am right now! Deb

When I asked my doctor this question just before my surgery, he said 2 weeks post-op, which is when I am seeing him again (tomorrow). I have the impression that he reevaluates everything at that appointment to make sure all is well & if it is he will give me the clearance to do more strenuous exercise (biking, swimming, etc.).

Hi kbush & anyone else who wants to join the FB group (in addition to this group & / or MFP)...... I have found all 3 of them to be very helpful and supportive!!! If you want to join the Facebook page, send a message to Crayolaphoenix with your email address that is associated with your Facebook account & she will gladly add you. No one is taking away from the usefulness, help, & support of this site! It's AWESOME! The FB site is simply extra support if you want it.

Hey again ~ I'm very familiar with the area! I used to live on the barrier island in Lavalette & travelled to my job on the western edge of Monmouth County every day until I moved to where I am now.

Where? Who's your surgeon? I'm in Monmouth County, about 3 blocks from the beach, not too far from Belmar.

Hey Sprinkle! I was banded on July 1st. A lot of folks here suggested that I purchase "The Big Book of LapBand" that you can find on this site. I got the Kindle version b/c it was $10 as opposed to $25 & devoured it! It answered so many questions that I didn't even enough know I should be asking at the time. I found that what I heard from people here as far as pain level did not ring true for me. I had some pain in my shoulders / upper back, but did what everyone said & used a heating pad & it helped tremendously. (Note to you: Make sure you have a heating Pad!) The pain in my tummy was worse to me b/c my muscles were not in good shape. First couple of days, I used a cane to help me get up, not to walk afterwards, just to get up. Ice helps too. Everyone here told me to be stocked up on any meds that I take, liquid ibuprofen /Tylenol in case of low grade fever, Gas-X (or something like it), and whatever "meals" your doctor says you should consume for the first week so that you won't have to go shopping right after release from hospital. I have found MyFitnessPal to be incredibly useful & the connections with friends there. If you are not using it, maybe now's a good time to start. Otherwise, almost a week post-surgery, I'm feeling pretty great, down 25 # since I started the original liquid diet & moving ahead. The doctors, nurses, and my friends have been great and very supportive! Wish you the best & keep us posted! If I missed anything or if you have other questions, I'll be glad to answer what I Can! Deb.

Hi Lois - Welcome Aboard! Living in NJ, but being from the south, it's always great to "hear" a y'all. I was banded the day before you. People are very helpful here! Keep sharing & they will share back!

I didn't read all the way back to see what started the conversation so my comments were not intended towards anything anyone in particular said at all. Just a general commentary on my own insights into my needs for my progress. If it helps to support anyone else along the way, then great!

I haven't had a chance to check in for a few days, as I have been focusing on healing...... I have been home from my banding since @ 2:15 on Monday afternoon. I also had 5 small incisions, but wasn't too terribly surprised by that. I had my gallbladder removed with a large, full incision in 1983, so I was just grateful that they were able to perform the LapBand laproscopically. I came home from the hospital with an annoying migraine, which I suspect was a reaction to the anesthesia, so I slept a lot on Monday. Monday and Tuesday, my biggest problems were nausea, followed by a low-grade fever. I was able to keep water down with no nausea, but clear liquid protein drinks & anything else (aka, jello) brought nausea waves. I kept it down, but just tremendously annoying nausea. I called my doctor today to check on both and he said fever was low enough and, therefore, normal and since water not making me nauseous, he was not concerned. He advised me to take very small, slow sips of protein drinks. I mentioned not wanting to "bother him" over the holiday and was politely chastised and told that there was a doctor on call for me 24 / 7 so if I needed to call, that I should feel very comfortable calling! That was nice to hear! As the day progressed today, I was much better able to handle the protein drinks with the small, slow sips like he said! Water is still going down fine and my stiffness / soreness / pain level is easing substantially! Family and friends have been stopping by and calling / texting to check in on me. I am really glad that I have been so open with my family and friends about my LB surgery, as it has made it so easy for me to have a positive support system. I hope all of the folks who I have not had a chance to check in with who had surgery around the same time as mine are doing well!!!!! Also wishing others who have surgery coming up the best!!!! I continue to be filled with gratitude!

Tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m., I will be sitting in the hospital surgical lounge checking in for my LapBand! I still have a bunch of stuff I want to do around my house today just to get it more clean so I won't have to be thinking about it when I get home (b/c I know that I won't be up for doing anything about it for a while!). I am otherwise as prepared as I can be thanks to everyone here, my doctor, and my nutritionist. My brother keeps commenting on how calm I sound about all of it on the phone.... I cannot say that I am not nervous at all, but I am at peace. I've made this decision to help me bring about the changes that I have needed to make for a very long time! I know that I will have much work to do!!! What I have read of the success stories here is that the people who follow what the doctor / nutritionist tell you to do will be successful. That's what I want / plan to do. I have already lost 17 #s so far. I am more committed than I have ever been..... ever. I am optimistic, hopeful, positive. After my LapBand, I will continue to look to others here for support and hope to be supportive of others, as well! I'll keep you posted! Deb

Update: Surgery went well! I got home from hospital @ 2:15. Worse problem was that I developed a migraine towards end of time at hospital. Took both pain medication (belly VERY sore) & migraine medication & slept for @ 2.5 hours, which helped a lot! Been sipping water slowly & just ate half a jello ... so far, so good. Heating pad on my shoulders is helping the shoulder pain issue quite a bit. Spoke w/ my brother who was amazed with how coherent I sounded. Haha! All is well & I'm settling in for another nap. ???Š Based on what I have read from others, pain is not as bad as I expected. Tomorrow may be worse, but this is today & I will only consider today. I'm happy with how today has gone!

Thank you all for the wonderful well wishes, fantastic support, & great advice! You have all been so supportive & helpful! I look forward to reporting back again sometime tomorrow & the next phase of this journey to come! Best wishes to everyone else who is banding tomorrow, too, or on July 2nd, as I have a feeling I won't remember to send this message tmr! Haha! Sleep with peace, my new-found friends! And again, many, many thanks!

My brother was planning to come for my surgery on July 1st, but now has an abscessed tooth causing him a tremendous amount of pain! He went for part 1 of the root canal today and will have to have parts 2 & 3 next week, so won't be here for my surgery. I am really alright with that, as I have others who have volunteered to be available for taking me to the hospital, checking on me, helping out, etc., since I live alone. I am mostly looking forward to just being in my house, my own space, and reaching out, as needed. My dogs will require me to get up and move around to take care of them, as since they are small, their care is not too taxing! My question is about the day of my surgery. My doctor has given me the sense that I will have to be at the hospital at the crack of dawn. (I'll find out the time for sure tomorrow.) Is there any real reason for me to ask my friends to stay at the hospital with me or to come back before they get the call that it's almost time to pick me up? I'm thinking no because I assume that I will be pretty out of it, coming out of the anesthesia, etc., but just wanted some other opinions. Any other thoughts from anyone that I should know about as far as my friends being / staying at the hospital or not? Thanks so much!