Bandista

I would definitely call! You are their patient and they want to know! Could you be a little sensitive to dairy right now? Just a shot in the dark...... Eating too close to lie-down time? Again, just long-shot thoughts since it's a Saturday night. Don't stress but get to the bottom of this! Sending best wishes......

Glad to hear you're doing well!

Yippee! So happy for you. Thanks for the inspiration!

Thanks so much for posting -- very inspiring!

Stool softeners ASAP (Dulcolax makes one) and milk of magnesia will help -- I'd go easy on milk of magnesia as it's a laxative and you don't want anything too violent. Pain killers are very constipating and it's hard to get a lot of fiber in your diet on soft foods -- I would talk to the doctor about this. Always amazed they don't seem to set us up with preventative measures as digestion is so important! Celestial Seasonomgs makes a tea called Smooth Move -- senna. There are various products and the thing is to find what works well for your body. Cascara, etc. Good luck to you -- you'll feel so much better when this is resolved!

Hi Jersey Girl, hope it's going well and that you're finding some shake variety. Pre-op is hard, particularly with the butterflies fluttering prior to the big day. Just know you're not alone. Will be thinking of you on the 12th!

Hi there! I was not perfect on my pre-op diet but did the best I could. Mine was similar -- 2 shakes, 2 snacks and 1 meal per day not to go over 900 calories. I immediately got harsh and turned it into shakes only, 800 calories max, etc. then could not sustain that so had a couple of slips. Told me a lot about my dieter mentality and why/how I have struggled so over the years. 18 pounds down is Great! Way to go. That's all weight you won't be seeing again. Good luck with the rest of your pre-op - goal is to clear out your system and shrink the liver -- and with your surgery on the 13th. I am on day 4 post-op and feeling really good. Best wishes for smooth sailing and a speedy recovery!

Hi there and congratulations -- hope you are getting lots of good R&R. It's Saturday morning and my family just left so I have the house to myself. It's day four post-op and I'm feeling really good, walking all I can and resting as needed. Think I will go rustle up a Popsicle and climb back under the covers. We did it -- journeys begun!

Congratulations! So happy for you. I am day four post-op and feeling really good. A return of energy but taking it easy. Except for walking, lol. I am doing a lot of that and it feels really good. Pretty sure that is why I'm healing so quickly -- that and not taking narcotics. Still doing a little Tylenol and ibuprofen here and there but not much. Slept through the night two in a row, hallelujah. Have the left shoulder pain but I know it will go away and the incisions aren't bad -- like a cut healing. Whole stomach feels better today - less distended and more normal. Not hungry yet but will have some broth and Soup, etc. I'm on full liquids. Good luck -- wishing you a weekend of relaxation!

Hi Lauren, don't worry, they will send you another bill -- you can be sure of that! Thank goodness you had the surgery while you still had the insurance. I would try to relax then when you are ready start fighting the insurance company. I have been successful with this (not LB but other stuff for my spouse). Take notes on each call and there will be an escalation process to appeal. Make that insurance company pay -- be a squeaky wheel while killing them with kindness at the same time. When you get bills from the hospital just let them know you are appealing to the insurance company and will get back to them. Have a copy of the hospital bill when you talk to the insurance company. If it turns out you are responsible, then you can contact your hospital to inquire about special circumstances (job loss, etc.). They can negotiate what you owe and they will set up a payment plan. This could be $20/month. First step is to get the insurance stuff straightened out, though. Good luck!

Hi Vince, I was pretty frustrated this summer when I had made my decision but needed to go through the hoops. Big delay because I had to attend a mandatory info session to kick things off and those are only held every two months (live in a rural area). When I finally got the psych eval and nutritionist appointments (same day in my case) that seemed to trigger the rest and it went quickly from there. I was banded Tuesday -- whole process about five months. My insurance company had no requirements other than BMI. Best wishes to you!

Yippee! So glad you're home. I stayed away from the narcotics, too, and I'm so glad. Used Tylenol and ibuprofen as needed and walking like crazy. Healing very quickly -- noticeable difference yesterday (day 3 post-op) then today even better. Wishing you a great weekend -- rest well!

