BringingSexyBackToTX

I'm having bad gas pains today too (Banded last Wednesday) which haven't been a problem for me really until today. Very strange! And my abdomen is tight/sore when I inhale deeply. None of this is really bad or too miserable - but just curious as to why it is just now a problem this far out.

Hello: I am newly Banded (as of last Wednesday - 07/17). This forum has been so informative for me and I'm very grateful for finding it. So far, I am surprised at how well my post-op has been going without much pain, misery, adjustment, etc. (honestly I expected it to be so awful after reading many posts on here). I go for my first fill on August 13th. I do have some soreness (especially in the belly and around the port incision), some gas (but not painful, just more irritating with an occasional sharp attention getter but nothing horrible) and my incisions are healing well. I'm on Week 1 of "thin liquids" then move on to Week 2 of "thick liquids" and then finally Week 3 of "Mushies". I'm not super hungry and notice that I do go hours without even thinking about being hungry. Today was the first day that I thought I was hungry and I am learning the hard way how much of a habit it is to drink while I eat - which is now a no-no for the foreseeable future. I have what my Dr. called, a "low BMI" (30-31 - depending on who measured my height at the office). I love to cook for friends and entertain - and so much of our social contact with friends is over meals. Now that it is really hitting me that this is how it is going to be from "now on "BUT... here's my big question: DOES IT (LIFE) GET BETTER? How are you all doing with your socializing? I mean, am I always going to live in fear of "throwing up" or "stopping up my stoma" or "basically freaking out about food? I don't want to be unsocial and I want to resume a fun/full life again with my friends. I am okay with eating less - I get that and I'm ready for that - but I guess I'm just now kind of freaking out after having the thought that this Band is going to monopolize my brain and joy from now on. Granted - I am still in the liquid phase which is probably making me seem a little negative tonight (first time since starting this WLS path a few months ago) but I just don't want to be the social leper at parties and such because I am obsessing about this darn Band. DOES IT GET BETTER? DOES IT GET NORMAL? if I'm out - can I have a bite of cake at a birthday party and not obsess about it? Can I go on dates and have wine and a dinner without it being obvious or an issue that I've been Banded. Sorry if this sounds overreacting... any advice from those that have been at this a while would be grateful. Thanks!

I didn't need one. I was able to sleep (flat on my back) in my bed. Recovery was actually very easy. Don't sweat it - it might not be nearly as bad as you expect. At least that is how I found it to be (but then again, I'm only one week out). Good luck!

Me too! I'm not on food yet but now I'm confused as to when I do get there... and I don't like what I'm hearing about this "Bandster hell"... I am pretty happy here in this non-hungry and losing phase.

About how long did it take to settle in? Do you remember...

I was banded a week ago and all seems to be going well. My incisions are healing nicely and the bruising from surgery is going away. I do have tenderness around my port incision that sometimes smarts when I sit a certain way or move a certain way - other than feeling weird, its not too bad. Most of the swelling in my belly has gone away but I still have a swollen lump next to my port incision. Is that normal? And when does all the bloat and lumpiness go away? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for this. Which flavor tastes better?

The Dermabond (super glue in place of stitches) on one of my incisions came off and I worried about it - but I sprayed a spray antibacterial spray on it that I got from the pharmacy and let it dry naturally. It actually healed overnight and looked MUCH better than my other incisions that still had the Dermabond on it (so much so that I can't even barely see the incision anymore) - so I took the Dermabond off the others (which were mostly healed/sealed at the time) and did the same and they are all healed/sealed and look great. Just a little bit of bruising remains around them but otherwise they are closed. Even the big port site looks good. **NOT recommending that people do this but I'm just telling you my experience and that letting them air dry (without Bandaids) has helped greatly. As always, talk to you Dr about it first.**

Wow - down to 168 in 6 weeks? That's great! My BMI was anything from 30-32 depending on which tech measured my height and weight (interviewed two different surgeons before deciding on the one I chose) - which was frustrating. I'm one week out and I'm hoping for such results!

Just curious (and pardon my WLS ignorance) but what does "banded with plication" mean? And why is that offered?

Its actually not a hard lump but still a lump. Sometimes I think I can feel the port but its not in the swollen lump but more underneath it - if that makes sense. My BMI is ~30/31 and the doctor said that I might be able to feel it more due to this - but I guess that is something I just have to be fine with. I just hope that ALL the swelling and the lump goes away and soon. I wore my jeans last night out for a bit and they were tight from my belly still being swollen from surgery - even though I've lost weight since the surgery. Weird.

Not a stupid question: It is still "obese" and/or "morbidly obese" and unhealthy.