Joy332

Glad you are doing well Heather. I am doing ok. Tummy especially on left side is super sore and I still have pain when I breathe deeply,again on the left side, but I am off the pain meds. I am on clear liquids and thin shakes, which are beginning to turn my stomach. Ready for food!!! Guess my hunger is back!

I had an HH repair and I have been burping alot--not that I want to! Every time I burp, it hurts and then hurts in my left shoulder so it is not a pleasant experience. My shoulder pain is not constant though...comes and goes. Keep walking, take Gas x and put the heating pad on your shoulder. My heating pad has been on for 6 days straight! My tummy is still quite sore but most gas pain is gone thank goodness.

I can relate to you all! I had surgery Monday the 24th and had a hernia repair. I still have some shoulder pain and sharp pain when I take a deep breath, but it is definitely better than it was a few days ago. I am feeling very weak from this liquid diet. Does anyone have any suggestions about this? I feel so shaky that I am worried about being alone. I do not get full liquids until Monday. Thanks for any suggestions!

Everything will be fine! Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way!

I have a high bed and I still have not tried it because once I am down, I am like a turtle on its back!!! I need assistance getting up. So, I have been sleeping on my sofa with lots of cushions around me to support my upper body. I have also had my sister here to help pull me up when I could not get up on my own. Today is day 4 post-op for me, and I have not tried to drive yet (still on pain meds). I did ride in the car and that was ok, though every pothole was a little painful! I would think a car with handles at the door would be easier to get into than a truck with no running boards. Everyone is different though--you may not have the same trouble I had so it is hard to say, but it is helpful to have someone to help you the first week.

Heather, I am so glad you are not experiencing the awful pain some of us experienced! Today is day 4 and I am still having a lot of pain, especially left shoulder pain and pain when I breathe deeply. But, it is manageable with pain meds. It is interesting that some people do not seem to have the bad gas pain and others do. In any event, we are all on our way to a healthier happier place. So, glad everyone is doing ok.

I am ony 3 days post-op and I can certainly relate to how you are feeling. I have had some serious pain and definitely questioned why I inflicted this on myself! I have bad shoulder pain, pain near the left rib cage, and big pain, mostly on the left side when I take a deep breath. I had to get my sister to stay with me because I could not get out of bed without someone pulling me out!! Holding a small firm pillow against my incisions seems to help. As the replies above indicate, this will pass and we will soon feel so much better, but in the meantime, we need to take our prescribed pain meds as prescribed (mine is every 4 hours) and that helps some (though not so much with the gas pain). I too am not able to get much down...the sweet juices and protein shakes turn my stomach and I am pretty sick of broth. Last night for the first time, I got really nauseated and took the phenergan the doctor prescribed. Despite the pain and nausea, I know that this rough patch will pass and we will soon feel great and lose some major pounds! Keep your chin up, we are all in the same boat and are there to commiserate with you!

Wow! Congratulations on the huge weight loss! That is wonderful! I cannot have mushy food til week 3 so I am already dreaming about it. I am so over the sweet protein shakes. Thanks for the update. I am glad you are doing so well! Keep us posted.

Hi JerseyGirl! I am happy to offer support and encouragement. The doctors will know how to handle the blood thinner problem. Also, you will feel hungry on the pre-op diet, but once you are banded, you won't be so hungry at all. I am 2 days out from surgery and I am not hungry. I know hunger will return soon, but I will worry about that when it comes! Try just worrying about today and deal with tomorrow's problems later. The band fills will help you feel satisfied with very small meals, so you will be working closely with your clinic to reach that perfect balance of fill and hunger. Everyone is anxious pre-op, so just know that you are not alone in your fears. This is not an easy journey but the success of many other bandsters is inspiring. We can all be success stories!

Hey rbmk14! Dr. Reilly was my surgeon too. He was fine...very business-like and professional. Staff in the office leave a bit to be desired, but the nurses were very nice and both anesthesiologists were great! Dr. Reilly has lots of experience and I think you will be very happy with him.

Yep our stories are very similar! Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragement...it is so helpful. I hope we all wake up tomorrow feeling much better!!

Congrats on your surgery New and Improved! Wishing everyone a speedy recovery. Heather and Mac--everything will go well. Up until they put me under in the OR, I was thinking "what the heck am I doing?????" But, I kept thinking back to all my unsuccessful diets and I knew this was the right decision. Do not be surprised by pain the first day...as it is the gas they pumped in. And take your pain meds regularly...I can tell you that I failed to do this and had some bad pain. But it gets better everyday. Main problem now is I don't feel like drinking the thin, watery shakes or the Isopure. Gag. I got down a quarter of a shake. Other than that, I have had Water, tea, and broth. I am also using a small firm pillow held against my incisions when I move or get out of a chair. It seems to help. Klober, I am anxious to hear what is up. Please let us know how things are going...otherwise, we will worry! Sending many prayers and good wishes your way.

