StacyK

I was given antibiotics when I was banded. That can really mess things up- I started probiotics and I think it helped a lot.

Hey, thank you for validating that I was not the only one who was struggling a week out from surgery. I can tell you that I feel soooo much better today. Like a different human. I hope all goes well at the doc today and I hope you hit the turnaround soon!

Dram, I am also one week post op and I had a day exactly like that today. I cried and cursed the band. I considered asking my surgeon to take it out. I reached out to this forum and I did some reading and finally spoke with a friend who has been banded for a while, and felt better. Take a deep breath. This week is about healing. Make sure you are doing all you can to help that happen. My pain, I discovered, was about 30% hunger and 30% gas pressure and a heaping spoonful of anxiety. I attacked the gas and hunger with gasx and movement and thick Soups. I took milk of mag to get things moving along better, which also helped with the bloating and pain. Who knew hunger could feel like grinding stomach pain? I do feel much, much better. As for the anxiety, I read posts on this board and chose to believe my surgeon's wonderful nurse when he reassured me that others have gone through this and survived, and look back on it as a very brief and very rough part of the journey. I spent a full hour just trying to relax my body and breathe. It will get better. This is not your new norm. Hang in there! Call your doctor's office to talk through the specifics of what you are feeling physically so they can help you figure out what you need to heal and feel better from this point. Someone posted today that days 6,7 and 8 were her worst days.

You were beautiful "before" but your health and personality really shine in your more recent pics. Go you!! You look great!

Karen did it get better? I am 4 days out and having quite a bit of pain when I drink. It even hurts to breathe deeply. I have the "can't burp" feeling you describe and have to be very careful not to drink too much fluid at a time or it really hurts. My incisions do not hurt at all. I haven't gone on to full liquids yet because the upper somach pain rarely let's up. Pain meds help but I was hoping to be done with narcotics by now. I'm calling my surgeon this morning. Just curious if anyone else has that sensation and how long it lasted.

Me too, sore and gassy. Seem to right on track for day 3. Not feeling hungry at all but getting liquids down OK. My gas pressure is in my center diaphragm making it painful to take a deep breath. Someone remind me that this is worth it! I guess I am just ready to be healed so I can get on with living!

My surgery was yesterday. I won't lie...the first day was rough. to no incision pain but my stomach area below my ribs hurts quite a bit. Stayed overnight in the hospital. Have been trying to drink plenty but feel nauseated when I drink too fast. Only vomited once but got phenergan which helped. Woke up this morning feeling TONS better. Still some nagging pain around my upper belly and diaphragm but the nausea is much better and I feel more human. walking the halls and ready to go home!

Me too!

Today is the day!!! Yippee! I am a little anxious but I am most excited. It is the first day of the rest of my life!!

Mommyoftwins are you able to get up and move around much? Glad you are done with surgery. Keep us posted!

Also the pains are caused by gas that is pumped into your abdomen (outside your GI tract) during surgery. They let as much as possible escape thru the incisions before they close you up in surgery but some is always left and must be absorbed by your body, cannot be expelled by passing gas since it is not inside your intestines but just hanging out in your abdomen.Must walk, change positions often, and give it time. You might also have intestinal gas from air swallowed but that is not usually what hurts after laparoscopic surgery.

Hope all goes well!! I'm right behind you, this Thursday. Yay, all of us!

My doctor reminded me the other day that the operating room is probably the safest place in the hospital. There will be a whole team of people monitoring you very closely and ready to respond quickly to anything. Of course there are risks for rare complications, but there are risks with every move we make. Every time we drive a car or take a med or try something new. Your surgeon wouldn't have agreed to do your surgery if he or she didn't believe that the risks were low. I'm an RN and I'm feeling anxious too but not afraid. I think some anxiety is just part if the process of major change, and the unknown. My surgery is on Thursday. Good luck and keep us posted!!

I am allergic to many kinds of tape too. My surgeon said he would use dermabond (surgical glue) on my incisions so I hope that will prevent a problem. I'm even nervous about tape from IVs etc. because I have had rashes and sores from tape in the past. Even paper tape.

I haven't been banded yet (next week!) but have concerns about the same thing. I wonder if adding veggies (kale, spinach, cooked broccoli) in low volume protein smoothies with fruit might help get some in. I have done this and can't even really taste the greens if you add fruit. My vitamix breaks everything down really well. Experienced bandsters?

They said my BMI was low enough (40) that I didn't have to do a liquid diet beforehand. I am eating a low calorie diet on my own, and have eliminated caffeine and sugar. I figure if I do this beforehand, maybe the dietary restriction might not be such a shock. At least I won't be dealing with caffeine withdrawl post-op.

October 3! Excited but anxious. My doctor didn't require a preop diet except for clear liquids for a day before surgery. Meeting with dietician and nurse on Friday for detailed instructions as well as preop labs.