Hi Susan, congratulations! I was just banded on Tuesday and I'm very excited about this new chapter in my life. This forum has been such a great way to learn about the band from multiple perspectives. My process was somewhat delayed as I missed a June mandatory info session and had to do that in August, then all the various appointments for psych eval, nutritionist and meeting the surgeon, etc. I used that time to read about other people's experiences and just to ready myself. Started a journal, got a therapist to talk over food issues and also kicked my exercise life into gear. I'm really glad for that -- pretty sure it's the secret to success. This morning I woke up at 6:30 to let the dogs out and then walked a very brisk mile before climbing back under the covers. I will walk more later. This begs the question, who is this person? The new me, that's who! Good luck to you in these coming months.

Hi there, hope you're doing a little better each day. I'm wearing my loosest clothing and making sure the waistband is not on one of the incision sites. I have been using a heating pad here and there but I also used ice packs one evening. And yesterday when I woke up day three my belly was much less distended -- still fat, LOL, but not full and tight from the surgery. I know all the walking is really helping me heal. Good luck -- let us know how you are today!

Oh dear, I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this! Thank goodness you were in the hospital. What a nightmare for you. I hope you are cozy at home now and able to relax from all the stress and trauma. Be sure to get the surgical reports from both surgeries and make your own notes. Meanwhile, the most important thing is your recovery. Can you take short walks? I think it really helps with the body's repair system. Sending very best wishes -- keep us posted on your progress!

Hopefully others will have good responses for you -- definitely something to take seriously! When do up you go back to your surgeon for a follow up visit? One thing we've done for my husband who had terrible reflux (turned out to be wheat!) and then for my parents is to put blocks of wood under the head of the bed to raise slightly. An inch and a half, maybe, just enough to make it not so flat. What are you eating/drinking?

Hi Terry, I have tried the Shiratski noodles -- made from yam, right? As I recall a lot of rinsing then putting them in broth with lots of ginger, garlic, Tamari and a few drops of hot sesame oil made an amazing hot noodle soup for very few calories. Have fun!

Dear Donna, my thoughts are with you and your family. Being able to stay present, even when that is an emotionally devastating place, and not use food as an escape, is something you should be very proud of. Don't forget to take extra special care of yourself during this time.

The LB program at the hospital I'm using and my insurance require an overnight hospital stay. This was my first time admitted to a hospital so I was a little nervous, but it was a very good experience. I walked a lot in the night -- every time I had to get up to pee I walked. With a saline drip, that's a lot of getting up for the bathroom! I slept on and off in the night and then this morning was taken to radiology for a barium swallow. This was not the big deal I imagined. Two sips of chalky tasting liquid are swallowed as the radiologist captures the images to make sure band is well-placed, no leaks, etc. That went well and I am back in my room drinking tea. nurse has been in for a second Heparin shot (one yesterday, too). I've seen the nutritionist about the diet for the next two weeks before I see her again. The surgeon will do rounds in a while and then I will be released. And I'll see him again next week, the week after, etc. My incisions are a little sore and my throat is dry and a bit sore. The tea feels great on that. I wasn't able to have liquids after midnight because of the swallow so that didn't help the throat and dry mouth. The stiffness in the shoulder area and the feeling of weight on the chest got better with every walk, and I also remembered something another bandit shared about trying the happy baby pose. This really helped open up the chest. I am getting my regular clothes on soon. That's the report for the morning! Good luck every one and very best wishes.

I know, weird, right? But yes, surgeon is all about ibuprofen being just fine. I had it in my IV drip with saline -- did not want narcotics. And I'm taking some at home post-op along with Tylenol but hardly doing that now on day 3 (had some at dawn, none all day). NSAIDS are notoriously hard on stomach, intestinal track, etc. _ I want to avoid all drugs if possible. Can't wait to get off my BP medicine!

Checking in at 243 -- up a little (day 3 post-op)...not worried as it's got to be all those fluids. Walking lots!

Hi there, day 3 post op and a significant change to belly -- not as bloated or sensitive, etc. Some left shoulder pain but not terrible. I'm walking all I can, laps around our driving circle. Had some Pacific brand organic potato leek soup and boy was that yummy. Also had a coffee earlier in the day to help with going to the bathroom. Not hungry yet. Had ibuprofen and Tylenol early AM but nothing all day so that's good. Going to take it easy all weekend.......hope you have a nice restful evening and great sleep tonight!

How did it go? I am just 3 days post-op so nowhere near....but a month will go by quickly, I know.....

Yippee! That is a good day -- and the start of a wonderful weekend. Happy Friday!

We did the swallow thing on Wednesday, the morning after my surgery. The radiologist showed me the pictures of the band and announced, "perfectly placed." I loved that moment!