I was banded last Monday the 24th. I am still having pretty bad pain mostly from trapped gas. I also had a hernia repair. I get stabbing pain in my left abdomen when I take a deep breath. I really am getting tired of this level of pain! Doing all the steps to help the gas dissipate (Gas X, walking, and using heating pad), but still really struggling. I hope this eases soon. Did not help that I had a weird reaction to my liquid multivitamin that required an ER visit yesterday. Turned out the multivitamin had excessive niacin that made me flush bright red in the face, neck, and chest--so not an allergic reaction.

Ok, memorize this phrase for the next time you experience this rude behavior: I can lose the weight, but your stupidity is forever! I love that your friend had such a great comeback. Take care and don't let the jerks get you down!

Hi, I am 2 days out from surgery on Monday the 24th. I am having a lot of pain on the left side near my incisions. Everytime I take a deep breath, I feel a stabbing pain on the left side of my upper abdomen. The pain is wearing me down. I am taking gas x and using a heating pad and I have been walking around my house alot. I hope to walk outside today but I feel very weak as I have had nothing but clear liquids since Sunday... I just wonder if this level of pain is normal for day 2 post-op? I would appreciate any help you all can offer.

BTW, I also had a hernia repair during the surgery. I too have most pain on left side, just below my left breast and I too have to hold a small pillow against my incisions on the left side.

I was banded on Monday, June 24th and I am still having bad pain. I believe most of it is gas pain, but whatever it is, it is awful. The gas bubbles seem to be in my incision area and shoulders. Due to the pain, I cannot get into or out of a chair without help from a family member. Also, the pain is keeping me from breathing very deeply as it feels like I am being stabbed with each breath. I am taking the pain meds but it doesn't help the gas pain. I also have cotton mouth though sipping water all day long. Ugh. Does all this sound normal?

Hey guys! Well I am officially banded now. I have to say the gas pain the first day was awful. Pain from my waist to my shoulders. Today is much better though I still have gas pains. I have done the Gas-x and the heating pad, but I cannot tell that it helped at all. My incisions are sore, but the main pain is from the gas, which right now is hovering around my incisions...Ouch! It is hard to find a comfortable sitting down position so I have been up and walking around alot. I am working on this breathing thing they gave me, but I cannot breathe in as deeply due to the gas bubble pain. But, I am doing it as much as I can. Good luck to Klober and New and Improved on your surgeries (yesterday and today)!

Thanks everyone for the sweet thoughts and best wishes! It means so much! I actually slept well so I guess I am not as nervous as I thought. Talk to you guys after I am officially banded!

Tastes definitely vary. I bought Ensure high protein shakes after someone said they liked them and I had to throw them all out--to me they had a metallic aftertaste. Yuck. I like the premixed Premier Protein shakes (30 grams protein) and the Jay Robb protein powders, but I like it sweet so you may not like what I like... Good luck with the pre-op diet!

Wow!! How strong are you!!! I can relate! I am still on my pre-op diet, but I have survived two pizza party lunches (last week of school there are lots of celebrations with food) and endless cakes and cupcakes. I drank my yummy protein shake and water and had no pizza or cake. One of the other teachers said, "I can't believe how strong you were!" That made me feel great! We can do this!

Paris!!! I am soooo jealous!!! I will have to go back to Paris as soon as I reach goal! that would be a fabulous reward for my efforts!! Food is just our crutch of choice...it could have been something like alcohol or drugs or any of a number of other behaviors. This is something we will have to deal with always, but the lapband should really help. I wish you (and me--being banded tomorrow) success on our journey. Now, go drink some wine, eat some great bread and cheese, and enjoy Paris!!!

I am set for Monday the 24th also. Yikes! I would get the room if it were me, but wait and see how you feel! Good luck! Talk to you on the other side!!

Winkie80 is exactly right. You are losing, just not as much in the areas that affect the size clothing you wear. Do not be discouraged! You will get there! 40 pounds is incredible--pat yourself on the back!! Wow. The smaller clothes will come.

Wow, Heather 316, you are prepared!!! I bought only 1 week of groceries. I went to the local GNC for some of that Isopure clear liquid. I asked the sales guy which flavor was best as they only came in cases of 12. He said blue was the only one he could stand to drink and even that one was awful. They didn't have any blue so I didn't buy any. Guess I will have to mix my protein powder with water...lovely.